Unsupervised with Syd & TP

Episode: We’re Not Accepting ACL Donations at This Time: Part One

Date: August 21, 2025
Hosts: Syd Colson & Theresa Plaisance ("TP")
Publisher: Dear Media

Overview

In this heartfelt and irreverent episode, best friends and former WNBA teammates Syd Colson and Theresa Plaisance delve into Syd’s recent ACL injury. The conversation combines raw emotion, humor, and a peek into the realities of elite women’s basketball careers, focusing on processing injury, the value of team beyond wins and losses, and the unique strength of female athletes. Between inside jokes and zany asides, the duo gives listeners an authentic look at resilience, vulnerability, and friendship—making this more than just a sports episode.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Injury Stories: The Humor and Hardness of ACLs

• Syd’s Recent ACL Injury
  Syd shares her immediate reaction, processing the injury as it happened, and her mindset in the aftermath.

  • “I was like, no way. Like, when I was laying on the ground, I was like, please, no, no way. Like, I'd rather just finish out the season. Like, let me not be playing.” (06:49)
  • TP and Syd joke about making injury jokes a new part of their material, trying to keep things light.
  • The duo finds humor even in the worst moments, such as a parking attendant offering Syd, who’s on crutches, “the last spot in the very back.” (00:15, 37:49)

• Notable Comparison to Previous ACL Tear
  Syd describes her first college ACL injury, emphasizing the life lessons it taught her about pride and ego in sports.

  • “To this day, that was nothing but a lesson on how pride can be your immediate downfall. Like, just let the ball be stolen. Let them get the two points. You still have an ACL.” (35:23)

2. Emotional Recovery and Acceptance

• Processing the Emotional Impact
  Syd talks candidly about the struggle with accepting an unwelcome reality, recognizing this injury could end her career.

  • “I know that God has purpose in everything that happens, but even me knowing that, I've still been grappling with, what is the reason, though?” (07:12)
  • TP supports Syd but acknowledges the difficulty of seeing a resilient friend suddenly need help with daily life. (08:00)

• Importance of Vulnerability
  Both hosts stress the value of letting yourself feel the full scope of emotions, not rushing into “silver lining” thinking right away.

  • “I'm usually thinking about how things could be worse... I want to make sure that I'm leaving room for people to see that something can happen to you that is unexpected, that you feel is unfair... and you can still go through it with faith about the situation.” (23:04)

3. Team Value: On and Off the Court

• Beyond the Stat Sheet
  The hosts break stereotypes about what value means on women’s teams, especially for players who aren’t always in the spotlight.

  • “Just because you're funny and a glue piece doesn't make you a good or even a WNBA player. There's a lot that's... we saw people that were way more talented than us... But there's that it factor… you still have to play.” (18:43–19:13)

• The Unseen Labor of Support
  Syd and TP praise how teams show up for each other—through post-surgery check-ins, food, and emotional support—highlighting the real community in women’s pro sports.

  • “Your teammates and staff here... they value you and they're pouring into you even when you can't do your job, your physical job. And it's really awesome to see you getting the appreciation you deserve. Unfortunately, it's like, shitty circumstances...” (30:00)

4. Friendship and Mutual Support

• The Power of Showing Up
  Both reflect on times they’ve been able to lean on each other and how friendship deepens in hard moments.

  • “I feel really—not honored, but kind of honored, I guess—to be in the position that I am to, like, be here for you. Because you've been that for me.” (27:01)

• Resilience as a Shared Journey
  The episode explores how facing adversity can uplift others and build community.

  • “The way that you’re going about your day to day is honestly like, really inspirational… the way that you can be strong and that you are. And also your strength comes with emotion as well. You're vulnerable and you're real.” (21:21)

5. Life Lessons—On Pride, Leadership, and Letting Go

• Learning from Injury
  Syd recounts lessons learned through both ACL injuries—how pride and a need to prove oneself can lead to harm, and how those moments shaped her leadership style.
• Transitioning Roles
  Even sidelined, Syd recognizes the importance of being a vocal leader and a supportive presence.
  • “I can still be a leader for this team vocally. I can still, you know, try to impact people in whatever way I can...” (25:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Syd, on the Life Shift of Injury:
  “The truth is that I don't know if I'll be back to play another game. I don't know what this means for next steps for me, but I know that God has kind of like created a way for me really, since... the Anita Baker video, to be honest.” (23:04-24:44)

• TP, on Friendship:
  “I feel really—not honored, but kind of honored—to be in the position that I am to, like, be here for you. Because you've been that for me when I was in a space where I was self-isolating and like, very unhappy with everything and where my life was potentially going.” (27:01)

• Syd, on Team Camaraderie:
  “Just you, Marty, Marcella, you know, teammates coming through... Tasha and Giselle, fixing plates and sending plates over here for us to have something to eat... just looking out... everybody on the team is checking on me.” (29:01)

• TP, on Injury Humor:
  “Selfishly, this has given me a space where I'm like, I’ve never got to tap into injury jokes in a really long time, so I've been ripping them.” (37:30)

• Syd, on Accepting Help:
  “It is a lot for me to be asking for help. But I appreciate you.” (26:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Injury Story & Sid's Reaction: 01:13–07:52
• Sid’s Initial Processing and Acceptance: 07:52–10:07
• TP’s Reaction Watching the Game: 13:17–17:35
• Discussion on Team Value & Locker Room Leadership: 18:30–23:03
• Spiritual Reflection and Silver Linings: 23:04–25:23
• Reflecting on Friendship and Mutual Support: 25:20–28:48
• Team, Gifts, and Community Support: 29:01–31:10
• Syd’s First ACL Injury (College), Pride & Ego: 31:16–36:32
• Future Mindset and Looking Forward: 36:32–37:42
• Ending with Humor: Indiana State Fair & Parking Spot Joke: 37:42–38:09

Tone & Style Notes

The conversation blends raw, unfiltered honesty with witty banter and warmth. Syd and TP riff off each other’s jokes even amid difficult topics, but never shy away from vulnerability. Their rapport is rooted in mutual respect, friendship, and shared experience—a 2 a.m. text thread you’re glad you joined.

Summary

This episode is a testament to the complexity of being a professional athlete, a best friend, and a woman navigating both public and private struggles. Through Syd’s injury, both hosts reflect on the power of resilience, the importance of community, and the capacity to find humor, purpose, and growth even during setbacks.

Next episode: Tune in for more on Syd’s rehab journey, their unfiltered hot takes, and plenty more off-topic adventures.