The Rookie Roundup
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Basically, you're saying that you're just lazy.

When you said it's an extra step. Objection! Speculation! This is Queens of the Court. What's up, y'all? Welcome to another episode of Queens of the Court, an Odyssey Original Podcast produced in partnership with the WNBA. I'm your girl, Cheryl Swoops. And I'm Jordan Robinson. And court is in session. Boom! That woke me up.

Here we go. Memorial Day. Memorial Day. We are recording this on Monday, a holiday weekend. Did you do anything fun? I did, I guess. I've been going and traveling and doing so much. I just wanted to have like

A weekend of relaxation, nothing. So my husband and I went to the beach in Gaveston. I know people are like, what? Don't believe what... Was it Charles Barkley that was talking about Gaveston? No, Shaq. Either one of those two. And other stuff that Charles Barkley has said, don't believe nothing that comes out of his mouth. But anyway...

The beach at Galveston was very relaxing. My husband likes to fish. I do not fish. So I just sat and I just enjoyed a glass of wine, listened to music and did absolutely nothing. So yeah, it was just so refreshing and relaxing. How about you? You deserve that. That sounds great.

We didn't really do much. My husband actually took off like he's always off on Friday. So he took off Wednesday and Thursday. He's been off for like five days, six days. And I'm just still having to work. So I'm like, I love that you're here. But I still have to work. I'm sorry. But I still got things to do.

still got things to do but it's been so fun to just you know have him here and just be slow like i think normally we would probably have tried to plan a trip or try to squeeze something in but it's been really nice just to just kick our feet up we're watching tv we're watching these games there's so many good games that have been on that's what we've been doing listen it's important to just like

Just relax and enjoy family and decompress, even if it's for a day or a weekend. Today, we're actually going to grill a little bit if it doesn't rain. My son's coming over with his girlfriend. We're just going to hang out. Yeah. Okay.

No, I like her. I like her. It'll be fun. I know people probably listed like, "Hmm." No, I will tell you, she's a sweetheart. Oh, that's great. Jordan, I'm just happy to be home, right? Where I'm not living out of a suitcase, to be home and I can sit in front of my TV and watch some good hoops.

Good hoops. And the hoops have been really, really good. We're going to get to that in just a little bit. But you mentioned Charles Barkley and Gavelston, which our producer said because of our gavels. How about that? That could be a premium court destination. That was cute. That was cute, Alex. Love it. Love it. But the...

This segment is loosely titled Uninformed Men, and I don't want this to be a weekly segment, but so far as the season is getting underway and new eyes, new ears, new opinions have been trickling in, we've heard, you know, LeBron's comments, Charles Barkley's comments, just talking about how really making stuff up about how the players are haters and

because of what Caitlin Clark is bringing to the league. There's no merit. There's no truth to those statements. But here's what Alicia Clark had to say when asked about these comments. Listen, you have people that have never spoken to a single player in this league and asked us our thoughts.

And you're out here making assumptions based on behalf of these notions that you're creating in your head, these storylines you're creating in your head. And so I don't pay it any mind. Charles Barkley has never talked to any of us. All these people that are on these platforms talking, they've never talked to us. And so for me, it's just, it's noise. And at the end of the day, and you know, you read all of it and talking about we should let her come in and do X, Y, and Z. And it's like,

This is our job. We show up every day to compete. Every rookie that's come in this league, Brianna Stewart, Jewel Lloyd, myself, Kate Martin, like it doesn't matter who you are, what rookie you are, vets are coming at your neck because we're here to show you like this is a grown woman's league and this is the best league in the world for a reason. So it doesn't matter who you are as a rookie. I was a 25 year old rookie when I came in this league. Delisha Milton Jones came at my neck.

and I was playing overseas as a professional, but like, that's the, that's what it is. That's what you do. You come in here to compete. You show the rookies like you're, this is what we do here. Um, and so it's nothing out of the norm. So I just, I push it aside as noise until they want to sit down and have a conversation with any one of the veterans that have been here. Um, I don't pay it any mind. Hmm. Very well said spoken like a true vet. Yeah. We could drop the gavel right there and not even discuss this, but yeah,

You know, to your point, we talked about, unfortunately, Jeff Teague's comments last week. Here we are yet again having another conversation. I don't know, Jordan. I'm going to say exactly what I said last week. Shut up. That's what I really want to say. Right? Just shut up. I don't know. It's so crazy when you hear these comments. It's one thing to hear it from your ordinary, everyday, average fans.

It's something else to hear it from guys who play and who have played the game before. Because I would love to ask LeBron. I'd love to ask Charles Barkley. Is that what y'all did?

Like when rookies came in and if it was a rookie who, you know, there was a lot of hype around him coming into the league. Did you just say, oh, my goodness, we're playing against so-and-so. So let's not play hard against him. Let's not play defense. Anytime he gets the ball, let's just move out of the way. Let him score. Let him dunk. Let him do whatever he wants to do. It's crazy.

It makes zero sense. And you know what else it is? It's disrespectful. Like it's disrespectful not only to the vets and other players, it's also disrespectful to Kaitlyn. To think that the only way she can score or perform is for everybody to just let her do what she wants to do.

Like, stop the nonsense. Stop this rhetoric. Like, it just, it's, I'm done. I'm tired. I'm so tired of it. It's exhausting. It is. Yeah, it's exhausting to keep bringing it up. And when I saw the comments, I was just thinking, okay, so how can we...

Like, what's the bigger story here? Because I guess the respond to troll thing is is super old. But like you said, it's not just an average troll. Like these are on national platforms kind of pushing this narrative that there is no like, do you have an example?

Do you did you talk to someone like Alicia Clark is saying? No, you're just assuming that this is what's happening or you're comparing what the chatter on Twitter is to what actual players are saying. And that is not an equal comparison. So I think about the NBA discourse and how there are a bunch of people just able to say and get off these crazy takes and

on the daily. Like there are just a lot of people just saying whatever they want about the NBA. And I think coming in the W is it. We've always had this, this sense of like, don't be too critical or, or don't talk about the league badly because we're, we're trying to grow. We're trying to grow. We're trying to grow. And unfortunately this is what's going to come with the growth. Like this is just kind of a part of it, but I hate that it's coming from these national, uh,

on these national stages or are from these big names in the NBA. But I don't want this to be an every week segment because be better. Hopefully they are learning from this and they are seeing the reaction and they will get informed. Yeah, it's just it's a bad look. And I don't mean a bad look for the W. It's a bad look for them. Like, be better than that.

Be better than that. So with that said, we're going to bump to break and we're going to come back and talk about the rookies. And my favorite thing is seeing what their welcome to the W moment is in these early games. I'm like, oh, that hard screen. Yeah, that was your welcome to the W moment. But we're going to talk about how they've been faring in these first two weeks coming up after the break. And now a word from our sponsors at Betterment.

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to Queens of the Court and I've said it before but I'll say it again the whole marketing scheme with welcome to the W those have been so much fun to watch all the commercials and we're gonna do a little rookie roundup because they have all been welcomed to the W and had their welcome to the W moments

Let's start. Let's kind of go in draft order and let's do a little check in. So we'll start with the number one pick, Caitlin Clark. She's already played seven games, which is absurd in a very short amount of time. But she's averaging 15.4 points a game.

Fever are one in six in those seven games. They just got their first win over the Sparks on Friday, 78 to 73. I was at that game. That is the most, I think it was 19,103 in crypto.com arena. Let's go. Never, never seen a Sparks game like that. More than Laker games last season. It was packed in there.

The celebrities were out. There were a bunch of Iowa fans in Los Angeles. Didn't even know that they were there, but it was loud and a lot is going on. One reporter just asked Caitlin Clark the other day, a very simple question. How are you doing? This is what she had to say. - Yeah, I think for myself, it's definitely been a whirlwind over the course of the last couple months.

Honestly, I feel like I talk to the media more than I get to talk to my own family, which really, I'm being dead serious, which is really kind of sad in a way. And it's a lot for somebody that's 22 years old. It can be tough at times. Our team is really young. It's difficult navigating this. I absolutely love it and I wouldn't change it for the world.

But I think just getting off social media, I think that's been the healthiest thing. It's like, this is my job. This is what I love to do. I never want to lose the fun of the game. And nights like tonight just remind me of why I love playing basketball and why I started playing basketball because...

you get a win and then you walk off the floor and there's so many kids, young kids just screaming your name and, you know, love getting to watch you. So, um, I think it's the little things that remind me, you know, every single day why I do this and why I love it. And, you know, I think the biggest thing is, you know, mental health is very important. It's important for, for professional athletes and prep. It's important for student athletes. It's important for every single person in this world. Um, I feel like they have somebody to talk to. So, um,

Yeah, I think it's been something we've all been trying to navigate and continue to give ourselves grace in. So I appreciate you asking. All right. Yeah, the start of that clip, she said she's talked to the media more than she's talked to her own family recently. So powerful statement because, yes, we are in May still, Mental Health Awareness Month. It matters. There is a hot spotlight on Indiana right now. Any reaction to that, Cheryl? Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I mean, I probably have a lot. The first thing I'm going to say is to say you've talked to the media more than you've talked to your family is unfortunate, right? And to her point, being a 22-year-old, and I think we all kind of feel like

We know Caitlin's relationship, right, with her family because of the media. Her being in Iowa and every time you see her, you're seeing her mom or dad. So like I feel bad for her in that sense. The other part of that is, unfortunately, that goes with you being who you are. Right. And I'm not saying it makes it right or wrong. Right.

But sometimes I think we, and I don't mean me and you, but we as people and as fans and as the media, sometimes I think we tend to forget that athletes are human and athletes need grace and athletes need time and athletes need space and athletes aren't perfect. That's not what Caitlin said in that statement, but that's what I took from it.

Um, I think that's a question you could ask and should ask every athlete on a daily basis. You know, Aaliyah Boston, we talked about her last week and I'm going to bring her up again and, and try to just protect her and cover her because she too is dealing with some of the same things. So when Caitlin says, I just stay off social media, sometimes that's the best thing to do.

Because as much as you have fans who love you and support you and go hold it down for you, you also have haters that's going to come for you. And, you know, and Aaliyah Boston, I think just based off of what I've seen and heard, she's gotten the worst of this so far. Right. With Indiana. Yeah.

I just, it's asking a lot of a player like Caitlin to come in. And I'm not really sure what the league or the media or Indiana, like I'm not really sure what they were expecting or thinking was going to happen. But at the end of the day,

She's a 22-year-old young lady who is still trying to figure out what it means to be a pro. She's still trying to navigate through this. And yeah, there's a lot of pressure on Caitlyn, but that pressure is coming from the media, from the fans, from the league. And it's not fair to her, right? Yeah. The unfortunate thing is she's in this...

Position right now in and I honestly think she's done a pretty good job of trying to navigate it all and continue to do what what she's paid to do. And that's perform on the court. I agree. And, you know, when Indiana was in town to play the Sparks, they practiced at USC before. And I read that Caitlin Clark talked to

um you know head coach Lindsey Gottlieb and she said you know I'm I'm use me as a resource for Juju because Caitlyn said I only had to really deal with this for like a year and a half but Juju's gonna have to do deal with it for three years like three more years with the spotlight fully on her and I thought that was was great to say like

I'm here to help as a resource because you're going to have to deal with it a lot longer than I had. And I think that's helpful. And we have to keep passing the torch of how to navigate all of this. But yeah,

Yeah, I also think she's doing a pretty good job. This seems impossible. I do not want to trade places with her right now. It's a lot. It's a lot. No. You know what? It's just to exist. Yeah, it's a lot. And not to bring it back up, but going back to segment one, when we talk about, you know, these uninformed men, it's moments like this when you're like,

what you're doing and saying, you think is hurting the other players, right? And in reality, it's putting more pressure on Caitlin. And it's not something that she's asking for. She just wants to do her job. Yeah.

- Well, Indiana, like I said, they're one in six. Just wanna shout out real quick. Timmy Fagbenle has been balling out for Indiana. - Hoping!

Running the floor like no other. She got that starting spot over in Alyssa Smith against the Aces on Saturday. And that was just a tough go. Play a tough game at the Sparks. Turn around, play the Aces after a back-to-back. That's just setting you up. I'm sorry. But I want to see after some rest what Fagbenle can do in that starting lineup. I really, really like her. I think she is shocking a lot of people, but she is...

knowing her role, doing it well. And I like that for the fever. Great pick up. - Well, since you're giving out flowers to Fagbenle and I, well, I totally agree. I love her game. I love the way she plays. I think she fits really well with this team. I was happy to see Aaliyah Boston have the type of game she had against the Sparks. But I got a shout out Kelsey Mitchell.

Kelsey Mitchell is back. She's healthy. She's stroking that thing like Kelsey does. She's getting to the hole. Kelsey is balling right now. And I just have to say, knowing what she's gone through and continues to go through.

And I'm gonna try to say this. I get emotional. Um, one, her ankle injury. Um, but two, like she just recently lost her dad. Yeah. And, and I know how close Kelsey was to her father. Um,

Oh, it just breaks my heart to know that she's having to go through this this season. But one thing I know about Kelsey is she's going to keep doing what she does because that's what her dad would want. So to know her story and what she's gone through to start this season and to see her playing the way she's playing right now, like it just it does my heart really, really good. And I'm so happy to see Kelsey doing what Kelsey does.

Sorry, but I love you Kelsey. It wouldn't be an episode of Queens of the Court if someone doesn't cry. This is very on brand. This is very on brand. But you know why also, Jordan? Because when you hear all the stuff that's being said about the fever and the players and, you know, like...

Like back up. Nobody really understands what all of these players are dealing with. Right. Like Kelsey just, and Kelsey is just one example and injury and death. And she still is coming out and performing and doing what, what she's supposed to do. Like you said, players are, are humans first. Yeah. Going to, to LA. We've talked a little bit about the sparks, but Cameron Brink, um,

You know, I think she's had a great start to this season. Just fits in well.

Well, we're a little curious about what Kurt Miller's is doing in LA right now, but we're a lot curious. It's in with the offense and she, you know, last night against Dallas, she had 21 points. She had 15 at the half, just came out blazing from the jump, shooting threes, driving to the basket.

And again, and I've said this when I was at the Pac-12 Network covering her, she is really great when she's on the floor. But she got frustrated, got some fouls. And when she's on the bench, you can't score there. So you need her on the court. And she has proven when she is on the court, she can do really well. But I will say in that Sparks game, it got a little weird. A ref left at halftime because of food poisoning. So they were down two refs.

And then she was, you know, still frustrated with the foul call. So it was a little, it was a little weird there, but I will say that even though they lost Sunday, Cameron Brink set a career high in scoring, but also tied Brittany Griner and Elena Baranova for most blocks, 16 through five career WNBA games. Wow. So she great start for Cameron Brink. Sparks not doing so hot, but Brink,

Doing great. And I will say she is in great company with BG and Elena Baranova. Those out there who don't know or remember Baranova, a beast. Not only defensively, but could score the ball. Mad respect for her. But to your point, I just like I've been surprised at how well

Cam Brink and I see all the what was it? I saw Brinks truck and something else people talking about the nicknames for her. Like I've been very impressed. And to your point, I thought when she got in foul trouble in that Indiana game, that was the biggest difference.

You're a hundred percent correct. Cambry cannot be on the bench. If LA is going to be successful right now, because I think they have some good pieces, but I'm just like, I don't, I don't, I don't know what they're doing with these pieces. I'm going to say it. I'm going to put it out there. I said it before the draft. Rekia Jackson is a baller. She needs to be starting. She's,

I don't know who she's starting in front of. I'm just saying put her in the starting lineup. She brings the energy. Well, right now they probably need to. Anyway, listen, she brings the energy. She brings the excitement. She can score. She defends. She's all over the place. Put her in the game. Rekia Jackson is like...

I don't know. I just, I love that kid. I love her game. And I just, I think she, every time she comes in the game, she makes a difference for this squad. She just does. She does. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. It's a little, she's played in five games. She's averaging 23 minutes per game, just under 10 points.

a game. And I think it's just a little bit of the rotations right now because Azari is out and Brink's getting in foul trouble. So she's coming in at the four and it seems like she's kind of a plug and play player right now. But I really want her to be a mainstay at that three position and be able to create her own her

her own shot and Cheryl is smacking her forehead. I'm hitting my forehead because listen to De'Erica Hamby, shout out. This is your flower segment because De'Erica, early MVP candidate because she has been balling. But you have Brink at the five, De'Erica at the four, Rekia Jackson at the three. I don't really care what you do at the one and two.

You got buckets down there. Oh my goodness. And length. Like her defending on the perimeter with her size, her speed, her quickness. Like, yeah. Yeah. I don't know. That's all I got. We'll see. We'll keep checking in on the Sparks. See if they can figure it out. I feel a little...

scammed by the preseason games. I feel like it's not turning out to be the same. Did you say scammed? I'm catfished by the preseason games a little bit. That preseason will do it to you every time. That preseason will get you every time.

every time. Okay, moving on JC Sheldon at Dallas. She's played in five games averaging about 12 minutes per game, just under three points per game. Yeah, I mean, I think she's getting in where she fits in. No doubt. No doubt. Arika Wale is is

unconscious so far. Oh, Jaycee, if you get the ball, shoot it, girl. She's a Rickey scary good. Well, so here's the tough part, right? When you talk about, so we talked about Caitlin, Rekia, Cam. So those three, and even Rekia, I don't think Rekia is getting enough minutes, but the, the,

The thing is, those two are at a team where you know they're gonna play. Like we know Caitlyn's gonna play, we know Cam's gonna play. So they have an opportunity to perform, to put up numbers.

J.C. is in a situation with Dallas where she's playing behind Arike. She's like she's coming off the bench and Arike is going to play at least 35 minutes. Right. So J.C. and then to put her at the one, she's not really a one. So she's playing behind Sev Uzin at the one. And Sev, I think, has really come in to Dallas and she's learning the system. And Sev is looking really, really good there.

So JC's just in a situation where she's going to have to play behind like some vets and learn the game, learn what it means to be a pro and be patient. And whatever minutes she does get, make the most of those minutes because JC, to me, having, you know, seen the games and call the games, JC will be a really good pro in the WNBA for years to come. No question. Yes. Yes. I love that.

And then I think she's going to be just fine. Like you said, she's going to longevity. It might not come this season, but she she's learning and and that's there's nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all. Going on to number number six, Aaliyah Edwards. She's in Washington. She's played in six games, averaging 6.5 points per game. And it is just a tough situation. Washington isn't doing so hot. They're struggling. Haven't won a game yet. But I think

Maybe for me, I didn't think her role would be as big from the jump and she has an opportunity now. Shakira Austin is kind of still monitoring her hip injury. So Aaliyah Edwards is getting more minutes, more play. Yeah.

I like what she's doing. It's a little bit also of getting where you fit in more of like cleanup crew. I feel like that's her mindset of, you know, I'm getting an offensive rebound. I'm getting these hustle plays. I'm getting steals. I'm going to go find my opportunities. And there is nothing wrong with that. I think that is going to bode her well, even if this is going to be a

not so great season for Washington, there's going to be some big takeaways that she can, she can take from, from this season. Yeah. The one thing about Aaliyah Edwards is she's going to compete. She's going to play hard. We know that about her. So whatever minute she gets, she's going to make the most of. And to your point with Shakira Austin still, you know, kind of

monitoring that hip and in and out and trying to see how much she's going to play. That's a perfect opportunity for Aaliyah Edwards to be able to step in and contribute. But Washington's just...

I think Washington was my question mark at the beginning. Remember when we had our one word? We had our one words. Yeah, we were. Maybe. Yeah. It still is. It still is over there. I'm not. Well, I think Brittany Sykes is injury-related.

that really just kind of deflated the little bit of momentum that they had in those first couple games so hopefully they can get her back and get a couple wins it's not even that they're terrible i was just explaining this to someone else everyone's just better unfortunately they're not you're right they're not right trash you're right everyone is better and um that's just how the w goes

Moving on to a team that I am so excited about.

Chicago. Angel Reese. Chicago. Chicago. Seventh draft pick. We're going to loop in Camila Cardoso, who's a third pick in here as well. But Angel has played four games. They're two and two. She's averaging 12.3 points per game. And we're going to roll in a clip because during a game against Connecticut on Saturday, Reese took a very hard foul from Melissa Thomas and

Thomas was ejected. Whole lot of hoopla going on around this play. I've seen it probably 20 million times come across my timeline. But after the game, Reese was asked about it. And this is what she had to say about the foul.

It's not just because I'm a rookie, I'm a player. I'm a basketball player. They don't give a damn if I'm a rookie. I mean, I want them to come at me every day. I want them to come at everybody. I mean, they're not supposed to be nice to me. I hope y'all know that. They're not supposed to be nice to me or lay down because I'm Angel Reese or because I'm a rookie. Thank you, AT, for sending the message to me because I got back up and I kept going and kept pushing. Me and AT have been cool since we were in Maryland, so I know it's not no hard feelings. I appreciate her for going at me every day.

- What's it? - Well said. - Per usual. - Let's go. Chi-town Barbie. - Her welcome to the W moment was a very hard Alyssa Thomas foul. Cheryl, what were your thoughts on that foul? - Shoot. Let me preface it by saying, and I think everyone who listens to our show,

They know I rock, I ride hard for A.T. I'm a huge A.T. fan. But I couldn't roll with that foul. It was, listen, A.T.'s a, I always say she's a physical player. I've never thought A.T. was a dirty player. And I still don't think she's a dirty player. But that foul, she absolutely should have been ejected.

Um, it, it, it was, that one was dirty. It wasn't physical. It was dirty. Um, but I, but I don't think just based off of the stuff I've seen on social. And I told you earlier, I've tried to not be on social very much. One, these uninformed men is too much for me, but the stuff that I've seen come across social about AT like y'all stop it.

Stop. That foul doesn't make AT all these things that people are saying she is. And if you're on social, I'm sure you've seen it, you've heard it, you've read it. Like, let's stop. Okay?

And I would be willing to bet you, AT probably, if she hasn't already, she will reach out to Angel and they'll have a conversation and move on. So that's that part. The other side, the way Angel handled that in the press, I thought was spot on.

It was spot on. She could have very easily had all kinds of stuff to say about AT, but the fact that she said, "Listen, they don't give a damn about me because I'm Angel Reese or because I'm a rookie. They're supposed to come hard at me." And I hope those uninformed men listen to that clip. Yes. Unfortunately, that is part of basketball. And I will say this.

Angel is not the first player or rookie that has taken a hard foul, not just from AT, but from a lot of players throughout the league. It's unfortunate that it happened like that. It was ugly, but it was basketball. It was, yeah, I guess basketball.

What's the saying? Like the time fit the crime. Like, I think it was worth an ejection and it was unfortunate, but we, we, we play on even angel. She's even tweeted about it after like, I'm fine. She hopped up. She kept going. So I, I think AT is like you said, she is physical and, um, maybe saw angel see some stars there for a second, but, uh,

We hop on and I think it was...

Very much the identity of Connecticut a little bit. For sure. We are tough. We are physical. You got to come with it, hard hat and all, when you play against us. But I think the other thing people were saying was they wish Camila Cardoso was playing and on the court while that was happening, just as extra backup. But it wasn't necessary. She hasn't made her WNBA debut yet. She's still dealing with a shoulder injury.

that Cardoso sustained during the preseason game, but she's expected to play this week, June 1st, when Chicago takes on Indiana, which is just Christmas in June. Did they plan this return? Someone said that, but it actually is on schedule for the time that they said it. I think they said four for six weeks, and it was like right at the four-week mark. What a coincidence, though, right? What?

Christmas in June for us. Isn't it perfect? But I can't wait. I can't wait to see what- I'm excited about that one. Here's the thing. I can't wait either. I just can't wait. I can't. You got LSU, South Carolina, Iowa.

All on one court. Yeah, let's go. Who would have thunk it? Let's go. Who would have thunk it? I'm ready. But here's the thing with Camila. I hope she doesn't like...

Because I know she's anxious and excited to get back on the court. I hope she doesn't try to do too much too soon. Classic case of recurrent of injury. And just play. But can we, because I know we did this with a few others, can I give Elizabeth Williams some flowers right here? Yes. Because OG has been getting it in.

Elizabeth Williams been ballin'. Yeah, I think people may have forgotten a little bit about her and what she does and how she plays, but she has been holding the ball. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. And sorry, got to do it. Shaniqua Laquita Carter. She gets two middle names.

Kennedy is just getting her feet wet. Like I know she's been in the W and then she wasn't played overseas, but to watch her play. So I was at the Liberty Sky game. Jordan, there was nobody on the Liberty that could do anything with Kennedy. Kennedy stopped Kennedy.

Do you know what I mean? She is so quick and crafty with the ball and can get to the hole at will. When she gets more consistent with an outside shot, like watch out. I've always liked her and I especially like her on this team with this coach. So good. So good. Yeah. Oh my God. Yes.

chicago that's right that's my word for this man man oh we got it because they're playing off of each other really well and the fit is is great now i i'm curious how that how that fits or if it changes at all with cordoso coming in because right now they're playing fast they are getting out yeah running

Does that slow them down a bit? Are they going to want to do more half court sets with Cardoso? And so I'm curious. I don't know what it's going to be. Yeah, but I'm curious to see how that fit. I just kind of I think it depends. But, you know, I mean, Dana Evans playing well, shooting a ball and Mabry like I love this Chicago Sky team is so fun to watch. They're just fun to watch. They're they're an exciting team to me.

I like it. Yeah. Okay. Going on to the eighth pick Alyssa Peely at Minnesota, four games in three and one. She's averaging only a point and about six and a half minutes per game. So not a lot to, to talk about there. I think Alyssa,

Minnesota is playing incredible. Nafisa Collier is already like, put her in your MVP discussions right now. Alana Smith is killing it. Another just great fit. She just sticks in like a puzzle piece. Kayla McBride just dropped 31 points the other night. Didn't miss a shot until three minutes left in the fourth quarter. What a

I love Courtney Williams on this team. Courtney Williams, doing amazing. So if I'm Melissa Peely...

I am the number one cheerleader on the bench because you guys are killing it on the court. And let me know if you need a breather, if you need some water. I got you. But other than that, I'm just not sure where she fits. And that's okay. I'm not sure right now. But the couple games I did see her...

It seems like she was in between a little bit. She kind of wanted to get in the post just because of her natural reaction. But then, nope, get out of there. So now I'm just going to shoot threes. So it was a little bit of I'm not sure. And it seemed like that. Well, Jordan, that was my concern when Minnesota drafted her. And to be honest with you, whatever team would have drafted her, I think she's undersized.

Right. When you look at her career at Utah, she she plays like the four, four slash five. So she's used to playing in the paint. Yeah, there were times when she'd step out and shoot it. But again, it's a different level. Right. It's the pros. It's not college anymore. So to your point,

I think for Elisa Peely, it's more about, yeah, being a rookie, learning from your vets, understanding what your role is and playing that role to the best of your ability. And whatever minutes you do get, then you have to make the most of those minutes and show your teammates and show coach what you're capable of doing at this level.

And she's there for a reason, too. Like, I think we talk about all these players and all these rookies that got waived and don't make a team. You made this team. Cheryl Reeves, you know, believes in you, sees something in you, and you are there for a reason. And so that is just going to develop over time. And I kind of love throughout this conversation how everyone's role is so different. Like,

It just depends on where you go and the timing and everyone's role is super different. And I think just going into the next player we want to talk about is Nika Mule at Seattle, also having a reserve role. But man, is she fun. I mean, she has been out because of visa issues and she showed up wearing a shirt featuring a visa person.

And the word approved on it. Like, iconic. She's played in two games, playing just about three to four minutes each. She made her debut...

Against Kaitlyn Clark and Indiana, which was just... I think everyone just wanted to see the visual of, you know, the Final Four rematch. But after the game, this is what Nika Mule said, asked about her iconic tunnel fit. I did not think that was going to blow up the way it did. But, um...

Yeah, I mean, I like fashion. I've always been into it. My mom got me into it. And I, you know, the pregame fits are new to me, the whole tunnel thing. Like, I always love the idea of it. But, you know, at UConn, we don't do that stuff. So it would always be a travel suit, which I hated. But now that I have this opportunity, you know.

I just like, you know, being myself in that kind of way. And that actually was, my dad actually is a graphic designer and he made it and kind of had this idea, like I had, I had this idea of like, I want to do something cool for my first game, you know, for my debut. And he actually made it and sent it to me while I was in Vancouver. And I was like, yo, I got to put this on a shirt. I got to put this on the shirt and to

To print the shirt was faster than to get my visa. It was in one day. And my mom helped me style the whole thing and everything. So, you know, it was just something to get my mind off of and focus on something else a little bit. And, I mean, blew up, didn't expect it. But, yeah, it's pretty cool.

okay how cute that I did not know her parents were so involved with it oh my gosh that's funny because they were probably tired of it too like she was probably calling them every day just like I still can't play yeah like okay we're gonna show out how adorable I guess that's something that I

didn't really factor into the rookie, you know, the college to pros is the tunnel fits. Now you get to wear what you want to wear. You don't have to match. Like in college, I was in charge of, okay, we're wearing our white shirts and our gray sweats and make sure everybody wear their Nikes. And like, I was in charge of that styling. But now you get to actually...

put a fit together and that's exciting she was like because of UConn we didn't get to do it we had to wear our travel suits which I hated and listen and these rookies have been slaying

It's like they've been like, "No, no, we got the tunnel fit, so let's go." Man. First of all, I'm so happy she finally got her visa. I'm like, "What in the world could possibly be taking so long, but it's really none of my business. I don't know." Right. Yeah.

you know, fit and what teams you're playing for and what your role is. Nika to me is also in that situation of playing behind some vets where you're going to have an opportunity. In her case, she has an opportunity to learn from some really good vets that are playing in front of her. But

I think Nika is one of those players that, you know, I do think Seattle will make the playoffs. I think, you know, it's a matter of time before they all start gelling and figuring it out. And I think Nika could have a huge role for Seattle, not just in the playoffs, but as the season goes on, because I just think, I don't know, just watching her play at UConn and in the, in the final four, I think she,

I don't know. I just I think she has something. I think she has something that that Seattle can use and to be able to, you know, play her at the one and move Skylar off the ball a little bit and put Skylar in positions where she's actually looking to score more. I don't know. I like Nika from the beginning. I liked her going to Seattle. So I still think that's a really good fit for them.

I will say I had this thought of her making her debut against Indiana and you know she subs in and she gets uh you know she's guarding Caitlyn I just had the thought that Caitlyn you know in the final four yes that was tough Mika Mule was on her but Caitlyn now she was like you know

I've been guarded by some top players in the league. Okay. These past two weeks. So my girl site for score eyes to see you. And she scored a step back three immediately. Cause she was like, I can do this.

I've had D.J. Mae Carrington. I've had, you know, the list goes on. Benajalaini. Benajalaini. Twice. Yeah. So I just thought that was so funny because we all wanted to be like, oh, yeah, Nika Mule, lockdown. And Kaylin's like, that was two months ago. Like, I'm a completely different person now. No, no, no, no. Yeah, I've seen you before. That's funny. Yeah, yeah, I've seen you. I know what to do. So that was funny. Okay, last one.

And this rookie roundup, this has been fun. K Money Martin, 18th pick, Las Vegas. Wow. Talk about someone fitting in like a puzzle piece.

man, Becky, trust her. She is getting real time minutes coming off the bench. One of the first to come off the bench. Becky don't even sub. So the fact that you even in is incredible. DeAsia Fair was waived May 26. So she is now the only

rookie on this aces squad but she's played in three games and most noteworthy performance was against indiana on saturday she had 12 points seven rebounds and a 99 to 80 win also going up against her bff caitlyn clark but i'm loving what i'm seeing from money martin

Also with the tunnel fits as well. Loved the pick when the Aces drafted her. I thought...

Just watching Kate play at Iowa and what she brought for them would absolutely translate to the W, depending on if she went to the right team. And the Aces is the right team for her. I love just seeing her teammates interact with her. It's just such a great fit. She plays hard. She rebounds. And listen, don't leave her open.

She's knocking down the open truth. Yeah. That's what your job is right now. And Becky did, I think in her press conference after their win against Indiana, I didn't hear the full question, but Becky's answer was her mind. They were talking about Kate, right? Like what is it that impresses you or something like that? And she said her mind. Like she's always at the right place at the right time and I trust her.

And she competes. She competes every single possession. Even when she's on the bench, she's competing. Right. And that's like one of the best compliments a coach can give you when a coach says they trust you. That means they if you're in the game at the end of the game, you're out there because the coach trusts you to do the right thing, be in the right spot, make the right play like that.

I love Kate Martin on this aces squad. Me too. Love everything about her. I hate that Farrah got waived. Yeah. But does that mean Chelsea Gray's on her way back? I don't know. No, people are speculating that they're going to sign somebody else. They're going to sign another point guard. My first thought was like an Odyssey Sims. I was going to say Odyssey Sims.

- She's, it seems like Odyssey is always, she waiting by the phone. Anytime somebody need a point guard, Odyssey could come in. So that's my prediction. If I am right, we are gonna clip this off and I'm gonna be so excited. - Odyssey Sims would be so good. - To me, that's what it has to be. Like you're waving somebody to make room. - What about your girl? Gosh, I went blank, Colorado.

Jalen Sherrod. I don't know. I'm just putting names out there.

Might be. If it's not Odyssey, it should be because Odyssey needs to be playing in this league, y'all. Yeah. Yeah. And I think she would be top on that list if you're saying if if Becky is looking and saying, OK, we need a true point guard. I think Jackie Young's doing a great job. She's top three in assists already in the season. Yeah. But if they're like, we need a true point guard, we want Jackie to move off the ball again and score, then I think they're going to search for it.

of that PG. But Jordan, I don't know if they can afford Odyssey. Like Odyssey is a is a vet PG that she's got to be in this six figures for sure. You know what everyone that's already under investigation. So well, people were saying does the Asia get to keep her her $100,000? Oh, he should.

a little bit of a weight leave oh oh yes she should if she doesn't that's so bad becky i know i know so we'll see um our producer alex is saying that vegas should have about 88 000 in cap space so we're gonna double check that but i know i like that i know but if you can come play with is she making more than that at home that girl doing

But I'm just saying. - We ain't in your pockets, honestly. I'm sorry. I'm curious. I'm just curious of what they're gonna do. 'Cause that to me was a sign that we're about to make another move. Like this is a move to make another move. So we'll see. Kate Money Martin, keep doing your thing. All the refugees. - Keep doing you boo. - It's been incredible to watch.

We're only two weeks in. I can't wait to have this conversation at the end of the season to see the growth, to see where everybody stacks up as the season keeps going along. But yeah, we're going to take a quick break. When we come back, Bring It To Court is back. Let's go!

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That's BlueNile.com. 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. Welcome back. Bring It To Court is back. Our first edition made headlines. Pineapple on pizza, yes or no?

We got a new question this week. By the way, I won that one. Jeez. Okay. 1-0. Oh, okay. We're keeping score. Let's go. We're keeping score. It's on. Of course we are. Let's go. Jeez. A reminder of the rules, okay? Each person has 24 seconds to make their case the same as a WNBA shot clock

I went first last time, so now it's Cheryl's turn to go first this week. Listeners vote. You are the jury. But reminder, this is not about your personal feelings because I feel like that got mixed in a little bit. No, it did not. No, it did not. You were just wrong with pineapple on pizza, ma'am. No. It's about who made the better argument. We are presenting our cases. This week's question is,

When you are making your bed, is a flat sheet necessary? Just for clarification, you have your fitted sheet and then there's a flat sheet and then you have your comforter or your duvet. Is the flat sheet necessary? Okay. All right. Cheryl, you have the floor.

Well, your honor, absolutely a flat sheet is necessary. I'm down to 17 seconds. If you get too hot and you pull the comforter off, you're lying there butt naked. You got to have something to cover up. If you have a flat sheet, you can cover up with the flat sheet and not need the comforter. Thank you. Order! That was my opening statement. Oh, gosh.

Objection. I'm crying from laughter. I need a continuance. Your honor, she can't have this much time to, what do you call it? Come back, whatever. Yeah, I'm approaching the bench. Okay. Okay. My favorite part of this is just throwing out legal jargon like I know what I'm talking about. Okay, here we go.

A flat sheet is completely unnecessary. It is an extra step in making the bed not needed. I am a very rough sleeper. So by the end of the night, it's pushed to the bottom of the bed anyway. It is not needed to be there. If you get hot, you put the comforter, you take one leg out to feel the breeze. You don't need a whole nother thing. You don't get to keep going. Your tongue was up.

So basically, basically, you're saying that you're just lazy when you said it's an extra step. Speculation. Your honor, I am just using her words when she was saying why it's not necessary. An extra step. It's part of it. So if if it's not necessary. Oh, are we done? I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

It's like a whole nother section. It's not necessary because it provides nothing. It provides no extra warmth, nothing. It just gets tucked down. Not true. Not true. It's so necessary. Listen, in the winter when it's cold, you have your flat sheet and your comforter so it keeps you warmer.

if you don't have a flat sheet and just a comforter, you are going to be burning up. And when you pull the comforter off, you just lay in there butt naked. No. I completely disagree. Maybe it's because I'm in California, but you layer up. You layer up if it's cold. You don't need the flat sheet. And if you're hot. If you're hot, I sleep with a fan on. Have the fan on. And if you're hot, you just...

you have the fan on with the comforter and maybe the comforter is just on your toes. I guess if it's not necessary, why do they sell flat sheets and fitted sheets together? It's up for the people to decide. I rest my case. I rest my case. My goodness. Anyway, you guys have to tell us

Who has the better case? Not your personal opinion, but who had the better case? Are you gritting your teeth? I was gritting my teeth. The key part of the rules here. Don't be feeling bad for her because she's down 0-1. I want your sympathy, jury vote. But I am trying to tie it up. Let's go. Oh my gosh. That was a good one, though. That was a good one.

If you feel strongly about it, you could send us an email at goingtothecourt at odyssey.com or just say hi, send a question. We love hearing from you guys. Appreciate it. You guys are the best. And like always, y'all know where to find us on social media. I may not be on there as much, but you can still find me. I'm at airswoops22 and she, her, Jordan is at

Jordan R. Yeah. You got a good one today. You got a good one today. That was a good one. Queens of the Court is an Odyssey original created in partnership with the WNBA. The show is produced by Alex Ozzie. The executive producers are Maddie Sprung-Kaiser and Leah Reese-Dennis. Social media assistance from Isabella Apple. Music from T-Storm Battle. And like always, a special thanks to Lena Moss-Glazer.

And court is adjourned.