Previewing the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game (Presented by AT&T)
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They're like, yeah, we need to send y'all a message. I think that's it. That's the point blank period. We need to send a message not only to all of the WNBA, but to all of the people talking about this roster. This is Queens of the Court.

What's going on, everybody? It is your favorite duo of all time. Welcome to another episode of Queens of the Court, an Odyssey original podcast produced in partnership with the WNBA. And this is our WNBA All-Star Preview episode presented by AT&T. I'm your girl, Cheryl Swoops. I'm Jordan Robinson. And court is in session.

You heard one gavel? Don't do that. I am. Your gavel didn't travel this time. But it's okay. We're in person. We're in Phoenix. It's All-Star weekend. You know what's more important than my gavel traveling? I'm here, Jordan. You are here. I am here. You're here. We are here in hot Vegas.

All-Star Weekend is just getting started, and it's already been fun. Already been fun. I mean, there's so many happenings happening around the city and things to get to. Let's just jump into it, shall we? Let's jump into it. I know. Yes, let's do. But I have to say this. Okay, what you gonna say? For all the people who know how much I gave you a hard time last year for missing my All-Star brunch...

Y'all, I'm forgiving her because she's not only is she here, but she what do you call it? I'm seeing hosting. Yeah. She's wearing many hats for my brunch tomorrow. She's showing up. She's going to show out. I'm so excited. I'm happy. Thank you. Thank you for that. I appreciate that because it's been a year. I've been taking it.

And you can already RSVP me for the next one, too. How about that? Let's go. I'm not even going to miss another one. Ever. Y'all heard that. All right. Maybe I'm going to eat those words. Let's do it. I'm excited. I'm excited, too. Let's get into it. We have to start with a little bit of breaking news because we were going to come into this and just talk about the All-Star Game, but there was a trade. The trade deadline is August 20th, but Chicago and Connecticut...

Mix some things up. Chicago traded Marina Mabry to the Connecticut Sun. The Sun received Mabry a 2025 second round pick and the Sky received Rachel Branham, Mariah Jefferson and a 2026 pick swap. This shocked me. That's what I'm saying right now.

Shocks me, especially the timing of it. Marina played super well against the Aces in that last game. But Annie Constable from the Chicago Scun Times, she reported that this was a forced trade. Marina wanted out of Chicago. What are your thoughts, initial thoughts? Who got better, who got worse from this trade? You're going to ask me that and put me on the spot why? Because that's what we do here. That's what we do.

Oh, listen. Oh, I love Spoon. Like, you know that. Yes. But I think Connecticut got better, right? I think so too. And based off of the timing of it, Mabry coming off of a great game against the win versus the Aces, right? And when you look at Connecticut, I think I do. I think Mabry is that one piece that they're kind of missing to possibly get over the hump. If she can...

score the ball and shoot the three on a consistent basis, right? And it's not to take away anything from Rachel Bannum or Mariah Jefferson. Mariah Jefferson hasn't played all season. No, she's been injured. Right? Yeah. And to me, Rachel Bannum's kind of up and down, right? Sometimes she can shoot the lights out like she did the other night. Right. Franchise record, eight threes. Yeah. But when I look at the teams overall, right, I don't know if...

I don't know if this is what Chicago needed. Right. Right now. Yeah. And even just looking towards the future for a pick swap or another pick, that could pay off in the long run. But for a team like Chicago, who's just right outside of the playoffs. Yeah. But here. So here's the other thing. And I just kind of thought about this. Um,

If Rachel Bannon can shoot the three consistently, because that's what she is going to need to do. Absolutely. That helps him. But I'm thinking maybe possibly onion way day. Oh, maybe that three player that, that spoon is going to start playing a little bit more because the last couple of games she's played really well. I love her size. I love her height. I love her playing on the perimeter. I love her defense. I,

So maybe there's something there that she, the organization, not just her, that they see in what they have. Currently have. Okay. Maybe. Give her a little bit of a promotion. Yeah. Because she has been playing well these past few games. All right. But I will say, just like you said, totally shocked. And what makes me question it is when Annie reported it, like,

Well, what happened? Right. What happened? It's something happening. For it to be a forced trade. Like, hmm. Interesting. I don't know. Interesting indeed. So that's going to go into our conversation in a little bit about who, like what teams are going to rise in the second half of the season. Because now I think Connecticut –

I just like that. And again, we have to say, Dejanay Carrington versus Marina Mabry...

They have been going at it when they were guarding each other and on opposite sides of the ball. Now they're going to be teammates. So we'll see how that works out. Somebody was like, oh, they're going to be best friends by the end of the season. I hope so. Not. That's the best case scenario. But since we're talking about Connecticut, real quick, because y'all know we kind of go different directions. I just got to say this because I saw it. Shout out to SLAM.

Yes. I love the ATDV. How cute is that? Love and basketball. Like, come on, Slim. I think your next cover needs to be Queens of the Court with Jordan and Cheryl.

We can just put it out there. Yeah. You gotta do that. We gotta do that. Okay. Yeah, but that cover was so sweet. Oh, it was amazing. The hand, Dewana Bonner's like hand placement on the ball to show off her rock. How about that? That was beautiful. How about that? I just love them as a couple. But everyone knew when they showed the silhouette of A.T. Oh, that was a given. Yeah, that was a given. It was like, we already know who this is. They had a little sneak peek, but we already knew. That was great. That was a great cover. Love that. Okay, so speaking of Marina Mabry, she is in the...

Skills competition this weekend and the three-point competition this weekend. Marina is going for the bag. She is going for the money and going for it all. So let's just rattle off these contestants because they kind of drop it real last minute, but we're here. Sophie Cunningham, got to have the local, you know, talent in there. Alicia Gray, this is for the skills. Brittany Griner.

Love that. Marina Mabry and Erica Wheeler. Do you want to make a prediction just off top when you see that? Well, I don't have them in front of me. Give them to me again. Okay, I got you. Sophie Cunningham, Alicia Gray, Brittany Griner, Marina Mabry, Erica Wheeler. You got to have a little speed and quickness. To do skills, yeah. Yeah, and if you're...

Really trying to win. And based off of that, I'm going to go with... I'm going to rock with Alicia Grey. Yeah. Yeah. I like that a lot. I like Erica Wheeler, too. But, yeah. I'm rolling with Alicia Grey. Who's your pick? I'm going BG. I'm going BG. BG, I love you. But, Jordan, stop that. She's going to have so much fun with it because a post player in the skills competition...

I'm here for it. She put her name in the hat, and I can just imagine her just practicing at their new practice facility. Her bounce passes.

And then you got to go thick through the whatever. She's so tall, she's going to take limited steps. So she's going to be able to get through it pretty fast. Well, they're playing for a bag. So you want to put some money on it? Yeah, they are playing for a bag. No, I'm asking you if you want to put some money on it. Oh, do I want to put some money on it? No, see, I don't have the same bag as you do. No, I don't have the same bag that they have. But tell the people what they're playing for.

They are playing for something a little extra because Nneka Ogumike just tweeted out a few hours ago, actually, that Aflac is putting up some extra change for the winners of both the skills competition and the three-point competition. 55K. Come on! 55K.

That's why I said Marina Mabry is going for the bag. She's going for both. What if she wins both? Let's go. I am not mad at her. Jordan, can I have a moment? Yeah. Where was that flag back in the day? I knew that was coming. You did? Yes. Because you're there with me. Dang. The first All-Star game. I love it. Listen. Bye.

By the way, it was 25 years ago in MSG. You were there. Yeah. You were in it. We didn't have a skills competition. You didn't have a skills competition. Would you have entered your name if Aflac was like, hey, Cheryl, 55K, if you win. Enter my name twice. Next up, Swoop Cheryl. Who's this? That's familiar. I don't even think we had a three-point shooting contest. It was just the game. How was that first game?

It was a game. It was an All-Star game. I mean, it was exciting, right? It was the first. It was great competition. I do believe, and I think I'm 95% correct, that the incredible, amazing Whitney Houston sang the national anthem. And she didn't sing it. She sang it.

I'm, like, the biggest Whitney Houston fan. Like, God rest her soul, was crushed when she passed away. But, oh, like, just to hear her and to see her up close and personal and, like, it was the Whitney Houston. Like, she set the tone. So after she sang, we knew that we had to bring it. It was exciting. But playing in the garden, I don't care when you play in the garden, it's just there's something special about being able to play in the garden. Mm-hmm.

Without question. The Whitney Houston singing. I don't think there is a national anthem. Like she just sets that bar with the national anthem. Yeah. Yeah. That was the very first one. July 14th, 1999. 1999. MSG. Cheryl, you had eight points, eight rebounds, three steals. Okay. Almost 60% from the field. Let's go. Let's go. Yeah. We got you. Lisa Leslie won MVP. Double, double, but okay. Almost. Almost.

The West defeated the East 79 to 61. So that was old school East versus West. You know, this, this game that we are coming up on is going to be team USA versus team WNBA. So a little different from the East versus West, but we talked about the skills competition real quick. Let's go over the three point competition before we get to the game. Um,

Let me find that. Okay, Stephanie Dolson from the Mystics, who's almost shooting about 50% from three, by the way. Not mad about that one. She's been knocking it down. Alicia Gray, again. Jonquil Jones. Marina Mabry, again. And Kayla McBride from Minnesota. Who you got?

I want Kayla McBride one, because she has been in this competition quite a few times and has not been able to bring home the crown. She's gone up against the Allie Quigley's at her prime and Sabrina. And I just think this is her time to win it. Um, and she's just having an incredible season this year from three season after year 10, I think like she deserves it. I,

I would not be mad if it was Kayla McBride. So here's what I'm thinking is going to happen. Marina Mabry coming off of a great game against the Aces. Force trade, not force, whatever. She's going to a new team. I think Mabry is going to shoot the lights out and be like...

This is what you're getting. Y'all are going to hate that you got rid of me. But she can't feel that way if it was a forced trade, right? It was a forced trade, yeah. But I do. I think she's going to shoot the ball really well. My question is, or maybe more of a statement. Question and statement. Question is, why no one from the Mercury we are in Phoenix, statement being, DT...

Yeah, that would have been the person. Come on. That would have been the person. Yeah. Diana Taurasi. It just would have given it a little bit something else. There's a couple other names missing. Ooh, let's talk about them. From this three-point competition. And that is Kaitlyn Clark and Sabrina Ionescu. Sabrina, setting the record last year, only missing two shots. She had 37 points.

She's not here. Well, she's still here. She's playing on Team USA, but she's not in the competition to defend her crown or try to repeat. And Kaitlyn Clark, who is known for the long three ball, like those four pointers would have been easy money for her, is not in the three point competition. And of course, we know that the league asked them to be in it, but they didn't.

Or not in it. Like, I don't know. Of course the league asks. Of course. Like, you can't have a three-point shooting contest and not ask Sabrina and Caitlyn to be in it, right? Right. Hmm. Interesting. I was shocked. That's kind of more interesting than Mabry getting traded to Connecticut. Yeah, a lot of shock. We've been shocked over and over these last couple days. So, I know you and I talked about it briefly. My question, with an S in parentheses...

Like, why wouldn't you want to be in it? It is all star. It's fun. It's still competition. And Aflac, they're putting up a nice bag. I get it. I know. I know they don't really need it, but I don't care how much money you have. 5K is nice. That's a nice pocket change. Yeah. So I hope this is just me talking.

I hope that the two of them weren't like, nah, we're going to wait and do NBA All-Star.

Because if you remember, if you remember, right, Sabrina and Steph last year, which I thought was a great show. It was fun. Sabrina shot the lights out. It was a great time. It was beautiful. But immediately the conversation was, well, we need to bring Sabrina and Caitlin next year. And that's what we've all been wanting and waiting for. Yeah, but do both. Do both. This is your league.

The W is it is your league. It is. And I think regardless of the money and, you know, Sabrina could be just saving, you know, for Team USA and saving her energy for that.

It's like bragging rights. It's pride a little bit. Especially if you're trying to defend your title. Right. If I'm one of the best shooters in the world, I want everyone to know it every single day at any opportunity. And this is a perfect opportunity. There's going to be so many eyes on this all-star game. This could have been the time to say like...

Okay. Yeah. We were speculating. Now we know. And that's what I feel like Sabrina did last year, which was an incredible showing. So I'm a little surprised that we, I feel robbed. Like I feel like I'm actually a little disappointed. Yeah. I'm kind of sad as a fan, as a person in

media, all of that. Yeah. And this is where you, again, it's all star. You got USA versus W all stars. You got the skills challenge. This is our skills competition and the three point shooting contest. But this is where hopefully you're, you're putting or bringing your best three point shooters, right. To, to participate in the all-star game. And you're getting a chance to go up against the,

some of the best three-point shooters. So I don't know. I am disappointed, but whatever their reason is, it is what it is, and we keep it pushing because Stephanie Dolson might just surprise all of us. I know. Stephanie's shooting the ball well, too, now. That would actually be really fun. I would love that for Stephanie Dolson. If she's just like, well, no Sabrina, no the crown. Thank you. I flag, I'll receive my check. Hello. Okay, real quick, just the upcoming game.

Team WNBA versus Team USA. We talked about the last episode that there were some injuries, there were some question marks. A lot of those were answered in the last game or so this week. Nafisa Collier was questionable in her Minnesota game, but she's cleared. Ryan Howard came back. A lot of players are available. Do you still think that they should maybe...

Dial it back and not go as hard in this all-star game for Team USA? Or have you changed your tune? Well, according to Miss Monica McNutt, did you hear she gave us a shout-out? Oh! She was talking about us, talking about...

Our last episode when we talked about this. Oh, my gosh. We love you, Monica. We do, but anyway. No, we do. We love you, Monica. But Monica was like, she talked about on air how we were discussing it. So I think it was her and Pam. I think Pam Moore did the game. But she was saying, well, Swoops and Jordan had this conversation about will the All-Stars, will the USA, will they play? Will they not play? So she was like, I mean, I think they will. I think they should. So...

I do. There's more of me that's leaning towards absolutely they're going to play because, yes, they're getting ready for the Olympics. And I also think they're like, yeah, we need to send y'all a message. I think that's it. That's the point blank period. We need to send a message not only to all of the WNBA, but to all of the people talking about this roster. Mm-hmm.

Because there's a lot of talk. That's what the message has to be. So I think it's two part, right? Let's not forget, W All-Stars beat the USA four years ago. And then you have all this talk about who should be on the Olympic team, who shouldn't be on the Olympic team. Did they pick the right players? Do they have the right team together? Are they ready for the Olympics? I've never questioned if they're ready for the Olympics. So I think...

that in itself, that dialogue and that conversation, they're like, okay, let's just play. Let's just go to work. Let's just show not only everybody else, but let's show these all-stars that we're playing against who we are. Like on Wakanda when Angela Bassett says, show him who you are. That's what I feel like. Do you remember that? Yes, of course. Well, you're laughing at me. I'm laughing

Shout out to Angela Bassett for getting on this episode. Would not have thought that was coming. I think that's their mind. It's like, let's show them who we are. Why not? And matter of fact, let's just show the world who we are. Let's show the world. So, yeah. Let's go. Okay. I'm excited about the game. Me too. I think it's going to be good. Especially here in Phoenix. The last All-Star game, July 19, 2014, the East defeated the West 125-124 in overtime.

So there has been great games here in Phoenix. We know the crowd is going to show out. Without question. Also Cheryl Miller being the coach for Team WNBA. I love that. A little Cheryl versus Cheryl. Cheryl Reeve for Team USA. I love that. Great pick. The first coach here in Phoenix for the Mercury. She's the one who named the X Factor. That's how they got their name from Cheryl Miller. So...

I think it's going to be a great game. I love it. Well, we know the fans are going to turn out. We know that too. Because the Mercury, they love, not only do they love their squad, they love the W. So, great place to be. Fun atmosphere. And now a word from our sponsors at Betterment.

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the automated investing and savings app that makes your money hustle. Visit Betterment.com to get started. Investing involves risk. Performance is not guaranteed. So with this all-star break coming up, there are some teams that need this extended break, and there are some teams it could possibly hurt the streak that they're going on right now. So when you look at the standings,

I'm kind of looking at those teams that are teetering a playoff spot. So Chicago Sky sitting at number eight, Atlanta Dream at nine, Sparks at 10, the Mystics at 11, and Dallas Wings at 12. So just first question, who needs this break the most? Who's going to benefit the most from this break? Who needs it the most? Yeah. Well, I know Dallas is sitting at the very bottom, right? Yeah.

But when I look at Dallas and who they're missing, which is Satu, I think this break could do them a lot of good. And hopefully Satu will have a great Olympics and will come back ready to go. So I do think if they get her back after the Olympics, that is going to help them without question. I think all the teams that are sitting at the top, right, New York, Connecticut, Minnesota, Seattle, and Vegas –

I think all of those teams can use a break. Yeah. Because their stars play the majority of the game. And now they're getting ready to go play in the Olympics. So how much of a break are they really going to get? Especially the Aces. They got four players. I know. They're not going to get a break. But I think the crazy thing is I think all of these teams can use a break. The two teams that I think don't need this break right now, Chicago and Indiana.

Yes. Because both of those teams are playing really well right now. Well, I'm torn about Indiana. Why? Because I know that they're playing really well right now, but I just see a world where...

They are just going to be playing pickup with each other and getting more comfortable with each other during this break. And it's only going to help them. You're shaking your head no. But I feel like this is what, I guess they needed this probably like a month ago.

Yeah. Like after the season started, just like when they got some practice together, they just need to just familiarize themselves with each other even more. And that's what they're going to do during this break, especially a young team like them, especially.

I've said it before. We've seen it happen where rookies come into a season, maybe they're struggling, they have an extended break like this one, they come back, it's like their sophomore season already. Like, they're able to work on things from that first half of the season that they were going to have to wait until October to work on. So that's why I think. And you could be 100% correct. There's a part of me that feels like they're like,

Hell no, I want a break. I need a break from you and you and you and you. We need a break from each other. And so that's why I'm like the timing of the break to me doesn't benefit Chicago and Indiana because I really do. I think those two teams right now are playing very well. They're playing well together. And I might feel a little different about Chicago since they made the trade. You know what I mean? Mm-hmm.

But the other side of that is you need practice time with these two new players that you just got. So I think everybody on this roster, I mean, I think all the teams could use a break, but Indiana, Chicago, they just look really good right now. So I'd be like, nah, let's keep playing. Let's keep rolling. Let's just keep playing. Everybody else can have a break, but can we just play? We'll play each other. Play each other. I said we need a week every.

Every week a game between them anyway. Kaitlyn Clark said in a recent press conference, she was like, I just kind of need to not touch a basketball for a few days. Because keep in mind, all these rookies coming from college season, they have not stopped. And so this break is actually very much needed for them for the rest aspect. Because it's been since last year.

I guess, September that they have been nonstop going all the way through the final four. If I was one of those rookies, I'd be like, I don't want to hear the word basketball, say the word basketball. I don't want to see a picture of a basketball. I just want to go enjoy me some me time, some off time away from everybody else. And, and they all deserve it. So it's going to be interesting to see what happens after the break. All right. Well,

will resume in mid-August and I think it's going to be a whole new, it is going to be a playoff push. It's that first game back. Everybody has their eyes on the postseason. So we will keep an eye on that.

Well, thank you for tuning in to our WNBA All-Star Preview episode presented by AT&T. Please continue to follow, rate, review the show. It's available on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also send any questions, your stories. If you see us at All-Star, shoot us a note at queensofthecourtatodyssey.com.

And if you see us, just say what's up. I know. But you know, if you don't see us, you can always find us on social media. I'm at airsoups22. And she, her, Jordan, is at

Jordan R. It was a little shoulder shitting. It was, it was. Queens of the Court is an Odyssey original created in partnership with the WNBA. The show is produced by James Jackson. The executive producers are Asha Saluja, Maddie Sprung-Kaiser, and Leah Reese Dennis. And a very special thanks today for getting us in studio to Chris Disney and Jake Galley.

Social media assistance from Isabella Apple. Music from T-Storm Battle. And a very special thank you to Lena Moss Glazer and the one and only Alex Ozzie. And court is adjourned.