Something Special Is Brewing In Atlanta
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The Indiana Fever select Aaliyah Boston, University of South Carolina. Welcome to Queens of the Court, an Odyssey original podcast produced in partnership with the WNBA. And we aren't going to waste a single second because we are recording this episode just minutes after the WNBA draft concluded and...

It is 1124 Eastern Time. We came rushed back to our hotel rooms because there's so much to dive into, Cheryl. I really, I can't wait. But before we dive in, we have to introduce Cheryl.

the hall of famer that is on the other side of the podcast with me she's a four-time WNBA champion Olympic gold medalist she's in the Naismith Hall of Fame and a passionate gardener it's the wonderful Cheryl Swoops hey round of applause and I'm so excited to be working alongside this

dedicated women's basketball journalist, award-winning podcast host. Yes, I said award-winning. And in my opinion, the absolute best fro in the business, the one and only Jordan Robinson.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. You are working the pro, by the way. Thank you. You know, it barely fits in the frame of this video, but it honestly just got bigger by the hour. And I love that for me. And this New York humidity a little bit, it's just growing. I thought you were going to say it's growing because of all the excitement at the draft. But anyway. Thank you.

I love that too. Okay, so we have so much to talk about. We were just at the WNBA draft a couple hours ago. We are here in New York. Like I mentioned, we are at the same hotel. We rushed back so that we could record.

And let's just get into it because we were sitting next to each other the whole time. I was taking notes because there was a lot going on, but I think we both had the biggest takeaway. We're going to talk about Aaliyah Boston going number one and everything. But my biggest takeaway is that I feel like Atlanta won that draft. Do you agree?

I do. I really do. Listen, first of all, shout out to coach Tanisha Wright. Like, you know, been in the league, played in the league. She is doing some crazy great things with that team in a short period of time. So I would absolutely have to agree with you. I do believe Atlanta won the draft tonight.

Yeah. And so when you break down their picks, well, first of all, I think this is the second year in a row that they won the draft because last year they got the number one pick and Ryan Howard, she won rookie of the year. You saw everything that she was able to do under coach Tanisha, right? And now they pick up Haley Jones and Letitia Amihere in the first round, which

Both players that I think can add so much to this roster. And let's start with Haley Jones because, you know, with her game,

At Stanford, I was able, you know, I was a Pac-12 network host. I was able to really see her grow just this last year and kind of be more of an offensive threat. But I want her to even go a step further. I want her to develop a mid range. I want her to develop a three point shot. And I think under Coach T, like they're going to bring the best out of each other. You know what I mean?

No, I do. And here's the thing. When when I look at. All right, let's go to Letitia first and then I'll come back to Haley. I don't know. No surprise to me, but I don't know how many people had her going eighth. Yeah, I think that was a surprise to a lot of people. But there's so much upside to her game.

And when I look at who's on that, the dream roster right now, no doubt about it. Haley and Letitia both can come in immediately and have an impact. So back to your point with Haley, watching her play in college. Let me say this. College and the pros, right? Two totally different games.

I don't care how good you are in college. I don't care what you did for your college team. You are a pro now, right? And people are coming for you. It's a job. And knowing how roster spots are few and far between, you've got to bring it every single day. Practice gains. So when I look at Haley and what her strengths are compared to what her weaknesses are,

big guard. Like that's to me, that's the first thing that sticks out, right? The big guard can go to Atlanta, can come in, have an immediate impact, but offensively, she's not going to be able to get to the hole as easily as she did. Yeah. She's going to have to be more consistent with her, her jumper, but, but I do believe she has that ability and she also is going to play for a coach who can help get her there.

Mm hmm. Mm hmm. Well, let's look at this roster. Let's kind of break it down a little bit because we were looking at this roster in our seats as Haley Jones name was called. And ATL is not coming to play like they have some talent on this roster and the I'm excited. That's

Me too. Like, I think we need to go to a dream game. We need to get some tickets to fly to Atlanta because you have Monique. You have Nia coffee. You have Alicia gray who came over from Dallas. You have Naz Hillman. Yeah. Ryan Howard, Ari McDonald. Like,

Are you kidding? And then you have the veteran presence of Danielle Robinson at the guard position, which I think is going to be like, get these puppies organized. She's going to be able to organize all this youth. But like,

This is some talent and some young hungry talent in Atlanta. Hungry. That's yeah. I'm glad you put that word in there. And let's not forget Cheyenne Parker, right? Yeah. Had a baby. Okay. Look, I'm all for players who take time off, become a mom. You come back, get your game back. Right. Like Cheyenne had a really good season for Atlanta last year, but to me,

Young for sure. They look really good on paper, right? When you look at that roster from top to bottom. The sad thing is...

I'm counting. Somebody's not going to make the team. I know. That's a lot of names. A lot of names on this roster. Jordan, that's the sad thing about it because there's so much talent and you know, not everybody's going to make a team. But what I love is when you said hungry, like I got an opportunity to watch Alicia Gray and Nas Hillman play in AU last month. And I got to tell you,

I knew what Alicia Gray could bring on both ends of the, on both ends of the floor, right? Offensively, defensively, Nas Hillman. She opened my eyes. I love me some Nas Hillman, Brian Howard. I mean, we could talk about this team forever. Here's,

To me, you know, everyone was talking about New York and Vegas. Rightfully so. Right? Yeah. We're talking about the players, the trades and all that stuff. Rightfully so. But Atlanta Dream, y'all better pay attention because T is doing some things in the ATL. And it started last year, like just watching Atlanta.

their home games, watching it on a TV screen, you got the feeling like something special is brewing in Atlanta. We were sitting next to Nneka Agumbike and she was like, even their arena, how it's

It feels like everybody is on the court. They are packing the house. Like all of that factors into the atmosphere that coach T is building there. And their players want to play for her. When you have a coach that the players have the

buy-in. They want to give their hard work. And Haley Jones has already said she's ready to work. She knows that she's coming into this roster. Nothing is guaranteed. We also know that coming after draft night. So you're going to have to work for your spot, but I would to be a fly on the wall in this training camp. This is a lot of young talent and just looking at this roster too. You're excited about the future of,

of the W no matter, you know, where all these players land. You know what I mean? Yeah. Oh yeah, for sure. And you said about Tanisha, like players want to play for her, right? When I look at her, my first thought is she's a player's coach. She played, she played in the league, um,

Played for some of the best coaches, you know, play when she was at Seattle. I just, he's a competitor. So she's going to do everything she can in the seat that she's sitting in now, the car she's driving to put her players in her team in the best position to be successful. And just like, I can't get over how in what is this her second year?

Yeah. In her second year, when I look at this squad she's put together, they're going to make some noise.

They're going to make some noise. And then she picked, you know, they already had moves in the off season, but also she picked up Vicki Johnson as her assistant coach coming over from Dallas. So that's just adding to, I feel like another competitor, a great player, just adding to kind of that system of what coach T is building there. I think that was a great pick by them with Haley Jones. I really like,

a me here going there. I'm with you. I was a little surprised that she was, you know, one of the early South Carolina freshies to go, but I think it fits perfectly. I'm excited for ATL. I need to get a Jersey. It's a good fit for her. They're good. She's a good fit for them. Good fit for Haley. Um,

You know, when I think about Atlanta again, and I know we've been on Atlanta for a while, right, Felicia? I know, I know. We'll talk about the other picks, I promise. To me, there's no better person or people to lead players or to guide players.

players especially young players in in the w then former players like t was a hell of a defender in the league vicky was offensively defensively like to be able to bring former players in and have them on your staff and mentor your players and guide your players and teach your players like they've been through it there's one thing to talk about it and and say well you know

when I did, but it's totally different to actually be able to get on the floor and show them versus just talking about it. So that I got to get to the A, Jordan. I'm just saying. We're going to book our trip after this. We're going to be courtside because we know that's going to be good. T, if you're listening to this, we need courtside seats. Yes.

Send it to our bags already packed. Well, we'll be there, but let's get to the other. Let's get to, let's kind of assess the top five draft picks overall, because the main thing after each name was called, I was just trying to picture the roster that they already have. How was it going to fit?

And are they going to make an immediate impact? I think all of those questions kind of came up first. So let's start with Aaliyah Boston. We knew she was going to be the number one pick. I'm so happy that the Indiana Fever made the correct choice. I love her game. I think she is ready for single coverage after seeing many years of double teams, triple teams,

And I think the fever who has a ridiculously young roster, they had so many draft picks again tonight. The oldest player on their team is Erica Wheeler. Who's been in the league for seven years, which doesn't even sound right. Coming out of my mouth. But let me ask you, how does the Leah Boston fit into this team? Um,

Okay, before I get into that, I have to, and I said this to Aaliyah. I apologize to her because I'm a big South Carolina fan. I'm a big Aaliyah Boston fan. So I got a chance to hang out with some of the players prior to the draft. And I didn't recognize Aaliyah. She looked gorgeous. I'm not telling you every single player here.

the draft like a little bit we need to do a a not not best dress worst dress type thing but we need to do like a segment of like we can get out some awards yes oh my gosh oh yeah yeah I got excited about that but so I'm in the room with them and I go to Bree to Letitia

And I didn't recognize Aaliyah. Just absolutely beautiful. So here's the one player that I don't think gets enough credit for the type of player she is, the type of person she is, the type of leader she is. And to your point, yeah, she's ready to see some single coverage, right? And my question is,

how will that change her game? Because we saw, to me, Aaliyah faced double teams, triple teams almost every night and she's still produced, right? So when I think about single coverage at the next level, it's some beasts at her position at the next level. Yeah. So it just makes, my first question is,

how will that change her game? It's a question because I'm not, I'm not really sure. Do I think she will produce at the next level? No doubt. Like Aaliyah, Aaliyah Boston is ready to be a pro for sure. So when you talk about where does she fit with Indiana? It's a good question. It's a lot of people. I had questions about it, but here's the thing. Like,

Like you can't, you can't not take her number one. Oh, of course. I think you have to, because we've talked about that. We talked about, do they need a center? Not really, you know, because they have so many already on the roster, but you don't not pick only a Boston because she's clearly the best player in the draft.

So here's what I think. And I've read lots of comments and I've heard lots of, I've heard the noise, right? Aaliyah Boston going to Indiana, it's not going to work. They, you know, she doesn't fit or they don't need her position. I disagree. So again, I got an opportunity to watch Nelissa Smith play AU last month. And Nelissa's a beast.

Like a walking double-double. A walking double-double. Queen Egbo. I think I watched Queen play a bailer. Queen is coming into her own. The thing that I really like about Aaliyah

I don't think Aaliyah, I don't think she has to be a five, right? Like a true five back to the basket because Aaliyah can step away from the basket. She has a nice little 10, 15 foot jumper. She thinks she's a three point shooter. She's not, not yet. I'm telling her this. Here's what could be really scary when I look at that team. If they can find a way to

I don't know which player, but if they could find a way to play a big lineup with an Aaliyah Boston, a Melissa Smith, a Queen Eggbow. I like this. That could be some problems for people. I don't know who's your three. Can Melissa be your three and Queen and Aaliyah play the four or five? Or they can all rotate. I like this so much.

That could be a problem. I mean, we've seen it work on different levels of just going big. You can't, I mean, who's going to out-rebound that team? I would run the other way if you had only a Boston, Melissa Smith and Queen Eggmo in the paint, ready for every offensive rebound. But just like Erica Wheeler at the one,

You got you got any put at the two you got Henny you got Kelsey Mitchell at the two you got the shooter who has a length put a Leah Boston at the three and Melissa at the four and queen at the five. Oh my god. That's stanky. You guys. If you're not watching this video, Cheryl just did the stanky.

Thinking about that roster. That's my stinky basketball face. Like, yeah. And let's not forget if she's, if she's healthy, Victoria Vivian, Vivian, like she, she got a nice stroke too. That there's some good pieces there to work with is what I'm saying. Christy, right? Christy's the new coach. Christy Sides. Yes. Yeah. She got some, she got some good pieces to work with.

Talk about a training camp. I mean, I'm looking at this roster. There's 19 players on this roster right now. Like, you know, not everybody is going to make this roster, but this is going to be a battle in every single spot. Like even, I mean, think about a late round draft pick. They got LaDasia Williams from LSU. Who had, I love by the way,

I love her game. Incredible game. She was one of the standouts in the final four. I kind of a quiet double digits, 20 points, you know, 22 points. Like,

Her pace, her, she can go back to the basket. She can shoot a little floater. Like I wouldn't sleep on her. Like she's going to come into this training camp, make it some noise. No, you're right. Like I wouldn't sleep on her either, but now you start really looking at the, at the bigs, you know what I mean? And you say,

somebody is not going to make this squad out of the bigs. Or maybe they will. Because we were talking about Erica Wheeler and Henny and Victoria. So two other and Kelsey. We know what Kelsey is going to be. Kelsey Mitchell can just flat out stroke that thing. You know? Hooper. Listen, so Christy Wallace

Played at Baylor, but has that international flow. Christie, I think, will also be a nice guard for Indiana. But a player who came in as a rookie and was just that, a rookie, who I got a chance to watch at AU again, Lexi Hall. Lexi Hall played really good ball at AU last month. Man.

man and indiana knew what they were doing like that was a shock last year in the draft when lexi went so high in the first round she wasn't even at the draft but indiana knew indiana knew what they were getting she plays hard defense oh my gosh but here's the thing yeah yeah there's too many names on this roster and it makes with every team jordan

I know. Yeah, unfortunately. Unfortunately. And I will say what you keep bringing up AU because we've seen, you know, AU the first season was last season. Then the W season after the confidence boosts.

That those players got from playing against their peers in the off season coming into the next W season. I want to do the research just straight running the numbers of like,

who shot better? What were their averages just from coming off of AU? Lexi Brown is someone that comes to mind. And I talked to her about it of just, she was way more confident in her shot, way more confident in her defense, you know, all of those things coming off of AU. So when you think of someone like Melissa Smith, who won AU and had a 50 piece

in the last game, like that confidence five, zero, just double checking. Everybody got that 50 points in the last game of AU sports. You add that to this mix of that confidence boost that she's also going to have to know that she can do that against her peers. Like that's a different player that from last year that you have on the roster. No, no doubt for sure. And

And let's not get it twisted as if they need any more motivation. So as a, as a player, you, you hear the noise, you see what people are saying, you, you hear what people are talking about and they hear super teams, Vegas, New York, right? So, so you have to know as a player, you have that in the back of your mind, like, oh, so they're already counting us out.

Like that's just extra motivation for players to come into training camp, work on their game, get better. And, and for coaches too, right? You you're trying to figure out what, who can give me the best shot at trying to beat a Vegas and a New York. You know, at this, at this point, it's a job. So, um,

Somebody is coming for your job every single day. To your point, Jordan, you got 19 players on the Indiana Fever roster. Training camp is going to be a battle because people are fighting for jobs. Yeah. And talking about trying to turn around a pro, you know, a franchise, Indiana is trying to have a franchise player. They're trying to, to,

go back in time of when, you know, the Tamika catching's years and they're trying to bring back this franchise to a winning, uh,

playoff contender franchise. And, you know, we were talking about it. Yeah. These are a bunch of rookie one-year players, but in a couple of years, these are all going to be players that have some years under their belt, some experience and they're coming. Like, I think they're just brewing. They don't have anything to lose. You know, they are going to play every team hard. They're trying to get some, some eyes on them and their game. So yeah,

All right, Indiana, we're going to be looking at you. I like that tall lineup, Cheryl. I hope Coach was listening to that because I like that a lot. Well, and I may not say that about every rookie, right? But Aaliyah Boston, does she have stuff that she needs to work on? Yeah, but I think every player does. You should always want to continue to work on your game. But Aaliyah Boston is one of those players that I think

is ready to come in and make an impact immediately. So I love the sounds and look of a big lineup with Indiana. All right, we have plenty more to discuss. We can go on and on, but Queens of the Court will be right back. We're going to talk about biggest surprises, biggest steal of the night, and we may even give out some outfit awards too. Come on back.

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All right. Welcome back to Queens of the Court. Okay, Cheryl, I'm curious, who was your biggest surprise of the night? Oh, so here's the thing, because my biggest surprise probably ends up being like the biggest steal, if that makes sense, because they didn't go as high as I thought they would have.

I was surprised that Letitia went eighth for sure to Atlanta. She was a big surprise for me. I think everyone else, and you know what, maybe, maybe, maybe Jordan Horston to Seattle. I would say that.

We were on the draft floor, right? And so with the whole ESPN production, there were camera guys all around. And before the pick was called, there was a camera person in front of a player because they were expecting that player to be called next so that they can catch her reaction.

And probably from the second pick on, they had a camera in front of Jordan Hurston's face because everybody thought she was going to go a lot earlier because we know what she can bring. I feel like she can help any team, just her skill set and what she can do as another big guard.

So when she kind of fell a little lower, I was surprised. I think any team would have benefited from having her. So that's kind of what I meant when I said, like, you can have a big surprise that can also be a big steal, right? So I was surprised that she went ninth. And at the same time, I think Seattle got a steal.

Yeah. I definitely think she will go in and help Seattle right away. Yes. Yeah. They need it. They don't got a lot of people there. They need the help. And I think that's a team that she can make. I think that's a roster that she can make. But moving on to biggest steal of the night, I think we both agree on this. And that was Brie Beal. She was the last pick.

In the third round, right? Second round. Last pick in the second round. You know, my heart was going out to her because she was the last pick of the group that was there in New York. But I think Minnesota got a steal. Like, talk about a dog. Like, a defensive stopper.

I think she is going to come into this league and stay for a very long time. There were tweets, Sydney Colson tweeted, it said, it's not when you're drafted, it's where you're drafted. Swin Cash tweeted and said, it doesn't matter your number. It's about what you can do when you get on the court. So Bree Beal on the links, I think Cheryl Reeve, a very defensive minded coach said,

I think this is being a great fit for her. And I think they got a steal. I think they were surprised that she was, you know, still there by the time they came back around. I'm just going to keep it real. I have no idea what some of these teams are thinking. I don't. Because if I watch Brie Beal play, even if her game is not where –

I think where it will be offensively. And this year, she even showed us what she could do offensively. She became more consistent, shooting the three, attacking the basket, nice pull up. But knowing you have something to work with offensively, right? Not everybody can defend. Not everybody can shut somebody down. And in the W, there are some great one-on-one players. I would take Bree Beal on my team any day.

and give her the assignment of shutting somebody down. So when you say Minnesota got a steal, no doubt about it, they did. So like as a player, and I know, I don't know Bree personally, but I know Dawn, right? Dawn is saying to Bree, no, we're not going to sweat that. Like don't sweat when you got drafted because Minnesota is a team that they need her.

And she can make that squad. No question. So you go back and you ask yourself as a player, would you rather get drafted in the top five and go somewhere where you're really going to have to fight to make a team or go later where you're going to go to a team like a Minnesota, if you're a BBL, where you know without question that you're going to make that team.

Oh, Bri is going to surprise a lot of GMs that passed up on her. But you know what I told her? I just saw this look she had of defeat, right? And so I just said to her, I said, listen, you are exactly where God wants you to be in this moment. You're going to the team that you're supposed to go to. And I know in that moment, you know, it's not what you really want to hear, right?

But I'm excited and I'm happy to see what she's, I'm looking forward to seeing what she's going to bring to Minnesota. Quiet as is kept, Minnesota's putting a good little squad together too. They are. I'm so excited because she is going to look at all of the teams that passed on her and she is going to lock down their star player. Yeah.

And she is going to be laughing, clapping her hands, doing what she does because I would wake up in a cold sweat if you told me Brie Beal is going to have to guard me full court tomorrow. She's coming. For 40 minutes. She's coming. Alexa's going, I don't even remember the number, but going to Connecticut in the second round, I think she was like 20-something. Yeah.

But just like Bree, when I look at Connecticut squad, I think it's a perfect place for her. You know, Jasmine Thomas left. So they don't, let me see. When I look at their roster from a point guard perspective, Alexis could come in. And so Natisha Heideman was their starting point guard, would be their starting point guard, I believe. But Alexis, Alexis, she can, she can help them.

Alexis is another dog. She's a dog too. She is. And I feel like her, like her and the Tisha Heideman's games are kind of similar, kind of like can get hot in a hurry. Like I just see Alexis coming in off the bench and,

Hitting her mid-range shot, hitting three in a row, you know, momentum changer, really able to get the sun going. Especially, I mean, you have Alyssa Thomas you can throw dimes to. Like, there's a lot of weapons on Connecticut, even though they still lost a lot of people. I think that's another good deal. That's a good point. And they got Tiffany Hayes. Yeah.

You got Dejanet Carrington. Again, I think when you go down and look at teams, like their roster, and you really look at the players, I think it's going to be a lot more competitive than people were initially thinking when they looked at Vegas and the Liberty. I do. One of the differences I think though, between Natisha and Alexis is,

After watching Alexis in the final four, now guarding Caitlin Clark. Now you can't shut, I don't think anybody in the world could shut her down. But Alexis, I feel like frustrated her and like really got in her head somewhere. Now she still had 30, I know, but it wasn't 40. Yeah.

But defensively, I think Alexis might be a little better defender than Letitia right now. Yeah, I like that. Here's the thing.

I need a little countdown of how many days until opening night because I am so excited to be able to talk about these players and these games every week.

on this podcast with you, Cheryl, because the talent, like as you know, we say that all the time. Okay. There's, you know, every team's a super team. There's only 144 spots. It's the hardest job to get. That is a fact. But when we go line by line on a roster, like we did tonight on draft night and we see the competition and we see who might not even make a roster and the talent that's there. I,

I'm even more excited. Like, I didn't know there was a level to even get more excited, but I'm there because like you said, yes, we're talking about the super teams, but there is so much talent in this league and it's going to be incredible to watch from week one to the finals when we're covering this all season to see who rises, who falls, who really comes into their own and

I mean, we can't, I have the biggest smile on my face all night about the draft. Just, you know, the top 10, the top five. And did a player go later than we thought or sooner than we thought, but another player I want to talk about that, that really wasn't a steal or a surprise to me, but I feel went exactly where she needed to maybe, um,

would be Zaya Cooke. I thought Zaya going to LA and then to see how excited Nneka was about that. I think that is the right place for her.

Nneka was ecstatic. She was sitting next to us the entire time. She jumped up, she ran over to Ziya, gave her the biggest hug. She was already calling her my PG. And when we broke it down, I said, Ziya is going to be able to learn from Jordan Canada, Jasmine Thomas. You have Nneka and Chanae as these veteran presence. Like they are just going to guide you into what to do.

not only just as a player, but what to, how to navigate the league, how to be a woman, like coming to LA, they're going to be able to help her through all of that.

And I, I also, I think that's a perfect fit. Now I live in LA. I'm going to be able to have a front row seat this season because it's just the, the, you know, she's and that's yes. And it's not going to be right away. She's not going to have a starting spot. You know, there's a lot of point guards ahead of her, but she is going to be able to grow in her game and, and,

a leader of a team, especially down the line. Like she's going to look back and say, this was a perfect place for me because I was able to grow my point guard skillset and my floor general skillset. I agree with you. I don't think she'll come in and start right away. But if, if I'm coaching LA, I'm, I'm playing her more at the two, a shooting guard and

than I am at the PG. And I'm going to let JC, Jordan Canada, and Jasmine Thomas run the point guard spot and move Ziya more to the two guard spot. Okay. You were talking about things that she can and will learn from her vets. I'm segueing here because I'm going to say the one thing she does not have to learn is how to dress. Okay.

Because that dress she wore tonight, baby, baby. Listen. Okay. She sparkled and she went to the sparks. It was perfect. She had the braces off. And the hair was laid. The hair was laid. The sparkles were sparkling. Okay. So your top. Did she win your best dress? I could give you my top four. Okay.

So my top four, you want my top four? Okay. This is your top four draft of best dress. Do they have to be in order or just top four? They got to be in order. Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Oh, see now I got to rethink if I had to go in order. No order. I'm going to tell you my top four. So Zaya, Brie in her pink and silver little rhinestone, whatever. And the hair was all swooped. No pun intended to one side.

She had the BB chain. Gorge, gorge. Yes. Hayley Jones was so feeling the green, the skirt. That green. Jacket, the little bralette, the heels, the nails. I was feeling Hayley. Alexis Morris. So cute. The suit that she wore, she told me, was her grandfather's suit. But I don't know her grandpa. Yeah.

But I don't know if Grandpa looked as good in the suit as Alexis did because she was rocking that suit. Beautiful. Beautiful. Came in with the sunglasses, like the loafers.

That was a great top four. That was a great top four. I have to give a shout out to Aaliyah Boston's purple hair. No doubt. Especially she also got her braces off in perfect time for the draft. So her teeth were shining. I love that. They were, I mean, the outfits were incredible this year. I mean, they definitely watched last year's and we're like, okay, how can I outdo them? But yeah,

We're going to talk about your draft day in the next episode. But you had on a lime green shirt set. Your hair was laid to a little bob. If that's what you're calling it. If you're calling it a laid bob, then we're going to roll with that. Overnight, Duncan's Pumpkin Spice Coffee has sent folks into a cozy craze. I'm Lauren LaTulip reporting live from home in my hand-knit turtleneck that my nana made me. Mmm, cinnamony.

The home with Duncan is where you want to be. At BlueNile.com, you can find endless ways to make your moments sparkle. From classic and timeless jewelry gifts to creating the custom engagement ring of her dreams. All at prices you won't find at a traditional jeweler.

And right now, you can save up to 40% on fine jewelry and 25% on engagement ring settings during the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale. Going on now. Go to BlueNile.com to shop the Blue Nile Anniversary Sale and save up to 40%. That's BlueNile.com. But it's so, so I will say this. It's so interesting to think about back in the day, 1997,

to 2023. The look, the feel of everything was so very different.

So I don't want to get into that because we're going to save that for the next episode. We're going to save that for next time. I can't wait to unpack that. But before we go, we want to talk about the tweet of the night, which was so, so hilarious. In the post-draft press conference, Haley Jones, who was drafted by the Atlanta Dream, she mentioned that she knew her phone was blowing up.

And one of her missed calls was from her new boss, her new coach, the Atlanta Dream head coach, Tanisha Wright, tweeted at Jones, Hey, girl, just trying to reach you to congratulate you on coming to the A. Hashtag, pick up your phone.

When Haley was told in the press conference about this tweet, she was so embarrassed. And she was like, okay, coach, I'm calling you back immediately. And she did. Let's roll the clip. Oh, my God.

Well, Coach, if you're listening or if you're going to see this interview, I'm so sorry. I literally got called, didn't even think to grab my phone. I hugged my mom and dad and my brother. So when I get to my phone, I'll call her back immediately. That is like the worst first impression to have is missing a call from your new boss. So the second I get to my phone, no matter how many missed calls I have, missed texts, calls,

calling her immediately. But, you know, I hope she knows how excited I am to get to the A, you know, make an impact, get to training camp, just get ready to work. And I will tell her profusely all of that as soon as we get on the phone. How hilarious is that? Also kind of embarrassing, but I'm so glad that the reporter asked that in that moment because she was right.

She did not think her missed call was from her new coach. But you have to know your coach is going to be calling you, right? To say, hey, welcome. That may have been the funniest thing I have ever seen on draft night. And she had this look of, oh my goodness, my coach actually called me and I didn't pick up. I felt so bad. Oh my gosh.

I know. She's like, I messed it up. Okay, well, that's it for us. Episode one, Cheryl, we did it. Episode one, in the bag. I'm kind of speechless because this is going to be so much fun and it was real time. You got a lot of our thoughts and us processing things and thinking about the draft and thinking about how all these things fit together and that's what it's going to be. All season long, Queens of the Court will

will be the podcast home for the WNBA. We'll be bringing you that post-game analysis that you crave, sitting down for interviews with athletes across the league and doing deep dives in the history of the W, which is honestly going to be one of my favorite parts. I'm just so super excited that I get to do this with you. And...

Guys and girls, we are going to be having some really cool guests on here. So make sure you hit subscribe now so you don't miss them. And please follow, rate, and review the show. Available on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.

And if there's a topic you want to hear us discuss, give us a shout on social media. Let us know. Cheryl's at air swoops 22 and I'm at underscore Jordan Liggins. You can listen to Queens of the court on the odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast. The show is produced by Alex Azzi. The executive producer is Lena Moss Glazier. Social media assistance from Isabella Apple. Imaging from T-Storm Battles.