GOOD FOLLOW - Lisa Leslie Talks Angel Reese’s Motion, A’ja Wilson’s GOAT Status, Cathy Engelbert Gets Booed & More

Summary

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Podcast Summary: GOOD FOLLOW - Lisa Leslie Talks Angel Reese’s Motion, A’ja Wilson’s GOAT Status, Cathy Engelbert Gets Booed & More

Podcast: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Guests/Hosts: Roz Gold-Onwude (Host), Lisa Leslie (Guest)
Date: October 16, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode of GOOD FOLLOW centers on a dynamic and insightful conversation between host Roz Gold-Onwude and legendary WNBA hall of famer Lisa Leslie. Broadcasting from LA, the discussion dives deep into the cultural influence of Angel Reese, the on-court dominance and GOAT candidacy of A’ja Wilson, and recent events in the WNBA, including Cathy Engelbert being booed at the Finals. Lisa Leslie’s candid reflections as a role model, analyst, and mentor bring a unique perspective to pivotal developments in women's basketball and sports culture.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Lisa Leslie’s Legacy of Mentorship and Media

• Early Mentorship
  Roz recalls Lisa’s support when she was an aspiring broadcaster, emphasizing Lisa's reliability and leadership in uplifting young talent from all backgrounds—not just established stars.

“I was happy you asked and I was like, oh, I never let down people. When I say I'm going to do something, I follow through and do it. And especially young people, to me, I think that's so important.” —Lisa Leslie (02:45)

• Philosophy on Podcasting and Media Influence
  Lisa discusses her careful approach to holding a platform, emphasizing authenticity and responsibility, and distancing herself from clickbait.

“We are a part of the media, essentially. We have a voice and a platform, and I think we have to use that responsibly.” —Lisa Leslie (05:06)

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Angel Reese’s Cultural Impact

• Victoria’s Secret Runway & Breaking New Ground [06:27]

  • Lisa beams with pride over Angel Reese becoming the first WNBA player to walk the Victoria’s Secret runway, emphasizing the depth of Angel’s preparation and the ripple effect for women athletes.
  • Both reflect on the shift—Reese isn’t just excelling at basketball, she’s shaping pop culture and inspiring new dreams for young girls.
  • Lisa draws parallels to her own pioneering work in modeling as a WNBA player, highlighting representation and opportunity:

    “Every time we, as a whole, get endorsement deals… you're continually busting down doors and opening it up for that next generation.” —Lisa Leslie (08:31)

• Comparison: Angel Reese & Lisa Leslie [09:24]

  • Roz notes that during their last show, they debated whether anyone has culturally transcended the WNBA like Angel Reese, with Lisa’s own legacy being the closest parallel.
  • Lisa graciously accepts the comparison, dubbing Reese her “10.0”—a successor empowered by social media and new opportunities.

    “Angela's like, she's 10.0 me. Like… now we have businesses and companies who want a piece of the pie because the numbers are off the chart.” —Lisa Leslie (11:54)

• Caitlin Clark’s Parallel Impact

  • Lisa stresses that while Angel leads in cultural reach, Caitlin Clark is also a generational game-changer—together their rivalry and success fuel the women's game’s popularity.

    “You can’t say one really without the other… they were synonymous in terms of creating this growth for women’s basketball.” —Lisa Leslie (13:41)

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Authenticity and Athlete Branding

• Finding Their Own Lane [14:46]

  • Roz and Lisa agree that Angel and Caitlin are both thriving by staying true to themselves: Angel with her visibility and culture-shaping presence; Caitlin by building her own brand and doing things her way (like golf).

• On Angel Reese’s Next Steps as a Player [15:20]

  • Lisa details Angel’s injury challenges in her second season, her league-leading rebounding, and strong work ethic, but notes her continued lack of veteran mentorship on the Chicago Sky.

    “To lead the league in rebounding… that’s a lot of work to not get recognized... I wish she would have had more of that veteran leadership.” —Lisa Leslie (17:20)

  • Lisa calls for a team environment that fully appreciates Angel's “heart and fight.”

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A'ja Wilson’s GOAT Candidacy and the Era of the Aces

• Reframing the GOAT Debate [21:22]

  • Lisa Leslie respectfully sidesteps naming a GOAT, pointing out the difficulty of comparing across eras and the importance of context—namechecking trailblazers including Cheryl Miller, Cynthia Cooper, Diana Taurasi, and others.

    “In any era, Asia would be amazing… Cynthia Cooper would have been amazing, Cheryl Miller would have been amazing. I would be amazing. Like, we would still have the level of success that we've had even now in this era.” —Lisa Leslie (22:22)

  • Lisa sees herself and A’ja as “the most similar,” admiring Wilson’s all-around game and consistency.

• A’ja’s Dominance & Marketability [24:53]

  • Roz remarks on A’ja’s championships, MVPs, and Olympic medals, asking if her marketability matches her dominance.
  • Lisa says brands like Nike have stepped up but there’s room for more off-court opportunities:

    “She should have more. She's the best player in the world, you know.” —Lisa Leslie (25:27)

• The 2025 Aces’ Turnaround
  Lisa sums up their championship run as a sign of a dynasty, praising A’ja for never “disappearing” even in hard games.

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Cathy Engelbert Booed at Finals – What It Means [25:33]

• WNBA Commissioner’s Reception
  • Roz notes how loudly the commissioner was booed during the trophy presentation—a moment visible on the faces of players and commentators.
  • Lisa is empathetic but sees it as a powerful sign of growing fan engagement and advocacy for player equity:

    “It’s kind of cool because we know the fans are listening… they want for the players to reap the benefits also. So you think about the CBA and… profit sharing. I think that's going to be important…” —Lisa Leslie (26:26)

  • She isn’t mad at the fans, interpreting the moment as player solidarity.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I'm a truth teller. So if it's things that… is not going to benefit us, I don't really participate in it… I don’t believe in negative energy and giving out negative energy.”
  —Lisa Leslie (04:10)

• “She checked all the boxes. This is your best body… when you are a professional athlete and you’re in your 20s, that is your best body, baby.”
  —Lisa Leslie on Angel Reese’s VS runway walk (06:37)

• “You never know how it comes full circle. The fact that we're working together, you don't know. One day you could be my boss… I'm happy because you never know.”
  —Lisa Leslie (02:45)

• “I see [A’ja Wilson’s] game probably the most similar to mine of any player that I’ve ever seen... the accuracy, the shot blocking, the defense, the energy, able to guard people inside and out.”
  —Lisa Leslie (23:03)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Mentorship & Media Responsibility – 01:57–05:43
• Angel Reese’s Model Runway & Cultural Impact – 06:27–09:24
• Development of Angel & Caitlin Clark’s Cultural Lanes – 09:24–15:20
• Angel Reese’s Game Growth & Lacking Veteran Leadership – 15:55–18:44
• Aces’ Championship, A’ja Wilson’s Resume & GOAT Conversation – 20:12–24:53
• Wilson’s Endorsements & Marketability – 25:02–25:33
• Cathy Engelbert Booed by Fans: Fan Activism and Player Support – 25:33–27:38

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Final Thoughts

The episode provides depth and nuance on how WNBA stars are shaping both basketball and American culture. Lisa Leslie’s authenticity, sharp analysis, and personal warmth bring clarity to the issues shaping women’s sports today: athlete empowerment, cross-generational legacy, fan activism, and the meaning of success on and off the court.
The conversation is celebratory, candid, and optimistic—reflective of both women’s unwavering advocacy for the next generation.

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Transcript

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[Lisa Leslie]

You'Re listening to DraftKings Network.

[Roz Gold]

Hey, what's up, y'?

[Lisa Leslie]

All?

[Roz Gold]

Welcome to Goodfellow show, presented by DraftKings. I'm Roz Gold on Woode and today I'm coming to you from our LA studio because we have a very special special guest interview with a hoop legend, a hall of famer, WNBA great, just multifaceted queen, the host of between the Lines and friend to the show, Lisa Leslie is in the building. What's up, Lisa?

[Lisa Leslie]

What's up? Happy to be back on. Good follow. Love your show, your podcast. You do such a great job. So this will be fun. Of course.

[Roz Gold]

Oh, my gosh. Are you part of the Goodfellow family?

[Lisa Leslie]

Lisa, I am part of the Goodfellow family. You do a great job, Roz. I'm a fan. You already know that.

[Roz Gold]

Thank you so much. You know, I remember like early, like we're talking like the 2010s and those years out at a college meeting, you and telling you I wanted to be a broadcaster and you know, could I get some advice and like, for real, the Lisa Leslie at the time, absolutely had kind words, advice and always like, you know, tapped in with me. I really always appreciated you.

[Lisa Leslie]

You know, I always talk about I love being a role model, but then it's like when you actually, when action. You know what I mean? That's an action. You asked me to help you do something and I connected you. I think back then it was maybe it was Fox or something, but you did. It's still like. Yeah, it's like do it. You know what I mean? Like help other people. I don't know, I just, I'm happy because you never know how it comes full circle.

[Roz Gold]

Yeah.

[Lisa Leslie]

Like the fact that we're working together, you don't know. One day you could be My boss, like, you just never know. And I don't know. I think it's just important. So I was happy you asked and I was like, oh, I never let down people. When I say I'm going to do something, I follow through and do it. And especially young people, to me, I think that's so important. So I was so happy to help. And look at you. You just, you did all kind of stuff. Warriors. That's that girl. No, I'm just kidding.

[Roz Gold]

No facts. That's how it be. And, you know, actually taking me down memory lane, like, it means a lot too, because I think people see you with, you know, you mentor a lot of the biggest star up and coming stars. But, like, at the time, I was a nice starter coming out of Stanford University. But, you know, I wasn't Neca Igwoomake, I wasn't Jay Napelle. But, like, it wasn't about, like, what your status was. It was like, yo, there's a young person that wants help. And you absolutely did that. And you did connect me with somebody at Fox. I remember that now. I just. Just giving you flowers because actually, you know, you wear so many hats. In addition to being a beautiful human being, I see you in commercials. The fans are constantly calling on you to step up into something. They want you to be the commissioner. They want you to be a coach. But one of your most recent roles that you're crushing is that of an elite podcaster. So how has it been hosting between the lines and being in this world with us as a podcaster?

[Lisa Leslie]

You know, honestly, here's the deal. This is my real honest answer. I know that my spiritual gift is my ability to speak, but I oftentimes am really a homebody and I don't necessarily need attention or to be in front of the camera just talking about anything. So I feel like whenever I do a podcast or speak on anything, it really comes from the heart. And I really try to give my honest answer. And I'm a truth teller. So if it's things that I feel is not going to benefit us, us as a whole, WNBA or me individually or whatever it is that I'm talking about, I don't really participate in it. I'm not a person who gives out. I'm not. I don't believe in negative energy and giving out negative energy. I don't read negative stuff. I just keep it moving. If I don't like it, I keep it moving. Like, that's the kind of person I am. So I feel like podcasts sometimes I Get a little overwhelmed with them because everybody has one and they're everywhere. And I don't like clickbait. Like, I don't like to just talk about something just to be like, oh, I want people to see this, so mention somebody's name. And I like, that's not me. So I do feel like being a part of the podcast world, we have a major responsibility because we are a part of the media, essentially. We have a voice and a platform, and I think we have to use that responsibly. So for. For me, I reluctantly am like, yeah, I do have a podcast, and I really try to be socially responsible with that, but I'm also very hesitant. I do not do everybody's podcast, for sure.

[Roz Gold]

Well, first of all, I'm honored. Thank you for pulling up on our show. And also, I've had the chance to be on your show. That's meant a lot. You're a real one. I've actually really enjoyed getting to hear the way you see the game, and you do that at such a high level, and that's probably why you're such a great mentor to a lot of these up and coming Hoopers, you know? And that's another hat you wear, that of mentor. One of your girls was doing it big last night at the time of taping Angel. Angel Reese walked the Victoria Secret one way last night. The first ever WNBA player to do so. And actually, I love this clip that came out. This is her right after walking the Runway. Look how happy she is.

[Lisa Leslie]

Yes. She's celebrating.

[Roz Gold]

Oh, my gosh. So what did you think? What did you think seeing her on that stage?

[Lisa Leslie]

Honestly, Roz, I. Again, I always describe stuff like, I feel like a proud mom, but I'm really proud of angel because, you know, I modeled. I had a modeling contract. Modeling is not as easy as it look. I mean, people think you just put on some clothes and walk, but it's. You have nerves. You have to have confidence. You have to have, you know, where you connect with the crowd and the audience. And I thought she checked all the boxes. This is your best body. When you are a professional athlete and you're in your 20s, that is your best body, baby. So I thought it was amazing. I thought she had. She looked beautiful. I thought she had the confidence that she needed. And it's her first time. Like people. I don't even read all of these comments. I just sent her a personal message and I was very. I'm very proud of her. I'm happy that she's the first WNBA Player to do it. And because that's going to open doors, hopefully for more. I mean, we have so many beautiful women in our league that could possibly do something like that. So I feel like every time we, we as a whole get endorsement deals and get opportunities, you're slightly just continually to bust down doors and open it up for that next generation or even one of your colleagues. So very happy, proud. You know, I can't wait to hear the details, of course, but that's for another day. But I love you for. I really do.

[Roz Gold]

Yeah, me too. You know, and just like angel, it's not like she just came in there and was like, oh, I'm just go and do it. Like, she. She worked at it. Honestly. Is it just me? Is it just my algorithm? I don't think so. I think for a lot of the larger culture, the reason why we talked about the Victoria's Secret show today was because of Angel Reese. And I don't just think, yeah, like. Like, isn't it crazy that a WNBA player, the R.W. nBA players, not just angel, are like, the reasons why people are talking about brands and moments and events, you know, that's a shift.

[Lisa Leslie]

I feel. I'm proud. Listen, and I always say this, that the things that I tried to do personally, to check off these boxes, to be the first WNBA player to sign a modeling contract, I signed with Willamina. It's. It's a place in a space where we really belong, and we just haven't had the opportunities as much. And so I always look at it as an opportunity to, one, make space, create space. Representation matters. But guess what? She just inspired a whole bunch of other little girls that are probably dribbling right now, you know, and thinking about, oh, I want to play basketball, but I also want to be a model. I want to be in a Victoria seat. You know, it just continues to broaden the horizon, I think, for little girls to be able to. To be like Angel Reese. Why? Why not? I love it.

[Roz Gold]

I love it. And that young ladies can dream that they can be many things that you don't just have to be put in one box. And so actually, on our last show of Goodfellow, I was here with Angel McCaughrey, who hosts with us, and we were just talking about, like, at this moment, there's no player in the WNBA that has transcended the sport and is impacting culture like Angel Reese. And while we were debating, like, okay, so now we were like, there's really no one who's doing it like Angel. But in the past, the name that we thought of was you. Do you like that comparison? And why do you think angel has broken through like this and connected and resonated like this? NFL fans, what's your favorite touchdown? For me, it's the next one. With DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL. Every touchdown could put cash in your hands. First score anytime, TDs, live bets, every snap is an opportunity your team hitting paydirt pays out to you new customers. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app and use code goodfollow. That's code goodfollow to turn five bucks into $300 in bonus bets. If your bet wins in partnership with DraftKings, the crown is yours.

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[Lisa Leslie]

I love it. I feel like in each era we, we do the best we can do. Whether I was modeling, broadcasting, public speaking, acting, you know, I did sitcoms, I did movies. All of those things is because we're not just one thing. And again, you have to be what you're comfortable with. Everybody didn't have all of these talents, right? But everybody didn't have the personality. Everybody's not as articulate. Everybody didn't have the the will to take criticism when you are in these spaces, like who do you think you are? And I remember people in players like where is she going? And why is she always dressing? What are you, you know, like why? But it's like I'm my authentic self and I feel like I Say Angela's like, she's 10.0 me. Like. Like, you just come into this future with social media. Timing is everything. Her personality, her beauty, her. Her attitude, her confidence, all of those things, same thing line up where it's like, okay, but now we have, you know, businesses and companies who want a piece of the pie because the numbers are off the chart. Our audience has extremely exploded. You know, the women's basketball is the number one growing sport in the world right now in terms of just the numbers and where we've come from and where we've gone to. And when you look at that, the numbers make sense, right? Because at the end of the day, it was always about money. If we're not making money and bringing money in, how can you expect people to invest in it? So it took time. So I love everything that angel gets to accomplish. But we also can't forget about Caitlin, because I feel like Caitlin is another one of those. She may not have the same type of endorsements that angel has, but she's a game changer. The Caitlyn effect was real, and I feel like the two of them, with their conflict in that right moment has been an explosion of women's basketball. And you can't say one really without the other because they were synonymous in terms of creating this growth for women's basketball.

[Roz Gold]

I think that's a good point, actually, because I do think, you know, in my circles, the way that angel is hitting the culture, like, it immediately hits my timeline, my algorithm. But, you know, for me, I think no one has impacted eyeballs on the WNBA like Caitlin Clark. That's like, a given, right? Hello. Like, she's changed. She changed. Caitlin leclerc effect is real. But I'm just not sure she. And I'm not even sure that's really important to her. Their motion is different. Like, I'm not even sure that, you know, for Caitlyn's success board or her bulletin board, it's about, you know, being in all these different silos. Instead, maybe it's about building out all the different brands and businesses around her hoops and, you know, you know, just the way she navigates the world. So I think their lanes are different.

[Lisa Leslie]

I don't think that it's necessarily different. I think that. I think Caitlin is authentic to Caitlin. Caitlin is doing golfing. Like, that's authentic to who she is. And she's not trying to do something that she's not. And I love that because I think she's an amazing golf player, a golfer, and now she's going to have a chance to do like some kind of like pro am tour thing. So I think that she does what's authentic to her and Angel's doing what she feels she wants to do. These are all of these different platforms that she's like, oh, I can do that. Oh, and I can do that. And I have a desire to want to do these things. And I love that for both of them, actually.

[Roz Gold]

Yeah, absolutely. I agree with that. You know, doing what, what is authentic to self and that being uber visible, successful and relatable could end up looking different for both of them. Yeah, yeah, I'm on the same page with that. One more question about angel before I move us along is that you've also like, just basketball wise, you worked with her at unrivaled before heading into the second season for her. So just like evaluating her second year in the wnba, like, what would you like to see angel work on for like year three in the W?

[Lisa Leslie]

Well, I thought angel won. I think a lot of people didn't know or maybe some people knew that, but she battled through a lot of injury this particular season, especially with her back a little bit with her hand. I think she even had a surgery or something like. So just all that she'd been through and to be able to still lead the league in rebounding, I thought is outstanding. I thought she should have been, I don't know, maybe second team defensive. Like, I felt like she kind of got left off of some of those little lists of accomplishments. But you can't go by the team record and then Paige wins, you know, an award also. So it's kind of one of those things where I thought, I mean, to lead the league and rebounding, people don't understand how hard that is. And to, you know, have more double doubles and all of those types of categories, that's a lot of work to not get recognized. But that's just again, my personal opinion. But I think overall, if. And I did talk to angel about having some more time with her in the gym, working on more offense, I think just being stronger offensively and being able to finish and score more would really help her game. But I thought overall she's continuing to grow. When I watch her play, she plays so hard. She gives everything on both ends of the floor. I think that her basketball IQ is very high and any team would love her effort. So I don't know that she necessarily had the veteran leadership that she should have had coming into the wnba. I wish that for her because you think about the Top teams like Minnesota and you think about Nafisa Collier having someone like Big Seal, Big Seal. You know what I mean? Like to have a veteran that just like, hey, this is what we do. This is how we work. She didn't have that and she still hasn't had that. And that's the part where I feel like, wow, that your introduction to this lead really hasn't been what most rookies have. And that is an opportunity to be a rookie and have a veteran that leads you. And even if that veteran is not necessarily leading in scoring and all of that, but just how to be a pro, how you carry yourself, things that you respond to, things you don't respond to. So I think in some ways I wish she would have had more of that veteran leadership on the team day in and day out. And I hope for the future that she. I don't know what's going to happen with Chicago, but if she ends up somewhere else, that she can end up in a place where a team can really appreciate what she brings to the table because she, she's a baller and a baller and a dog. And all of those things that you describe as a player to me, I take that over a person who, you know, they may be a good player, but they don't have that heart and fight. See, angel has that heart and fight that you need in order to be successful and win. And so I know that the top teams that they, they know that you see that when you watch her play.

[Roz Gold]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's absolutely evident in just how she attacks the glass and comes at it as a professional. Each game.

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[Lisa Leslie]

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[Lisa Leslie]

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[Roz Gold]

The whole story of the season is the turnaround of the Aces to the championship. Like, ah, gosh, who would have saw that coming in June? Well, the Aces did, actually. Those players would tell you, y' all counted us out, but we didn't. But I just want to start where, where it's founded around where this, the, the, the foundation and center of it all is, and that's in Asia Wilson. Um, let's take a look at Asia Wilson's resume now. After winning this championship with the Aces and we actually ran out of space, Asia Wilson is now the four time WNBA mvp. We can't even read them all. She was the defensive player of the year. She's now won three championships in, in four years. Mind you, Asia only been in the league eight years, so she's like in half her years she's been a champion and an mvp. Not to mention not only all her WNBA success, but don't forget her collegiate success. She was a champion there. Her international success. She's a two time Olympic gold medalist. And I would be remiss if I didn't have someone like you, who was already in the goat conversation to ask you, like, how should Aja now start being discussed in the goat conversation? And Lisa, dare I say, is she already there?

[Lisa Leslie]

Well, here's my thing. I never really talked about this whole goat thing. And I know that it's tough because there's different errors. Like Cheryl Miller was amazing and she may be somebody's goat, right? Because she did so much great things in women's basketball and getting us to the platform where we were before the WNBA ever began. Then you have, I guess you have the wnba, you know, and you have Cheryl, you have myself, you have Cynthia Cooper, all different positions, amazing players. Lauren Jackson, amazing players. And you have Diana Tarazi, Sue Burgum, amazing players. Then you have Maya Mora come in, an amazing player. And I just feel like it's so tough. And then you have Asia. And I feel like Asia is like taking home everything. I feel like Asia don't have the competition, to be really honest. The competition, I don't know. I just feel like when you look at centers and forwards across the board in the league, that position is starting to go away in such a. At a fast rate even. It already happened in the NBA where there's not like a lot of true centers and forwards. And so I just feel like her dominance is like when you take a person and you go, in any era, Asia would be amazing. In any era, that's how you get to goat status, right? But I feel like in any era, Cynthia Cooper would have been amazing. Cheryl Miller would have been amazing. I would be amazing. Like, we would still have the level of success that we've had even now in this era. So, to me, there's a lot of women who are really the cream of the crop at the top. And it would be disrespectful to me to try and say one person who is accomplishing more awards in this time period is necessarily better than a person who accomplished it. You know, it's almost like when you say Michael Jordan played when it was more physical. Right. But LeBron plays now. LeBron is great, but Michael Jordan's Michael Jordan, like, the errors were different. So I think it's just tough. I don't know. I feel like being a part of that conversation, it gets really tough for me. But I. I love and respect Asia Wilson. I feel like when. And I know I say, like, a lot of players, like, oh, I see this in them, and I see this me and them, but I'm like, Asia, I see our games probably the most similar of any player that I've ever seen. And the accuracy, the shot blocking, the defense, the energy, be able to guard people inside and out, I. I see that. So it's not like I don't recognize how amazing she is, because I see it. I love it. And I think when you look at what happened this particular season for the Aces, now you're talking about a dynasty, because they're never out of it. To have that record by August 2nd. 14. 14 or something, and they were 500 at 500. Right. And then go on the run that they did and win the championship the way that they did with Asia leading the way, never disappearing. I mean, even the game where we said, oh, she didn't play that well, I think she had, like, 16 and 10 or something. Like, it was crazy. So I love the dominance that we're seeing from Asia Wilson, and I just hope that she gets her flowers off the courts, because this is off the court, because this is what I'm always talking about. The endorsement deals and the things should flow to some of the best players in the world. And this is where we have to continue to push for things like that, because it should show off the court as well, because she's the best player in the world.

[Roz Gold]

Yes. Do you feel that her marketing and, you know, the. The brands and all of that is matching how dominant and talented she is? Lisa?

[Lisa Leslie]

I think Nike really stepped up to the plate. It had. It took a while and they were late, but they did. They stepped up and I think that matches and I don't know what other brands she has, which. Gatorade, Nike are things that I know, I know because there's commercials, right? So it's like maybe there's other deals and hopefully other places. We'll start to see Asia more. But, you know, I don't know personally what she. I personally don't know what she, you know, what all she has, but she should have more. She's the best player in the world, you know.

[Roz Gold]

You know, another side of Asia Wilson's dominance. After the Finals, she gets her Finals MVP award and trophy. The whole presentation is awesome. And, and you know, Holly Rowe is up there. She announces the person who's going to hand the trophy, and it's Kathy Engelbert, the commissioner. And when she announces her, she is handily, loudly booed. And for those in the arena, they said they couldn't even hear her.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

WNBA commissioner Kathy Engelbert.

[Lisa Leslie]

Thank you, Holly. Well, we're here today to celebrate a champion. Thank you to all the fans. Phoenix had a great run to get here and I just want to congratulate, congratulate the Aces on a performance. 2025 WNBA champion.

[Roz Gold]

For me, it's the players faces, like recognizing what's going on. She did well.

[Lisa Leslie]

She did well, though. She kept her cool. She finished what she had to say and she sounds. She. She was strong in that moment because that was serious and that was loud. I don't even think I realized it was that loud. I do feel bad for Kathy because nobody wants to experience not being a well liked commissioner of any league. The other flip side, too was in response to the fans really supporting the players. It's kind of cool because we know that the fans are listening and they're paying attention and they see that these rafters are full all the way to the top, that they're sellouts and they want for the players to reap the benefits also. So you think about the CBA and you think about. I think one of the most important things is profit sharing. I think that's going to be important because fans want to know that these players are being paid also and that they're sharing in the success of all of the hard work that everybody did. You know, nobody wants negative stuff, whether it's in real life or on social media. But I wasn't mad at the fans because I felt like that was great support for the players.

[Roz Gold]

You know, Lisa, it is. We ran out of time.

[Lisa Leslie]

It's over.

[Roz Gold]

It's over. But I really appreciate having you on and listening to you. You have so much great insight. You're the best. And I just, you're so warm to everyone. So I just appreciate you.

[Lisa Leslie]

Thank you. Thanks, Roswell. I'll be seeing you soon. Did you get done with your we seen you at Unrivaled.

[Roz Gold]

Yes, I'll, I'll be down in Miami for sure. So I will see you there.

[Lisa Leslie]

All right. All right. Well, good. I'm sure I'll see you before then.

[Roz Gold]

We'll do an oxtail date.

[Lisa Leslie]

Say less. We just can't do it on game day.

[Julian Edlow]

Julian Edlow here from DK Network. Tune in to DKN Daily Bets Monday through Friday, a fun, quick hitting podcast where we bring in knowledgeable guests from across the sports betting industry to break down our favorite bets of the day. Find DKN Daily Bets wherever you listen to your podcasts.