The Vibes Gotta Stay Vibing (feat. Courtney Williams)
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Ryan Reynolds here for, I guess, my 100th Mint commercial. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I mean, honestly, when I started this, I thought I'd only have to do like four of these. I mean, it's unlimited premium wireless for $15 a month. How are there still people paying two or three times that much? I'm sorry, I shouldn't be victim blaming here. Give it a try at mintmobile.com slash save whenever you're ready. For

So I don't think too far ahead.

Even now when I go into free agency and teams want me, I'm like, all right, we still in the building. You know what I'm saying? Like, we still in the building. This is Queens of the Court. What's up, everybody? 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 Courtney.

is in session. Yeah!

I like the extra, yeah, you got it. Yeah. I had to put that little extra in there. I like it. I like it. I like it. I always got to be extra. Well, happy. Well, we're recording this on Tuesday. Cheryl has been stamping her passport, globetrotting around the world. I'm just trying to keep up. I'm in the presence of greatness every week. But tell us about your trip. Where'd you go? What'd you do?

So let me apologize to everyone that's listening. Y'all, I promise you, I'm not trying to give you a sexy voice. It's giving sexy radio. I'm so not trying to. Slow jams voice. Like midnight. Yeah. Midnight jams. Queens of the court. Midnight edition.

Oh my gosh. But it's because to your point, I just got back from Johannesburg, South Africa with the NBA for basketball without borders.

So super excited that I got to go, first of all, visit Johannesburg, but an opportunity to give back and empower girls and young women on a completely different continent, a different country. And there were 40 girls that came from all over Africa.

And I got to do some drills and little skills competition, but then also got to coach. So that's where this voice is coming from. I just couldn't sit on the sidelines. So it was the yelling and trying to get their attention mixed with actually cold weather.

so it's just a combination of stuff but uh was a really really good time a great trip um the girls were really good i always try to inspire at least one person give them something that they didn't have or know before they got there and uh yeah it was fun a lot of fun it took me it was a long trip jordan

I can feel it. 18 hours. Yeah. And then flight delay, you know, so, but you know what, for you, Jordan, and for all the listeners, I am here. Wow. I'm going to give you what I got. Cause that's what I do. Wow. What an honor. Well, thank you for flying back just for me. That's what that sounds like. I'll take it.

But I enjoyed doing this though. Yeah. You know, the podcast, I got mad love for our peeps. So yeah, it was a great experience, not just for the kids. It was a great experience for me as well. Were you yelling? Were you yelling at those girls? That's why your voice is like that. Oh, yeah.

Yeah. They're like, they're going home. Stroll swoops yelled at me. Not like that. Not like that kind of yell. But listen, we were in, we were in a gym with, so it wasn't just girls. It was boys as well. So it was a combination. So when we're playing five on five, I'm trying to yell to get their attention to call out the one and only play we had. Right. I'm like, run the play.

And they look at me like, huh? What play? Right. But you know, what's crazy is I wasn't just yelling, trying to get them to run the play. So there were several girls who didn't speak English. So trying to find a way to communicate like basketball is a global sport. I say it's a global language, but you still got to be able to communicate. So I don't know why, at least I do. I don't know about you. We think that by yelling, right?

something in English, they're going to understand it. If I say it louder, maybe somehow it'll translate the language. Yeah. I can see that thought process. And I had a really, really, really good point guard and she spoke Portuguese. So I was like,

defense don't reach and she just kept reaching so I was like okay don't wait she still kept reaching so I was like okay doesn't matter how loud I yell she does not understand what I'm saying so that was it wasn't me yelling like because they were doing bad stuff but trying to communicate yeah

How weird is that? It's weird. That's wild. Did it make you miss coaching? And then we'll move on. I just want to know. I was just curious. Oh, yeah. It made me realize why I don't want to coach. You're like, I liked my voice when I wasn't a coach. I'll tell you what. I will tell you what I missed. I missed coaching.

And it's not the coaching, but I just miss like, like the one-on-one interaction with the girls being able to teach the game. Cause that, that's like, that's like my passion. I feel like,

I have so much knowledge and so much to give to girls and young women. That's the part I miss, but I don't miss that in coaching, if that makes sense. Oh, yeah. That makes sense. Yeah. It was cool, though. It was fun. Oh, it was so fun. Okay. Well, next time, I think I can fit in a carry-on. You'll be my plus one next time. Okay, great. Wonderful. My brother was my plus one this time. I got you. Oh, fun. Okay, yeah. I got next. Okay. Well...

We have to tease that I got to interview Courtney Williams. That's going to be coming up later in the show, the Chicago Sky Guard. She always brings the vibe. I feel some type of way about that, by the way. You were globetrotting. I know. You were globetrotting. I held it down. Listen, I never questioned, never doubted that.

But you know how I feel about Courtney Williams because she's always going to give you something that you're not expecting. And I always take something from her. I'm like, oh, that was good, Court. And I know I have a mad love for Court, you know. Oh, yeah, yeah. I can't wait. I can't wait to listen. It's going to be fun. That's coming up a little bit later. But first, there's been a couple headlines around the league this week that we just have to – we got to talk about because that's why we're here and we got to discuss it. It's a –

It's headlines that pertain to the WNBA. So we got to talk about them. First things first is Raquanna Williams was arrested last week on felony domestic violence charges and

The ACEs released a statement. It said, "As an organization, we condemn domestic violence of any kind. At this time, Raquanna Williams will be precluded from participating in team activities. Our thoughts are with the parties involved in this situation. We are currently gathering more information and as such, we will not have any further comments at this time."

This is a situation and it is what a lot of people have been talking about on Twitter and in the news surrounding Raquanna Williams. I think just before we talk about it, it's important to highlight that she was suspended for 10 games by the WNBA in 2019 due to a domestic violence incident. That was while she was playing for the Sparks. And here we are yet again.

Cheryl, just kind of walk me through what when you learned about this or kind of what your thoughts are on this situation for the aces. I have so many thoughts. First thing is it can't happen. So I know it happened in 2019 and she was suspended. At some point, it has to be.

bigger than 10 games. Do you know what I mean? Here's my thing with Raquanna. It's tough because it's happened once. She's with the Aces now. It's happened once as far as we know, right? Yes. She's with the Aces now, was already out with an injury. That in itself is already something tough to deal with, right? As an athlete, as a player, because you want to play and you can't, you're sitting on the sideline. Right.

So from a mental standpoint, and I'm speaking as a player, a former player, from a mental standpoint, when you're out with any type of an injury and it keeps you out for a while, that takes a toll on you, right? So then I go back and I look at it even deeper with her. What are we, and by we, I'm just talking about as the basketball community, WNBA aces, what

What are we doing to help her mental? Right. And that I'm not making any excuses for her because wrong is wrong. You don't ever put your hands on any, all of that. Right. The other question I have is, is the league or are the aces doing anything for her? I don't know her partner, wife. I don't know if they're married. Like how is she, is anyone checking on her? Cause, because I do think that's important as well. Yes. Um, I, I,

It's, it's just, it's not a good look. And mental mental health is real. And I just think giving what we do know, there's obviously something going on with Raquanna that needs to be addressed in somebody some kind of way somewhere, whether that's the ACEs organization, or the league in general, someone needs to figure out how, how to help her.

Because this type of thing can't continue to happen. And that's not just, that's just, that's not just speaking on Raquanna. But again, I go back to her partner. Like, how is she doing? Because when you read, when you read all the nine charges, I believe, right? When you read the nine charges, it's kind of scary. It's very scary. I do. I go to Raquanna.

I'm concerned about Raquanna, but I'm also very worried and concerned about how her partner is right now. It's a very layered situation, just going off of what you're saying as well. It was her wife. They did get married in September, but feel

How do I say this? Because it is a serious mental health issue. And she had, Raquanna has been outspoken about how she has been dealing with mental health. There's still no excuse though. None at all. Oh no, none at all. It's also the fact that I think she needs to be out of this league. I think that's hard to say. Oh no, it's not.

So and I don't want to cut you off. So let me let me just add something to that. And I'm glad you said that. Because had this been a male who put his hands on his wife or girlfriend or whoever, we would be all up in arms saying the NBA needs to get rid of him.

He does not need to be in the league, any sport, football, baseball. Any sport, correct. He should no longer be allowed to play. Not just suspended. He should be kicked off the team. He should be kicked out of the league. We would all be saying that. So to your point, Raquanna Williams should not be in the league anymore. I agree. And I respect her as a player because I think she's hella talented. I do. Mm-hmm.

But when we talk about it's bigger than basketball, this situation isn't about basketball. And it has to stop. I agree. And it's not anything of, okay, X's and O's. Where do the aces miss her on the court? No, we're not talking about that. I have full priority in hoping that the victim in this situation is okay. Like you mentioned, that she is getting the help that she needs.

I think it's also important to note that the first time around that this happened in 2019, the new CBA that went into effect in 2020 was

wasn't in effect to specifically have a line item about domestic violence incidences. And, and to say, I read this in sports illustrated and the WNBA CBA resembles the NBA and BPA policy, which says that there is a paid administrative leave component, but they also have, you know, consider the accusations, the evidence and,

um, how the criminal charges have been, if they've been filed, the seriousness of the allegations, the players past history, um, the domestic violence policy will also incorporate educational offerings and counseling to your point in the sense of if there is a mental health issue going on with the Quanah directly, then now there is a line item that says that the league could potentially reach out and help her with those things. But again,

I think about what was happening before this was not in the CBA. There was no line item specifically directed to that. This is very much a important and prominent thing. And yeah, the ACEs are as an organization, they're going to move on from this. And I hope that Rekonna gets the help that she deserves. I hope that the most importantly, the victim gets the help that they deserve.

And yeah, I believe she appears in court this week to continue on with this. This is ongoing. We're still learning more details.

Yeah, it's just an all around unfortunate situation. It's scary and it's scary as well. You know, the thing is we can't continue, excuse me, to just sweep it under the rug, right? Give her a slap on the wrist and just say, oh, well, she'll do better. She'll be better. And just sweep it under the rug. No, no, no.

It's got to stop. It's got to stop. Yeah. And this is really the league's chance to make that statement and say it ends here. We're not going to continue to see her on another roster. We've given you a second chance already. Yeah. There is no third. No, there is not. It can't be. Mm-mm.

Um, another headline just with the aces continuing is Candace Parker. She's out indefinitely after having surgery for a fracture in her left foot. Um, she had played on the fracture all season. I don't think any of us really knew that she was battling that injury, but she was averaging 23 minutes a game. Um, she was on a one year deal with the aces and,

So far beyond this season is kind of uncertain with the injury. I just want to say,

as a fan, I don't want Candace Parker to go out like this. And I know that she doesn't either. It sucks that she has injuries suck in general, but to know that someone is towards the end of their career and is going through this type of injury, it just hits a little different too. No, it does. And especially when you think about

you know, Candace's legacy and what she's done for the game, what she's meant for the game. And, you know, to your point, I had no idea she was playing on a fractured foot. Yeah. So that that in itself just goes to show you the type of competitor she is, right? Like she wants to be out there and averaging 24 minutes a game at her at her age playing on an injury.

That's pretty impressive. Right. So to your point, I hate it too. And because the league is, the season is so short, even, and then the playoffs are really fast. I don't know if she'll be able to come back and play. And to your point, I hate if she doesn't.

I hate to see her go out. I'm just going to say this season, right? Because no one's saying she won't come back. But I hate to see her end her season like this. If this is the last season, we will see Candace Parker play. I don't even want to think about that.

But she deserves the tour, the farewell tour. No doubt. No doubt she does. The gifts like Sylvia Fowle was getting lazy boy chairs at away games for her retirement. The thing with injuries, they do, they suck. But the older you get, the harder it is to come back from any type of injury, let alone a fractured foot.

I don't know. That's tough. It is.

It is. But wishing her a speedy recovery. Absolutely. Because we know CP, she's going to bounce back in. Either she's just going to pop up on our TV screen and be like, this is what I'm doing now. Or she's going to be back in an Aces jersey. Again, like you said, the season is so quick. It really is hard to recover. And we don't want her to rush back. I think nobody is wanting that. Hurry up and come back. The Aces are doing great.

just fine. They're doing okay. I know CP can add to that, but yes, I hope she can rest that injury. The last headline that I wanted to get your opinion on is Brittany Griner. Phoenix Mercury announced that BG wouldn't travel to the past two road games to focus on her mental health.

And we're recording this again on a Tuesday. So that includes tonight's game against Indiana. I got this in my inbox from the Phoenix Mercury. And, you know, my initial reaction was like,

that is okay. That I, we talked about this at the beginning of the season. I, I said how surprised I was that BG came back to play this season at all. Um, but she's going to go at her own pace and in her own time, and she's going to know what's right for her. And if sitting out these couple games is what she needed to just step back, um,

because it was a lot, a lot at the front of the season. The headlines, the press tour, it was just a lot. It was a whole lot. A whole lot. So I do not blame her for this announcement. You know, I definitely am not an expert in the mental health space, but I feel like sometimes we...

think it's better to just pile things on. Right. When, like in Brittany's case, just let's just keep piling things on. Let's just keep her busy and, and try to keep her mind off of what she just went through and is still going through. And to me, I, I think that's just backwards. Right. Because you can't just pile things on thinking that's going to make that person forget about the hell, the torture, the,

everything that she just went through, like just give her time and give her space. And we did, we talked about this in the beginning. And I said, then I hope she's not coming back

So soon because she feels pressured to do it. Right? Like from whoever with everything that she went through and then with everything she's still going through night in and night out and people showing up to arenas because they want to see her. They want to see, is she going to be good? Is she going to be bad?

And let's just keep it real. There are people showing up because they want to see her fail. There are people out there who are so angry and upset that Brittany Griner is free. There are as crazy as that is. So I think just thinking about all that, as much as we try to show her love and be there for her,

There are those other people who are doing just the opposite. So for her to say, listen, I need to step back. I need to take two games off and deal with my mental and that's okay. And you don't owe anybody an explanation. I just, I hope she truly takes that time just to focus on her, right? Like it shouldn't be any basketball, no talk about it. Don't even watch it.

Go, go, go to you, whatever, whatever that is that makes you feel good and at peace. That's what she should do. Like that's a lot of pressure that people are putting on her to come back and play. And you know, the other part Jordan is that they're not very good this year. Right. So that is another part of it. So it's like, she's probably feeling more pressure, like, damn.

we made the playoffs last year without me. Right. And this year I'm back. I'm playing and we're not very good. I'm, I'm sure somewhere in her mind that's weighing on her as well. Yeah. And so she, she needs to step back from the game.

She said, you know, when she did come back that being on the court is very therapeutic and her happy place. But I also want to say that that could change. She said that before. It's totally in her right that that changed for her. I definitely feel a theme. Yeah.

of these other, these, these headlines that, you know, your mental health is very important and it can be a rollercoaster ride, but make sure to take time for yourself and, and what you need and what, um,

I think so much we want to hide that. We just talked about Candace Parker, but going through a season ending injury is also not good for your mental health. If this is something that you love to do and you want to play basketball and that is taken away from you because of a season ending injury, that's hard.

And all life is hard. So being able to reach out and anyone that's listening right now, if you need someone to talk to, it is okay. There's nothing wrong with that. Had to just say that little PSA for this theme that we. It's true though. It is so true. You know, I don't doubt that the court is Brittany's happy place, her happy space. But when things happen, like what happened in the Dallas airport,

Correct. Right? That also takes its toll on you. And that's not your happy place. And how many more times has that happened that we're not aware of? That's a great point. There's so much that we're not privy to. Like, so much. Yeah. I just...

I couldn't even sit here and say, I can only imagine what she's dealing with because I can't. I've never been in a situation like that. So I can't imagine what she's going through. But what I do know, to your point, you have to put you first. And it's important that you take care of you. Because if you don't take care of you, no one else is going to.

And I hope Brittany takes these couple of days off, these games off. However many games you want to take off, take them off, sis, because you deserve it. Check out. There's no hard feelings here. We love watching you play basketball, but we love you as a person more, BG. So we'll keep a close eye on that. But I think all the WNBA community is in solidarity with take your time. Absolutely. Absolutely.

All right. Well, that was a little around the horn headlines. We're going to take a quick break. But when we come back, we're going to have Courtney Williams in the building.

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welcome back to queens of the court uh we have a very special interview coming up courtney williams from the chicago sky she joined me after practice she literally needed to grab a towel because she was still sweating from a hard practice with the sky um cheryl you were still you were still traveling so i held it down i know you did

But I really want to know, what is your favorite part of Courtney Williams game? Because we talk about her all the time. Listen, I'm going to say what she says. Courtney is a dog. Like that's what I love about her game. And I love that she does everything. She plays both ends of the floor. But I love how she's just real. Like when she's playing, she's not playing. She's just real.

Like I'm not gonna sit here and like pick her game apart and be like her nice little pull up even though she has a sweet little J. I just, I love everything about Courtney Williams' game. She just gets it done. 'Cause she's a dog. - Me too. And we talk about that. I'm so happy you brought up that. 'Cause we talk about that dog mentality, her mid range, I call it the middie magician. So we're gonna get into all of that. Here's my interview with Courtney Williams.

Courtney, before we get into anything about basketball, I saw that you were at the Renaissance Tour last week. Oh, yeah. Please tell me how that was. I was living through you through those Instagram videos. Oh, it was a ball. You know what? I've always been a part of the Beehive. But to see like...

the way Beyonce like put on a show, like I had to sit down from just singing in the crowd and she was just going, going. And I mean like nothing seemed like it was like she was tired. Her voice didn't shake up a little bit. Like,

And you know what's so crazy is that I was on the internet like a day or two after and a clip went viral on the share room at that same exact show that I was at where somebody had messed up like her fan or something. You know how Beyonce be having her fan blowing her hair off? Yes, her fan be on point. Yeah. So basically she have it to where like sometimes she like turn the fan off, turn it back on, I'm getting high. So like,

I was so caught up in the show, a clip went viral where she sung Turn a Fan On. And I didn't even catch it. That was crazy. They said, yeah, somebody getting fired over there. Can't mess with her fans. Nah, you can't do that. No, the hair has to blow. Oh, my goodness. Man, I had a ball, though, man. It was a great time. I ain't going to lie. What's your favorite song?

Beyonce album. Do you have a favorite? No, I got some songs I ain't gonna say, but I like when she was hurt. I hate to say that, but I like the resentment, like dangerously in love, like when she was singing from a different type of place.

I'm glad she's not in that place no more though. But that's them the ones. - Yeah, I can't lie. Those are good because those, you make you sing, makes you feel like you can sing too. - It make you feel like you done experienced heartbreak too with her. - Yeah, that's the queen in the queen bee. I get that. Okay, well, I don't know how you manage that with the WNBA season, but I'm so happy that you did that. - Yes, I had a ball, I had a ball.

Okay, let's get to some basketball. We can talk about Queen B all day, but this is like past the midway point of the season for you guys. You guys are coming off a win against Phoenix. What's the vibes in the locker room right now? It's August. How are you guys feeling?

No, we feeling good. I mean, I think for us, we just try and continue to keep the mentality of 1%, right? So, like, we're not going to figure it out overnight or maybe not even in one season, right? Like, we got so many different pieces that's playing together for the first time. So, I think you got to take the good with the bad. And as long as it's just 1% every single day, I think that's where we can hang our hats on.

Yeah, well, I mean, this season has been a lot of ups and downs for you guys. You know, you guys have had through injuries, you got your head coach James Wade leaving, but then you got D Wade, you know, adding and being an owner. So how have you personally kind of navigated those ups and downs? And then how has the team navigated that wave?

I mean, I think it was tough for other players because they've been with him for so long, like the Khalias and, you know, Dana, Ruthie. But for me personally, like, I'm new here. You know what I mean? So for me, and I experienced it as well in Atlanta when Nikki had to leave and go to Baylor. So, you know, I'm big on just doing what you need to do for your family. And if that means it's taking another opportunity, then,

You know, that's you got to do what you got to do. But for me personally, like I said, I kind of went through it already once before. So I kind of know what come with it. It's like a domino effect, but you just got to roll with the punches because if you don't, you know, your cup going to be half empty and not half full. And I like my cup to be half full.

As you say that with the biggest smile on your face. Yes, that is the vibe. And I kind of want to talk about that because I know, or I see how you are on social and you just seem like you are the life of the party. What is your role on this team besides just bringing the good vibes?

I mean, I think definitely the vibes, but I think I really stepped into like that leadership role as well. Especially now having to take on the role of being our point guard. It kind of is the responsibility that comes with being the point guard. You got to be vocal. You got to be an extension of the coach. So but I'm going to always bring the vibes, though. You know, that's first and foremost. Got to bring the vibes. The vibes got to stay vibe.

Five's got to stay five. Well, I personally, I call you, you know, the middie magician because the mid-range, it's on point. It's on point. What are you liking about your game right now? Because you had your first triple-double, you stepped into the point guard role, Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Like, you're hitting a lot of these strides. What's clicking in your game?

I think just my basketball IQ. You know, I think I'm put into a position now where the ball is in my hand more, so I'm able to make decisions, actually be able to read the game and kind of like have that leeway to, you know, talk to a coach and tell him what I see. And we be running things because I see it. See, that's crazy for me because I ain't never been able to do that because I've always been at the two spot, right? So the two spot is,

It's like one, two dribbles for me personally. Like my game throughout my whole career at max, maybe three. But it's like at that two spot, you pretty much that score unless you like a combo. I mean, but we're not talking about defense right now. We're talking about offense. But yeah, I think just for me now is just growing just my mindset. Because I think like once you reach a certain age in a certain point in this league, like man, these young cats coming in,

We know they coming in and they pressure, right? So I'm not about to go out there and try and out-athletic y'all. I'm going to out-think y'all because I got to work to my advantage now. And I think that's kind of what I'm stepping into, just thinking the game and trying to outsmart people more than be more athletic and bang out more with the young bulls. It's like, nah, y'all got that. Yeah.

Y'all got that. That's thinking smarter. I'm not working harder. I'm thinking smarter. That's what I'm saying. That's why I'm at it now. Well, I love that you said that because this is year eight for you. And you're talking about the young bucks, but you were one of those coming in, eighth overall pick out of South Florida. What are the differences between rookie court and eight-year vet court?

Oh man, when I was a rookie, I came in with such a chip on my shoulder. Like I, the chip was just crazy. It just was like, I just, I just wanted to prove everything to everybody. And I think now it's like,

I'm enjoying the game now. I'm enjoying learning. I'm enjoying stepping into different things that can expand my game to a certain extent. Because obviously, you don't want to go too crazy into left field, but I think just adding on layers now. Nah, I came into the league, man, I just had a chip on my shoulder just wanting to prove something. I can't even tell you what I was trying to prove.

I just, I think- - Something. I'm leaving here with something. - It's something. You know, it's just something. I didn't know what it was, but it was something. And I think now, like, obviously I still got that edge. I'm still a dog, but it's just that chip. That chip not there no more. Not for the reasons that it was there. - Right. But I know, what was your like thoughts of the W? Like what would, when you came in, you had this chip on your shoulder, but what did you hope that your career would amount to?

I think I wanted to, I don't know. I don't even think that far ahead, which is crazy. For me, it's always like I wasn't even supposed to be here. I tell people all the time, I was going into the military. I had one offer to go to college. It was either college or the military for me. And I got that offer my junior year. My last year at AAU, I got an offer from South Florida.

Being in the WNBA wasn't even a thought for me. I was just like, I got an opportunity to get up out my mama house. So that's what I got to do. So, you know, going to college and then now they saying, oh, you're on a draft board. It's like, oh, for real? Like, I didn't even think that was possible. Like for me, it was like I just never seen it. I just I never had somebody that was like up close and personal for me to see on a regular basis for me to think that it was attainable.

So I never had this idea like, oh, I'm going to the W or, oh, I'm going to college or, oh, I'm about to be good in the W. Like every time something happened for me, it was always like, dang, like this really happened. So I don't think too far ahead. Like,

Even now when I go into free agency and teams want me, I'm like, all right, we still in the building. You know what I'm saying? Like, we still in the building. Yeah. And I just don't take those moments for granted. You know, like, I try to just stay balanced, stay humble, and understand, like,

For real, this league so cutthroat, any moment I could be sent packing back to my mama's house. You see what I'm saying? So I think now I'm just, obviously I'm a lot smarter. I'm more mindful of the decisions that I make. And I'm just trying to just stay present, keep my feet planted and make sure that I'm taking it one day at a time and just 1% in my life as well.

That's so good. And I think about that too, because I know you grew up in a super small town in Georgia. And what was the hoop culture like growing up?

- Nah, it was there, it was competitive. It was like, I'm competing with boys though. So like we had like the court and the sticks, we call it the sticks, right? So there's like little hood we got, everybody come and it's like, you good, you gonna get picked up. You got people over there betting on you, different things of that nature. So that's kind of how I came over. Like I had to be good or I wasn't gonna play. I wasn't gonna get picked up. They wasn't sparing my feelings.

had to like fight through that because i'm your way out of that which is really i mean i can see that in the way that you play now that i don't think that's left you right nah nah ah i love that so much okay we're gonna take a quick break we'll be right back with courtney williams

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Okay, now I need a fact check specifically from you. Is it true that you broke the single game scoring record at your high school, Charlton County High School, 42 points, but it was set by your mom, Michelle, 22 years earlier? Please tell me about that. That should give people an example of how small my town is, right? Yeah.

My mom set a record when she was in high school and didn't get broken until I got in high school. Yeah, no, that's a fact, though. She had 42. I broke it with 44. And then my teammate, another teammate of mine broke it. And then I came back and broke it again with 47. So my mom had that record sitting for a minute till she had little old me. Is that something you still like hold over her head? It's like Thanksgiving or something. She know she not messing with me.

She know that. I got her and my daddy too. Nah, she know that. Oh my God. I would bring that up every chance I got. I'd be like, man, remember that record? She know that though. I'm telling you. I don't even got to bring it up because she knows. I just want to go into a little more of the player that you are now because you have that experience of, you know, like you mentioned,

being on a lot of different teams in this league and you've had different experiences of deep runs into the playoffs of being in the finals of, you know, breaking out in a playoff record. So what did you learn from those experiences or from all those other teams that you are bringing right now to the Chicago sky in this season?

man i think the little things i think sometimes we get so caught up in like the big things or like scoring a basketball the great pass all these different things but you're not understanding like it's the person that's setting that screen right it's the person that's getting that deflection like though it's it's your teammate on the on the bench that's not playing at all but just giving as much energy as they possibly can like it's all of those things that makes a championship team like sometimes

people think is that starting five and obviously they play a big role in it but it's literally from top to bottom like everything has to be aligning um when you go on that championship run um and I think that's just something that I'm trying to continue to tell my teammates is is the detail is the attention to detail because that's what's going to take us to that next level sure

I mean, you have someone like Ka who is a finals MVP, but then you also have rookies like Robin Parks who is putting up her career high. And it's kind of all across the spectrum. But before I let you go, why is the Sky so underrated? Why should they be your pick for the finals?

the finals to win the championship to beat the super teams shade no shade no shade no shade no i mean i think uh i don't know whether we your pick whether we not your pick like i ain't here to to to change nobody mind on on who they think and what they think we just gonna keep doing our thing and let the chips fall where they may

Hey, if you bringing the vibes, I'm there. I'm rooting for you. Come on, man. Stand up for us. We're going to get it. We're going to get it right. Well, thank you so much, Courtney. You are one of one. I appreciate you for stopping by. I appreciate you.

Oh my God, Jordan, I never doubted that you would hold it down, but that is so, there's so many reasons. I love Courtney Williams and you just tackled and covered so many of them. So Court, thank you, thank you, thank you for joining us. And my apologies that I wasn't here. You gotta come back. We'll y'all make it. I'm gonna say we all make it to the finals. How about that? Oh, okay.

Well, thank you again, Courtney. You got to come back. As Cheryl said, we appreciate you. I'm excited to see how the rest of the sky season plays out there.

They're hitting a stride this second half of the season. Ka is getting career nights. Marina Mabry just had a great night. The Sky, they're a stacked roster. And despite their ups and downs, they're still moving right along. So we can't wait to see that. All right. Well, thank you so much for listening. And thank you for sending in your reviews.

And your emails and your questions, we really appreciate it. Make sure you continue to follow, rate, and review the show available on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also send us questions or feedback to our listener email, queensofthecourtatodyssey.com.

Keep them coming, y'all, because y'all know we enjoy them. Plus, you can always find me and Jordan on social media. I'm at AirSweeps22 and Jordan is at HeyJordanR.

Queens of the Court is an Odyssey original created in partnership with the WNBA. The show is produced by Alex Ozzie. The executive producer is Lena Moss Glazer. Social media assistance from Isabella Apple. Imaging from T-Storm Battle. And court is adjourned. And we had a court on. Get it? Court? Courtney Williams? I get it. How about that?