GOOD FOLLOW - Lexie Brown Talks CBA Negotiations, Seattle’s New Head Coach, Athletes Unlimited & More!

Summary

Episode Summary: GOOD FOLLOW - Lexie Brown Talks CBA Negotiations, Seattle’s New Head Coach, Athletes Unlimited & More!

Podcast: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (Good Follow Show, presented by DraftKings)
Date: November 20, 2025
Host: Roz Gold-Onwude
Guest: Lexie Brown (WNBA Champion, Seattle Storm guard, Athletes Unlimited executive committee member)

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on WNBA player Lexie Brown as she reflects on her nine-year career, her evolving leadership within Athletes Unlimited, the ongoing CBA negotiations in the WNBA, the impact of new coaching leadership in Seattle, and her personal goals for the upcoming season. It offers a candid look at the challenges and triumphs of professional women’s basketball, emphasizing how players' voices and power are growing in the industry.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lexie’s Resilience and Journey in the WNBA

• Lexie marks her 9th year in the league, discussing the ups and downs, including illness (Crohn's disease), being cut, and traded (03:01-03:37).
• The competitive challenges of the WNBA and her career perseverance:

  “Almost anything you can experience as a WNBA player, I’ve probably experienced, like, a walking testimony of just how hard it is at times, but also how amazing it is at the same time.” — Lexie Brown [03:27]

2. Athletes Unlimited: Leadership & “Pouring In”

• Lexie’s approach this season is to transition from being supported to supporting others, signaling a mindset shift as a league veteran (03:46-04:55).
• Describes AU as an environment enabling her to "pour into everybody that's here."
• Highlights the importance of alternative leagues for player empowerment, development, and leverage in negotiations (04:55-05:31).

3. CBA Negotiations and Women’s Basketball Momentum

• Breakdown of Lexie’s contract extension designed for health and security rather than maximizing immediate salary (06:07-07:12).
• Reflections on free agency frenzy and why she’s opted for stability:

  “I knew maybe in the back end I would lose like a year of this new CBA money. But there is a possibility for them to, like, renegotiate it, rip it up, whatever. But I know for a fact that, like, at least I’m gonna have my health insurance. And for me, that was like, top priority.” — Lexie Brown [07:01]

4. Seattle Storm: New Head Coach Sonia Raman

• Excitement about working with Raman, who is praised for her intellect and historic hire (first coach of Indian descent in WNBA) (07:34-08:23).
• Raman’s engagement with Lexie’s personal projects (Lexie’s podcast) creates optimism for a positive player-coach relationship:

  “She just reached out to me, mentioned the podcast. Like, that was really special to me.” — Lexie Brown [08:23]

5. The Uncertainties of WNBA Free Agency

• Anticipation for an “insane” free agency period with major roster uncertainty and expansion drafts looming (09:15-09:35).

6. CBA Negotiations: Progress, Power, and Player Leverage

• Lexie now takes a more active, informed role in CBA calls and the negotiation process (11:17-12:38):

  “The only concern is just, like, pushing back the season more and more. We have more games, more teams. We need more roster spots, obviously… that, like, I never thought I was going to be able to experience in my career.” — Lexie Brown [11:20]

• Players feel unprecedented leverage due to alternative opportunities (like AU and Unrivaled), shifting dynamics away from being dependent solely on the WNBA (12:45-13:17).
• Change from a culture of “just being grateful to be here” to “we’re partners”—players demand greater value and transparency from the league (13:17-14:28).

7. Ownership, Investment, and Infrastructure Issues

• Discussion of the WNBA’s complicated ownership structure and lack of minimum facilities as a symbol of underinvestment (16:11-18:06).
• Lexie emphasizes:

  “There’s no league without the players ... we’re asking for a bigger slice [of the pie] than we have right now. And we want the pie slice to grow as the pie grows. And right now it’s going the opposite direction and we need that to change.” — Lexie Brown [15:03-16:11]

8. Personal Aspirations and Leadership

• Lexie speaks candidly about not feeling she received the opportunity she deserved in Seattle last season despite being healthy (19:28-21:26).
• Her coping strategy is to focus on supporting younger teammates and contributing off the court when on-court chances are limited (21:26-22:42).

9. Athletes Unlimited’s Player-Led Model

• Description of the executive committee’s active role in AU’s operations — from picking rosters and cities to uniforms and rule changes (23:24-24:39).
• AU seen as a proving ground for leadership and front office skills, which Lexie aspires to (24:39).

10. Family Ties in AU

• Lexie’s father, Dee Brown, joins AU for player development, contributing both expertise and a special family dynamic for Lexie this season (24:45-26:11).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On her journey:

  “I didn’t think I was going to even get to five years, honestly. I mean, I got cut after year three. I was like, oh, wrap it up. But now we’re heading to year nine. I’m so blessed and grateful. That’s crazy.” — Lexie Brown [03:01]

• On player empowerment:

  “This is now an era of NIL, of people having star power before they enter the W, of people being millionaires before they enter the W. Like, y’all are partners.” — Roz Gold-Onwude [13:34]

• On institutional change:

  “We wanted to kind of keep it behind closed doors, but sometimes you just have to kind of let everything out in the open and see what happens.” — Lexie Brown [14:28]

• On WNBA investment:

  “Do y’all really care about us? Do y’all really want to invest in us? Do y’all want everybody to have a facility? Because right now it’s giving. No, y’all don’t, because everyone doesn’t have one. And that. That’s bare minimum.” — Lexie Brown [17:15]

• On player leadership in AU:

  “We literally do everything. Like, the only thing, like, we don’t know is, like, what everybody’s, like, getting paid. ... We handpick the roster, we discuss uniforms, what refs we’re bringing in, if we’re doing any rule changes. … We vote on everything. We’re, like, extremely hands on.” — Lexie Brown [23:24]

• On having her father involved at AU:

  “At first I was like, no, like, this is my thing. … But I was like, actually, that’s a great idea, Dad.… He coached my AAU team. He’s really passionate about women’s basketball and the game. … So for us to be able to, you know, have some daddy daughter time in Nashville. And I’m not gatekeeping him anymore, so I hope everybody just loves him as much as I do.” — Lexie Brown [24:53]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Lexie discusses her 9-year WNBA journey and gratitude – 03:01
• Lexie on shifting to a leadership & mentorship role in AU – 03:46-04:55
• Contract extension for health security – 06:07-07:12
• Anticipation of working with Seattle Storm’s new head coach, Sonia Raman – 07:34-08:23
• Active involvement & new leverage in CBA negotiations – 11:17-12:38
• Changing attitudes among players: “We’re partners.” – 13:17-14:28
• Complicated ownership issues and infrastructure challenges – 16:11-18:06
• Lexie on her limited role in Seattle & desire for reintroduction – 19:28-21:26
• Supporting young teammates when not playing – 21:26-22:42
• Player-led nature of Athletes Unlimited – 23:24-24:39
• Bringing her father into AU, deepening family connection through basketball – 24:45-26:11

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Flow & Tone

The conversation is candid, energetic, and conspiratorial, with Roz and Lexie bouncing from deep industry talk to personal anecdotes. Lexie’s tone is reflective but forward-looking; Roz amplifies and contextualizes Lexie’s insight with warmth, pride, and critical awareness of the stakes in women’s basketball today.

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This summary captures the major themes, insights, and memorable exchanges in Lexie Brown’s conversation on the "Good Follow" show—ideal for those interested in the realities and future of women’s basketball, both on and off the court.

Transcript

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[Lexi Brown]

Hey, what's up, y'? All?

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Welcome to Goodfellow show, presented by DraftKings. It's your girl, Roz Goldenwooder, and I am coming to you from Nashville, Tennessee, because I am here for a preseason welcome week of extravaganza activities for Athletes Unlimited heading into their fifth season. And for this episode, we have a very special guest joining the show. She is a WNBA champion. She is most recently of the Seattle Storm and will be rejoining them. And for Athletes Unlimited entering her fifth season, also, my homegirl and friend, Lexi Brown.

[Lexi Brown]

My girl.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

What's up, Lexi?

[Lexi Brown]

How are you? Great. How are you?

[Roz Goldenwooder]

I'm good. I'm always happy to see you.

[Lexi Brown]

Yeah, we always run into each other.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Yeah.

[Lexi Brown]

Never for work, though. This is like our first work thing.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

This is a work thing. Last time I saw you, it was the Women's Final Four, and you were like, let me get you an individual photo shoot. And I was like, no, there's no way. Like, Alexi, you do not have to.

[Lexi Brown]

Take a picture for me.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Cause I was like, what else?

[Lexi Brown]

No, no, no, no, no, no.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Stop. No, no, no. But I was like, what do I look like at the Women's Final Four having Lexi Brown taking my photos?

[Lexi Brown]

I make everybody take my p. Going out. You have to take photos of me.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Not for nothing, you nailed it.

[Lexi Brown]

Like, the posts, they look good. You posted them.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

The likes went crazy.

[Lexi Brown]

That's what I'm here for.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Yeah. Actually, you know, before we even started this, it took us a while to even get to the basketball because to me, you're a little sis, you know? Like, this is, you know, the youth coming up. And you just told me you're heading into year nine of the W. Yes.

[Lexi Brown]

Nine.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

I'm proud of you.

[Lexi Brown]

Thank you.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

That's a Testimony. It is, considering all you've had to overcome through your basketball career.

[Lexi Brown]

Yeah. Which has been a lot. I didn't think I was going to even get to five years, honestly. I mean, I got cut after year three. I was like, oh, wrap it up. But now we're heading to year nine. I'm so blessed and grateful. That's crazy.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

And there's also been a lot of things that have been outside of your control, whether it's Crohn's disease, you know, it's also just a competitive league. You've played in it during a time where there were less teams.

[Lexi Brown]

A lot of changes, roster spots, like, everything.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Yeah.

[Lexi Brown]

Almost anything you can experience as a WNBA player, I've probably experienced, like, a walking testimony of just how hard it is at times, but also how amazing it is at the same time.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

So knowing that as you step into Athletes Unlimited this upcoming season, which will now be your fifth, you know what. What do you need from this experience?

[Lexi Brown]

What are you trying to get out of it? Honestly, I think this is, like, the first season. I don't need a thing. I'm here to serve and pour into everybody that's here. And I think for me, this is going to be a really special season because it is such a transformative year for women's sports and women's basketball. We have, like, a really, really good roster. Like, this best roster we've ever had. And we were very intentional of who we brought to Nashville this season for season five. And there's gonna be a lot of changes, a lot of excitement, and I'm just ready to pour into people. Like, I've just been poured into constantly, every single year I've been here. I just felt like I've always been the person that everyone's like, are you good? Do you need anything? What's going on? You got traded. Like, I got traded last year during season, like, right before a game. So, like, I walked into the arena and everyone was like, are you okay?

[Roz Goldenwooder]

I think I might have been there last. Were you there?

[Lexi Brown]

I literally was, like, late to warmups. Like, I got the call literally on the way to a game, and, like, we were. I walked into, like, our pre game meeting, and everyone was like, are you okay? I'm like, yes. I'm employed. I'm fine. It's okay. Everything's gonna be fine. But I just feel like every year has been something with me, and I think this year will be the first year I can really just show up for everybody else, and I'm really excited about that.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Yeah, I'm happy for you and excited for you to experience that role and also to kind of pay it forward for all the people who poured into you. But it also kind of speak, too, about how interesting and important these relatively new leagues that, you know, are alternative to the WNBA season are, that have. Have started to pop up. And this year, all eyes are going to be on a league like Athletes Unlimited, as the CBA is, you know, hopefully renegotiated or continuing to be. And certainly free agency is about to be the biggest ever. Like, what is it like having all eyes on women's basketball during this time?

[Lexi Brown]

It's amazing. We're like, finally. We've been waiting. We've been waiting. I mean, you know, you played in college. Like, we've been here. Like, I'm glad y' all are coming to the party. Y' all a little late, but welcome. Like I said, like, this is the season. Like, I'm one of the two vets signed still. Yeah, I'm not gonna be a free agent, so that's something that I don't even have to worry about.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

That was by design, right? So for everybody, like, this is gonna be a huge free agency for just about everyone who isn't a rookie in the WNBA is going to be mad. It's going to be very exciting. But you, like you said, you're one of two, and that was by design. How did you make that decision to have that?

[Lexi Brown]

So the front office at the time with the Sparks were around when I got. When I was peak illness time. And honestly, we didn't know if I was going to get better. We didn't know what was going on. And they were gracious enough to extend me an extension in the middle of me being sick. I hadn't played in months, but they were just like, you know what? Like, we're going to trust that you're going to get better, you're going to get back. We're going to give you this extension. I needed the health insurance. You know, I wasn't worried about the salary. I'm not afraid to work hard for something. I knew I would make the money back on the back end. But just having that protection, not having to worry about if I was going to be employed or not, where I was going to get my health insurance, if I was going to be straight with my medication took such a weight off me. And that's why I decided to do the extension. And I know a lot of people just found out during the finals because they said it a lot during the Finals. And everyone was like, what? Like, how? Why would they do that? Like, it was very intentional, 100% intentional. And I, like, I knew maybe in the back end I would lose like a year of this new CBA money. But there is a possibility for them to, like, renegotiate it, rip it up, whatever. But I know for a fact that, like, at least I'm gonna have my health insurance. And for me, that was like, top priority.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Security is a real thing. Again, especially when you've, you know, had so many situations or setbacks that have also been outside of your control. You was like, I could lock this in.

[Lexi Brown]

I mean, this year, last year, and this year will be my first two protected contracts in my whole career. So I was like, I'm just need this.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

And you've got an interesting situation coming up with the Seattle store for year two of this contract and that. You've got a brand new head coach.

[Lexi Brown]

Brand new head coach. Yes.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

First of all, shout out to Sonia Raman.

[Lexi Brown]

Amazing.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Very much known for her intellect, super high iq. I mean, literally, the lady's a lawyer. Very, very well regarded in coaching circles. Also, you know, makes history as the first of Indian descent as a head coach in the wnba.

[Lexi Brown]

Very cool.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Like, so knowing that is happening heading into year two, you got a new coach. How do you respond to that?

[Lexi Brown]

I mean, I'm exc. We've been texting a little bit. We're going to talk a little bit later this week. But again, like you said, high cute, intellectual basketball. Mind that. Like, that's me head to toe. So hopefully that we can see eye to eye. You know, I'm waiting for a coach that I can just build a really good relationship with. I just haven't been able to find that in the WNBA yet. So I'm hoping that she's the one. I've heard nothing but great things about her, so I'm really excited.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Yeah. What are you guys talking about so far?

[Lexi Brown]

She's so much. She listens. She's gonna listen to my podcast. I know. It's like my coach last year never even mentioned my pod to me. But I knew she was listening, but I could tell she was listening. But she never mentioned anything about it. But she straight up was like, yeah, I'm gonna listen to your pod. I downloaded. I'm listening to the flight, which was great. Cause we actually talked about her on that recent episode and how excited we were to have her in Seattle. And I was excited to get to know her. So for her to even mention, like, we were. She just reached out to me, mentioned the podcast. Like, that was. That was really special to me. She probably thought was just like a regular thing. But like, having her knowing that I even have a podcast is like super cool.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

It's an investment. Like, she's like, yo, I'm gonna put time into what it is that you're pouring into.

[Lexi Brown]

Yeah. And I great things about you, by the way. Like, imagine if I was on there. Like, who is this new coach?

[Roz Goldenwooder]

No, definitely don't listen to episode 56.

[Lexi Brown]

No. We literally had such high praises. We had high praises for her. So I'm glad she listened to that one. Yeah.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

And actually, you know, you're one of the givens for the storm again with this free agency coming up. A lot of teams, we don't really know what to expect.

[Lexi Brown]

It'd be insane. I can't wait to watch it all unfold. It's going to be insane.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

You have no idea who your teammates.

[Lexi Brown]

Are going to be. None. I think it's me right now. It's just me and the babies. So those are the ones that are locked in. But again, you have the expansion draft too.

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[Lexi Brown]

It's going to be crazy. The regular drafts. Like, we have no idea what's going to happen.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

There's so much new. There's so much like on the timeline that you need to get to and the CBA is still holding everything up, hovering overhead. I mean, what are you most concerned about? Or is your biggest interest right now with the CBA, especially given y' all just renegotiated a extension through November 30th?

[Lexi Brown]

Right.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

So do you feel like the time is ticking to get this done? For sure.

[Lexi Brown]

I mean, the last cba, we went through January, I think, so this is like, nothing new. So we've had extensions before. I wasn't as hands on with the last CBA because I was still relatively new to the league, and I didn't really know what was going on. But this time around, I'm, like, very invested in it. I'm on the calls. NECA has been my teammate in LA and in Seattle, so I'm always asking her, bothering her, like, what Kathy say, what Terry say, what y' all talking about? Y' all meet? And she's like, lexi, please leave me alone. I talk about this all the time, but I'm not concerned. I mean, the only concern is just, like, pushing back the season more and more. We have more games, more teams. We need more roster spots, obviously, but the fact that we're going to be seeing all this new money, whatever that looks like, is something that, like, I never thought I was going to be able to experience in my career. So I'm just really excited. I mean, I think even it's, like, getting a little messy. It's getting spicy. But, like, deep down, I think everybody's just, like, really excited about where the league is going, and hopefully we can figure it out.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Yeah. Do you feel like you're close?

[Lexi Brown]

No. Unfortunately, no. But maybe I'm not in the big, big meetings with the executive committee, but we just saw AC when she was in Nashville briefly when we were here, and she was just like, yeah, I mean, the are. They're moving, but, like, they should have been moving, like, a few weeks ago, a few months ago, so. But moving forward is better than moving backwards.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Who do you think is first to feel the pressure of missing out on momentum built by not getting this done properly?

[Lexi Brown]

I think the league, now that we have us and unrivaled, like, we just have more leverage and more power than we've ever had. We've had. We have so many opportunities outside of the W, which is amazing, and I feel like this is the first time that we really can afford to, like, not play. We don't want to do that. We love the W. We love our fans. We want to continue to push the league forward, but for the first time, I feel like in the history, there's enough of us to be like, oh, no. Like, we'll be okay if we don't have this season. But again, like, that is worst case scenario in my eyes.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

But the perspective, there's gotta be an attitude shift. I was just talking about this with Angel McCaughrey actually, and I was like, how the attitudes have to shift, because maybe in the past, it used to be that, you know, WNBA players might have been lucky to have the platform of the W. That's an old mindset.

[Lexi Brown]

It's old.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

That's. This is now an era of nil, of people having star power before they enter the W, of people being millionaires before they enter the W. Like, y' all are partners.

[Lexi Brown]

Yes. Right. It's like not this. This power hierarchy. Like, it wasn't like, y' all just, like, just be grateful to be here. Just grateful. Like, I mean, that came out of Kathy's mouth. Like, we heard it from Fee when she was like, y', all, everyone should be grateful that you even have this. And yes, we are grateful. Absolute. We love being able to make money playing a game that we love. But at the end of the day, there needs to be some type of, you know, value added. Like, y' all have to show us that you guys value us as the players. Like, there's no league without the players. So I feel. I feel like we are headed in the right direction, but I think we had to kind of, like, light a little fire under the league a little bit, and that's not what we wanted to do. We wanted to kind of keep it behind closed doors, but sometimes you just have to kind of let everything out in the open and see what happens.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Do you wish it hadn't gotten quite as spicy and personal as it. As it did?

[Lexi Brown]

I mean, yeah, you don't ever want to throw anybody under the bus because we are, like you said, partners. At the end of the day, we want to keep things civil, but some things just have to be said. And I mean, Fee, of all people saying it, you know, it was bad. Yeah. You know, it was bad.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

And Sue Bird said something interesting, too. On a. On another podcast, she was saying, we have found. This was like me paraphrasing what she said. We have found that nobody will listen to us until we yell and start screaming. And I was like, so, like, that's.

[Lexi Brown]

Kicking, screaming, throwing things against the wall, right? Jumping. That's basically what that was. And I mean, they've. They have responded. And I think people now, I've Said it a lot. Like, people aren't being so dense about the conversation anymore. Like, people like, oh, your league just loses money. Like, the amount of comments I see, I'm like, okay, like, you guys don't know that if the league was that much of a failure, it would have been done already. Like, let's, let's move past that and just get down to the, the nitty gritty of what we're asking. We're asking for a big of the pie that we have helped bake. You know, the pie keeps growing and our slice is getting smaller and smaller and smaller. We're not asking for the entire pie. We're not asking for a huge piece of the pie, just a bigger slice than we have right now. And we want the pie slice to grow as the pie grows. And right now it's going the opposite direction and we need that to change.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

What do you think about this concept or the truth that the ownership structure is really complicated?

[Lexi Brown]

It's very complicated for the WNBA.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Just there's like some, for maybe 42% of WNBA owners, 42% owned by NBA owners. There's this other slice of 16% that was divvied out to an independent group that invested in the league, but also was comprised of WNBA owners who already had a slice, so they got extra.

[Lexi Brown]

Very complicated.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

So what do you think about that?

[Lexi Brown]

I mean, I think this is the way that the league has had to survive and it's been in survival mode for so many years. But it's like, again, it's like a lot of layers that you have to get through and just the league is just not very transparent about anything. So, yes, we are probably just as confused as everybody else. Do we owe these people money? Like, who wants money? Where? And then all of a sudden the league explodes and now everybody probably wants their money, their return on investment, but like, I'm not really investing in us for real. It was just a tax write off to some of you. It was just something that you had to do for some of you. And now you have the owners, our Seattle owners, the New York owners, the Vegas owners. Like, they are the first ones that really put the money where their mouths were. Like, and everybody has to follow suit. But I feel like people have been really hard on Kathy, as they should be, but she works for the owners. Like, everyone needs to be looking at the owners and like, what are you all talk talking about in these meetings? Like, who's, who's for the players and who's for themselves? Like, that's the Questions that need to be asked. Like, it's not all on Kathy, but she's just, like, the face of it. But she works for the owners. So I'm like, what are y' all owners talking about in Yalls meetings? Like, do y' all really care about us? Do y' all really want to invest in us? Do y' all want everybody to have a facility? Because right now it's giving. No, y' all don't, because everyone doesn't have one. And that's ridiculous. And that. That's bare minimum. You want us to come out here and do our jobs and be put out a good product, and we can't even have facilities. Like, we haven't even gotten to that in the CBA yet. We're still stuck on salaries. But, like, having facilities is that there's a.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

That there's a minimum level that, like, you can't have any team, not have you playing in a rec center. Like, everybody's got to have a certain requirement.

[Lexi Brown]

And honestly, would I say it's like, a competitive advantage? In some ways? Yes. Like, I've been on teams in the rec center. I'm now in Seattle with a beautiful facility. Like, it is, like, night and day, but, like, it doesn't, like, automatically give you wins, doesn't automatically give you championships. It's the investment from the top down, and that's why Vegas has been running through the league the last four years, because they are doing it the right way over there.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

It feels like teams and ownership groups are following suit. It's almost like a facilities arms race at this point, and a coaching arms race and an analytics arms race. So, look, with the demands of this level of investment in every single way, it's raising everybody's bar, right?

[Lexi Brown]

Exactly.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

So hopefully we do see the cba, you know, come to a positive place where everybody's winning together, and we can get back to the court and the games and the schedule as planned. And let's. Actually, that'll be my transition into. Let's get back to the court here, because we've been all over, and it's been beautiful. But I want to come back to something you said in your exit interviews with the Storm. You said, nah, man, you keep it real. You said, I don't believe I got the opportunity I deserved here.

[Lexi Brown]

Yep. You want more.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

And you clarified that you were healthy.

[Lexi Brown]

Yeah.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

So what is it that you want out of your career this next season, coming up with the Storm, and at this point, heading into year nine and your pro WNBA career?

[Lexi Brown]

Yeah, I just Feel like a reintroduction is needed. All these new fans, like, just know me as the podcast girl that happens to also play in the W because I've been battling getting back healthy. So the last two years prior to this one, I, like, was not fully healthy. This was my first year healthy. Had a great season last year in Nashville. Got traded. They were so excited for me to be there. We go, I need your shooting. We're going to need this, this, this. I get there and it's just like, everything changed. And I was just kind of like, y' all told me y' all needed a shooter. Like, we literally had papers in our lockers of everyone's role. And my number one role was efficient three point shot maker. Nobody else on the team had that role but me. We had three roles. Nobody else had three point shot maker but me on the entire team. And the biggest struggle for us this season was three point shooting. And I was just like, okay, we have drills, we have shooting, we have pd, we have the gym. Like, I was in there doing what you guys asked me to do, and y' all just didn't put me on the court. And that's just something that happens at times. You just have to be a professional about it and get through it. And that's what I did. But it started getting to the point where I was. We were going to games and I was seeing other players and other coaches, and they're like, are you. Are you okay? Like, are you still sick? Are you still. And I was like, oh, no, no, no. We're not going through this again. Like, I'm fine. I'm healthy. Like, I can't check myself into the game. I'm just not playing. So that's why I decided to use that opportunity to address the media, because I was like, I don't really talk to none of y' all all season long, for real. Like, I don't really know y' all for real, but I appreciate y'. All. So I'm just gonna use this opportunity just to clear that up. Like, I'm healthy. I feel amazing. I just wasn't given any minutes, and that's happened sometimes.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

How did you deal with something like that that you are not in control of? When you're getting subbed in and you're playing time?

[Lexi Brown]

Oh, man. Throughout the season, honestly, I thought those days were behind me. I hadn't had a DNP in, like, three years. So I was like, I got won the second game of the season, so that kind of, like, took me out. I was Like a dnp. Y' all brought me here. Like, I was cool in la. I had a whole life in Los Angeles and y' all picked me up just to not play me any minutes. 0min. Second game of the year against Dallas. No disrespect to Dallas, but it's like, you saw how their season ended, but I'm like, okay. So it took me a little bit of time to just wrap my mind around what this season was going to look like for me personally. And I just felt like, okay, let me pour into the young ones because I wasn't the only one dealing with hard things this season. So I just decided to pour into Mackenzie, Dom Ziya. You know, I was with AN la. Me and her were able to, like, rebuild our relationship because we both had a hard time in LA too, towards the end. So that made my days, that made showing up to work a lot more tolerable for me because I got to see them every day and made sure that they were locked in. They were in the gym all the time, working out, doing all the things that they needed to do to be pros. So just seeing them doing that just continued to keep me inspired and happy to show up to work.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Yeah, you have that characteristic about you. Like, you. No, you're a leader. You also enjoy helping others and building something. And brings us back to AU Athletes Unlimited, where you're on the player executive committee and you mentioned right at the top of this interview you like to pour. You know, you want to try this year to pour into other people's. I think in my knowledge of au, last year was my first time pulling up and one of the things that I didn't even know and I think is an incredible story that people can know even more, is that this league is player led. There's a player led aspect. Like, what is the role you have in the player executive committee? What do y' all do?

[Lexi Brown]

We literally do everything. Like, the only thing, like, we don't know is, like, what everybody's like, getting paid. Like, that's the only thing, like, we don't know. We have weekly meetings, we handpick the roster, we discuss uniforms, what refs we're bringing in, if we're doing any rule changes. We all collectively decided to come to Nashville. I mean, we had other cities that.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

We wanted to go to.

[Lexi Brown]

Like, we vote on everything. We're, like, extremely hands on. And I feel like we don't really have a group that likes to, like, toot their own horn, but, like, we have a very humble group. But I feel like we need a, like, pop it a little bit more. Like we really built this league from the ground up with the help of the Johns that, you know, founded this and, you know, having the other sports has been amazing, but I feel like what we've built basketball wise, like, we tapped into this off season thing way before anybody else did. John believed in women's basketball before anybody else did. So, like, we're always so grateful for him. He's on all the meetings. He was in Nashville with us this weekend and it's just so much fun. And it's like I'm getting my feet wet in the front office, office GM role that I want to have one day, hopefully. But it's been a blast. And it's really like the optimal opportunity for me to just pour into each other, pour into others, and continue to grow the women's game.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Okay, I'll get you out on this one because another cool aspect of this season of Athletes Unlimited is your dad.

[Lexi Brown]

Yeah. Dee Brown is going to be having.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

A role in au. So, like, what's he going to be doing and why is to he going that special for you to have this with him?

[Lexi Brown]

So he's gonna join Danielle in doing a player development, skill development. So he actually asked me if he could come do some AU stuff. And at first I was like, no, like, this is my thing. And people are gonna be like, oh, Lexi and her dad and la la, la, la, la. But I was like, actually, that's a great idea, dad. So I just brought it to Megan and the PC. I mean, the PC, they had to vote on it to make sure it was okay without me present. And they know that everyone's really excited. So he's been away from the women's game for a long time, but he's been training since I've been a kid. He coached my AAU team. He's really passionate about women's basketball and the game he coached in the W. He has a lot of knowledge, so he's just really excited. We're really excited. And I haven't really been able to spend a ton of time with him, you know, in the last few years. I've been on the move. He's been on the move. So for us to be able to, you know, have some daddy daughter time in Nashville. And I'm not gatekeeping him anymore, so I hope everybody just loves him as much as I do.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Oh, it is so sweet to see your father daughter relationship and the love through the game and bonding.

[Lexi Brown]

Yeah, he likes to be behind the scenes. So even him asking to like come do this, I'm like are you sure you like to kind of be in the cut like Batman a little bit. But he's like, no, I'm ready to come out and show everybody like my knowledge and everything that I can, I can teach y'. All. And he has great drill. Like I'm so excited for everyone to see his drills. Like just his, his basketball mind is just incredible. So I'm really excited.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Oh, it's going to be a family affair here at AU in Nashville. You know I can't wait. I'll be back in February to see you there but thank you for pulling up to goodfall show.

[Lexi Brown]

Thanks.

[Roz Goldenwooder]

Yeah, everybody, that'll do it for this episode of good follow show. Lexi Brown and her pops coming to you. Papa Brown from Nashville, Tennessee. We'll see you next time.

[Lexi Brown]

Sam, Where.