Alley Oop 6: Kawhi, Big Ellie, and Indiana Fever with Ros Gold-Onwude

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz – Episode Summary: Alley Oop 6: Kawhi, Big Ellie, and Indiana Fever with Ros Gold-Onwude

Release Date: April 24, 2025

In this engaging episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz delve deep into the current NBA playoffs, shed light on the vibrant WNBA scene, and interact with listeners to provide personalized music recommendations. Special guest Ros Gold-Onwude joins the conversation, adding her unique perspective to the discussions.

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1. NBA Playoffs Analysis

Warriors vs. Rockets

The hosts kick off the episode by analyzing the intense playoff series between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets. Rebecca highlights the enduring prowess of veteran players:

"Like, look at Kawhi right now. You miss a whole year, come back and look like you never missed a beat."
— Rebecca (02:23)

Juju emphasizes Kawhi Leonard's remarkable consistency despite his lengthy career:

"Kawhi is, like, returning to form, but Kawhi is in year 14 doing this stuff."
— Juju (02:41)

Rebecca praises Steph Curry's enduring skill and physicality on the court:

"What Steph pulled off that game was physical against him and he's gonna have to do that throughout a series."
— Rebecca (05:14)

Knicks vs. Pistons

Shifting focus to the Eastern Conference, the hosts discuss the Knicks' impressive performance against the Pistons. Juju marvels at the Knicks' resilience:

"The Knicks, they found a way 210 run in the fourth quarter."
— Juju (05:52)

Rebecca shares her personal connection to New York basketball and the electric atmosphere at the Garden:

"I'm from Queens, so you know who I'm rolling with. And there's nothing like the Mecca in the Garden and just feeling that energy."
— Rebecca (06:06)

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2. WNBA Highlights

New York Liberty Championship

The conversation transitions to the WNBA, with Rebecca celebrating the New York Liberty's championship win:

"It took 28 years. It took the entire history of the WNBA to get the Liberty championship."
— Rebecca (07:34)

She vividly describes the jubilation in Brooklyn, capturing the essence of the victory parade:

"There was like a dance routine, dancers. Ellie going to come down with the door like this. And the crowd goes wild."
— Rebecca (09:03)

Indiana Fever's Leap in 2025

Ros Gold-Onwude discusses the Indiana Fever's significant improvements, highlighting Caitlin Clark's impact:

"The Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark. And now a squad full of like, they smashed the offseason over there."
— Juju (10:29)

Rebecca echoes the excitement surrounding Clark's burgeoning career:

"I think she absolutely lived up to the height and I think she'll continue to meet or even exceed expectations."
— Rebecca (10:29)

Standout Players: Big Ellie

The hosts shine a spotlight on standout WNBA player Ellie, celebrating her exceptional performance:

"Ellie honestly might've had the biggest year ever."
— Rebecca (08:52)

Juju adds enthusiasm, referencing Ellie's cultural impact:

"You cannot walk around the city or walk around the streets without loving Big Ellie."
— Juju (08:40)

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3. Listener Interaction: Music Recommendations

In the listener call segment, JP from Latonia Carwin seeks music suggestions. Juju and Rebecca engage in a lively exchange about current music trends and personal favorites:

"I listen to a lot of old hip hop, the boom baps of the world."
— Juju (11:25)

Rebecca shares her love for contemporary R&B artists:

"Right now, I'm listening to R B in my mornings in my car. I love everything he's doing."
— Rebecca (11:57)

Their playful banter about music preferences adds a personal touch to the episode, showcasing the hosts' diverse tastes.

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4. Closing Remarks and Key Messages

As the episode wraps up, Juju expresses gratitude towards Rebecca, highlighting the importance of their collaboration:

"Without you and your encouragement, I don't know if I would have been the same spot to be doing what I'm doing now."
— Juju (14:36)

Rebecca encourages listeners to continue their pursuits with passion:

"Keep doing your thing, Juju."
— Rebecca (14:36)

The hosts conclude with their signature farewell, leaving listeners anticipating the next episode:

"And just like that, we gonna catch you next week. The same bat channel at the same bad time. You dig us?"
— Juju (14:38)

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Conclusion

This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz offers a comprehensive look into the NBA and WNBA landscapes, enriched by personal anecdotes and expert analysis. From veteran players like Kawhi Leonard and Steph Curry dominating the courts to the New York Liberty's historic championship and the promising rise of the Indiana Fever, the hosts provide insightful commentary. Additionally, the interactive segment fosters a sense of community among listeners, making the show both informative and engaging for a diverse audience.

Transcript

[Mike Ryan]

Hey, folks, it's Mike Ryan. And if you're watching our show, you probably know and your boy has undergone a little bit of a body transformation. And I gotta tell you, Peloton has helped me on my fitness journey. It got the ball rolling for me because I watch my wife on the peloton. She takes all these great classes. She has her favorite instructors. I listen to the music, I'm a big music guy. Gets me fired up. Makes me want to take part in this fitness phenomenon known as Peloton. Peloton offers a variety of challenging classes, from four week strength building classes to running, cycling, and everything in between. Peloton will help you achieve your goals and maybe you'll have some fun along the way. I know I have. It's backed by thousands of members whose lives have been changed. Be part of that group, telling you I'm better for it. Have it in my office. Sometimes I can put on the baseball game. Sometimes I can put on a soccer match. Some other times I'm totally locked in on an emo playlist. Find your push, find your power. With [e-mail].

[Juju]

It'S a classic. But don't play that in the car. If you ride around the car, this is all we do is win. Call 911 on that car that might.

[Rebecca]

Be a serial killer. Ain't nobody normal. Just driving around listening to All I do is win.

[Juju]

Rise. Go. Thank you so much. Rise. You are my sister. I will always consider you family, you feel me?

[Rebecca]

Oh, I definitely feel you. And that means a lot to me and I'm really thrilled to see that, you know, you're building out this lane and this show, you know, for yourself. When I heard that, oh, Juju's doing, you know, something new and cool and his own with. With ball, which also you do. I know you do. The men's and the women's. I was like, oh, I want to pull up, like, so I'm so excited for you. Congrats and keep doing your thing. Keep being you. Like, I think that's the difference, right?

[Juju]

Yeah. We got playoff basketball happening right now. We got the Knicks, Pistons, we got Warriors, Rockets. What series right now in, like, entices you the most?

[Rebecca]

I live in California, so I was up watching, you know, the west coast series. I was watching the Clippers and the Nuggets last night and I know, I know, you know, I've always got my eyes on the Warriors. You know, one of these things that stands out to me in the playoffs is that in the calendar year of 2025. Like, the vets still vetting. They still got it. These old superstars, they still. Them guys, they just know how to win, you know? Like, look at Kawhi right now. You miss a whole year, come back and look like you never missed a beat. Like.

[Juju]

Right. People forget, too. Kawhi is, like, returning to form, but Kawhi is in year 14 doing this stuff. So even a healthy guy in year 14. Holy moly. Yeah, the Vets are vetting, especially over there in the Warriors. Yeah, that's what they got versus, like, the Houston Rockets and all the other teams. What you think about that series?

[Rebecca]

As soon as the warriors lined up against the Rockets, I was like, I know the Rockets gotta be tired of the Warriors. I know they gotta be tired of the warriors in the postseason because they just keep knocking them. Just one team out, and it's different generations of Rockets being tired of the Warriors. And now you got this new era of Rockets, these young guys trying to bust out, and the old guys won't let them in. Draymond Steph. And so, you know, I just think at this time of year, what's showing is experience still matters. Knowing how to win still matters. And also being Steph matters, like, you know, period, right? Being Steph Curry helps, but, like, going up against the defense of the Rockets against him was physical. It was athletic, it was youthful, it was eager. And, like, what impressed me was Steph's cuts to the basket, off the ball or with the ball, you know, we're gonna watch all the highlights of Steph shooting threes when it's all said and done and making tough shots and actually coming out of that game making some tough threes. But for me, it was the reads against. Very physical, tough defense to the cup. Steph's always been really nice off the bounce to the basket and finishing.

[Juju]

Right? Let that be a lesson to the. The kids out there. It ain't all about the highlights. That stuff be doing, bro. You. You track stuff from the check ball into down on the side, bro. He be running through 17 screens, getting his jersey grab, fighting through it, then end up with the ball. Still have enough energy for that swish. So get your condition and training in together. You feel me?

[Rebecca]

That's what being a big boy is, you know, whether it's Jimmy Butler or Curry or even, you know, Draymond Green or somebody coming up with the play, you know, or a stop or. Or just a read. That makes sense. And so, like, at least for game one, you know, the warriors had The Rockets card. But I do think that the Rockets youth growing experience, hunger, their athleticism over the course of a series may wear on the Warriors. I think that was a really tough. I think it was hard work. What Steph pulled off that game was physical against him and he's gonna have to do that throughout a series.

[Juju]

Hell yeah. Speaking of hard work. Holy moly. The Mecca New York City has been rocking for two straight games. I know you be in that building a lot. Game one, the Knicks, they found a way 210 run in the fourth quarter. Oh, goodness gracious. Against them young Pistons. But last night game, Cade stepped into that role. Dennis Scher stepped up big. You ain't know I spoke German. You feel me? I'm really outside, but yeah. Talk about the magnificence of the New York Knicks, the perseverance of the Pistons. What you thinking about that series, sis?

[Rebecca]

The Pistons are one of the great stories in basketball right now. When you just look at the overall body of work over the course of seasons now, they just really did a nice job of snagging one in the Garden. Right. But I'm from New York.

[Juju]

Queens get the money.

[Rebecca]

I'm from Queens, so you know who I'm rolling with. And there's nothing like the Mecca in the Garden and just feeling that energy. And it's always exciting when New York basketball is good. So. And I'm getting texts from my, like, it's also a family moment for me. You know, as much as I cover basketball, I try to make sure that I'm still enjoying it with passion, enthusiasm and. And like a fan. I guess it's okay to say that people have fandom as, as professionals, but like I don't want to lose that joy. And so like it's a family moment. Like when, you know, I'm getting a text from my sister or my group chat's going crazy or you know, my group chat thinks there's a conspiracy from the reps because there's no fouls or you know, and I think like that's, you know, what makes it special.

[Juju]

Right. And then when it comes to the dream, that's my. That's where I show my loyalty. These Atlanta dream are my heart. You feel me? I stuck with them when it was nobody in the building. Just me, Renee Montgomery and the owners and them cheering them on.

[Rebecca]

You were there for some of the dysfunction you stuck around as a fan.

[Juju]

Yes. Kennedy Carter, I see you. Yeah.

[Rebecca]

And we hope that Kennedy Carter finds a team like, you know, cuz she had a career season In Chicago. But I know that Atlanta is al. It's personal for you. You know, the players, like, they. And they rock with you, you know, so allegedly.

[Juju]

You feel me? Hopefully they rock with me as much as I rock with them. Big Alicia, Graham.

[Rebecca]

I love Le. Le secured the ring.

[Juju]

You feel me?

[Rebecca]

She's engaged. We love.

[Juju]

I seen the. Congratulations, sis.

[Rebecca]

Congratulations. So, speaking of rings, so I cover the New York Liberty in the summer.

[Juju]

Okay. Oh, here we go.

[Rebecca]

And so. No, no, no. They won their ring. They won a championship. But all I'm. Yeah, I see you got your SAV jersey. All I'm trying to say here, this wasn't just a plug that the Liberty won and that Atlanta didn't. We love all teams. I happen to be the color commentator for the New York Liberty. But I also grew up on a Liberty. Like, my mother took me to the games when the WNBA started, and I had a Rebecca Lobo jersey. And, like, when the Liberty won the championship, like, it was. I mean, so I, like, I did the formal professional stuff at Barclays, five games. I leave, I get my people, and we hit the streets. And, like, we are out in Brooklyn in the streets. Like, the cops are out with us banging on garbage cans. Like, people are dancing the street. The music is up. People are honking their horns. And it, like, it took 28 years. It took the entire history of the WNBA to get the Liberty championship. It was me, my sister, like, old friends from back in the day, college friends. We was just outside and, like, I was dancing. I was. I was doing. I was doing all sorts of stuff. I was salsa ing. And it just felt so good.

[Juju]

You cannot walk around the city or walk around the streets without loving Big Ellie. Big Ellie gonna make you feel like, look, I like the Liberty for this game. Talk about the energy of Big Ellie.

[Rebecca]

Ellie honestly might've had the biggest year ever. I'm trying to see who had a bigger year than Ellie. Cause Ellie had a bigger year than some of the WNBA players I seen.

[Juju]

On the State Farm commercial with Jake.

[Rebecca]

Ellie's unapologetic. Ellie speaks to the people. I hosted the championship parade for the Liberty, and we didn't even know if Ellie was gonna. Gonna be part of it. It was. It was a game time, like, so we didn't know. I have a script. We're working with the city. There's thousands of people outside at City Hall. We've got the mayor, we've got the players, we got ownership all on the stage. I'm. I'm kind of like, I heard Ellie Might be part of it. I wasn't sure. All of a sudden they're like, ellie's here. Just. Just announce her. I was like, and guess who's here? Like, I forgot what I said. But I was just like, ellie the elephant. When I say it was like Beyonce herself came out. There was like a dance routine, dancers. Ellie going to come down with the door like this.

[Juju]

Yeah. You feel me?

[Rebecca]

And the crowd goes wild. And I was like, okay, you better go ahead. You are so silly. But I'm here for it, man.

[Juju]

Salute to big Ellie. Also salute to one of my favorite players ever too. Y'all just got her back. Maureen. Yo, is the sniper the killer? Y'all gonna be looking good. Oh, and Tasha Cloud this year. I'm about to throw up. Y'all got embarrassment or riches up there. Salute to y'all. But let's move on before I throw up. But as a matter of fact, what WNBA team you think could make the biggest leap from last year? We know the link's gonna be good. We know y'all gonna be kicking it. You know me, I know I'm a dream. I'm biased on the dream. But what team you think gonna make one of the biggest leaps this year?

[Rebecca]

Biggest leap? The Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark. And, and. And now a squad full of like, they smashed the off season over there. They really crushed free agency and supported her with champions with experience, with vets, with talent, with real, like, you know, very high level weapons. Indy really ramped up, and I'm excited for Caitlin Clark in year two. I think she is the real deal. I think she. She absolutely lived up to the height and I think she'll. She'll continue to meet or even exceed expectations. She's very talented.

[Juju]

Right now we finna move on to the segment where we take a couple calls and give some of the listeners of the show a little bit of advice on whatever they calling about, crazy or not. Well, let's go. Ms. Rebecca.

[Rebecca]

What's up, Juju?

[Juju]

It's JP from Latonia Carwin.

[Rebecca]

Just asking for some of the music recommendations.

[Juju]

Yeah, guys out of Atlanta, preferably just.

[Rebecca]

Anything new that you've been listening to. Take care.

[Juju]

Look, man, let me find out the city checking out the alley. Ooh, man, that's the second call from the city. Latony. I see you, man. Come on, man. But I. I might be the wrong person to ask this because I still find myself listening to our old music like my sister right here. I listen to my deep still. Nas Queens in the building. You feel Me. So I listen to a lot of old hip hop, the boom baps of the world. You got some new recommendations for them, sis?

[Rebecca]

I do love, you know, an old school record or Old school Sunday. But I will say, like, right now, I'm listening to R B in my mornings in my car. Shoot. I'll be listening to it working out. And so I hope I don't say his name wrong, but I love everything he's doing. El Me, El Maine. He Alamene or something.

[Juju]

Yeah, I'm messing this.

[Rebecca]

Oh, his music I love. He's beautiful music. Kehlani I enjoy. You know, I could get down sometimes. I'm. What? I'm tapping in sometimes to my. My inner toxic queen. Nah, but she's so talented. I love Thames. That Mutt song Quietest Kept. I like the original version more than the remix. However, Chris Brown, I like the original better. Although when you have a chance to put Chris Brown on a track, I guess you gotta do it. You gotta do it. You know what I'm saying?

[Juju]

How dare you not?

[Rebecca]

But I did like the original and the way it made me feel. And there's a couple of songs of a season that stand out and like that one does, you know?

[Juju]

Yeah. I like the fact that right now, getting in the shine, in the spotlight, a lot of the old Atlanta dance music coming back right now. Like, ain't I on a hill? And I don't up here. You feel me? You got to know and rich kids, we gonna ball all the stuff making his rounds. You feel me? Swag surf never left. It's just you go to every building you see. Swags are still gone.

[Rebecca]

So that I like Swag surf for the community. I'd be happy for the children and stuff, right?

[Juju]

It's getting into all we do is Win territory, which is still a classic.

[Rebecca]

I'm happy to see my boy make his money. Who's that? College, right?

[Juju]

It's a classic. But don't play that in the car. If you ride around the car, this is all we do is win. Call 911 on that car.

[Rebecca]

That might be a serial killer. Ain't nobody normal just driving around. Listen to All I do is win. Where are the places you gotta be to listen? All I do is win. An arena, right?

[Juju]

That's it.

[Rebecca]

A marathon racetrack. I can't even think where else.

[Juju]

Hot dogging competition or something.

[Rebecca]

Nathan said a college graduation, right?

[Juju]

That is it. Well, yeah, man. On that note, man, we gonna get up out of here, man. Thank you so much, sis, for joining me today. Always a load of fun when you around, man. Like I say, man, without you and your encouragement, I don't know if I would have been the same spot to be doing what I'm doing now. So always flowers to you every time I see you, you got any lasting messages you want to get out to the people?

[Rebecca]

No. Keep doing your thing, Juju.

[Juju]

And just like that, we gonna catch you next week. The same bat channel at the same bad time. You dig us?

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