They Don't Know How Good They Can Be
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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'm sorry, I shouldn't be victim blaming here. Give it a try at midmobile.com slash save whenever you're ready. $45 upfront payment equivalent to $15 per month. New customers on first three month plan only. Taxes and fees extra. Speeds lower above 40 gigabytes. See details. Jordan, everybody misses shots unless you are Cheryl Swoops and there are none of them. I'm kidding. I see what you did there. 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 court is in session.

Oh yeah. Crushed it. Crushed it. It's not the same as doing it in person. I will say that was such a special treat. I am so in my feelings today because I loved recording in person with you last week. That was a lot of fun. That was a lot of fun. So much fun. Even in the Vegas heat, it was a blast. You should just move to Houston.

thing is you can just move to LA. Ooh, LA don't like me or I don't think our lifestyles like you're such, you're such a cat. You're such a Cali girl. And I'm such a, and I'm such a Texas girl. I am girl through and through. I know. I know. I see it sometimes. I'm like, Oh, that's the Cali in her. I was on your side now.

Not really, not really, not really. Not really, not really, not really. No, no, no. No, I am. I am. I'm just. Okay, but listen, off topic for a second, because girl, you're hilarious. So for those who didn't see, Jordan photoshopped herself in my photos from my brunch. The one that she stood me up on and didn't show up. CB, my sister, Cindy Brunson.

I know you would show up. Cindy said she would have never stood me up for an interview. Dang. I know, I know you got my back. I know, I know. So then Jordan's like, I mean, but it was a two time MVP. I was like, I got you, but I'm an MVP as well. I'm a hall of famer. I have my own shoe. Yeah.

There's no comparison. I will say I was drinking some wine. My husband was sitting right next to me. I was like, I'm about to Photoshop myself in the picture. It was hilarious. And you didn't just do it in one. You did it in a couple. I was dying. Where I changed outfits. Oh my God, you did. Did you see what I was like? Oh, you're funny. Now get out of my picture.

Everybody was doing a little jokey face. I had the double finger guns. Okay, thank you. Thank you for showing up. You're welcome. Now when we look back, it's going to be like, the Jordan was always there. That was so funny. Oh my God.

Okay, sorry. No, that was a good laugh. I was dying laughing. I'm glad you were also laughing after I made it. No, I was cracking up. My husband looked at me like, what are you doing? And then I showed him the picture, right? Because you know, I'd already told him I was salty. He was like, did Jordan come? No, of all people, Jordan didn't come. But-

So I showed him the picture that you posted when you Photoshop yourself in and he died laughing too. I was like, she's hilarious. You're hilarious. Thank you. I love you. I love you too. The key thing about that is I couldn't make myself too tall because at first I was like as tall as you and I had to keep shrinking myself.

I'm only five, six y'all. I had to make it a little realistic. It's still out there in the Twitterverse somewhere. You've got to go find it because it was hilarious. Thank you. If I did know any better, I would have thought you were actually there, but I know better. Well, there you go. It's okay. It's about the memories. It's about the people. Any other thoughts post all-star as we're still coming down from our Vegas trip?

It was kind of a blur. Everything went so fast in Vegas. It was hot. I know. That it was. No, you know what? It was just fun. Like, again, I've been to a lot as a player, which is great. And then as a retired player. But this one, I don't know, for some reason, it had a different type of vibe to it.

It honestly felt more like an all-star weekend, not just a game, right? Because there were so many different events and things going on outside of the game and the skills competition, right? I know like Sue Bird and together they had an event and then Jewel Lloyd and Sue Bird and Sabrina had an event and then Candice had an event and then Chelsea Gray had an event. Like everybody was doing their own thing.

And then Cheryl Swoops had a soiree, but we won't even talk about that. I'm kidding. No, it was good. Like the energy was great. The vibe was great. Vegas was great. It was fun. It was a lot of fun. That's a perfect way to put it. It was all-star weekend because I know we've talked about how the NBA does it and how everybody comes and it's like this...

thing that's in everyone's calendar every year and this is your time to get activations off. I love how WNBA or WSlam tied their cover to all

all-star and like that was a whole thing and a launch party like putting this in everyone's calendar for next year yeah I hope we just only build off of this and now it gets me even just as a member of the media but also a fan just excited for this time next year like I want everyone to just be excited for July in the WNBA and if we can like own

that weekend or like, yeah, those couple weeks in July, then that would be perfect. Yeah. Yeah. And no, it's, it won't be in Vegas, which we've had this conversation already, but like Phoenix, Phoenix couldn't be a good spot as well, but Phoenix y'all, y'all got to come correct. You got to bring it. You got to bring it. Cause Vegas brought it.

And by it, we don't mean the three digits degrees. Even though it's probably going to be that. But you know. Yeah. Excited. I'm excited for next All-Star already. Me too. Well, after All-Star, I think it really starts to click that it's the back half of the season. It is now like the push to the playoffs. It's

Now we start to just break up the season in that way. Okay, what was a team doing pre-All-Star? What was a team doing post-All-Star break? And now we're in the post-All-Star break. We're already a week removed from it. But there were also some records broken this week. Like, we have been all season long. I feel like this is just the record-breaking season, record-holding season. Somewhere in the win column.

But some were in the loss column as well. Let's start with the wins. Let's start with the positives. Yeah, let's do. Let's do. Let's do. Let's do. Let's do. Okay, so the Aces, they have won their fifth straight game by 15 points, which ties the WNBA record for consecutive wins by 15 plus points, which is...

Kind of wild. Like, I know we've talked about how great the aces are, but that just shows the gap in between the aces and everybody else. Right. Yeah. Like that for some people, they may look at it and be like, Oh yeah, they're like, they're just that good. And yeah, they are. But the other side of that is there, there's really good talent in this league. Right. And,

Some with one, two, three, like really, really good players. And for the aces to tie the WNB record for consecutive wins by 15 plus points, like that's a lot and that's hard to do. So when I see that, I'm like, damn, I know they're good, but they're better. At times they're even better than I think they are. Yeah.

Like they're scary good. And here's the thing. Candace Parker's not even playing right now. I know. And I said this to someone the other day, Jordan, like Candace from a statistical standpoint, right? Like she's not putting up the numbers that she's used to putting up. Granted, but Candace's presence on the floor is,

is unmatched. Right? Like, I don't care if she doesn't score a single point. Her presence on the floor, the calmness that she brings, the leadership that she brings, when she's on the floor, the aces are a different team. They're just a different team. And let me go back and say this, even though she's not putting up those numbers, she's

she can't like, she can still score. She's still getting it done. She's still rebounding. She's still defending. She's still running the team at times when she's on the floor. I just, I'm going to just put it out there. The championship is there for the aces to lose. Yes, it is theirs. Right. And in order for our team, and this is any team to win,

to beat them or to take that away from them, I think two or three things has to happen. The aces have to have an off night, right? Because when Candace is playing, you have five players on the floor who's capable of dominating the one, one, two, three, four, five, right? So they, at least three of those players need to have an off night. The other team, they have to have almost a perfect game.

right. In order to, to be them because they're, they're that they're good. They're really, really good. Yeah. And, and the whole conversation around Candace too is like when Candace is not playing, it's the team from last year that won a championship, you know, like there's still a championship team. And then you add Candace to it, which we've got glimpses of at the beginning of the season is,

Then it's like, okay, that's another level. That's when we start talking about the super team. But the team last year is still very much a super team as they were formed. Yes, they are. And let's, can we also, I know this isn't a flower segment. I'm going to make it one. Can we also just throw Alicia Clark out there?

Yes. Right. I've watched Alicia Clark play, was fortunate enough to play against her. Like, I don't think Alicia Clark gets the credit she deserves at times because she she's just that she's.

I want to say she's that B, but I won't. She's that girl. Do you know what I mean? Like she can play one through five. She will defend one through five. Doesn't matter who it is, what the challenge is. She goes in the game and she does what she does. If it's defense, she's going to do it. Rebound, she's going to do it. She's going to spot up in that corner, left or right corner. Usually I think it's the left, but left or right corner, wide open. She's going to knock the three down.

So we talk about Candace rightfully so, but we also need to talk about Alicia Clark just a little bit because Alicia Clark was a great gift for the aces.

She was. Just takes them to a whole different level. And a perfect example of know your role and do it well. Because those are my favorite type of players. She doesn't try to dip into Asia's lane. She doesn't try to dip into Chelsea Gray's lane. You don't see her trying to do a behind the back pass. No. She's going to stay in her lane, which is a knockdown shooter and a perfect three and D player because she is wild.

really tenacious on the defensive end as well. She's strong. She's physical. What's my role on this team? I'm a 10-year vet. I can bring that. I can bring all of my championship experience and I'm going to do it well. And that is every single night, day in and day out. That's what she does. That's a perfect little corsage of our flower segment. There you go, A.C.,

I love that. Okay, so for that record, they are on pace, very much so. The single season record of 16 wins by 15 plus points was held by the 2019 Washington Mystics, according to ESPN. So they're going to break that because I don't see anybody stopping them.

Yeah, it's pretty crazy. The other record that was broken, the New York Liberty on Sunday, 44-point first quarter. 44 points in the first quarter. That's a WNBA record for the most ever in a quarter. Yeah, I mean, we can have this exact same conversation about the New York Liberty. But I would say...

That this win that they got also was the best start in franchise history, 16 and five. But I will say it was because John Quayle Jones is more like John Quayle Jones. She is playing. Oh, y'all can't see me pointing, but I'm pointing at Jordan. That means say that, say that. Okay, go ahead. She is, she's had kind of her best stretch of the season ever.

27 points, 11 rebounds on Friday, then turned around, had 18 points and 11 rebounds on Sunday. She has said that she was overthinking too much at the beginning of the season, and that was a little bit because of her or due to her struggles on the court. But now she looks like the JJ that we know. And I think that's what New York was missing. Like they needed the former MVP back.

to stand up. And I think that's a big piece for them. Yeah. I think people...

We talk about super teams, right? The aces and the Liberty. And so people look at the Liberty and they're like, well, what's wrong? Why aren't they that super team that we thought they would be? But it's hard. Like it's, it's hard leaving a team where you, you are the woman, right? Pretty much every position it's get the ball to JJ on the block or wherever JJ go make things happen. Now you're going to a squad where you,

You're probably not that first option. The first option is Stewie, right? But your role has changed. Even though you're expected to perform like the –

Connecticut son, J.J., your role's a little different because now you have Stewie, you have Sloot, you have Sabrina. And also you have Benaja, right? Lainey, who also had a season high 22 points. I'm so happy. I'm not going to get off topic, but I'm so happy for her and I'm happy for J.J., but I'm so happy that Benaja finally had a Benaja Lainey type of performance. And to me, it's not just about J.J.,

finally coming into her own with this squad, but it's also about Benicia. Benicia's been struggling too. Where do I fit? What option am I? Because Stewie's number one, JJ's number two, Sabrina's number three. I'm just saying this. I don't know this. But Benicia's like, I thought I was like one or two last year. It's new. It's a new team. So I do think when this team

can come together like the aces because Sloot, Sabrina, Benaja, Stewie, JJ, those are five players that are also very capable of putting up good numbers. Sloot's going to run the squad. She's going to get the ball where it needs to be. She can score when she needs to. No surprise that they have 44 points in a quarter. No surprise. You have too many options to not have 44 in a quarter. And it's...

It just goes back to what we said. This Aces team that's killing it is pretty much the same Aces team last year who was killing it. This Liberty team is all new and they're trying to figure it out. And now you have half of a season to have figured it out. I think we're going to see the ascension over this back half of the season where they are just more...

comfortable with each other in their roles, in their own skin. We're going to get a little bit of a potential maybe finals preview for the commissioners cup game, which I'm sure we'll preview when that gets closer August 15th, I believe where it's the aces versus the Liberty. So,

I think that's going to be a good test to see like, okay, are you guys there or are you not there? But I think we're going to be, they're going to turn it up this second half of the season. Oh, for sure. Yeah, for sure. I think so too. Okay. So those were the positives. Yay. Little pom poms. Um, in the losing column, um,

Seattle lost its ninth straight game on Saturday, falling 90 to 75 to Chicago, breaking a 23-year franchise record for most consecutive losses. That is a tough one. That is a tough one.

Our producer, Alex, the sweet angel that she is, she put in these notes, it pains me to write this, but is Noelle Quinn's job at risk? How do you feel about that, Cheryl? We've talked about the whole coaching carousel and how the coaches kind of are the first ones to be blamed, but this is just a tough situation. I don't know if anyone's blaming Noelle Quinn for this. Oh, no, there are people blaming Noelle Quinn. Oh, no.

I've seen it. I've heard it. I'm not one of those people. Let me say that. There are absolutely people who are saying she needs to be gone today. Dang. Here's my very small take on it. No, I do not think her job should be a risk. When Sue retired, Stewie left, those were two crucial pieces of

to the Seattle store. Right. So you, you can't just go get one player to fill the void for those two. Yep. You still got Jewel Lloyd and Jewel Lloyd is a hell of a baller. Jewel is getting the job done. Okay. Out, outside of Jewel Lloyd, you have Ezzie. Ezzie, Ezzie plays her role. Ezzie knows what her role is and is, Ezzie's playing well for them. Um,

I don't know where you're getting a lot more production and contribution from other players. Jordan Horston, a rookie, she's a rookie, but she is balling. Yeah. Right. For a rookie. Um, you got Kia nurse. I don't, I don't, she's coming back from ACL injury. I don't think that Kia is still trying to get back in the flow of things. So you can't really put a lot of pressure on her. Right. Um,

I don't know. Like, yeah, you got to go get more pieces. The reason why I say I don't think Noelle's job should be at risk. You just lost two key pieces to that franchise. You got to give her time. Yeah, I would think.

Because I won't even call out coaches, but there have been coaches in worse situations than this that have been given ample opportunities to turn the program around, to turn the team around. So I think it's only fair that we do the same thing with Noelle. Because here's my thing. I think Noelle is a really, really good coach. I think she's a young up and coming coach, but you got to give her something to work with.

And then you got Pokey as an assistant who I think Pokey is one of the best coaches that's ever coached in college, in the WNBA. So I'm hoping that the franchise isn't like, oh, we got to get rid of her and start over. Because to me, honestly, it's like getting rid of Vanessa Nygaard in the middle of the season, thinking that that's going to turn the season around. At the end of the day, I don't care how great of a coach you are. If you don't have talent or if you don't have something to work with,

It doesn't really matter who that coach is going to be. You got to, you got to have something to work with. And the W is tough. There's tons of talent, right? So you got to be able to go out and find those players, that talent that's going to be able to compete with the aces, with the Liberty, with the, the wings night in and night out. So that's just my small take. That's a great take. I think that's a great take. And I, I don't think we put, we factor in enough.

We've talked about how great the top of the standings are. And maybe the Seattle team five years ago would have some more competitive...

but right now where the league stands, it's a little lopsided and you need to add in more pieces that can score at the clip that Jewel Lloyd is able to, to compete with those teams because it's not like, I mean, earlier in the season they were getting blown out, but some of those games, it was like just a couple more buckets, two more minutes. Maybe they would have won or they, they were really close, but,

So I don't think it's Noelle Quinn's job should be at risk. I think she's trying her best. She did have this quote to say. She said, it's weighing on me, so I know it's weighing on them. We've taken away the mindset of we have to get this win. It's not our day-to-day goal. That's not our tangible goal. Our tangible goals are, are we getting better each and every day? Are we sticking to what's given us?

given us success statistically? Are we rebounding? Are we taking care of the ball? Those are our tangible goals. Based on those, that's going to indicate are we moving in the right direction or not?

End quote. So she's kind of looking at it to me. What I took away from that is like, all right, we're learning because we have to kind of start over. We have a lot of youth on this team. And we've also discussed the run the WNBA that there isn't a lot of opportunity for the youth to kind of cement their spot in a franchise. And you mentioned someone like Jordan Horst in getting this opportunity to grow and be

be able to kind of slide in to where she she fits in Seattle is one of those places so I save Noelle Quinn give her some more pieces yes do she deserves it she does she does Seattle sorry we had to throw that that record in there um I mean

The Sparks are in there too. They've lost nine and eight games. So the Sparks have won eight games, respectively, franchise single season record for them in a row. And since you brought the Sparks up, I know we weren't going to talk about your Sparks, but I will say this.

Injury, though, right? Yeah. With the Sparks, you never know who's playing, who's going to be playing. I thought when season started, everybody was playing. The Sparks were one of those teams I was like, oh, okay. They might play.

Make some noise. Run for their money. Yeah. And then you got the injury bug. You got Lexi out. You got Nneka out. You got Leja out. Like, it's really hard to compete and to win ballgames when you don't know who's going to be on your roster from one game to the next. And to me, not making excuses, but in a way I am because...

The sparks have just really been hit with an injury bug lately. Yeah. So I'm giving your sparks a break, Jordan. Yeah, thank you. God. It's hard to coach that. It's hard to make a game plan for that. It's hard to get a flow of just...

team chemistry of just not knowing who's going to be out there. And I think it's tough because I see someone like Jordan Canada who has played almost every game fighting her heart out and has really been putting this team on her back. But it's just not enough for her to try to score everything or for her to try to assist everything. It does take a team effort. And when you have

Not everybody, 100% trying to put it all out there. It's just not going to get it done. Which leads me, and then we can wrap this up, which leads me to another point. Yes, you're dealing with injuries and you're trying to play who may be, I don't know, 70, 80%. When you have, this is just one part in particular, when you have a fully healthy Zaya Cook sitting on the bench, who has proven that

in times that she can score the basketball. And when I look at their seven and 15 overall, and they've gone two and eight in their last 10, give a girl a shot. Yep. I'm putting it out there. Let her play. Like what? What? Get her in the game. Get her in the game. I need to see it. But the few games that she did play,

She performed. She did. But you gotta, but you gotta give her minutes. You can't, you, you can't put her in for three minutes. She take a shot. She missed a shot. You're like, Oh, you're coming out. That is the worst. Like, yeah, as a player, that was just the worst. Jordan.

Everybody misses shots unless you are Cheryl Swoops and there are none of them. I'm kidding. I see what you did there. No, but seriously, as a player, that is like, that's the worst feeling of knowing, okay, I don't get a lot of minutes. And when I do get in, I don't even want to shoot because if I miss it, I'm coming out. That was my Cheryl. Get a girl a shot.

That was my whole college career. Because you can't even play free. You're playing scared.

and the fear of making a mistake because you think you're going to come out. And so you're like, I was just so stiff because I was like, don't mess up. Don't mess up. You're going to come out. You're going to come out. You can't play like that. You can't play. And Zaya is a rookie and she's already just trying to find her footing. And especially because the first home game of the season, she has this incredible game. She went all.

You know, and she's just on cloud nine from that. I would just love to be to check in with her to see how she's feeling because there's ebbs and flow throughout a season. But Ziya, come on our show. Yeah, we got we love you here. Come on the show. Even if we didn't love you, come on the show. OK, we're going to take a quick break. When we come back, we're going to take a look at the standings and see who else is kind of surprising us there. We'll be right back.

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This episode is brought to you by Honda. When you test drive the all-new Prologue EV, there's a lot that can impress you about it. There's the class-leading passenger space, the clean, thoughtful design, and the intuitive technology. But out of everything, what you'll really love most is that it's a Honda. Visit Honda.com slash EV to see offers. Okay, welcome back to Queens of the Court. We're going to do a little step back.

here and zoom out look at big picture just a little step back a little a little hezy as we're in the halfway point um just a little context regular season ends on september 10th and that is going to be here before we know it right um top eight teams make the playoffs and

Those top eight teams right now, as of today, Monday, July 24th, Aces, Liberty, Sun, Wings, Mystics, Dream, Lynx, and the Sky. Wow. That's the playoff format right now. But when you look at the standing, Cheryl, we were kind of talking about this off mic, but what teams...

Maybe their placement or maybe they are surprising that they're even in this. From our preseason talks, I don't feel like we had this exactly this way. But what sticks out to you? You know what? We didn't have it exactly this way, but I think we were pretty close. We were pretty close. I will say we definitely didn't have Minnesota in the top eight. No way.

I think we had Minnesota down there with Indian Seattle. I think. But I will also say this. Nafisa Collier has been tearing it up. And she is a big reason why they're sitting in that seventh spot. And Diamond Miller.

Oh, yeah. Girl. Look, Diamond came out as a rookie, playing, doing her thing, got hurt, got injured, had to sit down for a minute, came back, and she is balling. I love watching her play, love watching her get up and down. Anyway, I would say Minnesota is the one team that we were like, eh, no, not going to be there. Aces, Liberty Suns, yeah, we knew they'd be there. The Dallas Wings.

I don't know if you remember the conversation, but I think early on when we were talking, I was like, listen, this Dallas Wings team, they can make some noise. They're young, but girl, you talk about Arike, Satu, Natasha Howard, that, I don't know if they call them big three, whatever. I'm just going to say that trio. Yeah. They have been tearing it up.

And I am loving every bit of it. And then you add Kalani, Odyssey. I don't know. Dallas is going to make some noise in the playoffs. I think so, too. They're going to make a deep run. They're the only team. Yep. I hope we get the fact check right. The only team to beat both the Liberty and the Aces. Yep.

Like it's proven that they can play in the big leagues against, against the big teams. I want to go back to Minnesota for a second. Yeah. We've talked about Nafisa Collier giving her her flowers. She dropped a career high 35 points against Atlanta last week. She now has five 30 point games this season.

Second to only Jewel Lloyd having six. And we talk about how Jewel Lloyd has been killing it. Now, he's right there. Yeah, he's been dropping 30 pieces consistently. And Diamond Miller easily. Sometimes it takes having to sit on the bench and watch the game because I could tell Diamond she was moving too fast.

Like it just wasn't. Yes. She didn't really know her footing or I feel like she was losing the ball a lot. You know, the last time or the first time she played the aces, she got blocked like six times. Seven times. Seven times. Yeah. It was like, you know, she was just moving too fast. She got injured. She was able to watch the game and see where her spots were, what was missing in Minnesota. And now they are just like,

taking off with her being in her role when the FISA being in the MVP conversation, Jerka UHS is doing great. Like a lot of pieces and you know, Cheryl Reeve was gonna, she was gonna whip them into shape after that. Not that good start. So Minnesota has been killing it. Dallas is,

is on a winning streak. They have proven over and over again that they are going to make some noise in the playoffs. I like both of those teams. Would you want a series against them, like both of them battling it out? That could be fun. So when you... You're saying Dallas and Minnesota playing each other? Yeah. Yeah, that could be a lot of fun. Yeah, that could be a lot of fun. The other team I want to talk about briefly because...

We we talked about the mystics right early on. We talked about the mystics. Nobody was talking about them. Right. And me knowing Natasha Clout, that didn't sit well with her. So she was like, OK, y'all go ahead. Talk over there. Meanwhile, we're going to be getting it done over here. They're sitting at 12 and 10 fifth place. Now, granted, we talked about the injuries that the Sparks have had. Mystics have been the same place. Mm hmm.

I know Elena was out. Natasha Cloud was out. Shakira Austin is still out. To me, that is the difference in where the mystics are sitting. Shakira Austin is the difference. And it doesn't take away anything from EDD, from Tosh. Shakira Austin just brings a different type of swag. She brings a different type of confidence. She brings a different type of...

it's going to be a long night for you. Right. Just everything that she does defensively, she's going to defend. She rebounds. She gives them a, a real presence in the paint. Like I love watching her play. And when she went down, what was it? A hip injury? I think. Yeah, I believe so. Yeah. Yeah. Like I'm, I'm hoping she's better. She gets back because she, to me is the difference in this mystic squad. Perfectly said. She,

She is the type of player that the Washington Mystics were like, we have her and you don't. Yes. That's what makes us better. We have her. You don't have Shakira Austin. If she gets healthy, I'm not, I'm not a hundred percent on her timeline for injury, but if she gets back in the playoffs, this 50 doesn't, it doesn't make a difference. You know what I mean? Like they're a different team.

because they have been playing without her. They need her. They need her. They have all the players that are out just right now. Edie, Shakira, Austin, Ariel Atkins is out. Christy Tolliver out. That's four out of a five starting lineup right there that's sitting on the bench in street clothes. And you have someone like Brittany Sykes who –

isn't typically an offensive player, but she stepped up season high 29 points on Sunday and Walker Kimbrough, Natasha cloud. They're stepping up, but it's still filling a void. It's like, okay, we're trying to hold off the grade until everybody can get back. Yeah. But it, if they can get full strength by the playoffs, it's,

then I would say that's their focus. Stay above water, stay within the eight seed just until we can get at full strength. And then we're going to make some noise in postseason. Well, yeah, Jordan, because like even, even with everyone else healthy and Shakira out, so they have my shine's Allen, right. Who plays the four she'll go inside and bang a little bit, but she's undersized to play in the paint with Elena. Yeah.

Elena's not going to get in the paint. She don't want to be in the paint. She don't want to be physical. She's more of a face up, you know, shoot the three, put it on the floor. Shakira is like, oh, you want to bang? Like to me, they're missing that presence in the paint, that dominant presence in the paint who is even if she's not,

scoring the basketball that her presence in the paint makes a difference and it frees up stuff for Natasha cloud for an Ariel Atkins who's shooting the three ball it for even for Elena right shot goes up she's crashing the board she's rebounding just all around offensively defensively they need her oh yeah yeah it might be one of those things where you know uh

She she's been watching a ton of games on the bench and then she can come back in and be like, OK, I see where I am needed and where I was missed and then just takes it off from there. So hopefully she gets a speedy recovery because, yeah, that's a scarier team with Shakira. No doubt. Yeah, no doubt. Someone else I want to talk about Connecticut Sun.

They started off the second half with a loss to Phoenix, and I was like, oh, here we go again. I did not want that for them. But then they bounced back. They won back-to-back games against Atlanta. And since the break, DeJuana Bonner passed Candice Parker on the all-time scoring list. Now...

DB sitting at number eight. Alyssa Thomas, who's a forward, by the way. We just have to keep reminding you guys. She now holds. She's the first Suns player to pass a thousand assists. Hey, AT. Are you kidding me? And then on top of it all, they got engaged. Hey. Congrats. I was sitting here. I said, so is it going to be Dewana Bonner Thomas or Alyssa Thomas Bonner?

Oh, Alyssa Thomas. I think I like Bonner Thomas. I do too. I like Bonner Thomas. Bonner Thomas. That's good. A, B, T. A, B, T.

I like that. Bonnie Thomas. As someone who just had an identity crisis and changed their last name, just take your time on what name you want to go by. Let me just say that. But you know what? They always look so happy. Oh, my gosh. I was happy to see their... I know we're off topic a little bit, but we're not. I was happy to see that for them. Oh, I was so happy. I'm happy giving you flowers. All the flowers. We want to invite. We want to invite.

That wedding? Oh my God. That is going to be so much fun. We want to invite. Okay. Yeah. The plan starts now to try to get an invite to that wedding. I'll come. Y'all, I don't know if Jordan will show up, but I'll come. No, I'm not going to let you live this down. Let me be your plus one. I'm not going to get an invite, but let me be your plus one. Okay. All right. We'll be each other's plus one. Yeah. That'll be fun. Okay. All right.

so cute. It was cute. It was really, really cute. The engagement, at least the pictures that I saw. The picture looked so cute. I love what people were saying. You know, if you're just around them for even 10 minutes, you can just see their joy and love for each other. So they look really happy. And hey, I'm all for love. Me too. Love is the best. Can we talk about another player, though, before we leave the sun? Oh, yeah, please do. I know who it's going to be. Natisha Heideman. Mm hmm.

She's a shooter. She's a shooter. Leticia Heideman has been on one the last two games. I mean, like walking flame, just a flame thrower. Like here, I have it here on ESPN. Leticia Heideman combined for 39 points in those back-to-back wins versus the dream. 11 for 15 from three. Yeah. Yeah.

She was shooting that thing. She was dancing. Like she was dancing on the bench when she was subbed out. Like she was just. That's such a great feeling, right? Where it's like, let me go just get a break. I'm not going to cool off. Cause when I come back in, like the stroke is still there. Oh wait, no, she's a lefty. Let me do it with my left hand.

Yeah. Yeah. Just yeah. Flowers, giving her flowers, flowers, flowers. Love to see it. Love to see it. And you know what? I know people have been talking about it, myself included. Like if if Connecticut's going to.

make a run in the playoffs, win a championship. They got to have more from other players besides DB and AT because we know what they're going to bring every night. And the Tisha Heideman is one of those players that's very capable of scoring and getting it done. Cause let's not forget the loss of Brianna Jones. Yes. Huge loss.

Huge. There's not one player that's going to fill her shoes. It's got to be a collective effort from everybody. And the Tisha Heideman is one of those players that can do it. Oh yeah. Just talking about injuries in general, Connecticut has been able to hold third position without Bree Jones. That's a huge testament to what they've been doing and the, the very fast start that they had has really helped them kind of build that cushion. But yeah,

Washington dropped after Shakira Austin. These other injuries have dropped teams. Connecticut has been able to hold strong in that third position without Bree Jones. I can't even imagine if Bree Jones was still healthy and playing on the team. I think their record would be even better somehow. So that's a huge kudos to them for what they've been doing. And I think...

you know, the second half of the season, they're just going to have to keep building off of that. I don't want them to get complacent or, um, comfortable in that third spot because those other teams are coming. They are coming for them and that spot. So that's something that I'm, I'll be keeping my eye on for sure. Yup. Hmm. You want to talk about Atlanta real quick, sitting at six. I mean, I think Atlanta is another team we talked about early on. Um,

Ryan Howard feeling like she got snubbed for the all-star game, like really lit a fire under her. And I just love how she's just able to score in so many different ways. She reads the defense very well.

smaller guard gets on her. She's going to take you down low, post you up. Nice. I think it was the aces they played. She caught the ball at the top of the key and just waited to see what the defense was going to do. And then she drove by Jackie young. Asia came to help. She gave him both a little shot. Fate got them in the air, turn around, fade away, jump or nothing but net. Listen, Ryan Howard has been on one. She's been on one. Then you throw in Alicia gray, um,

I just Cheyenne Parker. Come on. Yeah. Yeah. I love this team. So I feel, I feel about the dream the same way I feel about the wings. They're both young with so much talent. They don't even know how good they can be right now. That part.

Yeah, you can you can see that. Sometimes you're like you got if you guys tweak a couple things, you guys could be really, really good. And they just don't know it yet. They don't. I will say Aerie McDonald coming back. Yes. Has been able to be that. Yes. Yes. He was out with a shoulder injury. So that's going to help them. This stat for Atlanta really stuck with me, though. They are three and eight.

against opponents with above who are above 500 this season nine and one versus the teams that are lower than that mark so they're taking care of business against the lower seated teams as they should but those upper echelon in the standings they're struggling

So that's where the tweaks are going to happen if they're going to make it into the playoffs, you know? No, no doubt. And here's, besides the players, Tanisha Wright, honestly, I loved he played with her against her.

I don't know if there could be a better coach for the dream right now than T right. Former player. I love how she, like when she needs to get into them, she gets into them and like, she just lets them play the other day. I don't know if you heard this in the huddle when they were playing the aces, I think. Yeah. Was it the aces? Yes, it was. No, it wasn't. I don't know whoever, but in the huddle,

was like, she was hot. But then, you know, she was just talking to him and she said, are we better than this? Don't y'all know we're better than this? Y'all think we're better than this? And they were like, yeah, yeah. She was like, well, then level up. I was like, okay, okay, okay, T. I don't know what other coach in the WNBA is going to tell her players to level up, right? But she was like, level up and go get the job done.

So as a player, that's what I need for my coach. If I'm not getting it done, then I need you to get on me, get in me and let me know that I haven't shown up. I'm stinking it up. But like, give me a one liner. Give me something that's going to make me be like, okay, coach, I got you. And for her to say level up, they all look like,

We hear you. I just think this team and the pieces they've put together, they've done a really good job. But to your point, they're young and they still don't know how to win against those teams that are young.

the aces, the Liberty, right? They're still trying to figure that part out. Yeah. Yeah. That experience, that experience is intangible. And, and I think that's the one thing that they're missing, especially when it does come playoff time, but Hey, they're at a really nice spot right now. I think this is a different conversation if they're at nine and they're just going to be on this climb up there at six and

They just got to win the games that they need to win and then surprise some of those top five teams. I think they're good. I really do. Come playoff time. I know what we said about the aces and I'm going to continue to say it. They're going to be tough to beat, but I will also say this come playoff time. It's a whole different season.

And sometimes all it takes is just, just luck. Right. And it's all about matchups to your point, Dallas, they've beaten the Liberty. They've beaten the aces. So who knows what the matchups will be? Like anything can happen come playoff time. But I also know the aces know that. So come playoff time, they're going to take their game to a whole different level.

And I'm here for it. I'm here for it too. Can I do one small tangent of my own scrap paper notes research? Yeah, your scrap paper. I'm just showing all of this that I did this morning. Okay, so you know how there's been those mini series within the scheduling? So a team may play the same team two games in a row. Yes. I personally... Which I hate. Yeah, I don't love it.

I was talking to the New York Liberty GM. He was saying that it's like it's travel. It's it started when it was COVID. And this is just kind of what they're doing now. But I was looking at the first half of the season. First of all, the Sparks have more of those games than anybody else. They've had one, two, three, four, five times that they've just played the same team back to back,

And they've lost like two in a row, you know, one and one. And I think that's really tough. They also have three more in the second half of the season. The Liberty have only had to do that one time. The Aces, though, this is something that stuck out to me. This mini series is kind of like a mini playoff. Who can make adjustments fast? You know, that's what it's good practice on that. We just played this team. How are you going to?

Play the ball screen. How are you going to go against the zone? Yep. The only two losses that the aces have had have been when they played the same team back to back, which I thought that was very interesting. Connecticut, they had a little mini series. That's when they lost Dallas. They had a little mini series. That's when they lost. So, um,

When it comes to playoff time, who's going to make those adjustments? Teams are making adjustments to the aces right after, or are the aces not making adjustments to the other team? Something that was just very interesting. I wanted to see Phoenix has only had one of those series. The Sparks have so many. I'm like, is that because they're the only California team? I was trying to make sense of it. I don't know why that is, but yeah. So yeah,

The Aces, they have one more at the end of the season with Phoenix.

But you got to make adjustments quick. And these miniseries are really good practice for the playoffs. So that was just my little. No, and that's great info because I wasn't aware of that. But when you when you talk about making those adjustments quickly come playoff time. To me, that's why I say that playoffs, it's a different season. First of all, because, you know, that when you lose, you're done. Right.

Right. But it's a completely different season because players, their mindset changes. Right. Like, OK, yeah, here's what we did in the regular season that worked well. Here's what we did in the regular season that didn't work well. To your point, like the aces, the miniseries they had, that's when they lost. So Dallas immediately they were like, OK, here's what we didn't do so well yesterday or the other day.

And this is why we lost. And so they come right back. They make those adjustments and they win the game playoffs. You have, I don't know, maybe a couple of days in between. I don't even remember the playoff format, but you have a couple of days in between to make those adjustments. And as a professional athlete, as a baller, you're, you're wanting to be at your peak at your best during that time so that you can perform like it's, it's just an exciting time because

Every team, every team knows that everybody, including us, have pretty much given the trophy to the Aces, right? Yeah, that's true. They come for it. And if not the Aces, the Liberty, right? So there are two teams, Aces and Liberty. They're like, okay, we're supposed to win. This is what everybody's telling us. And those teams that we're not picking, they're saying, okay, but it's playoffs. We only got to get lucky twice, right? Yeah.

Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. That's, that's why to me, that's why the season is it's, it's zero, zero. So what you did in the regular season doesn't really matter, but what matters is how you made the adjustments when, when Dallas, when you beat the aces, when you beat the Liberty, how did you beat them? So you bring that to the playoffs twice. Is it the first round? What? That's two out of three, three out of five, two out of three, right? Two out of three.

All you got to do is beat them twice. And anything can happen. And those miniseries are practice for that because they've been playing back to back. Yes. Well, you got me excited for the playoffs. I hope everybody listening is also excited. Reminder, regular season ends September 10th. And that is the focus, I am guaranteed, of all of these teams right now. They are focused on can we fine tune and tweak things so we will be ready for the playoffs next.

That was a good little around the horn. That was good. I'm excited. Me too. We still got regular season, but I'm excited. I'm excited for all of it. That's been the theme of this whole show is excitement. We're going to take a quick break. When we come back, we are going to tackle one more topic and then we'll be on our merry way. Stick around.

Overnight, Dunkin'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 Dunkin' is where you want to be.

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Welcome back to Queens of the Court. And before we go in this episode, we wanted to talk about it last week because we saw this person at WNBA All-Star. But we just were too excited and it didn't fit into the show. But Dwayne Wade is now a part of the Chicago Sky ownership. Let's go, D-Wade! We are ecstatic about it. I think this is incredible.

I think this is the start of something new. I think other NBA players are going to get on the bandwagon and do this. So I'm really excited about it. Before I get into all the nitty gritty and the facts from Forbes, what are your initial reactions? Let's go. About time.

No, you know, I saw D-Wade at All-Star, as you said. And I actually, I talked to him. And first I just said, congrats. And then I said, thank you. And so he was like, of course, right? I said, my only question is, why did it take you all so long? Why didn't somebody come, become part owner of the comments when I was playing? You know, I'm always going to take it back there. But what I love about it is,

You know, we talk about just the bond that WNBA players and NBA players have, current and former. It's like a sisterhood, a brotherhood. It's like family. But instead of, and I know Dwayne Wade said this, but instead of talking about it, right, he actually said, I want to be a part of it. Yeah, he's going back home. And I think it's a great look to your point. I do think this is going to cause more tension.

NBA players to want to get involved, become part owners of a franchise. I mean, we didn't talk about it, but Tom Brady. Yeah. Part ownership of the Aces. Yeah. I just, I think it's great. I love it. I think he'll bring something totally different, totally new, not just to that franchise, but to the league. The next thing I want to see happen is because besides Renee Montgomery, she's,

I don't think there's any other former W player that's part owner of any franchise. I don't know. Just overall, I'm excited. I'm ecstatic. I think it's a great look. And kudos. I love it. This is your flower segment, D-Wade. We're giving you flowers. It really is. And before I get to the nitty gritty of it, Gabrielle Union in person, because she was also with him at All Star. Yeah, Gabs. Was...

stunning like I was like oh you're like actually breathtakingly beautiful with with no makeup on I was like really just just a little bit of eye of mascara maybe she doesn't age are you kidding she still looks like gab union from bring it on but anyway no I look that young I deck show

I'm kidding. I'm kidding. You went all the way back to bring it on. I thought you were going to give me another movie, but I'm kidding. She does look young. She looks like she's 21. She looks great. Black don't crack. Okay. Nope. Wade joins an ownership group that includes, this is all from Forbes article, by the way,

The ownership group already includes real estate developer, Michael Alter, Cubs co-owner, Laura Ricketts, Foot Locker CEO, Mary Dillon, and Tina Chin, chief strategy impact officer at the Obama Foundation. This is all according to Chicago Sun-Times. That's like a powerful group of people. So D-Wade is also in there. It's not...

known what his percentage stake is or the price tag of this deal, but it comes two months after Ricketts and five other Chicago women purchased a 10% stake for $8.5 million. So...

It was some money on the line. And I love that it's going to the Chi town sky. No doubt. No doubt. The sale is now subject to former approval from the WNBA board of directors. But here's the little tidbit asterisk that I wanted to know if you knew, cause I did not know this.

Wade's entrance into the organization comes soon after a close family member left it. James Wade, the team's former head coach, is D. Wade's cousin. I did not know that. Me neither! I did not know that. Sometimes reported this. James Wade has been with the team since 2018, so I wonder if that was the holdup of maybe why D. Wade wasn't

investing when a family member was in it but that's his cousin well cousins don't always get along i'm just saying that's true but i'm like maybe there was i had no idea you know how you can't really yeah yeah invest when family or someone you know closely is involved so after james wade is gone then here comes d wade with the checkbook okay we need to get d wade on the show

I did not know that. I not only want to talk about ownership, but I want to talk about all of that. I had no idea. I did not know they were cousins. I never want to be the person that's like, oh, you have the same last name. You have to be related. Right. In this case, it was very much that easy. And I didn't know that. So that was a little fun fact. If you were listening and you also didn't know that, thanks Forbes for breaking that news to us.

Yeah. But yeah, I wanted to, I didn't know that, but I wanted to read what D Wade told ESPN because we were talking about supporting, right? Where D Wade said, we all talk about support and support looks different for everyone. And so instead of tweeting out and saying, go support the W instead of showing up at the game and supporting, I wanted to take it to that next level. And this was the next level for me. Well, kudos to you. Yes. That, that, that,

Yeah. You didn't just talk about it. You are being about it. We appreciate you. Thank you. Yeah. It's, this is the start. This is the start. I think this is going to be a big thing. Of course, like you mentioned D Wade, Tom Brady, magic Johnson is still part of the sparks ownership group. So yeah,

This is going to be a long list in the next couple years of NBA players who are seeing that not only is this support of the women's basketball league and the best WNBA players, but it's also a great business decision. D. Wade is like, this team is going to make me money because the league is growing and Chicago Sky fandom is growing. So...

When we say, hey, watch women's sports, support women's sports. It's not because it's like, oh, woe is us. It's like, yeah, money is in this. No doubt. It is a business savvy decision to put your money in the WNBA. So that's another thing that I'm really excited about. Yeah. Yay. I love it. Well, here's your flowers, Dwayne Wade and Gab Union for being youthful and beautiful.

That's it. That's it for us. We have to say thank you for all the reviews.

that we have gotten. I feel like we said it last episode too. Thank you guys for listening to the show. This really makes a difference for your reviews, your listener emails. Please continue to follow, rate, and review us on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also keep sending us your questions or feedback to our email, queensofthecourt at odyssey.com.

Yeah, we love, love, love, love, love getting the listener emails. And I think Jordan, you mentioned this before, we're absolutely going to tackle them and have us just a listener email session. But until then, don't forget, you can always find me and Jordan on social media. I'm at airsuits22 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. Boom! Ooh, that was good.