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Good Follow - Monique Billings Joins the Show, Is Phee the Current MVP? + Rookie of the Year Race & More
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- [00:02]
Logan Hackett
You're listening to DraftKings Network.
- [00:23]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Hey, what's up, y' all? Welcome to Good follow presented by DraftKings. I'm Roz Gold on wedde. That's my girl, Logan Hackett. Logan, what's good? Goody, how are you?
- [00:33]
Logan Hackett
I'm doing amazing. How are you, girl?
- [00:36]
Monique Billings
I'm good.
- [00:38]
Roz Gold on Wedde
You know, our shows are shorter now. We do it two times a week. So I want to get us straight to the menu and what we've got to you. In this episode, the second one of this week, we are going to talk about the MVP race. We're going to talk about the rookie of the year race and give our picks. Then we've got an exclusive little sit down interview with friends of the show, our girl Monique Billings, who has been crushing it for the Golden State Valkyries. They've been crushing it, crushing it as they've had a win streak. Now with wins over the Aces in dominant fashion and then a gritty nail blighter in overtime against the Sparks. We're gonna discuss with them what's going well for the Golden State Valkyries.
- [01:17]
Logan Hackett
And y' all, just a reminder, we now drop two episodes every single week, which you can catch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Oh, I love the confetti. Wherever you get your podcast, on YouTube, on your phone, doesn't really matter, but please listen twice a week now. Ross, are you ready to get into this fun episode?
- [01:36]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Yes. Let's do it.
- [01:38]
Logan Hackett
Let's do it. So let's start with the mvp. Right now we have Nafisa Collier, Caitlin Clark, Asia Wilson, Brianna Stewart, and given how well Kelsey Plum is playing, plus leading the league in three pointers made, she deserves to be up there. But I want to know who is your current mvp.
- [01:55]
Roz Gold on Wedde
So my mvp, though, if you can't tell, I'm rocking my unrivaled Lunar Owls Nafisa Collier jersey right now. Because one, I think at this early point of the season, Nafisa is the MVP favorite right now. It's still early, but I would also like to pull up my receipts because I did predict this some time ago. Can we please see the receipts, Producer extraordinaire? There it is. On January 18th to 2025. So at the very tip of the new year, during unrivaled play, I was watching Nafisa Collier and she was so dominant on both ends of the court, so highly skilled that I literally could not contain myself. I took myself to the Twitterverse and I had to tell the people. I'm convinced we're in the Fee era. And that had nothing to do with sliding other players who are talented. But I, I was attacked. I was beaten up for my thoughts on literally watching Nafisa Collier's footwork and just range from everywhere, all three ranges. She could do something. Her reads, her movement without the ball, her defense, her blocks, her toughness, her physicality, her dominance. And I was like, whoa. Because she's already that. Like, she's already a star, you know, she's already the runner up for mvp. She's already an Olympian. She was a runner up for the championship. She was the defensive player of the year. So, like, what was I trying to point out? That I think there's even more coming. And guess what?
- [03:22]
Logan Hackett
Here we are.
- [03:24]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Here we are. So far, she's proven me right. Her team is undefeated. You know, we often look at that 50, 40, 90 percentage. She's shooting 52% from the field, 91 from free throw, 43% from three. So she's super efficient. She leads the league in points. She's top five in rebounds and blocks. She's such, so, so good on defense. Again, team success does help the narrative. So fees my favorite for MVP right now.
- [03:53]
Logan Hackett
I absolutely agree her goat status is loading at this point, but it's also written in her name. I mean, you have the classic MV V, but you can also go M V, P. Oh, my gosh. That's a tongue twister right there.
- [04:05]
Roz Gold on Wedde
I'm sorry, Logan, Logan, Logan, Logan. What?
- [04:10]
Logan Hackett
Can you be P and then you have M V fee. It's a yes, I think.
- [04:19]
Monique Billings
Yeah.
- [04:20]
Roz Gold on Wedde
No, no, no, no, no. I'm with you. I see what you're doing and I see it. Yep, tongue twister over there.
- [04:26]
Logan Hackett
But I want to also move on to rookie of the year because they are pretty much.
- [04:32]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Wait, wait, y' all. Why did Logan. Why was Logan like, I'm about to. I'm about to kill him with this. Logan was like, wait till I drop this on. She was like, wait, M.V. b. Okay. No Logan. You get props for that. That was lit.
- [04:52]
Logan Hackett
Let's move on to Rookie of the year right now. The front runners are Kiki Irofin, Paige Records and Sonia Citroen, all having a great season so far. Kiki is close to averaging a double double, which only three true rookies in the league have done. Tina Charles Sherrifford and Angel Reeves. And then Sonya, on the other hand, is averaging 14 points while shooting nearly 49% overall and just over 40 from 3 point range. Then you have Paige Beckers who might make a push for the award. Once she's back in the lineup. But before going out, she was nearly at 15 points and 7 assists, which only Caitlin Clark and Skylar Dickens average more than 10 points and six assists as rookies. So with all that, who is your current rookie of the year?
- [05:34]
Roz Gold on Wedde
You know what's crazy? At this very moment, at the time of taping the show, I might go with the rookie of the month in Kiki Irafin. Because if you factor in Kiki's impact on the overall success of the team and the Mystics as well, I think that gives her the edge over at Paige Beckers, who's certainly also like one of the favorites for this award and the, the person we, you know, most people thought was going to just run away with it. But legitimately, the Mystics have been a, a surprise to start the season and they're very much leaning on rookies for success right now. And Kiki and Sonia Citron, you know, besides Brittany Sykes and Stephanie Dolson, it's a whole bunch of young players. It's Shakira Austin, it's Aaliyah Edwards. Like it's a youth movement there. It's actually the future is very bright for the Mystics, but to average a double double as a rookie, like we were having this discussion about Angel Reese last season, but the efficiency wasn't there. And now you have Kiki, who's doing a double double but shooting 52% from the field. And her motor's crazy because three of those rebounds a game are offensive. Like she is just attacking the glass. And if we want to talk about efficiency, maybe one of her top contenders for Rookie of the year or competition, if you will, is Sonia Citron, who's shooting like her efficiency is crazy, especially for a guard. But just to come back to Paige's overall body of work here, I think some of the Rookie of the year momentum and narrative shifted a little because she's missed some time with the injury and then an illness. You had the concussion protocol, but before that, I mean, it's very hard from the guard position to have that kind of production of points and assists and keep the turnovers low. And it's even harder on a struggling team like Dallas is really struggling. You know, Ari, you know, Ari, even just to call out one name is is having a career low season and that's hard on a, on a rookie point guard. So props to Paige Beckers for, for figuring that out. Also, shout out to Sia Rivers, also on a struggling team in the Connecticut Sun. But she's being leaned on and has had some nice moments and maybe a less traditional rookie. Janelle Salon for the Golden State Valkyries. She's a little bit older, but still a rookie and doing her thing, representing for the international girlies. So I think the rookie of the year race is exciting. Better than we expected. What do you have for rookie of the year?
- [07:56]
Logan Hackett
I'm agreeing with you on Kiki. Absolutely. And I think it's even better when you don't fully expect someone to come in and do as much as she's doing. I wouldn't say it was a shock because we all knew what Kiki was capable of, but the impact that she's made on this roster and being one of the leading scorers and doing everything that she's doing is like, damn, Kiki. Like, Kiki, do you love me?
- [08:16]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Like, I saw you are on fire today. Like, I don't even know who you are right now, but I, um. Kiki P. Kiki Fee. Does that work? Kiki P. No, no.
- [08:32]
Logan Hackett
Of the year.
- [08:32]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Anyway, we'll workshop it. Okay, so we got Kiki.
- [08:38]
Logan Hackett
I have a quick question for you. At one of our first episodes, I think it was right before the draft, we were talking about how stacked the 2024 rookie class was. But if at this moment in the season you had to take either the 2024 rookie class or the 2025 rookie class, which is. Which one would you go with?
- [08:55]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Girl? Still 2024. I mean, that was a generational, like, scape of women's basketball. Changing draft class in the Class of 2024. I mean, you, you might even just take Caitlin Clark alone.
- [09:11]
Monique Billings
Yeah.
- [09:11]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Versus the 2025 class. Although I do think Paige Beckers is going to develop into a very nice point guard in this league. Her passing ability and vision has been really impressive. But you know, for class, you're not just talking about production on the court, which they. They did. You're talking about just changing the way, like, people look at women's basketball. Cover it, the attention. Obviously the Angel Reese's, but the Cameron Brinks, Rekia Jackson, Camila Cardoso, like, they've all. I don't know, their year two is a little spicy. Actually, this is a bigger discussion. Their second season is a little bit interesting because there's been injuries and maybe a bit of a sophomore slump. Who knows?
- [09:56]
Logan Hackett
Well, yeah, we'll leave you on that question. Yeah, leave your answer in the comments. We would love to hear we all. Coming up, Ross gets a Valkyries update from Valkyries forward and our very own friend of the show, Monique Billings. We'll be right back.
- [10:30]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Welcome to Good follow presented by DraftKings. I'm Roz Golden Wood and y' all do not look now, but that new expansion team in the Golden State, the Valkyries, they're making a splash. They might be catching some people off guard, maybe by surprise. They're winners of two in a row, including a stunning and dominating win over the Las Vegas Aces and then a gutsy, tough win in overtime against the Los Angeles Sparks. And we have friend to the show, our girl, mo' Nique Billings is back. What's up? What's up? Hey, we're. We're so proud of you on the show to have you here. If you don't know, she's averaging 12 and a half points per game, seven and a half rebounds and one and a half blocks on 55% shooting and in those two wins that I just mentioned. So she's been absolutely instrumental to their success and she's here to give us the tea on the Valkyries.
- [11:29]
Monique Billings
Yes.
- [11:29]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Let's get it, girl. We're so proud of you. What's that, what's that locker room feeling like right now? What's going on in that locker room?
- [11:36]
Monique Billings
Thank you so much. First of all, and it's funny because they say winning is like deodorant. Everything smells good, everything feels good. When you're winning is. The vibes are high. Yeah, these were two really good wins. I like that you said gutsy. That's exactly what LA was. It's just nice knowing that we're taking care of business and coach has really challenged us. She's challenging our toughness. In a lot of games that we lost, I think we lost four in a row. These games go quickly. So maybe a week ago we were at a four game losing streak and coach really challenged us to be the tougher team. She says that we're getting out tough. We're not playing together. We're not connected. So we as a team watched film without our coaches. We watched film together. We watched the first half, we watched the fourth, the first quarter. The fourth quarter. And we're talking amongst each other. What can we do better? How can we be better for each other in different areas, challenging each other? It shouldn't just come from the coach. And the next game after that was Vegas. And we needed to win. We know we needed to win. We lost four in a row. And so coming into Chase center, having those fans, they're like our sixth man, essentially always there for us, cheering us on. And yeah, we just had two great games. That we have to keep going. It's still so early in the season and there's a lot of games to be played.
- [12:52]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Yeah, I mean, you guys really willed it to happen and you came together to do that. Who are the voices that, that kind of speak and lead the way in the locker room for this team? It's a lot of vets.
- [13:02]
Monique Billings
Yeah, that's a really great question. I think it's different people in different times. Katie has a voice especially, especially on the court. She's so aggressive and passionate, so she leads in that way. Tiffany Hayes, our longest tenured WNBA vet, she leads in so many ways too. And she's kind of a quiet, soft spoken type of player, but she has been stepping up using her voice as well. Temi Fag Benlay, another player who's been in the league, has a lot of overseas experience as well. She's like a very grounding presence for us. And then I'll even add myself kind of just getting in where I fit in and adding in whatever way that I can amongst those bets as well. But yeah, we have some really, really great leadership and then great rookies as well. Like, it's awesome having great vets, but it's even better when you have great rookies who are willing to learn, who are sponges and yeah, just willing to be the best that they can and grow.
- [13:56]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Yeah. Two of your rookies in particular have been making a big splash. Carla Late Janelle Salon It's a very international locker room in general. But like, is language a barrier? Like how, how, how is communication and is that locker room just like all sorts of languages being spoken?
- [14:13]
Monique Billings
It's all sorts of languages. We're all making fun of each other all the time with accents and how people say things. So we keep it light. It's a lot of fun. But no, I would say language for me hasn't been a factor that I've seen as like a distraction or anything on the port. I think we figure it out. Like we've all played at such high levels, especially overseas. All of us have overseas experience. And so it's like you know how to figure it out at the end of the day. At the end of the day, hoop is who. And so when you need to get a bucket, when you need to get a stop, sometimes you just got to give a look like no words need to be spoken. It's just, it's a look. You're a baller, Roz. You know how it is.
- [14:51]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a universal language on that One.
- [14:54]
Monique Billings
It'S a universal language.
- [14:56]
Roz Gold on Wedde
What's coach Nakase getting right right now for this team?
- [15:00]
Monique Billings
Oh, my goodness. I can imagine just the pressure of trying to figure it out, figure out what combo's work on the court, who plays the best together. But I think something that she does really well is delegating. I think she has an amazing staff, and her staff really pours into us as players, and they're just there as resources. You need to watch film, you need to get extra shots up. She has people around her, and I think that's what truly makes a great team. When you have so many people around you, specifically in like, supporting staff and coaching staff, people around you who see the vision, who have also bought in, our team has bought in, coaches have bought in. And when all that comes together, it makes her job a lot easier. So I think what she's done right is just putting the pieces together post game.
- [15:49]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Sometimes we see teams doing, like, kind of gimmicky stuff, you know, celebrating, handing out awards. What are the things that you guys that coach and the team is celebrating, even awarding in the locker room or at least calling out post game?
- [16:04]
Monique Billings
Yeah, that's a really great question. I mean, I just think effort, effort and toughness, those are the biggest things, the things that we can control. Coach Nakase wants us to be killers fighters and to know that we're not getting outworked out tough. And so those are the things after those games that we've won and put our stamp on, whether it be a blowout type of win or a really gritty overtime win. When she comes into the locker room, she's proud that we got it done because it's so hard to win in this league.
- [16:35]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Absolutely. Right now you're coming off the bench, you're delivering for the team. How much are you settling into making a role for yourself with this squad? And if it's coming off the bench, Mo, you're a candidate for sixth woman of the year.
- [16:49]
Monique Billings
I really appreciate that, Ross. Thank you. For me, I just want to be a star in my role. Coming into this season, I didn't know what that would look like. And so being a few games in, seeing that, I just have to get in where I fit in and bring that energy, bring that spark. That's what has kept me in this league for so long. That's my bread and butter. And so being able to do that, but also continuing to just get more confident, feel free on the court, having those experiences, being able to play with great players around me and just building Our chemistry has helped me a lot. And so I don't even want to focus on coming off the bench or starting or whatever at those. I feel like have been distractions for me in the past. And so like I said, I just want to get in where I fit in and contribute.
- [17:37]
Roz Gold on Wedde
How much did you just desire a place, a team to call home?
- [17:42]
Monique Billings
A lot. I had a home in Atlanta for six seasons and last year was my first season where I didn't necessarily have a specific home. I was figuring it out with a couple different teams. And so it's nice to be here, being welcomed in this environment. I love the Bay Area. You've lived here before, so, you know, it's a vibe. It's great. The fans, the atmosphere, it's just such a blessing to be here.
- [18:10]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Yeah, you can. You keep mentioning the fans. Can you describe what it's like at Chase center and just how much of an impact they're having? It's sell. It's multiple sellouts. They're doing the wave. They don't know. They don't necessarily know even what, what the team was going to be, but they all said we're putting the money and we're going to pull up and just overall, the quality of life playing in Golden State. Can you just speak to all of the ambiance of it?
- [18:34]
Monique Billings
The ambiance they said we gonna pull up, they pulled up. I love playing at Chase Center. Such an electric environment. The fans, We've been down in games and the fans are still cheering, still in it with us. We could feel that energy when we're up in games, they're with us. And I have to credit the organization. They do a really, really great job with. Just like in game, in arena, fan engagement, all of those things. It looks fun. Like I have to be locked in on what coach is drawing up and the plays and all that. But I'm like looking around, I'm like, ooh, this celebrity's here. Ooh, this looks like it's fun. Like those are the things that I'm kind of like side eyeing and looking at. And then even just from an organization standpoint, the way that they treat us, it's top notch, which it's how it should be. We're professional athletes. But I don't take that for granted because that has not been something that's always been present, isn't in the league. So just all around, it's so far been a really great experience. Still early in the season, but I would love to have many more years here if it be God's will.
- [19:42]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Yes. What's some of your. Maybe your favorite part of the state of the art new locker rooms that they have for you guys? I know it's pretty amazing. Is there anything you point out and you're like, okay, that, that. That's impressive?
- [19:56]
Monique Billings
Yeah. I mean, I would just say it's very Lux. It's just somewhere where you can feel like you could just. I could do self care in here after a long day of practice or after a game day. And it just is a nice place to prepare and get ready for battle because that's what it is when you're going on the court, you're going to battle. And for me, if I'm in a very nice environment while I'm getting ready, it just helps my preparation all the more. Something that this might seem like such a minute thing, but like, I love lighting. I love good lighting no matter where I'm at. We have really, really great lighting in the locker room. We have great amenities as well. In our practice facility. We have obviously, like cold tubs and hot tubs and saunas and steam rooms and like player lounges. Like just those types of things. It goes a really, really long way.
- [20:43]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Imagine they had like a lighting room just for like pictures and selfies. That would.
- [20:47]
Monique Billings
You get it. You get it.
- [20:49]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Like, we on the same page. I almost. We're different, though. I don't know if I could be somewhere too lux. I come out relaxed to the game. I need to be like, they need to put me in the mud somewhere. So I was grinding to get my way out here, but you know, someone else who's been shining and I've seen you guys, there's a relationship. You guys are cool. Kayla Thornton, you know, what has it been like? What have you seen in Kayla Thornton and her rising to the occasion and just shining, you know, she's got a go ahead bucket or a dagger bucket against the Sparks. You know, she had a career high against the Aces. What are you seeing in her as she's making the most of all this opportunity?
- [21:33]
Monique Billings
Making the most of the opportunity. That's exactly right. Just her confidence. It's so cool seeing KT have the opportunity because every player in this league wants that opportunity, and not every player gets it 1 and 2. Some players that get it don't know what to do with it. She has both and is working really, really well for her. So I'm so happy for KT in the locker room. We all tease each other a lot and we have just a lot of like, good vibes that we all tease each other about. KT stank face. When she has that stank face on the court, she's in that mode. And that's something that I really like to see. I'm so happy for her. I know she's going to continue to shine and yeah, she's just in a really, really great spot.
- [22:17]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Yeah, she made that stank face on a transition three. I think it was a pull up transition three against the Aces. Did I make that up?
- [22:24]
Monique Billings
She did. At this point, it's like every game, but when KT makes that stank face, I'm like, oh, yeah, she in that mode. She locked in.
- [22:31]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Oh, did she show you her New York Liberty championship ring?
- [22:34]
Monique Billings
Yes, she did. And it opens up and there's like diamond earrings in it. So nice.
- [22:41]
Roz Gold on Wedde
I'm sure you've seen other rings, but was this the nicest you ever saw?
- [22:45]
Monique Billings
Yeah, I would say it was definitely the nicest. It was big, like the size of it. It was just shining. She looked so happy when she was putting it on. We went to New York. They got to celebrate her. They got to honor her. It's amazing being able to win a championship in this league. And so for her to be able to play with greats, to contribute in such a big way, like, she's just having in a great season of life, I would say.
- [23:09]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Yeah, that's awesome. And I actually just saw you guys, you had two games in a row in New York, and I was there with the Liberty. You know, how. How is this, this new schedule with more additional added games, how was that? Do you feel that at all?
- [23:25]
Monique Billings
Ask me in a couple months, girl. I think I have a very different response, but at this moment, I think I'm okay. Um, it feels like a normal season so far, but when you get to like, August, September, I think that's when the real grind is like, oh, yeah, I'm feeling all these games. But coach Natalie has been great with giving us rest, recovery. We have the resources that we need to recover. So how I feel is like the only way you can fail is if you're not tapping into these resources. And so I'm making sure that I'm.
- [23:54]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Tapping in real quick. You said it was an off day. Right now, coming off the Sparks game, how are you going to rest and relax? What is that? What does that look like for you today, girl?
- [24:02]
Monique Billings
We're getting our nails done today. I might get a facial today. I'm going to get some good food and I'm just going to chill.
- [24:09]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Send me a picture of the manicure that you end up doing. And you deserve it all. You've literally been crushing it. You've changed the games for the Valkyries when you get on the court. And that block you had against Asia Wilson was emphatic. It was emphatic.
- [24:25]
Monique Billings
I really, really appreciate that. I just got to keep that same energy, keep it going.
- [24:30]
Roz Gold on Wedde
Absolutely. Your friends here and family at the Good Follow show, we're so proud of you. Keep it up, and we'll be watching. Thank you. Oh, man. Guys, we are just so proud of our girl, Mo Billings. You know, she's been pulling up for hosting on the show all the time, and now she's out there bowling out for the Golden State Valkyries. It was great breaking down earlier in the show, the MVP race, the rookie of the year race. We appreciate you pulling up. That's gonna do it for this episode of Good Follow. Good Follow is presented by DraftKings and DraftKings. The Crown is yours. We'll catch you for the next one.