September 25, 2024 • 34 mins
Khristina is joined by WNBA Analyst Terrika Foster-Brasby to discuss the 1st Round of the WNBA Playoffs… How the Sun shut down Caitlin Clark, the un-sung hero for the Liberty, when we might see A’ja Wilson dunk in a game, and why we should not expect Diana Taurasi to go out quietly!
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Executive Producers:
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Jessie Katz
Tyler Klang
Jonathan Strickland
Supervising Producer:
Peter Coughter
Producer & Editor:
Tari Harrison
Sound Engineer:
Ashley Burke
Host:
Khristina Williams
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. Welcome to this playoff edition of In Case
you missed It with Christina Williams here on the iHeartRadio
app Listen. The playoffs have started and they have not disappointed.
(00:26):
And joining me to break it all down is a
friend to the show and my friend in real life,
my homegirl that I do not play about. Y'all, please
welcome in my friend. WNBA analyst Tarika Fosser Rasby t
what's good.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
That's good, Christina, Thank you so much for having me back.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
So look, let's just dive right into it. What do
you like from these first round matchups so far?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
What are you seeing that you like?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
We got the best of both worlds. I think in
the first round, the first game of the first round,
we got to see a bit of dominance from New
York in Connecticut, but we also got to see a
very tight ending in Phoenix. So we got that competitiveness
and then we got to see a great comeback because
(01:16):
I was nervous about Vegas and they pulled the comeback
for the win. To secure home court against Seattle. So
I really think that Sunday gave us quite literally every
aspect of basketball we could have asked for.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
I want to break down this New York Liberty Atlanta's
dream game. I mean, in the last game of the
regular season, people were kind of shaking their heads at
the Liberty because they expected them to come out and
win that game. I was able to attend the practice
over the weekend and got a chance to talk to
coach Sandy Brundello and some of the players, and you know,
they said this was a learning moment for them in
(01:53):
that last regular season game and that they were going
to turn it up a notch. And that's exactly what
they did over the weekend and that first against Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
They came out and they were scoring for.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
The first seven minutes of that first quarter, like, came
out punch. I've never seen a New York Liberty be
that aggressive. What did you see from that game that
you liked?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah? For one, I think that it was important for
them to kind of really set that standard. Why because
this is the team that everyone has favored, at least
from a Vegas Odds perspective. This is the team that
has been favored to win it all, just based on
that stretch of the season where they looked almost unbeatable, right,
And when you are someone a coming in with that
(02:34):
kind of an expectation, b when people still are trying
to figure out if you're truly ready to take it
to the next level and get over that hump and
win a championship. And see when you're in the season
the way you ended it and you got Brianna Stewart
to bringing in an es school John Quote Jones on
your team, they're like, so it was important to kind
(02:55):
of shut up the noisies and really come out. But
I also think it was great for confidence, right, Like
you needed today needed to be able to build their
own confidence based on how the last game of the
season kind of ended. So I was really excited to
see them come out aggressive. I don't know if I
thought they were going to come out that's aggressive. So
(03:16):
I really just enjoyed from a totalities perspective, just what
it looks like to be the mindset of the team.
Stewie again just continues to show why she's one of
the best players. Sabrina, My goodness, she struggled against the
dream in the regular season, not so much Sunday seventeen
points from her five assists. She showed up big and
(03:38):
big moments in relation to her three point shooting, and
you have argued for her improvement all season long. She
is really showing us that she took this off season
personally and she has really stepped up her game from
every aspect, especially driving to the basket, being aggressive in
the pain. I love to see that from Sabrina.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
How about Leoni Fhoevich, the rookie had twenty one point
player game. Firstly, let me just tell the whole world
that Leoni Phoebich isn't someone that just went overseas to
Germany and picked up off the street.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
She knows how to win.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
She's won overseas, she has championships, She's been a pro
since the age of fourteen. She's also a friend to
the show. Make sure you go back and listen to
that episode. But Leoni Phoebich was made for this moment.
So for the whole world who's just starting to see
Leoni Phoebuch, welcome to the show. Because she is a bucket.
(04:38):
She is someone who is extremely athletic. Jonathan Cole did
a great job when he went out in free agency
and acquired, you know, talent from overseas just to help
grow this team. That second unit, that second unit was
crucial when we talk about Brianna Stewart this season versus
last season, when you look at the postseason, she was
already exhausted by this time last year. Yeah, and so
(04:59):
having players like a Leone, like KT, like Kennedy Burke,
like a Jaylen, Shira Marcuicia Davis, that bench is helping
to alleviate some of those minutes in exhaustion for some
of those starters.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
And they just turned it up a notch.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Coach Tanisha Wright post game, she said that New York
Liberty came out.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
And punched them in the mouth.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
He did.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
That was the perfect phrase to describe what the Liberty
did in Game one.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
They did and you beat me to it. Yeah, Leoni,
the biggest surprise. Shout out to our friend Miles who
has been preaching.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
The Leon be.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
True. True. You guys have both been on the Leoni
phoebis train for a long time. But yeah, she was
the biggest surprise yesterday. And by surprise, I don't mean
by talent, because clearly the talent has always been there.
She has been the person that has come off the
bench the most to provide the most for New York.
But to just really, in your first playoff matchup show
(05:56):
up with four three pointers one points, that's crazy.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
So yeah, I want to just point out that coach
Sandy Brundela really made a huge adjustment for this matchup
and that was also the key to the New York
Liberty winning forty Vanderslut came off the bench for the
first time since twenty seventeen. Yep came off the bench,
and she had a lot to say about it. Here's
what she had to say post game.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Leo had stepped in and been huge for us with
you know, injuries and everything. So it was in the
starting lineup wasn't new to her, and I think that
you saw that right away. She's comfortable out there. Uh,
she fits perfectly with that group. So you know, for me,
it was my mentality and change. It was the same.
You know, I just wanted to be able to be
a spark off the bench. It's it's definitely new to
(06:43):
me in terms of, yeah, it's gonna take me a
second to adjust to this because it is different.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
You know, I just.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Don't have that experience, you know, which is fine, It's
going to take some time. But I was, you know,
really happy for Leo and you know, I think it
was a really great adjustment for.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Us, and she was incredible tonight.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
So I want to talk about Courtney van deerslut coming
off the bench because this is a team right that
last season people questioned their chemistry, do they get along?
But this season you see that everyone's bought in. Everyone
is wanting to win a championship and they will do
whatever it takes to reach that goal. And for Courtney
Vanderslout and coach Sandy Brundello, the post game kind of
(07:27):
alluded to the conversation that they had about her coming
off the bench. She was just like, Okay, let's do it.
You know, I'm happy to be that spark. And it
has been the biggest adjustment because we talked about the
liberty having those slow starts and what needed to be changed,
and I think that they've identified it and everyone's on
the same page now and they're just out to win.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
What do you think about that?
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yeah? And you know what, it reminds me of another
starter who did something similar earlier this season, well actually
just a few weeks ago, where Dewana Bonner did the
same thing for Connecticut where she was willing to come
off the bench and let Marina Mayby start. And what
I see is when I see veterans who are willing
to take a back seat, that lets me know that
the commitment is to winning, the commitment is to the team,
(08:10):
and at the end of the day, if that means
that someone who's playing better or someone who needs to
get their chemistry or build their chemistry needs an opportunity
to do this, then as a vet, as a person
who wants to win. And Courtney and Dowana, for the
sake of this conversation, both previous champions, former champions, so
they both understand what it means to win a championship
(08:31):
and that sometimes me being very selfless and things that
helped to make your team better. In this situation, Courtney
Vanderslough again suffered some injuries and also having some personal
issues this season. It wasn't new for Leo to be
able to take in and start into that starting position
and it has worked well for them in those moments.
So it was very smart and very cognizant of Courtney
(08:54):
to say, hey, if this is what we got to
do to make sure that we can continue to win,
then this is an adjustment that I'm I'm cool with.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Making, absolutely, And you know, she emphasized how the media
was making it more of a bigger deal than how
she was taking it, which I agree. Like I was
at the post Gamescrumb and there was just so many
people our kid, you not. There was like ten questions
about it, and She's just like, you guys are making
a big deal about this.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
It's not like it's not that big of a deal.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
The only thing that I have to learn is how
to adjust because when you're a starter, you're able to
get warm, get hot right away. Yeah, and then versus
when you're coming off the bench and you gotta be
ready because everyone else is already hot, they're warmed up.
And so she said that is the biggest adjustment for her,
just figuring out, you know, how to match that energy
(09:42):
with coming in with the second unit. But I agree
with everything you said. And as you said, these veterans
they know what it takes to win. They are committed
to it, and that just shows how great of a
player Courtney Vandersou is. There's no question in my mind
that she is going to be a future Hall of Famer.
And yesterday she broke a record for the most assist
(10:04):
by a player in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
There was an assist to Stewie.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
What great a story than that, right to get an
assist to Suey to break the record while Sue Bird
was in the building. Because she broke the record, super
Bird had the previous record, and Courtney Vandersloo broke the record.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
So lots of great storylines.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
But first of all, congrats to Courtney Vandersuit for breaking
that record.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I think that's so joke.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Yeah, yeah, I congrats to her. I'm also glad that
you said she'ture Hall of Famer. I got into an
argument two years ago with my friend the China Robinson.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
I love you, La China, but China, but I said.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
It two years ago she was a future Halla Famer
and Lachina was like really, so there we go.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah, no, no doubt in my mind that Courtney vanders
Suit is a future Hall of Fame. All right, moving
right along, I want to talk about that number six
fever versus the three son. Now you brought up your
girl dB She was just on the show last week
to Wanna Bonner. She was the primary defender on Caitlin
Clark and she really shut her down. Now, I was
one of those people at Caitlyn Clark fourth with my
(11:02):
MVP voting, and she struggled in game one. I mean,
this is the WNBA playoffs where the you know, people
bring their a game, and she struggled against the Connecticut
Son's defense on her. Melissa Thomas had a triple double,
Marina Maybury twenty seven points and oh my goodness. Now, Tarika,
you are a sideline reporter for the Connecticut Son, so
(11:24):
break down what you see in this matchup.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Well, I will say that you voting Caitlyn Clark fourth,
I voted her fifth in the MVP voting. Yeah, has
absolutely no bearing on the fact that she struggled against
the Connecticut Sun. I say that because a lot of
people struggle against the Connecticut Son because they are a
clamp down, stout defense. It is the one thing that
(11:47):
they do better than every other team and that is defend.
So it is no shame in saying I had a
bad game against Connecticut. They played that style of basketball.
They play a physical style of basketball. And it really
speaks to how as a team defense is something that
they all pride themselves on. Because in the first two matchups,
the reason that she struggled was because of Dja Carrington.
(12:10):
In the fourth meeting, she had a little bit more success.
Connecticut was able to allow a bit more range on
the outside. Kelsey Mitchell, Lexi Hall, and Caitlyn Clark had
a field day and they were able to walk away
in the regular season with a win. But the playoffs
is very different than a regular season. It's almost to
the point where I say, you can kind of throw
a regular season stuff out of the window. This Connecticut
(12:31):
team is on a mission. They understand that they are
not going to have a lot of time left together.
They also understand that they are tired of being a
bridesmaid and never a bride, and so similar to New York,
their mission coming out into this matchup was to punch
somebody in the mouth, was to make it very clear
who they are. They have also heard all of the
conversation about this Fever team is dangerous. This Fever team
(12:56):
is a scary team. You don't want to see them
in their building. You don't want to And they had
point to prove, and I think that they did a
great job improving that. Lastly, Dewana Bonner absolutely had something
to prove. She had not played her best basketball over
your last couple of weeks. She was uncharacteristically inefficient from
the field. She wasn't able to provide an impact on
the scoring charts. She just was kind of missing for
(13:19):
the last couple of matchups. And yet she had some
defensive moments, but for the most part, her three wasn't falling.
She just wasn't being able to contribute in the way
that she was accustomed to. So it was very important
for her to get started early. This team has struggled
with scoring offensively. They have been one of the lower
end of the on the lower end of the ratings
of the rankings. So the two things they want to
(13:41):
focus on is a being aggressive early and two being
able to put points on the board, like serious points
on the board, not sixty, not seventy eighties nineties. To
do that, they need Dewana Bonner to score. So I
think they did a great job with like being able
to combine those things in those goals and making a
statement in the first game against Indiana.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
If you're the fever. How do you respond to that
Game one?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
If you're at the fever, you want have to put
Game one out of your mind, right. You go back
and you look at film and you say, okay, we
need to be more aggressive in the paint number one.
Number two. We got to figure out a way to
not let Marina Maybrey get the ball where she wants
it and just shoot it how she wants it, because
she's dangerous. She is one person who knows how to
(14:27):
create her own shot from anywhere, and so you have
to minimize how she's able to get the ball in
different spots in order to minimize her effect of creating
her own shot. Easier said than done, I know, but
you've got to be able to do that too. If
you're Caitlyn, you've got to shake it off, right. You
know that your team plays well when you are facilitating
more in shooting less. So going forward for seventeen isn't
(14:48):
the biggest deal when you really think about what your
strong suit is. Once you start to facilitate the ball
the way that you had been doing for Kelsey, the
way that you had been doing for Aliah Bouston, when
you let Melissa work her game in the high low action.
Letting it come to you is always better than trying
to force it. And you could see instantly in yesterday's
(15:09):
matchup they were trying to force it. So that's what
I would do. Play your game, let it come to you.
Don't try to outdo certain things that you know. You know,
shooting the ball up is not going to help you
win it against this team that is very cognizant of
you on the court, Dish it out. They're gonna double Kaitlin.
Dish it out right. That's that would be my advice.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
No, that's some great advice.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
And I know that you serve as the Connecticut Sun's
sideline and porter, and I know ty Harris. There was
a sort of injury during the game. Is there any
updates on Tysha Harris.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
We have not been provided an update on whether or
not she will or will not play in Wednesday's matchup. However,
it did appear that she tweaked her ankle and when
she left the game, she left the game in a
walking boot. So we don't know as of yet, if
it's just crossing, if she will be you know, if
she is going to play. I'm pretty sure we will
(16:05):
have an update, and I'm definitely gonna be following that
story very closely outside of the fact that it's part
of the job, but just because ty Harris has been
so important as a guard. She worked really hard to
be a starter this year, and she is one of
their stronger defenders at the at the top of the
key as well, so having her presence is important. But
kudos to the trade working for Connection. Oh my god,
(16:29):
like girl, they won that trade, okay, because Marina is
not only giving them twenty seven points off the bench,
but she has stepped up her game as a defender.
Like Marina is defendant out there, and I bet when
you got at you know, cussing you out every five minutes,
right right, But they like, thank god for that because
(16:54):
losing tie in that moment, you legitimately had someone who
you can put in and who you knew. And Veronica
Burton has also played incredibly will with this team. They
have done a phenomenal job of bringing in players to
this team that have truly been contributors in the best
of ways. I could not have planned Veronica Burton and
Marina Mayby being the kind of contributors that they have been.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
This year, and they played together in Dallas, and they
already have that chemistry to automatically turn it on and
do what needs to be done. All right, moving right
along to number five Seattle Storm versus number four the
l Las Vegas Aces. Now, one thing that surprised me
about this game was that Seattle didn't score in the
fourth quarter. But in addition to that, MVP Asia Wilson
(17:40):
unanimous MVP was announced on the same day as the
game one, and of course she showed out twenty one
point eight rebounds in that game. They went off, the
Aces went off, and we already said prior to the
regular season ending that they started peaking at the right time.
So what did you like about this matchup? I know
I read a couple of your tweets. You gave Jordan
(18:01):
Horsten some praise, So what did you like from that?
Speaker 2 (18:04):
I totally loved Jordan Horsted. I've been high on her
since her rookie year, right like I've been high on
her since Tennessee.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
I know, we met her mom, and then we met
her mom at the draft.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
And as soon as I meet your mamma, that's what
happened with Ricky. As soon as I meet your mom likest,
they are the best. But no, I've been high on
Jordan because I feel like she's with the right team
at the right moment, in the right atmosphere. Nobody's going
to give her the guidance that she needs. She's with
players that are going to provide that guidance and you
(18:38):
can see it right. Definitely someone who could have been
in consideration for six Women of the Year of how
she has been able to get be the uplift and
in moments and yes, in Sad Sunday's matchup, she was
the uplift. Skylar Diggins also, I believe, started off the
game playing incredibly well, establishing her presence. This was a
back and forth matchup, but for the first quarter, see
(19:00):
I owned this game. They were literally getting out in transition.
They were tough down in the paint. They were making
it very difficult for Asia offensively to start the game.
Mekka Agoumakay, she also was someone who was really establishing herself.
I voted her in my MVP valley because she is efficient.
She was shooting sixty percent plus you know, and had
(19:21):
been for like the last five games. They took their
foot off the gas and this is also a Las
Vegas Aces team that doesn't take long to figure it out.
Chelsea Gray didn't take long to figure it out. She's
the point god for a reason. Right, you can only
hold Asia down for so long, and you really ain't
gonna hold her down that long on the day she
(19:42):
gets her MVP trophy. So there's that. But I loved
the back and forth. I don't know if you can
say any more about Asia in her game than has
already been said. And I think what's crazy about that
is she was asked is there a nuts level? Like
is there still something more? And her response was like sure,
(20:03):
why not?
Speaker 3 (20:04):
She still got stuff in her back.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
I don't think people know this, but Asian Wolfson can
actually dunk the ball, so she can if we see
a transition dunk. I think I don't even know what
I would do if I saw that. But there's some
footage from South Carolina.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Yeah, but I.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Mean I say that to say, how do you stop
someone who has everything and it's still motivated for more?
Like that is that is somebody on a mission. And
you could see that towards the end of this game,
holding holding Seattle to literally only two points in an
entire quarter is masterful, and it really just speaks to
(20:43):
the caliber of this Las Vegas team. As you said, Christina,
the teams in the playoffs that do well aren't necessarily
the ones that have the best record, but they are
certainly the ones that play the right way and have
the hot hand at the right time. That twenty twenty
one Chicago Sky team will always be my example of that.
So kudos to Las Vegas. But I will say, of
(21:05):
all the teams that we saw on Sunday, I believe
Seattle and Phoenix may be the two teams who could
actually force a Game three.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Yeah, and to your point, I mean, we look at
that fourth quarter with the Aces in Seattle. Credits to
the Las Vegas Aces defense, because that is something that
Becky Hammond was hammering the entire season is we need
to be better defensively, and they've just turned on that
extra gear. All right, let's take a quick break. When
we come back, we will hit the first round series
(21:34):
with the Mercury and Links and discuss the incredible career
of Diana Tarazi more with Terrifa Posseur Frisby. When we
get back, now, Tea, that number two Links versus seven
(22:03):
Mercury was such a tight game. There was just so
many great moments. I mean, Natasha Clode was here in
corner threes, Diana Tarazi went off for twenty one points,
the Visa Collier finished with thirty eight point Like it
was crazy. Everybody was getting buckets. What did you like
from this linx Mercury matchup?
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Two things? Number one, Diana Tarazzi was like, we've been
doing this, if this is it campaign, She's like, well,
if this is it, I'm gonna remind y'all who why
num before I go?
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (22:37):
So that was number one? And then number two? Who
keeps allowing Bridget Carlton to get the falling?
Speaker 1 (22:46):
But she did that against the New York Liberty, like
she didn't those threes and I'm like, yo.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Quite literally just last Tuesday did the exact same thing
against Connecticut. This was all the way at the back,
so they have the word mohegan in the floor. She
was all the way at the gene so why it
wasn't even a close shot like she was far.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Bridget Carlton is a bucket.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
She is an Olympian on the Canada national team, but
she has been lighting it up from three for the Links.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Oh my god, Bridget Carlton hit the biggest three. It
was like thirty nine seconds left in that game, and
and honestly they were up, but she certainly gave them
the breathing room and hit the dagger for them. That
really solidified this comeback for Phoenix. So to me, those
were the two biggest things that stood out. It's just
that they have players that really can show up in
big moments. But Fee, what can't she do? Just adding her,
(23:43):
adding pieces around her have only made her better. Courtney
Williams playing with the Fista Collier has certainly made her better.
And Courtney will even say playing she's a silent leader,
a humble leader, but she does everything and she she
want to play your best basketball. And at that time
where Phoenix were making their comeback, they were really climbing
(24:06):
back in. It was the chemistry between Courtney and the
FISA where Courtney was allowed to kind of play her game,
to hit that nasty mid range that she has and
tom off the game. Oh my god, it's crazy, but
like and she was feeding off the Fee in order
to make those moments happen. It was. It was just
(24:26):
brilliant and that is what's gonna make this Minnesota team dangerous.
But Phoenix came out ready. They did not give up.
Kullia Copper continues to show why she was an Olympian,
why she is someone who you need to make sure
that you respect on the court, and that chemistry with
her and Diana Taarassi playing, I think is what will
(24:48):
help to force a game three. I do believe that
this series is going back to Phoenix.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
And to that point, I think people forget that, you know,
when we look at the starters for Phoenix, Natasha Cloud,
Kalia Copper, Diana Tarazzi, and Brittany Griner have all won
at the highest level.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
They've all won WNBA.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Championships before, so they have that experience when it comes
to going deep in the playoffs. And like you said,
they're gonna put their foot on the gas. Diana Tarazi,
as you mentioned, if this is it, I'm going out
with a bang, and so they're gonna put their best
effort forward. So I'm looking forward to seeing, you know,
the rest of this series between the links.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
And I will say this one thing before we get
off of them, if they want to continue to move
this needle and make sure that they get to a
game three, they have got to defend better from the
three point line. They allow way too many three point shots.
And there are some shooters on Minnesota Fee can shoot,
Kayler McBride can shoot. We talked about Courtney and you
(25:48):
know clearly Bridget Carlton can shoot from anywhere on the court.
So that is my one thing for Phoenix. You got
to defend the three better.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Yeah, And and to that point, the Minnesota Links are
the top three point shooting team in the regular season.
Also one of the top defensive teams as well. And
you know, when you put that combination together, that is
a winning team. In addition to the great mind of
Cheryl Reeve and her coaching staff, who you know, have
some Hall of famers and Katie Smith Rebeca Bronson, you know,
(26:17):
so like this is a well oiled machine. You know,
when a playoff time comes, they have all of the
pieces on the court, off the court to make something
shake in go. You know, the long distance to the
goal of winning a championship. And you know, I'm just
excited to see how deep this link seam stays. I'm
not rooting for anyone, but I'm just saying I'm excited
(26:37):
to see how deep they can go.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
You can say I'm not rooting for anyone publicly, but
I mean secretively. I think we all know who I'm
rooting for.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
I think I know Shoes T. I think I know too.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
All Right, before you get out of here, te, I
just want to go over some breaking news. Three time
WNBA champion Natasha Howard has announced that you will be
leaving Dallas in free agency. So, in a statement online,
she said, quote, I would like to thank the Dallas
Wings for two great years. It's been a wonderful opportunity
(27:11):
to play for this franchise and in front of our
loyal fans. I've enjoyed playing alongside my teammates and wish
them all the best. Free agency is upon us and
I am focused on exploring every option. I look forward
to this next chapter with a new team and a
new city.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
End quote.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
So Natasha Howard basically said that Magic Johnson meme, I
ain't going to be here like I gonna be here.
She's looking forward to her next opportunity in free agency.
She's like, I'm out. It's been a great two seasons,
but I'm out now. I think that Natasha Howard Obviously,
she has the experience to help any team win. But
(27:47):
when we look at twenty twenty five, you have the
Golden State Valkyries that are coming in. But also I
think that Natasha Howard is a player that can do
very well on a team like the Indiana Fever. She
can do very well on a team like the Asis
with Asia Wilson in acquiring a big who can stretch
the floor. What are your thoughts on Natasha Howard leaving
the Dallas Wings and free agency and where do you
(28:07):
think the three time champion should go.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
It's interesting that you say that because part of me
feels that one of these bigs in Indiana not gonna
be there. I don't know which one, but it feels
like one of those bigs might be making a move,
and just you know, we can't say yet because there's
still plan So I could absolutely see Natasha Howard being
a force in Indiana, but I think I would really
(28:32):
love to see her in Golden State. I mean, there
are a few players who I think maybe trying to
make a move to a new team, and since we
don't know what this expansion draft could possibly look like
or who may or may not end up being cored
at the end of the season. I think it's going
to be important to keep that option open that we
could see a whole new threat and a whole new
(28:54):
instant powerhouse in Golden State. But I think Indiana would
be a good move for her. A part of me
wants to see her in a Washington uniform, but I
also know, you know the way that Aleah Edwards has
been maturing this season and how she really came into
her own. We're really not talking enough about the rookie
campaign that she had, and Shakira Austin is already kind
(29:14):
of holding it down, but she had been battling some
injuries her first couple of years, right, So it would
it be a bad idea to have someone like a
Natasha Howard that can come in provide that veteran presence
something that they definitely could utilize. In Washington might be
an interesting move, but I feel like she would also
want to go to a contender, right and I and
although Washington battled for that AF seed, not quite sure
(29:37):
that I considered them a contender just yet. So those
would probably be my three. Indiana, Washington or just go
to Golden State and make something new happen.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
So you don't agree with my sentiment that she would
be a good fit for the Aces and have Asia
playing the four.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
I don't know if I would see that just because
the Aces ain't got no money.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
Now, they to us she wants a bag. Yeah, they say, figure.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
It out somehow some way. Ain't never trying to get
somebody pay. I ain't mad at it. I'm just saying
it is what it is, right, So they figure it out.
But they ain't got no money.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
But Natasha, all right, tee, all right, gee, thank you
so much for being here this week on In Case
you missed It with Christina Williams on the iHeartRadio app.
It's been always a pleasure to talk coops with you
girl anytime.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
I'm always here, love it.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Thanks, thank you.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
All right, coming up, we have the things I loved
this week. Welcome back to In Case you missed It
(30:51):
with Christina Williams, and it's time for the things that
I love this week, and so let's get right into it.
The thing that I loved this week was the New
York Liberty collaboration with Off White. Off White and the
New York Liberty collaborated to create these custom varsity jackets,
and let me tell you, when you see it in person,
it is such a drip. Okay, So let's break down
(31:15):
the deal. The New York Liberty and off White teamed
up for a multi year deal and then off White
is going to serve as the official style and couacial
curator for the New York Liberty. And this is the
first brand partnership that off White has done with a.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
US sports team.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
So I'm all for, you know, the WNBA and women
athletes and women's sports teams making history. But this was
one of my favorite collaborations because one, I love me
a good varsity jacket, but just the design and the
sparkles and everything, I was just like, I love this.
I was able to go to the New York Liberty
(31:50):
game on Sunday for Game one, and all of the
players and Ellie the mascot, they came to the game
with these jackets and they had a chance.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
Weird in their own individual way.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
So it was great to see how they dressed it
up or dressed it down. New York Liberty owner Clara Wusie,
she came to the game with the jacket on the
musician her If.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
You listen to R and B music.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
She had a jacket on, so everyone had jackets on,
and I think that it's just so great to see
them set the tone when it comes to these high
fashion beauty and partnerships and things like that and just
exploring new options to find, you know, new entry points
to engage fans with the WNBA.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
So that was the thing that I love. This week.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
I also had a chance to speak to Brianna Stewart
about these Off White jackets and here's what she had
to say about this new partnership with the New York
Liberty and Off White need.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
The collab with the Off White and the Liberty, I
think is something that's really exciting to just bring like
high fashion to what we're doing here.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Shanea talked about it a lot, you know, where we
have a lot of similarities and what we're trying to do.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
And that jacket is fired, so you see you were assumer.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
So it just seems like, you know, this is a
partnership that the players love as well, and that the
team is just really listening to, you know, their players
and their interest. So we love when a good collaboration
come together, and that's gonna do it for this episode
of In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams. Please
don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast.
(33:31):
Coming up next time, more WNBA playoff coverage, and we're
gonna have a special episode featuring UCLA women's basketball, So
stay tuned and locked in for more in case you
missed it here on the iHeartRadio app. In Case You
Missed It with Christina Williams is an iHeart women's sports
(33:52):
production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You
can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or
wherever you get your podcasts.
In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an
iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports
and Entertainment. Welcome to this playoff edition of In Case
you missed It with Christina Williams here on the iHeartRadio
app Listen. The playoffs have started and they have not disappointed.
(00:26):
And joining me to break it all down is a
friend to the show and my friend in real life,
my homegirl that I do not play about. Y'all, please
welcome in my friend. WNBA analyst Tarika Fosser Rasby t
what's good.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
That's good, Christina, Thank you so much for having me back.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
So look, let's just dive right into it. What do
you like from these first round matchups so far?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
What are you seeing that you like?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
We got the best of both worlds. I think in
the first round, the first game of the first round,
we got to see a bit of dominance from New
York in Connecticut, but we also got to see a
very tight ending in Phoenix. So we got that competitiveness
and then we got to see a great comeback because
(01:16):
I was nervous about Vegas and they pulled the comeback
for the win. To secure home court against Seattle. So
I really think that Sunday gave us quite literally every
aspect of basketball we could have asked for.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
I want to break down this New York Liberty Atlanta's
dream game. I mean, in the last game of the
regular season, people were kind of shaking their heads at
the Liberty because they expected them to come out and
win that game. I was able to attend the practice
over the weekend and got a chance to talk to
coach Sandy Brundello and some of the players, and you know,
they said this was a learning moment for them in
(01:53):
that last regular season game and that they were going
to turn it up a notch. And that's exactly what
they did over the weekend and that first against Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
They came out and they were scoring for.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
The first seven minutes of that first quarter, like, came
out punch. I've never seen a New York Liberty be
that aggressive. What did you see from that game that
you liked?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah? For one, I think that it was important for
them to kind of really set that standard. Why because
this is the team that everyone has favored, at least
from a Vegas Odds perspective. This is the team that
has been favored to win it all, just based on
that stretch of the season where they looked almost unbeatable, right,
And when you are someone a coming in with that
(02:34):
kind of an expectation, b when people still are trying
to figure out if you're truly ready to take it
to the next level and get over that hump and
win a championship. And see when you're in the season
the way you ended it and you got Brianna Stewart
to bringing in an es school John Quote Jones on
your team, they're like, so it was important to kind
(02:55):
of shut up the noisies and really come out. But
I also think it was great for confidence, right, Like
you needed today needed to be able to build their
own confidence based on how the last game of the
season kind of ended. So I was really excited to
see them come out aggressive. I don't know if I
thought they were going to come out that's aggressive. So
(03:16):
I really just enjoyed from a totalities perspective, just what
it looks like to be the mindset of the team.
Stewie again just continues to show why she's one of
the best players. Sabrina, My goodness, she struggled against the
dream in the regular season, not so much Sunday seventeen
points from her five assists. She showed up big and
(03:38):
big moments in relation to her three point shooting, and
you have argued for her improvement all season long. She
is really showing us that she took this off season
personally and she has really stepped up her game from
every aspect, especially driving to the basket, being aggressive in
the pain. I love to see that from Sabrina.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
How about Leoni Fhoevich, the rookie had twenty one point
player game. Firstly, let me just tell the whole world
that Leoni Phoebich isn't someone that just went overseas to
Germany and picked up off the street.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
She knows how to win.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
She's won overseas, she has championships, She's been a pro
since the age of fourteen. She's also a friend to
the show. Make sure you go back and listen to
that episode. But Leoni Phoebich was made for this moment.
So for the whole world who's just starting to see
Leoni Phoebuch, welcome to the show. Because she is a bucket.
(04:38):
She is someone who is extremely athletic. Jonathan Cole did
a great job when he went out in free agency
and acquired, you know, talent from overseas just to help
grow this team. That second unit, that second unit was
crucial when we talk about Brianna Stewart this season versus
last season, when you look at the postseason, she was
already exhausted by this time last year. Yeah, and so
(04:59):
having players like a Leone, like KT, like Kennedy Burke,
like a Jaylen, Shira Marcuicia Davis, that bench is helping
to alleviate some of those minutes in exhaustion for some
of those starters.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
And they just turned it up a notch.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Coach Tanisha Wright post game, she said that New York
Liberty came out.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
And punched them in the mouth.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
He did.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
That was the perfect phrase to describe what the Liberty
did in Game one.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
They did and you beat me to it. Yeah, Leoni,
the biggest surprise. Shout out to our friend Miles who
has been preaching.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
The Leon be.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
True. True. You guys have both been on the Leoni
phoebis train for a long time. But yeah, she was
the biggest surprise yesterday. And by surprise, I don't mean
by talent, because clearly the talent has always been there.
She has been the person that has come off the
bench the most to provide the most for New York.
But to just really, in your first playoff matchup show
(05:56):
up with four three pointers one points, that's crazy.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
So yeah, I want to just point out that coach
Sandy Brundela really made a huge adjustment for this matchup
and that was also the key to the New York
Liberty winning forty Vanderslut came off the bench for the
first time since twenty seventeen. Yep came off the bench,
and she had a lot to say about it. Here's
what she had to say post game.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Leo had stepped in and been huge for us with
you know, injuries and everything. So it was in the
starting lineup wasn't new to her, and I think that
you saw that right away. She's comfortable out there. Uh,
she fits perfectly with that group. So you know, for me,
it was my mentality and change. It was the same.
You know, I just wanted to be able to be
a spark off the bench. It's it's definitely new to
(06:43):
me in terms of, yeah, it's gonna take me a
second to adjust to this because it is different.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
You know, I just.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Don't have that experience, you know, which is fine, It's
going to take some time. But I was, you know,
really happy for Leo and you know, I think it
was a really great adjustment for.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Us, and she was incredible tonight.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
So I want to talk about Courtney van deerslut coming
off the bench because this is a team right that
last season people questioned their chemistry, do they get along?
But this season you see that everyone's bought in. Everyone
is wanting to win a championship and they will do
whatever it takes to reach that goal. And for Courtney
Vanderslout and coach Sandy Brundello, the post game kind of
(07:27):
alluded to the conversation that they had about her coming
off the bench. She was just like, Okay, let's do it.
You know, I'm happy to be that spark. And it
has been the biggest adjustment because we talked about the
liberty having those slow starts and what needed to be changed,
and I think that they've identified it and everyone's on
the same page now and they're just out to win.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
What do you think about that?
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yeah? And you know what, it reminds me of another
starter who did something similar earlier this season, well actually
just a few weeks ago, where Dewana Bonner did the
same thing for Connecticut where she was willing to come
off the bench and let Marina Mayby start. And what
I see is when I see veterans who are willing
to take a back seat, that lets me know that
the commitment is to winning, the commitment is to the team,
(08:10):
and at the end of the day, if that means
that someone who's playing better or someone who needs to
get their chemistry or build their chemistry needs an opportunity
to do this, then as a vet, as a person
who wants to win. And Courtney and Dowana, for the
sake of this conversation, both previous champions, former champions, so
they both understand what it means to win a championship
(08:31):
and that sometimes me being very selfless and things that
helped to make your team better. In this situation, Courtney
Vanderslough again suffered some injuries and also having some personal
issues this season. It wasn't new for Leo to be
able to take in and start into that starting position
and it has worked well for them in those moments.
So it was very smart and very cognizant of Courtney
(08:54):
to say, hey, if this is what we got to
do to make sure that we can continue to win,
then this is an adjustment that I'm I'm cool with.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Making, absolutely, And you know, she emphasized how the media
was making it more of a bigger deal than how
she was taking it, which I agree. Like I was
at the post Gamescrumb and there was just so many
people our kid, you not. There was like ten questions
about it, and She's just like, you guys are making
a big deal about this.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
It's not like it's not that big of a deal.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
The only thing that I have to learn is how
to adjust because when you're a starter, you're able to
get warm, get hot right away. Yeah, and then versus
when you're coming off the bench and you gotta be
ready because everyone else is already hot, they're warmed up.
And so she said that is the biggest adjustment for her,
just figuring out, you know, how to match that energy
(09:42):
with coming in with the second unit. But I agree
with everything you said. And as you said, these veterans
they know what it takes to win. They are committed
to it, and that just shows how great of a
player Courtney Vandersou is. There's no question in my mind
that she is going to be a future Hall of Famer.
And yesterday she broke a record for the most assist
(10:04):
by a player in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
There was an assist to Stewie.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
What great a story than that, right to get an
assist to Suey to break the record while Sue Bird
was in the building. Because she broke the record, super
Bird had the previous record, and Courtney Vandersloo broke the record.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
So lots of great storylines.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
But first of all, congrats to Courtney Vandersuit for breaking
that record.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I think that's so joke.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Yeah, yeah, I congrats to her. I'm also glad that
you said she'ture Hall of Famer. I got into an
argument two years ago with my friend the China Robinson.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
I love you, La China, but China, but I said.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
It two years ago she was a future Halla Famer
and Lachina was like really, so there we go.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah, no, no doubt in my mind that Courtney vanders
Suit is a future Hall of Fame. All right, moving
right along, I want to talk about that number six
fever versus the three son. Now you brought up your
girl dB She was just on the show last week
to Wanna Bonner. She was the primary defender on Caitlin
Clark and she really shut her down. Now, I was
one of those people at Caitlyn Clark fourth with my
(11:02):
MVP voting, and she struggled in game one. I mean,
this is the WNBA playoffs where the you know, people
bring their a game, and she struggled against the Connecticut
Son's defense on her. Melissa Thomas had a triple double,
Marina Maybury twenty seven points and oh my goodness. Now, Tarika,
you are a sideline reporter for the Connecticut Son, so
(11:24):
break down what you see in this matchup.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Well, I will say that you voting Caitlyn Clark fourth,
I voted her fifth in the MVP voting. Yeah, has
absolutely no bearing on the fact that she struggled against
the Connecticut Sun. I say that because a lot of
people struggle against the Connecticut Son because they are a
clamp down, stout defense. It is the one thing that
(11:47):
they do better than every other team and that is defend.
So it is no shame in saying I had a
bad game against Connecticut. They played that style of basketball.
They play a physical style of basketball. And it really
speaks to how as a team defense is something that
they all pride themselves on. Because in the first two matchups,
the reason that she struggled was because of Dja Carrington.
(12:10):
In the fourth meeting, she had a little bit more success.
Connecticut was able to allow a bit more range on
the outside. Kelsey Mitchell, Lexi Hall, and Caitlyn Clark had
a field day and they were able to walk away
in the regular season with a win. But the playoffs
is very different than a regular season. It's almost to
the point where I say, you can kind of throw
a regular season stuff out of the window. This Connecticut
(12:31):
team is on a mission. They understand that they are
not going to have a lot of time left together.
They also understand that they are tired of being a
bridesmaid and never a bride, and so similar to New York,
their mission coming out into this matchup was to punch
somebody in the mouth, was to make it very clear
who they are. They have also heard all of the
conversation about this Fever team is dangerous. This Fever team
(12:56):
is a scary team. You don't want to see them
in their building. You don't want to And they had
point to prove, and I think that they did a
great job improving that. Lastly, Dewana Bonner absolutely had something
to prove. She had not played her best basketball over
your last couple of weeks. She was uncharacteristically inefficient from
the field. She wasn't able to provide an impact on
the scoring charts. She just was kind of missing for
(13:19):
the last couple of matchups. And yet she had some
defensive moments, but for the most part, her three wasn't falling.
She just wasn't being able to contribute in the way
that she was accustomed to. So it was very important
for her to get started early. This team has struggled
with scoring offensively. They have been one of the lower
end of the on the lower end of the ratings
of the rankings. So the two things they want to
(13:41):
focus on is a being aggressive early and two being
able to put points on the board, like serious points
on the board, not sixty, not seventy eighties nineties. To
do that, they need Dewana Bonner to score. So I
think they did a great job with like being able
to combine those things in those goals and making a
statement in the first game against Indiana.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
If you're the fever. How do you respond to that
Game one?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
If you're at the fever, you want have to put
Game one out of your mind, right. You go back
and you look at film and you say, okay, we
need to be more aggressive in the paint number one.
Number two. We got to figure out a way to
not let Marina Maybrey get the ball where she wants
it and just shoot it how she wants it, because
she's dangerous. She is one person who knows how to
(14:27):
create her own shot from anywhere, and so you have
to minimize how she's able to get the ball in
different spots in order to minimize her effect of creating
her own shot. Easier said than done, I know, but
you've got to be able to do that too. If
you're Caitlyn, you've got to shake it off, right. You
know that your team plays well when you are facilitating
more in shooting less. So going forward for seventeen isn't
(14:48):
the biggest deal when you really think about what your
strong suit is. Once you start to facilitate the ball
the way that you had been doing for Kelsey, the
way that you had been doing for Aliah Bouston, when
you let Melissa work her game in the high low action.
Letting it come to you is always better than trying
to force it. And you could see instantly in yesterday's
(15:09):
matchup they were trying to force it. So that's what
I would do. Play your game, let it come to you.
Don't try to outdo certain things that you know. You know,
shooting the ball up is not going to help you
win it against this team that is very cognizant of
you on the court, Dish it out. They're gonna double Kaitlin.
Dish it out right. That's that would be my advice.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
No, that's some great advice.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
And I know that you serve as the Connecticut Sun's
sideline and porter, and I know ty Harris. There was
a sort of injury during the game. Is there any
updates on Tysha Harris.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
We have not been provided an update on whether or
not she will or will not play in Wednesday's matchup. However,
it did appear that she tweaked her ankle and when
she left the game, she left the game in a
walking boot. So we don't know as of yet, if
it's just crossing, if she will be you know, if
she is going to play. I'm pretty sure we will
(16:05):
have an update, and I'm definitely gonna be following that
story very closely outside of the fact that it's part
of the job, but just because ty Harris has been
so important as a guard. She worked really hard to
be a starter this year, and she is one of
their stronger defenders at the at the top of the
key as well, so having her presence is important. But
kudos to the trade working for Connection. Oh my god,
(16:29):
like girl, they won that trade, okay, because Marina is
not only giving them twenty seven points off the bench,
but she has stepped up her game as a defender.
Like Marina is defendant out there, and I bet when
you got at you know, cussing you out every five minutes,
right right, But they like, thank god for that because
(16:54):
losing tie in that moment, you legitimately had someone who
you can put in and who you knew. And Veronica
Burton has also played incredibly will with this team. They
have done a phenomenal job of bringing in players to
this team that have truly been contributors in the best
of ways. I could not have planned Veronica Burton and
Marina Mayby being the kind of contributors that they have been.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
This year, and they played together in Dallas, and they
already have that chemistry to automatically turn it on and
do what needs to be done. All right, moving right
along to number five Seattle Storm versus number four the
l Las Vegas Aces. Now, one thing that surprised me
about this game was that Seattle didn't score in the
fourth quarter. But in addition to that, MVP Asia Wilson
(17:40):
unanimous MVP was announced on the same day as the
game one, and of course she showed out twenty one
point eight rebounds in that game. They went off, the
Aces went off, and we already said prior to the
regular season ending that they started peaking at the right time.
So what did you like about this matchup? I know
I read a couple of your tweets. You gave Jordan
(18:01):
Horsten some praise, So what did you like from that?
Speaker 2 (18:04):
I totally loved Jordan Horsted. I've been high on her
since her rookie year, right like I've been high on
her since Tennessee.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
I know, we met her mom, and then we met
her mom at the draft.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
And as soon as I meet your mamma, that's what
happened with Ricky. As soon as I meet your mom likest,
they are the best. But no, I've been high on
Jordan because I feel like she's with the right team
at the right moment, in the right atmosphere. Nobody's going
to give her the guidance that she needs. She's with
players that are going to provide that guidance and you
(18:38):
can see it right. Definitely someone who could have been
in consideration for six Women of the Year of how
she has been able to get be the uplift and
in moments and yes, in Sad Sunday's matchup, she was
the uplift. Skylar Diggins also, I believe, started off the
game playing incredibly well, establishing her presence. This was a
back and forth matchup, but for the first quarter, see
(19:00):
I owned this game. They were literally getting out in transition.
They were tough down in the paint. They were making
it very difficult for Asia offensively to start the game.
Mekka Agoumakay, she also was someone who was really establishing herself.
I voted her in my MVP valley because she is efficient.
She was shooting sixty percent plus you know, and had
(19:21):
been for like the last five games. They took their
foot off the gas and this is also a Las
Vegas Aces team that doesn't take long to figure it out.
Chelsea Gray didn't take long to figure it out. She's
the point god for a reason. Right, you can only
hold Asia down for so long, and you really ain't
gonna hold her down that long on the day she
(19:42):
gets her MVP trophy. So there's that. But I loved
the back and forth. I don't know if you can
say any more about Asia in her game than has
already been said. And I think what's crazy about that
is she was asked is there a nuts level? Like
is there still something more? And her response was like sure,
(20:03):
why not?
Speaker 3 (20:04):
She still got stuff in her back.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
I don't think people know this, but Asian Wolfson can
actually dunk the ball, so she can if we see
a transition dunk. I think I don't even know what
I would do if I saw that. But there's some
footage from South Carolina.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Yeah, but I.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
Mean I say that to say, how do you stop
someone who has everything and it's still motivated for more?
Like that is that is somebody on a mission. And
you could see that towards the end of this game,
holding holding Seattle to literally only two points in an
entire quarter is masterful, and it really just speaks to
(20:43):
the caliber of this Las Vegas team. As you said, Christina,
the teams in the playoffs that do well aren't necessarily
the ones that have the best record, but they are
certainly the ones that play the right way and have
the hot hand at the right time. That twenty twenty
one Chicago Sky team will always be my example of that.
So kudos to Las Vegas. But I will say, of
(21:05):
all the teams that we saw on Sunday, I believe
Seattle and Phoenix may be the two teams who could
actually force a Game three.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Yeah, and to your point, I mean, we look at
that fourth quarter with the Aces in Seattle. Credits to
the Las Vegas Aces defense, because that is something that
Becky Hammond was hammering the entire season is we need
to be better defensively, and they've just turned on that
extra gear. All right, let's take a quick break. When
we come back, we will hit the first round series
(21:34):
with the Mercury and Links and discuss the incredible career
of Diana Tarazi more with Terrifa Posseur Frisby. When we
get back, now, Tea, that number two Links versus seven
(22:03):
Mercury was such a tight game. There was just so
many great moments. I mean, Natasha Clode was here in
corner threes, Diana Tarazi went off for twenty one points,
the Visa Collier finished with thirty eight point Like it
was crazy. Everybody was getting buckets. What did you like
from this linx Mercury matchup?
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Two things? Number one, Diana Tarazzi was like, we've been
doing this, if this is it campaign, She's like, well,
if this is it, I'm gonna remind y'all who why
num before I go?
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (22:37):
So that was number one? And then number two? Who
keeps allowing Bridget Carlton to get the falling?
Speaker 1 (22:46):
But she did that against the New York Liberty, like
she didn't those threes and I'm like, yo.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Quite literally just last Tuesday did the exact same thing
against Connecticut. This was all the way at the back,
so they have the word mohegan in the floor. She
was all the way at the gene so why it
wasn't even a close shot like she was far.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Bridget Carlton is a bucket.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
She is an Olympian on the Canada national team, but
she has been lighting it up from three for the Links.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Oh my god, Bridget Carlton hit the biggest three. It
was like thirty nine seconds left in that game, and
and honestly they were up, but she certainly gave them
the breathing room and hit the dagger for them. That
really solidified this comeback for Phoenix. So to me, those
were the two biggest things that stood out. It's just
that they have players that really can show up in
big moments. But Fee, what can't she do? Just adding her,
(23:43):
adding pieces around her have only made her better. Courtney
Williams playing with the Fista Collier has certainly made her better.
And Courtney will even say playing she's a silent leader,
a humble leader, but she does everything and she she
want to play your best basketball. And at that time
where Phoenix were making their comeback, they were really climbing
(24:06):
back in. It was the chemistry between Courtney and the
FISA where Courtney was allowed to kind of play her game,
to hit that nasty mid range that she has and
tom off the game. Oh my god, it's crazy, but
like and she was feeding off the Fee in order
to make those moments happen. It was. It was just
(24:26):
brilliant and that is what's gonna make this Minnesota team dangerous.
But Phoenix came out ready. They did not give up.
Kullia Copper continues to show why she was an Olympian,
why she is someone who you need to make sure
that you respect on the court, and that chemistry with
her and Diana Taarassi playing, I think is what will
(24:48):
help to force a game three. I do believe that
this series is going back to Phoenix.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
And to that point, I think people forget that, you know,
when we look at the starters for Phoenix, Natasha Cloud,
Kalia Copper, Diana Tarazzi, and Brittany Griner have all won
at the highest level.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
They've all won WNBA.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Championships before, so they have that experience when it comes
to going deep in the playoffs. And like you said,
they're gonna put their foot on the gas. Diana Tarazi,
as you mentioned, if this is it, I'm going out
with a bang, and so they're gonna put their best
effort forward. So I'm looking forward to seeing, you know,
the rest of this series between the links.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
And I will say this one thing before we get
off of them, if they want to continue to move
this needle and make sure that they get to a
game three, they have got to defend better from the
three point line. They allow way too many three point shots.
And there are some shooters on Minnesota Fee can shoot,
Kayler McBride can shoot. We talked about Courtney and you
(25:48):
know clearly Bridget Carlton can shoot from anywhere on the court.
So that is my one thing for Phoenix. You got
to defend the three better.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Yeah, And and to that point, the Minnesota Links are
the top three point shooting team in the regular season.
Also one of the top defensive teams as well. And
you know, when you put that combination together, that is
a winning team. In addition to the great mind of
Cheryl Reeve and her coaching staff, who you know, have
some Hall of famers and Katie Smith Rebeca Bronson, you know,
(26:17):
so like this is a well oiled machine. You know,
when a playoff time comes, they have all of the
pieces on the court, off the court to make something
shake in go. You know, the long distance to the
goal of winning a championship. And you know, I'm just
excited to see how deep this link seam stays. I'm
not rooting for anyone, but I'm just saying I'm excited
(26:37):
to see how deep they can go.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
You can say I'm not rooting for anyone publicly, but
I mean secretively. I think we all know who I'm
rooting for.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
I think I know Shoes T. I think I know too.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
All Right, before you get out of here, te, I
just want to go over some breaking news. Three time
WNBA champion Natasha Howard has announced that you will be
leaving Dallas in free agency. So, in a statement online,
she said, quote, I would like to thank the Dallas
Wings for two great years. It's been a wonderful opportunity
(27:11):
to play for this franchise and in front of our
loyal fans. I've enjoyed playing alongside my teammates and wish
them all the best. Free agency is upon us and
I am focused on exploring every option. I look forward
to this next chapter with a new team and a
new city.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
End quote.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
So Natasha Howard basically said that Magic Johnson meme, I
ain't going to be here like I gonna be here.
She's looking forward to her next opportunity in free agency.
She's like, I'm out. It's been a great two seasons,
but I'm out now. I think that Natasha Howard Obviously,
she has the experience to help any team win. But
(27:47):
when we look at twenty twenty five, you have the
Golden State Valkyries that are coming in. But also I
think that Natasha Howard is a player that can do
very well on a team like the Indiana Fever. She
can do very well on a team like the Asis
with Asia Wilson in acquiring a big who can stretch
the floor. What are your thoughts on Natasha Howard leaving
the Dallas Wings and free agency and where do you
(28:07):
think the three time champion should go.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
It's interesting that you say that because part of me
feels that one of these bigs in Indiana not gonna
be there. I don't know which one, but it feels
like one of those bigs might be making a move,
and just you know, we can't say yet because there's
still plan So I could absolutely see Natasha Howard being
a force in Indiana, but I think I would really
(28:32):
love to see her in Golden State. I mean, there
are a few players who I think maybe trying to
make a move to a new team, and since we
don't know what this expansion draft could possibly look like
or who may or may not end up being cored
at the end of the season. I think it's going
to be important to keep that option open that we
could see a whole new threat and a whole new
(28:54):
instant powerhouse in Golden State. But I think Indiana would
be a good move for her. A part of me
wants to see her in a Washington uniform, but I
also know, you know the way that Aleah Edwards has
been maturing this season and how she really came into
her own. We're really not talking enough about the rookie
campaign that she had, and Shakira Austin is already kind
(29:14):
of holding it down, but she had been battling some
injuries her first couple of years, right, So it would
it be a bad idea to have someone like a
Natasha Howard that can come in provide that veteran presence
something that they definitely could utilize. In Washington might be
an interesting move, but I feel like she would also
want to go to a contender, right and I and
although Washington battled for that AF seed, not quite sure
(29:37):
that I considered them a contender just yet. So those
would probably be my three. Indiana, Washington or just go
to Golden State and make something new happen.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
So you don't agree with my sentiment that she would
be a good fit for the Aces and have Asia
playing the four.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
I don't know if I would see that just because
the Aces ain't got no money.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
Now, they to us she wants a bag. Yeah, they say, figure.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
It out somehow some way. Ain't never trying to get
somebody pay. I ain't mad at it. I'm just saying
it is what it is, right, So they figure it out.
But they ain't got no money.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
But Natasha, all right, tee, all right, gee, thank you
so much for being here this week on In Case
you missed It with Christina Williams on the iHeartRadio app.
It's been always a pleasure to talk coops with you
girl anytime.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
I'm always here, love it.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Thanks, thank you.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
All right, coming up, we have the things I loved
this week. Welcome back to In Case you missed It
(30:51):
with Christina Williams, and it's time for the things that
I love this week, and so let's get right into it.
The thing that I loved this week was the New
York Liberty collaboration with Off White. Off White and the
New York Liberty collaborated to create these custom varsity jackets,
and let me tell you, when you see it in person,
it is such a drip. Okay, So let's break down
(31:15):
the deal. The New York Liberty and off White teamed
up for a multi year deal and then off White
is going to serve as the official style and couacial
curator for the New York Liberty. And this is the
first brand partnership that off White has done with a.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
US sports team.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
So I'm all for, you know, the WNBA and women
athletes and women's sports teams making history. But this was
one of my favorite collaborations because one, I love me
a good varsity jacket, but just the design and the
sparkles and everything, I was just like, I love this.
I was able to go to the New York Liberty
(31:50):
game on Sunday for Game one, and all of the
players and Ellie the mascot, they came to the game
with these jackets and they had a chance.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
Weird in their own individual way.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
So it was great to see how they dressed it
up or dressed it down. New York Liberty owner Clara Wusie,
she came to the game with the jacket on the
musician her If.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
You listen to R and B music.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
She had a jacket on, so everyone had jackets on,
and I think that it's just so great to see
them set the tone when it comes to these high
fashion beauty and partnerships and things like that and just
exploring new options to find, you know, new entry points
to engage fans with the WNBA.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
So that was the thing that I love. This week.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
I also had a chance to speak to Brianna Stewart
about these Off White jackets and here's what she had
to say about this new partnership with the New York
Liberty and Off White need.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
The collab with the Off White and the Liberty, I
think is something that's really exciting to just bring like
high fashion to what we're doing here.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Shanea talked about it a lot, you know, where we
have a lot of similarities and what we're trying to do.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
And that jacket is fired, so you see you were assumer.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
So it just seems like, you know, this is a
partnership that the players love as well, and that the
team is just really listening to, you know, their players
and their interest. So we love when a good collaboration
come together, and that's gonna do it for this episode
of In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams. Please
don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast.
(33:31):
Coming up next time, more WNBA playoff coverage, and we're
gonna have a special episode featuring UCLA women's basketball, So
stay tuned and locked in for more in case you
missed it here on the iHeartRadio app. In Case You
Missed It with Christina Williams is an iHeart women's sports
(33:52):
production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You
can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or
wherever you get your podcasts.
Host
Khristina Williams
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