March 26, 2025 • 50 mins
This week, Khristina is joined by CBS Sports analyst Erica Ayala to discuss the latest in women's basketball, including Juju Watkins' injury, the Coach of the Year finalists, and Paige Bueckers’ impressive 50/40/90 milestone. Plus they preview the Sweet Sixteen and dive into the latest news surrounding the New York Liberty.
Want more women’s basketball scoop? Follow the show on Instagram @ICYMIwithKW and X @ICYMIwithKW and for more on Khristina follow her on Instagram @khristinawilliams
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Executive Producers:
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Producer:
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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 another edition of In Case You
Missed It with Christina Williams.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
It's been a busy, busy week in.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
And around the world of women's basketball, and you know
that this place right here is the place to be
to find out all that's happening. So I'm excited for
today's guest. So joining me for this week's headlines and
to break down all the madness is my good friend.
So when I'm so excited to have on the show,
finally my good friend Erica Ayala. She's a CBS sports
(00:44):
analyst and writer and the founder of Black Rosie Media.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Erica, Welcome to the show, Christina.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Thank you so much for having me. I love being
able to catch up with everything that y'all are doing,
So it's an honor to be a guest today.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Absolutely look dive right into this week's headlines. Obviously, on
Monday night, we all was watching the usc game and
we saw Juju Watkins go down. It has been confirmed
via ESPN that she suffered a torn acl and her
right knee.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
So what was your reaction to that play.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
It's gut wrenching, it's heartbreaking. We know that Juju had
a little bit of a tweak to her ankle in
their first game, USC's first game in the tournament, and
then you look at the replay, it just looked like,
you know, the grip on her shoe maybe didn't catch completely,
so there was a slide, maybe a little bit of
a hyper extension. But it did look right away like
(01:39):
it was something pretty serious, particularly because Juju, she doesn't
emote very much, and she immediately reacted to the pain.
So it's it's tough. You don't want to see a
young star go down. I remember Cheryl Miller and that
her career ended because of a knee injury. Very it's similar,
(02:00):
it sounds like, to what Juju has. The good news,
of course, is that while Cheryl Miller didn't have the
access or the gains that we have now in technology
and in recovery and rehab, I think that that's the upside.
We've seen players come back from this type of an
injury and be able to still have elite careers and
(02:24):
be elite level players, And so that's the good news.
So you obviously though just are your heart goes out
to Juju.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
But USC stepped up.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
The team definitely stepped up, and at times I even
Christina had questions as to how deep this Trojan's team
could be. And I think we saw a little bit
of that against Mississippi State, and they're gonna have to
continue that if they want to keep dancing. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Absolutely, that was gonna be my next question of how
do you see this USC team, you know, being impacted
as they go deeper into the tournament. Obviously they have
a tough matchup coming up for this Meet sixteen, but
as you stated, there were other players who had that
next woman up mentality in coach Gottlieb from to the show.
(03:07):
She talked about that in her post games speech in
the locker room, and we're gonna take a quick listen
to it.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
I am so grateful. You guys had my back, you
had Shutters back, you had Jews back, the fans had
you were back.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
We were a team.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
We were drop drop, drop drop, and then the tide
a way of Ocean can And I will never forget
this game for as long as long as I live.
It's a big deal to go to the Sweet sixteen.
We are going to Spokane. We are going into the team.
You gotta bring the energy in the fight and say,
we don't change our goals, right, but we give a
little extra energy, you know, for what she would bring.
(03:47):
But also just to say anytime we're man down, we
step up for one another because that's who we are,
right I just you know you want to be jumping
up and down with the Sweet sixteen, right. You guys
did something really special today that is more to me
about the actual like how to say it with the
conface and tell you how incredibly proud I am of
the way you stepped up for one another to school
(04:07):
each other. And it was a title wave of a team.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
It was a title wave of a team.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Okay, everyone, Coach lindsay you know she praised her team
for being poised in that moment. Obviously, it sucks when
you lose your best player on your best team and
one of the biggest moments on one of the biggest stages.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Because I think that this team is built for it.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
They are a number one overall seed for a reason
when it comes to the tournament, and we saw Keiki
like reintroduce.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Herself to a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
I know that at the beginning of the season, there
was a lot of chatter about Kiki being a top
lottery draft pick, and then as the season went on,
you know, people had their doubts and what did she
do in a moment of adversity.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
She helped her team win and stepped up in the
biggest way.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
And so I'm excited to see how you know, all
the other players rally to just win, not only for
Juju but for usc for what they've worked hard for
and earned all season long. But how do you see
this team figuring out as the time to make it deeper?
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Well, first, I just want to add some more flowers
right to Kiki erie Fn her performance. Of course, you
saw the numbers and what she was able to do
against Mississippi State, But for me, what stood out is
her leadership. You know, you have to play some freshmen,
some players that maybe didn't get as much play in
game one of the tournament in particular, or even throughout
(05:30):
the season, and you saw Kiki eri Fin being able to, hey,
huddle up real quick talk to individual players because you
want to be supportive and y'all got a job to do.
And I think what I saw from Kiki is that
she was able to really blend those two roles while
also being the go to option, being able to clean
up the boards, get second looks, go up again for USC,
(05:53):
and get them the win. As far as what is
possible for the USC Trojans, even when we had Juju
in the equation, I did think that Yukon was maybe
going to be a tough battle that at the time,
though for me, Christina was based on maybe not knowing
if outside of Juju and Kiki players were going to
(06:15):
be able to step up. And I will say, even
if you look at the Mississippi State box score, you
still want to see a little bit more distribution. They're
going to need that going up against a Yukon team.
So I guess we'll have to see because right now
you have the Yukon Husky team rallying behind Paige Becker's
specifically the fans. I want to mention because we heard
(06:36):
coach Kottlieb and the rest of the team talk about
the USC fans rallying around their team, and so now
I think it's really going to be a matter of
will and preparation.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Absolutely, and let's move right along.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
I mean everyone was watching that Maryland Alabama game yesterday
went into double overtime, and Maryland they fared well. They
beat Alabama one eleven to one hundred and eight. Such
a huge game from Sarah Barker forty five points for Alabama.
But the winner is going to face South Carolina and
(07:10):
Birmingham on Friday.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
And so what was your reaction to that game did
you watch?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I mean, the first reaction is, this is exactly what
people think of when they think of March Madness, when
they think of the NCAA Tournament. These were two teams
stacked in their in their bracket right and they just
battle it out on the basketball court. That was my
first reaction. I mean, then you just saw, as you
(07:39):
mentioned Barker, and then you look at at what Tabiyasu
was able to do for the Terps. I mean, clutch
basket after clutch basket, and the exhaustion that all teams,
both teams fell after the game, and then the absolute
jubilation of course for the Terps, the heartbreak for Bama.
(08:00):
I mean, this this was a great game for basketball,
for college basketball overall, and exactly what we expect. And
it's a quick turnaround. Now you have a team in
Maryland that you know, well, they will have a few days,
but you know, generally speaking, it's it's you have. You
don't have a lot of time to refocus after going
(08:21):
into a double overtime, playing more minutes your key players
for Brenda Freeze than any other key players to date,
because we haven't seen two overtimes in the tournament. So
I think for Maryland they're really going to have to
focus on just getting off their feet, finding ways to
mentally just check back in to the game, get focused
(08:45):
on their scout. But but you saw that there are
definitely players that are willing to step up and get
it done, and they're going to need that against South Carolina.
I think they'll also probably want to shoot a little
bit better from the floor. They were able to get
it done though. They they outshot Alabama from the three
point line, from the perimeter, and as well as being
(09:06):
able to get to the foul line. So those are
things though that I think Brenda Frees will want to
see her team continue to do while also just being
able to be a little bit more sharp shooting from
the floor.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
I think that that game is just paints the whole
picture of what march is about, as you said, the
entertainment factor. I wouldn't say it was an upset or anything,
but just two teams toughing it out evenly matched just
shows the parody of women's basketball, and we all got
a good show. So I thoroughly enjoyed it. But also
when people talk about the transl portal and like players movement,
(09:39):
you bring up Tapiasu. I mean, she was a huge
part of Maryland winning that game yesterday. And shout out
to the Maryland men's team because this is the first
time in NCAA history that the programs men's and women's
team will reach the sweet sixteen. But you brought up
Yukon earlier, and we got to talk about Page Beckers.
She's the first player the NBA, w NBA and college
(10:02):
basketball to have a fifty to forty ninety with a
three point eight assist to turnover ratio, a huge milestone. However,
Page is gonna be paid. She's just like, I don't
care about stats.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
I just want to hoop. I care about winning.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
But Paige Beckers is one of the most efficient players
in college basketball, and that is why she is the
candidate to be the top pick in the twenty twenty
five w NBA Draft. I thoroughly have enjoyed watching Page
play college basketball for the past five years.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
But you know, Yukon put on a show. They didn't
care if they were up. I enjoyed watching.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Azy Bud and the Page Beckers, you know, play together
again in the NC DOUBLEA tournament. Just how beneficial as
has been to the team. But yeah, Page Beckers, what
can you say about her?
Speaker 3 (10:52):
The efficiency? And that's not easy to do, going back
to just what we expect in NC DOUBLEA tournaments, Men's
or women's efficiency is not always on the top of
the list, right for people we're thinking up and down,
we're thinking, you know, blown bunnies, big rebounds, even bigger
shots from the perimeter. But the way that Page is
(11:14):
able to play the game at a high level in
a way that if you're casually watching, you're just like, oh,
here goes someone dribbling the ball, passing the ball, shooting
the ball. There's just an ease, a nice flow. It's
very zen at times, you know, and then you get
this Page that's absolutely fired up, is able to lead
her team on the court with what she says, how
(11:36):
she does, what she does and so I think that's
what makes Page special. I think that with the injuries
that she's sustained, but also the injuries that this Yukon
team has sustained. We saw other players at the time,
a Caitlin Clark, even a Juju Watkins, and what they
were able to do for their teams that are not
(11:56):
Yukon kind of rise to the top of what we
might consider mainstream media. But that being said, Page has
always been that constant. She's been there. When she's on
the court for Yukon, she makes a difference, and so
I think she knows and again I alluded to this,
but the Yukon fans know that was you know, the
last time they're going to see her on home court,
(12:17):
and we saw even Gino oriam I get a little
bit emotional thinking about that. So it's you know, when
you you don't always know how to describe something, but
you know when you see it, and Paige is one
of those people. She's very special. And I think what
also has resonated with people is that she also understands
her role in women's basketball very specifically, as you know,
(12:41):
a young white woman in a space where it's majority
and primarily black women, women of color. She has stepped
up in that way as well, and I think that
is what makes her a player that people are going
to rally behind wherever she may go, because I know
there was some conversation on whether she will land with
(13:02):
the team that at the moment has for the number
one overall pick with Dallas. But I'm excited for this
Yukon team. Some business they still have to handle, but
of course we'll be excited to see what Page does
after Yukon Ya No, I agree with you, and I
think that comes tournament times, Page always turns on a
different level.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
We saw what happened last year when.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Yukon literally limped to the final four having not a
lot of players on their roster, and Page was a leader.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Then I think that when it comes to the fifty.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Forty ninety milestone, I think that what surprises people not
be but like people on the outside, is that they're
so used to her being a playmaker right and they
forget about her ability to score and so in a
score efficiently. And so I think that you know, she
is one of the best players on the planet, no doubt,
(13:53):
and I'm excited to see her transition into the WNBA,
wherever she may land. But yeah, I'm excited to see
how far Yukon can go.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
I know that she.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Really really wants one and their path to the final four,
they're getting things done. Was surprised to see Gino, you know,
get a little emotional. He's someone that doesn't really show
emotions at all, so to see him almost here up
he caught himself.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
He was like, he was there and then he caught himself.
Then it is like, all right, next question.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
But yeah, she's such a special player and I'm excited
to see where she lands. But Sarah Strong, also freshman.
Sarah Strong is another player who's been super beneficial to
this Yukon team. Just seeing her blossom in that system
and be a major part of their success. I'm excited
to see her as they go deeper into the tournament
(14:46):
as well.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
You mentioned Sarah Strong. I just have to put this
out there. I mean, this is you talk about the
poise for page. This is a freshman that is playing
college basketball more like a professional than maybe anyone that
I've seen play in a while. And she's and that's
a lot to say about a Yukon freshman, right, So
(15:07):
I just had to put that out there, I mean
shout out to also her mama, because I mean, I
think she probably get it.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Firm was just about to say shout out to Alison
because it runs deep in her bloodline.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Her mom plays the the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
So just to see that pipeline continue, I'm excited for
the trajectory of Sarah Strong.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
All Right, TCU.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
I picked TCU as like my sleeper team, my Cinderella
team because.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Literally last year they were holding open tryouts for players.
They were down on their.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Roster and literally holding open tryouts. Haley Bandlid transfers from
LSU to TCU, and she gets them to their first
Sweet sixteen in program history within a year.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
I think that this is a team that everyone should
watch out for. I mean, we know what they.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Can do defensively, but I think Haley has just turned
on a different gear. And she talked about her mental
health struggles and how going to TCU has to been
such a blessing for her. And basketball is just as
much as a mental game as it is a physical one.
So just to see her one just turn on that
different gear, but also up her draft stock.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
I think I think when she was at LSU we
didn't get to see.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Her best, and at TCU she's kind of like reminded
people of who she is.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
I agree with you, I you're starting to see a
little bit of that spark come back. I think with
the way ls you season ended and Haley vanly maybe
getting a little bit of criticism with regard to her game,
I was a little bit disheartened to hear what she
personally was going through, and I admire that she was
(16:40):
able to, you know, work on what she needed to
for herself and gain perspective and the right perspective that
would allow her to be the best version of Hailey
van lyth basketball or not. So I just want to
put that out there first, and then you see, I
mean it's wild, Christina that I almost forgot what TCU
(17:02):
went through last year because of how they're playing this season,
and that is a testament to the leadership on their team,
of course their coach. And this is what we're seeing
in women's basketball, is that it's not just about the
right program, it's not just about the right coach, but
(17:22):
it is truly the sum of the parts. And I
think TCU is a good reminder of that. And I'm
just so excited for what they have the capability to
do and for how this is going to hopefully open
up the eyes of the collective we and media to
make sure that we are covering the basketball stories and
(17:44):
that we are following the teams that are meeting success
where they are. And I think that that's what the
NCAA Tournament really allows us to be able to see
is it's effectively all of these teams from different conferences
given an opportun tunity right to advance and get to
a championship. And I think TCU has really embodied that
(18:05):
kind of a why not us mentality, But also the
why not us is not just because hey, anyone can
do this, It's because we have prepared, We know what
we have in our locker room, and we are willing
to do what it takes on the court to get
a win. And I love that for them. I mean,
you know, of course you're thinking of Heley vnlet, You're
thinking of Sadona Prince and a few other players that
(18:28):
they have that are able to step up. And I
think this for of all the teams that we've talked about,
maybe not Yukon, but I think TCU they don't always
get credit for the balanced approach and the offensive threats
that they have on their squad.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
All right, so all we're going to take a quick
break and when we get back more from this conversation
with Erica Ayala. Well, let's move on to the defending
(19:05):
national champions in South Carolina.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
So obviously they're going here the Sweet sixteen. They will
face Maryland.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
But I was scrolling social media the other day and
I came across what Raven Johnson had to say about
Sydney Parish after they defeated Indiana and saying that people
kind of counted them out because they don't have Camilla,
they don't have Ashton Watkins.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
And she's like, no, we have a full squad players
one through thirteen that are dogs. I love that approach
from Raven Johnson because I think that obviously South Carolina
is the standard right when we talk about the rankings
and who people want to be. They're the national champions
for the for a reason, and they are the standard.
But people are counting out the players for some reason.
(19:49):
And she's like, no, Like, we're the top team for
a reason, We're the standard for a reason. But y'all
are some dogs and you know, for me, I love
seeing the emergence of Chloe Kitts choice you know those players,
those type of players, and this is a team who's
face adversity and he found ways to win no matter what.
So what are you liking from South Carolina any reactions
to Raven Johnson?
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Well, I mean, first you have to remember that Raven's
been here before, right where a team has doubted her,
flat out disrespect to her, and she came round and
showed everyone not only what she is capable of, but
as you mentioned, with this South Carolina team is capable of.
So you could doubt them on the block and they're
(20:34):
going to show you what they gotta what they can do.
You're gonna doubt if Raven can pull up and take
and shoot that thing, and she's going to show you
what she can do. I love that you mentioned Chloe
Kits because I think recently leading into the conference tournaments
that we really saw the versatility of Chloe Kits and
(20:56):
maybe took a little bit of time again at a
now level to identify and recognize that. But when you
have a team and a program like South Carolina, a
coach like Don Staley, there is an understanding that you
have to have to mean to remain with a program
like that. Not every day is your individual day, but
(21:18):
if you work hard every day to make the team better,
your day will inevitably show up. And I get the
sense that that's how this South Carolina team is able
to approach basketball. So whether they're missing Camilla, whether they
have been dealing with injuries or absences from teammates early
in the season, it's it's the mentality right of the
(21:40):
next player up. And I think that's what we're seeing.
They've took they took some lumps, you know, a team
that did not know what a loss looked like, and
then they lose some and at a at a very
prominent national stage, and they had to reset. But they've
done that, and so that's why South Carolina is a
number one seed. That's why a lot of people have
them once again being the top team when it's all
(22:03):
said and done in early April.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Absolutely, and you brought up their strength and having that
depth in versatility. I think that when you look at
the teams that are in a tournament right now, this
is one of the most stacked teams.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
And as you said, it can be anyone's game on
any one individual.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Day, and so I love that the players have that
mentality because it really shows in the production on the court. Also,
news coming out of South Carolina assistant Winston Gandhy landed
a head coaching job at Grand Canyon, and.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
So scrolling through social media.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
Again, the fans are like, oh, okay, well that makes
there's a vacant spot on the coaching staff, and people
are interested in whether or not Don Staley will tap
Lisa Leslie to be on her coaching staff because Lisa
is currently staying at Dawn's place. During the tournament time
(22:55):
she was courtside with her family. Her family is decked
out in South Carolina gear. If you listen to the
Angel Rees podcast, Lisa opened up about being a candidate
for certain WNBA head coaching positions this offseason. She didn't
land a job, and so fans are just trying to
put things together and I guess maybe advocate for Lisa
(23:17):
to get on someone's coaching staff. She's currently a head
coach at the Big Three. She won Coach of the
Year in twenty nineteen for the Big Three and won
a championship in that three x three league with Ice cube.
What are your thoughts about Lisa Leslie joining South Carolina staff.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
Yeah, first, I'll approach just Lisa as a coach and
the fact that she said she was up for head
coaching roles that she didn't get. Obviously I got to
witness her live. And then also with just some of
the foot digit that we saw coming from unrivaled really
coaching up post players, Angel Rees being one of them,
so too, Soblely being another one of them. And this
(23:57):
is someone who knows the game, has seen the game grow.
We talked about you know, USC and earlier, and you
know she comes from that as well. And so I
think that if Lisa Leslie wants to get into coaching
at the WNBA level, I do think that overall, whether
that's with Don Staley or otherwise, we're seeing a trend
in the WNBA where there's a little I mean, we
(24:20):
saw the coaching carousel right in the off season, and
I think a lot of that happens because teams want
to win championships. I mean, that should be the goal
every year, right, But I think with all of the
eyes on the WNBA, there's an influx of money, well
at least coming to the players We'll have to see
what the CBA has to say about the influx to
be determined, right, you know that's still pending at least
(24:42):
for twenty thirty five. We're good, we'll see beyond that.
I think that there is this pressure maybe is the
word I'm thinking of Christina from franchises to win as
quickly and as soon as possible. And I think a
lot of franchises want co which is with a certain
level of experience to be able to do that. Now
(25:04):
we've seen the ebb and flow of that at times
that has left women, especially women who have played in
the league, on the outside looking in. And you'd have
to go back to Kara Lawson, you could go to
Christy Tolliver and learn a little bit about their trajectory
into coaching to maybe understand why that's the case. But
(25:24):
all of that to say, my gut is telling me
that if Lisa does want a WNBA role, that she'll
have to just buff up the resume a little bit.
Now that being said, not everybody wants to coach at
the NC DOUBLEA level or be a head coach at
the NC DOUBLEA level, So I don't know what Lisa's
plans are and also not everyone could work with a
(25:47):
friends with a homegirl right, So I don't know what
that would look like. But putting all of that to
the side, Lisa knows the game. Lisa is respected in
women's basketball, and again I got to see her one
on one engaging with post players. That is a passion
of hers. We know how important post players are in
(26:07):
the game overall, especially as we kind of have this
hybrid positionless role where you've got you know, players like
Britney Grinder Duncan. Britney Grinder is Duncan, but we also
have John Quell Jones taking three pointers at a pretty
efficient clip. That's what the game at the pro level
is looking like, and we're starting to see that seep
in also to the NCAA. So whatever Lisa wants to do,
(26:30):
I'm down for it. And if ultimately her goal is
to get to the WNBA as a head coach, I
think getting some more experience to add to her resume
at a place like South Carolina alongside Don Staley. Who's
gonna say no now? And if you do, then we
got another conversation we need to have no.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
I one hundred person agree with getting more experience in
the resume. I mean, in today's day and age, being
a former player is just not enough, especially when we
look and analyze the past offseason with the WNBA coaching carousel,
a lot of teams opted for current college coaches or
went internationally and added you know, international coaches to their franchises,
(27:11):
and so I think that one.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
I mean, it's kind of fed.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Up because you want former players to get the positions,
But there's a process, right, Like you have to be
an assistant somewhere and then work your way up in
the ranks. You mentioned Christy Tolliver. I know that Lindsay Hardin,
who's currently an assistant with the Lakers. JJ Reddick's staff
was and talked for certain teams to get a coaching job,
possibly the W as well. So like you just got
(27:36):
to build up your resume. And I would love to
see Lisa on the sideline or maybe in the player
development you know situation, maybe in the front office somewhere,
you know, in the W. It's always good when you
can have the legends, you know, be a part of
any franchise or the sparks.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Maybe you get it right, Get Lisa, Call.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Lisa, call Lison, get her front office position.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
All right, moving right along, sid the number one overall
seed in the tournament, UCLA is expected to face off
against Coach.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Yo and all Miss, so you get that Paris rematch
that they had in the preseason. They went to Paris
and played but one a overall seat facing all this obviously,
this is a UCLA team who has obviously clicked in,
have the chemistry, and they're just on another level. So
what excites you the most about this matchup?
Speaker 3 (28:26):
Well, I think what we're seeing is UCLA at this
point in the season, we've seen them be defeated, you know,
and I think that is a huge confidence boost to
anyone in the field that has been able to reach
the sweet sixteen level. You know that a team that's
spent excuse me, was it twelve weeks, right and number
(28:47):
one something like that, you can beat them, and there
is film on how to beat them. And a Coach
Yo team, you know they're gonna have heart, you know
they're gonna play hard and what UCLA has sometimes lacked,
and this is Corey Close head coach, will tell you this.
She felt in that first round that she talks about
(29:08):
this post game, that she felt the need to be
a little bit more fired up, a little bit more
animated on the sideline, and the conversations that she was
having with her leadership, So Kicky Rice Lauren debts, for example,
is that, hey, if you've seen me animated like this,
that's a signal for you to ramp it up.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
And those are.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Things that Corey knows that she has to a sometimes
signal to her team, and that for me is at
times what has made UCLA vulnerable perhaps to teams that
they don't need that they already have that and so
I think that's the clash that we're going to see
immediately for UCLA. And so the task for them is
(29:52):
to be able to find the right balance of getting hype,
getting hyped up while also playing their game on the court,
because that is a delicate balance. You have some players
they could go all the way live. There's an on
switch and an off switch, nothing else. You have other
players that can stack their emotions and their execution a
(30:12):
little bit better. I mean, we talked about Page right.
I think she's a player like that. And so for UCLA,
I think, if I had to be critical, I think
that they still are sometimes trying to figure that out.
But they figured it out on the fly. So the
head to head they're going to have to rely on
Lauren Betts. That's their advantage, and that doesn't mean she
has to take every shot, but you have to get
(30:34):
her touches in the paint early and have her assist
with facilitating things for your offense to open up that offense,
break down the defense that you're going to see from
All Miss.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
And you would want to do that against a team
like All of Miss, who's physical, can play defense really
really well. I think that now is certainly not the
time for UCLA to take their foot off the gas
and get complacent, because this is March. Like teams like
oh Miss are those teams that can possibly upset those
top teams because because.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
They're so hungry and they really really want it.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
So, as you said, I hope that they can balance,
you know, having that dog in them but also playing
and staying for their game and not playing I don't
want to say playing down to the competition, but there's
a number one O roll see for a reason, and
so they have to keep that consistency through and through
and then having obviously a player like Born Betch who
is a candidate for National Player of the Year helps
as well. So Erica, I have to ask you who
(31:28):
do you have reaching the final four, and then who's
your team that will be hoisting up that trophy?
Speaker 3 (31:33):
All right, I'll start with Birmingham three, because coming into
the tournament, I was pretty high on Texas, and I
think that had to do with I like that, you know,
they're not a team that's necessarily gonna with any consistency
drop on one hundred points on you. They lean into
their defense, they can definitely get their offense going. But
(31:56):
I liked how they were playing coming into the tournament,
and they Neil Ibby said, wait a minute, hold on,
wait a minute, My Nordre Dame squad is gonna be ready,
and they are playing a hungry style of basketball. Nordre
Dame is right now. So I think I'm gonna swap
it and say Nordre Dame comes through there taking South Carolina.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
I do.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
I just want to give a little shout out to
Duke that Duke North Carolina matchup. North Carolina matchup, I mean, okay,
but I do have South Carolina coming through. I'm gonna
take Ucla. I think the NC State LSU matchup's also
gonna be really interesting. But overall, I'm taking Ucla. I
think that the Ucla Bruins, similarly to Nordre Dame. Quite honestly,
(32:42):
they felt that they didn't empty the tank in last
year's tournament, and that's something that you have to think
about that for a whole year, well a few months
before you can get back after it. And I think
that's what's driving Nordre Dame and Ucla in this tournament.
And then I'm taking Yukon. Uh even before Juju, I
was leaning towards Yukon anyway, the Juju injury, I should
(33:05):
say I was leaning towards Yukon as far as who's
gonna take it overall, I'm switching it up again. I'm
probably gonna go Yukon South Carolina and this.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
One's three match South.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
Carolina, and I think, oh, I think I'm going Yukon.
I think I'm going to Yukon.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Put it.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
It's on the record now, so I can't change it.
They talk to me in another few days, it might
be different. So I like that.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
I like that I have.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
Something similar considering that Juju now has a season ended injury,
but I had I did have Yukon coming out. So
that was exactly my final four. But holding up the
championship trophy, I have South Carolina.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
I don't think you could go wrong.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
I'm not gonna go against the national champions and what
they can do.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
I do have Yukon South Carolina.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
As you know, the championship game rematch a Minnesota rematch
they played in the finals back in Minnesota a couple
of years.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
Ago, and South Carolina one. But yeah, no, that's very
very interesting.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
All right.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
So the Naysmith Coach of the Year finalists include Lindsay
Gottlieb from USC, Don Staley, South Carolina, Corey Close, UCLA,
and Mark Campbell TCU. So before we dive into the
Coach of the Year finalists, I want to know who's
your player to watch throughout the tournament.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Oh man, this is a tough one. There's so many
great players that are on great teams. We've mentioned Paige
a few times, even Juju before the injury. For me, though,
the player that I have to watch is going to
be Lauren Betts because we talked about and we know
that Hayley van Lynth has talked about her approach to
(34:49):
dealing with mental mental health and how it's impacted her
capabilities on the court. And Lauren talked about that earlier
this season as well. She talked about coming to uc
finding her game again and now she is the star
for UCLA. Ucla Bruins basketball. Women's basketball goes as Lauren
(35:10):
Betts goes, and she's had to learn a lot about
her leadership. And so I really think that for this
UCLA team that's had so much success for so long
in the regular season, they're still unfinished business. They still
want to be in the conversation, and they are the
(35:30):
number one overall team but among giants, right among storied programs,
and they are looking for a championship. And if they're
going to be successful, to getting to that championship game
and to winning, it has to come through how Lauren
Betts not only plays and performs individually, but how she's
(35:51):
able to get her team to believe, get her team
to do everything that they can possibly do to win
a title.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
I will certainly keep my eyes on Lauren. That's about
the tournament.
Speaker 4 (36:03):
Now.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
We talked about and broke down all of these.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Teams, and you know how they played the regular season,
how it's going to fare out throughout the tournament.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
But who do you have for Coach of the Year.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
This is a great field. I just have to say
that I'm leaning towards Mark Campbell. And that's tough the same,
see right, I think here here's my thought, and I
know you know I have strong thoughts just about awards
in general, MVP being one of them, because like, let's
lean into the words. What are the words in the
(36:33):
name of the award, and then we can go from there. Anyway,
I digress, So Coach of the Year. The reason I'm
leaning towards Mark Campbell TCU is because I'm taking into
account we talked about what you mentioned earlier, Christina, in
that this team was in a drastically different position one
season ago, and to now get this team to have
(36:56):
the opportunity to continue to make program history, I think
that has to mean something and also dependent on how far.
Speaker 6 (37:05):
This team championship as well, exactly, And I think, you know,
you have to take into account when you have a
coach that's doing something that's unprecedented in program history.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
That being said, Don Staley is the coach in women's
basketball that is transforming the sport. Her program is transforming
the sport, and she is a coach that players want
to be with, be in her program, understand the game,
(37:39):
how she understands the game. And so those two are
on opposite sides of a spectrum that is only going
to lift women's basketball. But for the purposes of this year,
given everything that I've already said, I'm going with Campbell absolutely.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Look, I agree, and I think that a case can
obviously be made for all of the candidates. I mean,
Corey Close, what she's done with UCLA and their regular
season record being the number one overall seed in a tournament.
You know, you can make a case for each one
of them. But I think that because of what Mark
Campbell's been able to do in terms of getting recruits
to go to TCU then also turning that program around.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
In just one season. Like I said earlier in.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
The show, this was a team who was literally holding
open tryouts last season because they did not have enough players.
They landed Haley Danlyth and other players and now making
their first Sweet sixteen a parents in program history. All Right,
so last topic of the headlines for this week. You know,
I got to bring up the New York Liberty because
(38:36):
we both cover the New York Liberty here in the city.
And so the New York Liberty made a big splash
in acquiring WNBA champion Natasha Cloud via Trode, but also
re signing Marine Johannes. Now, when free agency was happening,
a room's really counting Liberty out, like, oh, they're not
(38:58):
making any news.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
What's going on on? You know, you offlow.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
Courtney Vanderslut who went back to Chicago, and they needed
to fill that point guard position. Now we saw what
happened last season with Subrinio and Escu played point for
that eight game stretch when Courtney was out. But I'm
so happy they acquired a point guard to help her
because you know, you want her to play her best
at her best position and to bring us her best
at the two position. And so you bring in a
(39:23):
defensive point guard like Natasha Cloud who can help to
find that perimeter, which was like the New York Liberties
Achilles Hill for a very long time. But she's she
can also play make and play defense. That's like a
chef's kiss to making this team a lot better. And
then you bring that Marine Johannes, a player who is
very familiar with the team, has been around since twenty nineteen.
(39:45):
You know, played with her French national team. She can play, make,
she can score. My only issue with Marina is consistency
and efficiency but in defense. But you know, we'll get
around to that. She didn't have to do all that
because now she has the help around her right and
the supporting role players with the Liberty. But I think
that with those chin moves, the New York Liberty are
(40:07):
a little step above everyone else and they are certainly
going to be the team to beat. Obviously, they won
the championship last year. Ranna Stewart had a service recently, but.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
She should be ready by the time the season comes around.
What are your thoughts on these moves?
Speaker 3 (40:23):
Well, first, before, I want tosh Cloud coming for us sis,
so we gotta make sure we also put respect on her.
She can score two Okay.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
Remember said, oh wait, sorry, she's a shooter. As she says,
she's a shooter. Don't want Toshloun to come for us,
but uh shoot, she can shoot that thing.
Speaker 3 (40:42):
I got you, I got you. Yeah. Jokes. Aside, we
saw that tosh Cloud I was actually down in Miami
for Unrivaled. Around the time that that news came out,
it was wild, and we saw in her social media
video that Tosh said, New York, I know you need
a dog, and now you got a dog. I don't
(41:03):
know that I need to say anything else. I literally
have chills when I saw her say that, I was like,
that's absolutely correct, because, as you said, Christina Sabrini and
esk who's best position is at the two. I thought
she did a great job when she stepped when she
needed to step up for the team. I thought her
defense has been much better. And you know, everyone want
(41:24):
to clown her for that one in nineteen Baby Sabrina
needed to shoot them those shots even if she knew
they weren't going in, because she did what she needed
to do to make sure that everything was open for Leo, Niara,
JJ and everybody else. So I love that Sabrina has
that in her bag. Now she can be a leader
for this team and that this team is setting her
(41:46):
up to do what she does best. That's number one.
Then you think of Marine Johannes, who, at least with
the roster as we have it now, including all of
the training camp players, we're expecting her still to come
off of the bench. She is electric, She is known
as the magician, and she can get you quick shots,
quick buckets, and I think that's going to be huge.
(42:09):
So she can spell, you know, she can give you
time on the court, maybe taking over for that to
having her on the court with a player like Leo,
I cannot wait. I just I'm so glad that New
York was able to hold onto both of them, who
are just Jonathan Colb did a great job being able
to keep Leo and MJ marine Johannis in my opinion.
(42:31):
Then the other thing I have to mention is is
he Harrison. Why I think that's an important get is
because if Isy you know, is on this roster, she
gives you what Jonathan Colb built last year's team to
be long and versatile, and then to boot she has
WNBA experience. Unfortunately, be Nigelni Hamilton suffered an injury while
(42:55):
filling in at on Rivals. We know that she was
not one hundred percent take a few shots from what
we understand to be ready for that team. And so
with Benaja maybe not coming back one hundred percent stew
we expected to be back for a training camp, but
maybe you just want to be a little bit cautious
there as much as you can be, and knowing that
(43:16):
this is a little bit of a longer season for
a team that went the full distance. I like these moves.
I have given up making fun of Jonathan Colb and
his hybrid rebuild. For people who cover the New York Liberty,
you know, that's a little bit of a joke between
Jonathan could their GM and I because I was like,
explain this to me, Jonathan, I don't know what you mean,
hybrid rebuild. What are we doing here? He's shown the
(43:38):
league what he's doing. He's shown the league what he's doing.
It's length versatility, That's how he's building this squad. And
every one of his players can get a bucket on
the block and can shoot from range, and that, as
you said, makes this New York Liberty team dangerous. They
went up against Minnesota, though, that has a lot of
(43:58):
the similar skill sets, and they got burned, as you said,
in the backcourt going shot for shot with Tosh Cloud.
Now less of a likelihood that a team like a
Minnesota can do that. So I think the Liberty are
looking good, but as we all know, they got to
get the job done on the court. But I think
they're ready. I think they're hungry, they know what it
takes to win a championship, and everyone clown in them,
(44:20):
you know, perhaps about maybe they shouldn't have won. Well,
we'll see, because the banner's going up, the rings have
been sized, and the New York Liberty are champions and
you know, if they need more whiteboard material, then I
think the off season the WNBA has given it to them.
Speaker 1 (44:37):
I just want to bring up that they also will
have Rebecca Gardner back, who we know the season that
she had in Chicago prior to her injury in her
off season and she's been rehabbing in New York and
I'm excited to see her back in the mix as well,
another great player coming off the bench with experience as well,
in a player you broke up in the Tasha Cloud
saying that she's a dog, while the Liberty lost Kayla Thornton,
(44:59):
who was that for the New York Liberty team, And
so they insert a player like Natasha Cloud and it's
kind of seamless when you look at it. I know
that fans were expecting big splashes, but I think that
one thing that makes in Liberty a strong team is.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
The continuity and the chemistry amongst.
Speaker 1 (45:16):
The players, you still have pretty much your championship roster
intact outside of Courtney Vandals, Caleb Thornton. And then you
brought up the players being interchangeable, and I remember speaking
to Brian A. Stewed about that in training camp last year.
So crazy at years almost coming up again and we're
treating it was starting, but she talked about it the
start a training camp last year about you know, players
(45:38):
being able to play any position. I know that for
Jonathan coleb after their loss to the Las Vegas Aces
in the finals two years ago, it was about the
minute stew he was playing and not having players who
can necessarily, you know, go in for her, John Paul Jones,
same thing. And so now you have these interchangeable players
where it just strengthens the team, the depth of they'll
they'll have coming off the bench, Leo taking a bigger role,
(46:01):
Niara having a bigger role, as well as we await
the status of Benaja Wayney Hamilton in terms of what
her injury is and what that will look like. I
think that the New York Liberty will definitely farewell this season.
So all right, thank you so much for joining us
this week on and case you missed it with Christina
Williams Erica always fun to chat hoops with you.
Speaker 3 (46:23):
Absolutely, thank you, Sis, and you know we we we
always cross paths every once in a while. Now that
unfortunately I'm not living in New York anymore, but you
already know that we'll be there for that ring ceremony.
And you mentioned the Las Vegas aces. Chelsea Gray's like,
oh oh, we got them for the for the banner raising,
let's go. So from jump the w NBA season is
(46:45):
about to be wild. We get to see also Golden
State where Kayla Thornton went. So I'm excited for it all.
But thank you for everything that you do, Sis, and
for always bringing you know, the homies along for the ride.
I appreciate everything that you and your current.
Speaker 2 (46:58):
I was gonna say, I was like, we should get too.
We've been there since the trenches in Westchester, in Madisonsburg,
Chester and where there.
Speaker 1 (47:06):
Was just like four or five of us covering this
team and now we see them win a championship.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
But all jokes aside Africa.
Speaker 1 (47:12):
I'm looking forward to Ring Knight to see that banner
go up in New York. I'm unbiased, but I'm from
New York. So just to be able to see that
women's warts being the standard in the city, you can't
beat that.
Speaker 2 (47:24):
So I'm excited for Ring Knight.
Speaker 1 (47:41):
Welcome Back to in case you missed it with Christina Williams,
and it's time for my.
Speaker 2 (47:47):
Favorite part of the show. And here is the thing
that I love this week.
Speaker 1 (47:52):
All right, y'all, So over the weekend, I feel like
I've relived my childhood and that I went to the
twenty twenty five Millennium Tour and it was something that
I was honestly on the fence about because a lot
of the artists are a lot older, don't really.
Speaker 2 (48:09):
Move the same way that they used to back in
the day. But I was born on a Friday night
and I was like, what the heck, get tickets and
go to Barclays Center.
Speaker 1 (48:18):
And so I arrived at Barkways and the vibes were immaculate.
Speaker 2 (48:22):
I had floor seats. My favorite performance had to be
bow Wow.
Speaker 1 (48:26):
I feel like there's a lot of TikTok trader about
the tour in general. People are really upset about, I guess,
the quality of performances.
Speaker 2 (48:36):
But I feel like bow Wow proved why he.
Speaker 1 (48:39):
Is a living legend in that he did what needed
to be done, his stage presence, his audience engagement, his
set list.
Speaker 2 (48:48):
Like he sung all of the hits. He did the
Harlem Shake in New York, so I really felt.
Speaker 1 (48:53):
Like I was reliving my childhood. I also enjoyed Trey's songs.
I feel like the mic was on the vocals there.
Speaker 2 (49:01):
But yeah, it was a fun time. Overall, very chaotic
ray J.
Speaker 1 (49:05):
I don't know why he did a song where he
was like walking through the audience. I feel like there's
nothing in his catalog that was solicit him to do
anything like that.
Speaker 2 (49:15):
But he had good energy. But overall, I would give
the Millennium Tour a six out of ten.
Speaker 7 (49:22):
It's worth going if you loved all of these artists
when you were like a teenager or in middle school,
for sure you can relive some of that glory.
Speaker 1 (49:33):
But yeah, the vibes were good. I think that what
made it good was the people the vibes. Brooklyn is
always a good time, but yeah, that was the thing
that I loved this week. That's gonna do it for
this week's show. Next week we have more from the
NCAA Tournament, and we are still gonna come live from Tampa,
so make sure you tune and don't forget to rate, review,
(49:56):
and subscribe to the show and Peace in case you
missed it with Christina Williams is an iHeart women's sports
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 another edition of In Case You
Missed It with Christina Williams.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
It's been a busy, busy week in.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
And around the world of women's basketball, and you know
that this place right here is the place to be
to find out all that's happening. So I'm excited for
today's guest. So joining me for this week's headlines and
to break down all the madness is my good friend.
So when I'm so excited to have on the show,
finally my good friend Erica Ayala. She's a CBS sports
(00:44):
analyst and writer and the founder of Black Rosie Media.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Erica, Welcome to the show, Christina.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Thank you so much for having me. I love being
able to catch up with everything that y'all are doing,
So it's an honor to be a guest today.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Absolutely look dive right into this week's headlines. Obviously, on
Monday night, we all was watching the usc game and
we saw Juju Watkins go down. It has been confirmed
via ESPN that she suffered a torn acl and her
right knee.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
So what was your reaction to that play.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
It's gut wrenching, it's heartbreaking. We know that Juju had
a little bit of a tweak to her ankle in
their first game, USC's first game in the tournament, and
then you look at the replay, it just looked like,
you know, the grip on her shoe maybe didn't catch completely,
so there was a slide, maybe a little bit of
a hyper extension. But it did look right away like
(01:39):
it was something pretty serious, particularly because Juju, she doesn't
emote very much, and she immediately reacted to the pain.
So it's it's tough. You don't want to see a
young star go down. I remember Cheryl Miller and that
her career ended because of a knee injury. Very it's similar,
(02:00):
it sounds like, to what Juju has. The good news,
of course, is that while Cheryl Miller didn't have the
access or the gains that we have now in technology
and in recovery and rehab, I think that that's the upside.
We've seen players come back from this type of an
injury and be able to still have elite careers and
(02:24):
be elite level players, And so that's the good news.
So you obviously though just are your heart goes out
to Juju.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
But USC stepped up.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
The team definitely stepped up, and at times I even
Christina had questions as to how deep this Trojan's team
could be. And I think we saw a little bit
of that against Mississippi State, and they're gonna have to
continue that if they want to keep dancing. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Absolutely, that was gonna be my next question of how
do you see this USC team, you know, being impacted
as they go deeper into the tournament. Obviously they have
a tough matchup coming up for this Meet sixteen, but
as you stated, there were other players who had that
next woman up mentality in coach Gottlieb from to the show.
(03:07):
She talked about that in her post games speech in
the locker room, and we're gonna take a quick listen
to it.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
I am so grateful. You guys had my back, you
had Shutters back, you had Jews back, the fans had
you were back.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
We were a team.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
We were drop drop, drop drop, and then the tide
a way of Ocean can And I will never forget
this game for as long as long as I live.
It's a big deal to go to the Sweet sixteen.
We are going to Spokane. We are going into the team.
You gotta bring the energy in the fight and say,
we don't change our goals, right, but we give a
little extra energy, you know, for what she would bring.
(03:47):
But also just to say anytime we're man down, we
step up for one another because that's who we are,
right I just you know you want to be jumping
up and down with the Sweet sixteen, right. You guys
did something really special today that is more to me
about the actual like how to say it with the
conface and tell you how incredibly proud I am of
the way you stepped up for one another to school
(04:07):
each other. And it was a title wave of a team.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
It was a title wave of a team.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Okay, everyone, Coach lindsay you know she praised her team
for being poised in that moment. Obviously, it sucks when
you lose your best player on your best team and
one of the biggest moments on one of the biggest stages.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Because I think that this team is built for it.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
They are a number one overall seed for a reason
when it comes to the tournament, and we saw Keiki
like reintroduce.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Herself to a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
I know that at the beginning of the season, there
was a lot of chatter about Kiki being a top
lottery draft pick, and then as the season went on,
you know, people had their doubts and what did she
do in a moment of adversity.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
She helped her team win and stepped up in the
biggest way.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
And so I'm excited to see how you know, all
the other players rally to just win, not only for
Juju but for usc for what they've worked hard for
and earned all season long. But how do you see
this team figuring out as the time to make it deeper?
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Well, first, I just want to add some more flowers
right to Kiki erie Fn her performance. Of course, you
saw the numbers and what she was able to do
against Mississippi State, But for me, what stood out is
her leadership. You know, you have to play some freshmen,
some players that maybe didn't get as much play in
game one of the tournament in particular, or even throughout
(05:30):
the season, and you saw Kiki eri Fin being able to, hey,
huddle up real quick talk to individual players because you
want to be supportive and y'all got a job to do.
And I think what I saw from Kiki is that
she was able to really blend those two roles while
also being the go to option, being able to clean
up the boards, get second looks, go up again for USC,
(05:53):
and get them the win. As far as what is
possible for the USC Trojans, even when we had Juju
in the equation, I did think that Yukon was maybe
going to be a tough battle that at the time,
though for me, Christina was based on maybe not knowing
if outside of Juju and Kiki players were going to
(06:15):
be able to step up. And I will say, even
if you look at the Mississippi State box score, you
still want to see a little bit more distribution. They're
going to need that going up against a Yukon team.
So I guess we'll have to see because right now
you have the Yukon Husky team rallying behind Paige Becker's
specifically the fans. I want to mention because we heard
(06:36):
coach Kottlieb and the rest of the team talk about
the USC fans rallying around their team, and so now
I think it's really going to be a matter of
will and preparation.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Absolutely, and let's move right along.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
I mean everyone was watching that Maryland Alabama game yesterday
went into double overtime, and Maryland they fared well. They
beat Alabama one eleven to one hundred and eight. Such
a huge game from Sarah Barker forty five points for Alabama.
But the winner is going to face South Carolina and
(07:10):
Birmingham on Friday.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
And so what was your reaction to that game did
you watch?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I mean, the first reaction is, this is exactly what
people think of when they think of March Madness, when
they think of the NCAA Tournament. These were two teams
stacked in their in their bracket right and they just
battle it out on the basketball court. That was my
first reaction. I mean, then you just saw, as you
(07:39):
mentioned Barker, and then you look at at what Tabiyasu
was able to do for the Terps. I mean, clutch
basket after clutch basket, and the exhaustion that all teams,
both teams fell after the game, and then the absolute
jubilation of course for the Terps, the heartbreak for Bama.
(08:00):
I mean, this this was a great game for basketball,
for college basketball overall, and exactly what we expect. And
it's a quick turnaround. Now you have a team in
Maryland that you know, well, they will have a few days,
but you know, generally speaking, it's it's you have. You
don't have a lot of time to refocus after going
(08:21):
into a double overtime, playing more minutes your key players
for Brenda Freeze than any other key players to date,
because we haven't seen two overtimes in the tournament. So
I think for Maryland they're really going to have to
focus on just getting off their feet, finding ways to
mentally just check back in to the game, get focused
(08:45):
on their scout. But but you saw that there are
definitely players that are willing to step up and get
it done, and they're going to need that against South Carolina.
I think they'll also probably want to shoot a little
bit better from the floor. They were able to get
it done though. They they outshot Alabama from the three
point line, from the perimeter, and as well as being
(09:06):
able to get to the foul line. So those are
things though that I think Brenda Frees will want to
see her team continue to do while also just being
able to be a little bit more sharp shooting from
the floor.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
I think that that game is just paints the whole
picture of what march is about, as you said, the
entertainment factor. I wouldn't say it was an upset or anything,
but just two teams toughing it out evenly matched just
shows the parody of women's basketball, and we all got
a good show. So I thoroughly enjoyed it. But also
when people talk about the transl portal and like players movement,
(09:39):
you bring up Tapiasu. I mean, she was a huge
part of Maryland winning that game yesterday. And shout out
to the Maryland men's team because this is the first
time in NCAA history that the programs men's and women's
team will reach the sweet sixteen. But you brought up
Yukon earlier, and we got to talk about Page Beckers.
She's the first player the NBA, w NBA and college
(10:02):
basketball to have a fifty to forty ninety with a
three point eight assist to turnover ratio, a huge milestone. However,
Page is gonna be paid. She's just like, I don't
care about stats.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
I just want to hoop. I care about winning.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
But Paige Beckers is one of the most efficient players
in college basketball, and that is why she is the
candidate to be the top pick in the twenty twenty
five w NBA Draft. I thoroughly have enjoyed watching Page
play college basketball for the past five years.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
But you know, Yukon put on a show. They didn't
care if they were up. I enjoyed watching.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Azy Bud and the Page Beckers, you know, play together
again in the NC DOUBLEA tournament. Just how beneficial as
has been to the team. But yeah, Page Beckers, what
can you say about her?
Speaker 3 (10:52):
The efficiency? And that's not easy to do, going back
to just what we expect in NC DOUBLEA tournaments, Men's
or women's efficiency is not always on the top of
the list, right for people we're thinking up and down,
we're thinking, you know, blown bunnies, big rebounds, even bigger
shots from the perimeter. But the way that Page is
(11:14):
able to play the game at a high level in
a way that if you're casually watching, you're just like, oh,
here goes someone dribbling the ball, passing the ball, shooting
the ball. There's just an ease, a nice flow. It's
very zen at times, you know, and then you get
this Page that's absolutely fired up, is able to lead
her team on the court with what she says, how
(11:36):
she does, what she does and so I think that's
what makes Page special. I think that with the injuries
that she's sustained, but also the injuries that this Yukon
team has sustained. We saw other players at the time,
a Caitlin Clark, even a Juju Watkins, and what they
were able to do for their teams that are not
(11:56):
Yukon kind of rise to the top of what we
might consider mainstream media. But that being said, Page has
always been that constant. She's been there. When she's on
the court for Yukon, she makes a difference, and so
I think she knows and again I alluded to this,
but the Yukon fans know that was you know, the
last time they're going to see her on home court,
(12:17):
and we saw even Gino oriam I get a little
bit emotional thinking about that. So it's you know, when
you you don't always know how to describe something, but
you know when you see it, and Paige is one
of those people. She's very special. And I think what
also has resonated with people is that she also understands
her role in women's basketball very specifically, as you know,
(12:41):
a young white woman in a space where it's majority
and primarily black women, women of color. She has stepped
up in that way as well, and I think that
is what makes her a player that people are going
to rally behind wherever she may go, because I know
there was some conversation on whether she will land with
(13:02):
the team that at the moment has for the number
one overall pick with Dallas. But I'm excited for this
Yukon team. Some business they still have to handle, but
of course we'll be excited to see what Page does
after Yukon Ya No, I agree with you, and I
think that comes tournament times, Page always turns on a
different level.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
We saw what happened last year when.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Yukon literally limped to the final four having not a
lot of players on their roster, and Page was a leader.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Then I think that when it comes to the fifty.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Forty ninety milestone, I think that what surprises people not
be but like people on the outside, is that they're
so used to her being a playmaker right and they
forget about her ability to score and so in a
score efficiently. And so I think that you know, she
is one of the best players on the planet, no doubt,
(13:53):
and I'm excited to see her transition into the WNBA,
wherever she may land. But yeah, I'm excited to see
how far Yukon can go.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
I know that she.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Really really wants one and their path to the final four,
they're getting things done. Was surprised to see Gino, you know,
get a little emotional. He's someone that doesn't really show
emotions at all, so to see him almost here up
he caught himself.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
He was like, he was there and then he caught himself.
Then it is like, all right, next question.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
But yeah, she's such a special player and I'm excited
to see where she lands. But Sarah Strong, also freshman.
Sarah Strong is another player who's been super beneficial to
this Yukon team. Just seeing her blossom in that system
and be a major part of their success. I'm excited
to see her as they go deeper into the tournament
(14:46):
as well.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
You mentioned Sarah Strong. I just have to put this
out there. I mean, this is you talk about the
poise for page. This is a freshman that is playing
college basketball more like a professional than maybe anyone that
I've seen play in a while. And she's and that's
a lot to say about a Yukon freshman, right, So
(15:07):
I just had to put that out there, I mean
shout out to also her mama, because I mean, I
think she probably get it.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Firm was just about to say shout out to Alison
because it runs deep in her bloodline.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Her mom plays the the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
So just to see that pipeline continue, I'm excited for
the trajectory of Sarah Strong.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
All Right, TCU.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
I picked TCU as like my sleeper team, my Cinderella
team because.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Literally last year they were holding open tryouts for players.
They were down on their.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Roster and literally holding open tryouts. Haley Bandlid transfers from
LSU to TCU, and she gets them to their first
Sweet sixteen in program history within a year.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
I think that this is a team that everyone should
watch out for. I mean, we know what they.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Can do defensively, but I think Haley has just turned
on a different gear. And she talked about her mental
health struggles and how going to TCU has to been
such a blessing for her. And basketball is just as
much as a mental game as it is a physical one.
So just to see her one just turn on that
different gear, but also up her draft stock.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
I think I think when she was at LSU we
didn't get to see.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Her best, and at TCU she's kind of like reminded
people of who she is.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
I agree with you, I you're starting to see a
little bit of that spark come back. I think with
the way ls you season ended and Haley vanly maybe
getting a little bit of criticism with regard to her game,
I was a little bit disheartened to hear what she
personally was going through, and I admire that she was
(16:40):
able to, you know, work on what she needed to
for herself and gain perspective and the right perspective that
would allow her to be the best version of Hailey
van lyth basketball or not. So I just want to
put that out there first, and then you see, I
mean it's wild, Christina that I almost forgot what TCU
(17:02):
went through last year because of how they're playing this season,
and that is a testament to the leadership on their team,
of course their coach. And this is what we're seeing
in women's basketball, is that it's not just about the
right program, it's not just about the right coach, but
(17:22):
it is truly the sum of the parts. And I
think TCU is a good reminder of that. And I'm
just so excited for what they have the capability to
do and for how this is going to hopefully open
up the eyes of the collective we and media to
make sure that we are covering the basketball stories and
(17:44):
that we are following the teams that are meeting success
where they are. And I think that that's what the
NCAA Tournament really allows us to be able to see
is it's effectively all of these teams from different conferences
given an opportun tunity right to advance and get to
a championship. And I think TCU has really embodied that
(18:05):
kind of a why not us mentality, But also the
why not us is not just because hey, anyone can
do this, It's because we have prepared, We know what
we have in our locker room, and we are willing
to do what it takes on the court to get
a win. And I love that for them. I mean,
you know, of course you're thinking of Heley vnlet, You're
thinking of Sadona Prince and a few other players that
(18:28):
they have that are able to step up. And I
think this for of all the teams that we've talked about,
maybe not Yukon, but I think TCU they don't always
get credit for the balanced approach and the offensive threats
that they have on their squad.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
All right, so all we're going to take a quick
break and when we get back more from this conversation
with Erica Ayala. Well, let's move on to the defending
(19:05):
national champions in South Carolina.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
So obviously they're going here the Sweet sixteen. They will
face Maryland.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
But I was scrolling social media the other day and
I came across what Raven Johnson had to say about
Sydney Parish after they defeated Indiana and saying that people
kind of counted them out because they don't have Camilla,
they don't have Ashton Watkins.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
And she's like, no, we have a full squad players
one through thirteen that are dogs. I love that approach
from Raven Johnson because I think that obviously South Carolina
is the standard right when we talk about the rankings
and who people want to be. They're the national champions
for the for a reason, and they are the standard.
But people are counting out the players for some reason.
(19:49):
And she's like, no, Like, we're the top team for
a reason, We're the standard for a reason. But y'all
are some dogs and you know, for me, I love
seeing the emergence of Chloe Kitts choice you know those players,
those type of players, and this is a team who's
face adversity and he found ways to win no matter what.
So what are you liking from South Carolina any reactions
to Raven Johnson?
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Well, I mean, first you have to remember that Raven's
been here before, right where a team has doubted her,
flat out disrespect to her, and she came round and
showed everyone not only what she is capable of, but
as you mentioned, with this South Carolina team is capable of.
So you could doubt them on the block and they're
(20:34):
going to show you what they gotta what they can do.
You're gonna doubt if Raven can pull up and take
and shoot that thing, and she's going to show you
what she can do. I love that you mentioned Chloe
Kits because I think recently leading into the conference tournaments
that we really saw the versatility of Chloe Kits and
(20:56):
maybe took a little bit of time again at a
now level to identify and recognize that. But when you
have a team and a program like South Carolina, a
coach like Don Staley, there is an understanding that you
have to have to mean to remain with a program
like that. Not every day is your individual day, but
(21:18):
if you work hard every day to make the team better,
your day will inevitably show up. And I get the
sense that that's how this South Carolina team is able
to approach basketball. So whether they're missing Camilla, whether they
have been dealing with injuries or absences from teammates early
in the season, it's it's the mentality right of the
(21:40):
next player up. And I think that's what we're seeing.
They've took they took some lumps, you know, a team
that did not know what a loss looked like, and
then they lose some and at a at a very
prominent national stage, and they had to reset. But they've
done that, and so that's why South Carolina is a
number one seed. That's why a lot of people have
them once again being the top team when it's all
(22:03):
said and done in early April.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Absolutely, and you brought up their strength and having that
depth in versatility. I think that when you look at
the teams that are in a tournament right now, this
is one of the most stacked teams.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
And as you said, it can be anyone's game on
any one individual.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Day, and so I love that the players have that
mentality because it really shows in the production on the court. Also,
news coming out of South Carolina assistant Winston Gandhy landed
a head coaching job at Grand Canyon, and.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
So scrolling through social media.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
Again, the fans are like, oh, okay, well that makes
there's a vacant spot on the coaching staff, and people
are interested in whether or not Don Staley will tap
Lisa Leslie to be on her coaching staff because Lisa
is currently staying at Dawn's place. During the tournament time
(22:55):
she was courtside with her family. Her family is decked
out in South Carolina gear. If you listen to the
Angel Rees podcast, Lisa opened up about being a candidate
for certain WNBA head coaching positions this offseason. She didn't
land a job, and so fans are just trying to
put things together and I guess maybe advocate for Lisa
(23:17):
to get on someone's coaching staff. She's currently a head
coach at the Big Three. She won Coach of the
Year in twenty nineteen for the Big Three and won
a championship in that three x three league with Ice cube.
What are your thoughts about Lisa Leslie joining South Carolina staff.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
Yeah, first, I'll approach just Lisa as a coach and
the fact that she said she was up for head
coaching roles that she didn't get. Obviously I got to
witness her live. And then also with just some of
the foot digit that we saw coming from unrivaled really
coaching up post players, Angel Rees being one of them,
so too, Soblely being another one of them. And this
(23:57):
is someone who knows the game, has seen the game grow.
We talked about you know, USC and earlier, and you
know she comes from that as well. And so I
think that if Lisa Leslie wants to get into coaching
at the WNBA level, I do think that overall, whether
that's with Don Staley or otherwise, we're seeing a trend
in the WNBA where there's a little I mean, we
(24:20):
saw the coaching carousel right in the off season, and
I think a lot of that happens because teams want
to win championships. I mean, that should be the goal
every year, right, But I think with all of the
eyes on the WNBA, there's an influx of money, well
at least coming to the players We'll have to see
what the CBA has to say about the influx to
be determined, right, you know that's still pending at least
(24:42):
for twenty thirty five. We're good, we'll see beyond that.
I think that there is this pressure maybe is the
word I'm thinking of Christina from franchises to win as
quickly and as soon as possible. And I think a
lot of franchises want co which is with a certain
level of experience to be able to do that. Now
(25:04):
we've seen the ebb and flow of that at times
that has left women, especially women who have played in
the league, on the outside looking in. And you'd have
to go back to Kara Lawson, you could go to
Christy Tolliver and learn a little bit about their trajectory
into coaching to maybe understand why that's the case. But
(25:24):
all of that to say, my gut is telling me
that if Lisa does want a WNBA role, that she'll
have to just buff up the resume a little bit.
Now that being said, not everybody wants to coach at
the NC DOUBLEA level or be a head coach at
the NC DOUBLEA level, So I don't know what Lisa's
plans are and also not everyone could work with a
(25:47):
friends with a homegirl right, So I don't know what
that would look like. But putting all of that to
the side, Lisa knows the game. Lisa is respected in
women's basketball, and again I got to see her one
on one engaging with post players. That is a passion
of hers. We know how important post players are in
(26:07):
the game overall, especially as we kind of have this
hybrid positionless role where you've got you know, players like
Britney Grinder Duncan. Britney Grinder is Duncan, but we also
have John Quell Jones taking three pointers at a pretty
efficient clip. That's what the game at the pro level
is looking like, and we're starting to see that seep
in also to the NCAA. So whatever Lisa wants to do,
(26:30):
I'm down for it. And if ultimately her goal is
to get to the WNBA as a head coach, I
think getting some more experience to add to her resume
at a place like South Carolina alongside Don Staley. Who's
gonna say no now? And if you do, then we
got another conversation we need to have no.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
I one hundred person agree with getting more experience in
the resume. I mean, in today's day and age, being
a former player is just not enough, especially when we
look and analyze the past offseason with the WNBA coaching carousel,
a lot of teams opted for current college coaches or
went internationally and added you know, international coaches to their franchises,
(27:11):
and so I think that one.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
I mean, it's kind of fed.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Up because you want former players to get the positions,
But there's a process, right, Like you have to be
an assistant somewhere and then work your way up in
the ranks. You mentioned Christy Tolliver. I know that Lindsay Hardin,
who's currently an assistant with the Lakers. JJ Reddick's staff
was and talked for certain teams to get a coaching job,
possibly the W as well. So like you just got
(27:36):
to build up your resume. And I would love to
see Lisa on the sideline or maybe in the player
development you know situation, maybe in the front office somewhere,
you know, in the W. It's always good when you
can have the legends, you know, be a part of
any franchise or the sparks.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Maybe you get it right, Get Lisa, Call.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Lisa, call Lison, get her front office position.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
All right, moving right along, sid the number one overall
seed in the tournament, UCLA is expected to face off
against Coach.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Yo and all Miss, so you get that Paris rematch
that they had in the preseason. They went to Paris
and played but one a overall seat facing all this obviously,
this is a UCLA team who has obviously clicked in,
have the chemistry, and they're just on another level. So
what excites you the most about this matchup?
Speaker 3 (28:26):
Well, I think what we're seeing is UCLA at this
point in the season, we've seen them be defeated, you know,
and I think that is a huge confidence boost to
anyone in the field that has been able to reach
the sweet sixteen level. You know that a team that's
spent excuse me, was it twelve weeks, right and number
(28:47):
one something like that, you can beat them, and there
is film on how to beat them. And a Coach
Yo team, you know they're gonna have heart, you know
they're gonna play hard and what UCLA has sometimes lacked,
and this is Corey Close head coach, will tell you this.
She felt in that first round that she talks about
(29:08):
this post game, that she felt the need to be
a little bit more fired up, a little bit more
animated on the sideline, and the conversations that she was
having with her leadership, So Kicky Rice Lauren debts, for example,
is that, hey, if you've seen me animated like this,
that's a signal for you to ramp it up.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
And those are.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Things that Corey knows that she has to a sometimes
signal to her team, and that for me is at
times what has made UCLA vulnerable perhaps to teams that
they don't need that they already have that and so
I think that's the clash that we're going to see
immediately for UCLA. And so the task for them is
(29:52):
to be able to find the right balance of getting hype,
getting hyped up while also playing their game on the court,
because that is a delicate balance. You have some players
they could go all the way live. There's an on
switch and an off switch, nothing else. You have other
players that can stack their emotions and their execution a
(30:12):
little bit better. I mean, we talked about Page right.
I think she's a player like that. And so for UCLA,
I think, if I had to be critical, I think
that they still are sometimes trying to figure that out.
But they figured it out on the fly. So the
head to head they're going to have to rely on
Lauren Betts. That's their advantage, and that doesn't mean she
has to take every shot, but you have to get
(30:34):
her touches in the paint early and have her assist
with facilitating things for your offense to open up that offense,
break down the defense that you're going to see from
All Miss.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
And you would want to do that against a team
like All of Miss, who's physical, can play defense really
really well. I think that now is certainly not the
time for UCLA to take their foot off the gas
and get complacent, because this is March. Like teams like
oh Miss are those teams that can possibly upset those
top teams because because.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
They're so hungry and they really really want it.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
So, as you said, I hope that they can balance,
you know, having that dog in them but also playing
and staying for their game and not playing I don't
want to say playing down to the competition, but there's
a number one O roll see for a reason, and
so they have to keep that consistency through and through
and then having obviously a player like Born Betch who
is a candidate for National Player of the Year helps
as well. So Erica, I have to ask you who
(31:28):
do you have reaching the final four, and then who's
your team that will be hoisting up that trophy?
Speaker 3 (31:33):
All right, I'll start with Birmingham three, because coming into
the tournament, I was pretty high on Texas, and I
think that had to do with I like that, you know,
they're not a team that's necessarily gonna with any consistency
drop on one hundred points on you. They lean into
their defense, they can definitely get their offense going. But
(31:56):
I liked how they were playing coming into the tournament,
and they Neil Ibby said, wait a minute, hold on,
wait a minute, My Nordre Dame squad is gonna be ready,
and they are playing a hungry style of basketball. Nordre
Dame is right now. So I think I'm gonna swap
it and say Nordre Dame comes through there taking South Carolina.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
I do.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
I just want to give a little shout out to
Duke that Duke North Carolina matchup. North Carolina matchup, I mean, okay,
but I do have South Carolina coming through. I'm gonna
take Ucla. I think the NC State LSU matchup's also
gonna be really interesting. But overall, I'm taking Ucla. I
think that the Ucla Bruins, similarly to Nordre Dame. Quite honestly,
(32:42):
they felt that they didn't empty the tank in last
year's tournament, and that's something that you have to think
about that for a whole year, well a few months
before you can get back after it. And I think
that's what's driving Nordre Dame and Ucla in this tournament.
And then I'm taking Yukon. Uh even before Juju, I
was leaning towards Yukon anyway, the Juju injury, I should
(33:05):
say I was leaning towards Yukon as far as who's
gonna take it overall, I'm switching it up again. I'm
probably gonna go Yukon South Carolina and this.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
One's three match South.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
Carolina, and I think, oh, I think I'm going Yukon.
I think I'm going to Yukon.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Put it.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
It's on the record now, so I can't change it.
They talk to me in another few days, it might
be different. So I like that.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
I like that I have.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
Something similar considering that Juju now has a season ended injury,
but I had I did have Yukon coming out. So
that was exactly my final four. But holding up the
championship trophy, I have South Carolina.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
I don't think you could go wrong.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
I'm not gonna go against the national champions and what
they can do.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
I do have Yukon South Carolina.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
As you know, the championship game rematch a Minnesota rematch
they played in the finals back in Minnesota a couple
of years.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
Ago, and South Carolina one. But yeah, no, that's very
very interesting.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
All right.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
So the Naysmith Coach of the Year finalists include Lindsay
Gottlieb from USC, Don Staley, South Carolina, Corey Close, UCLA,
and Mark Campbell TCU. So before we dive into the
Coach of the Year finalists, I want to know who's
your player to watch throughout the tournament.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Oh man, this is a tough one. There's so many
great players that are on great teams. We've mentioned Paige
a few times, even Juju before the injury. For me, though,
the player that I have to watch is going to
be Lauren Betts because we talked about and we know
that Hayley van Lynth has talked about her approach to
(34:49):
dealing with mental mental health and how it's impacted her
capabilities on the court. And Lauren talked about that earlier
this season as well. She talked about coming to uc
finding her game again and now she is the star
for UCLA. Ucla Bruins basketball. Women's basketball goes as Lauren
(35:10):
Betts goes, and she's had to learn a lot about
her leadership. And so I really think that for this
UCLA team that's had so much success for so long
in the regular season, they're still unfinished business. They still
want to be in the conversation, and they are the
(35:30):
number one overall team but among giants, right among storied programs,
and they are looking for a championship. And if they're
going to be successful, to getting to that championship game
and to winning, it has to come through how Lauren
Betts not only plays and performs individually, but how she's
(35:51):
able to get her team to believe, get her team
to do everything that they can possibly do to win
a title.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
I will certainly keep my eyes on Lauren. That's about
the tournament.
Speaker 4 (36:03):
Now.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
We talked about and broke down all of these.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Teams, and you know how they played the regular season,
how it's going to fare out throughout the tournament.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
But who do you have for Coach of the Year.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
This is a great field. I just have to say
that I'm leaning towards Mark Campbell. And that's tough the same,
see right, I think here here's my thought, and I
know you know I have strong thoughts just about awards
in general, MVP being one of them, because like, let's
lean into the words. What are the words in the
(36:33):
name of the award, and then we can go from there. Anyway,
I digress, So Coach of the Year. The reason I'm
leaning towards Mark Campbell TCU is because I'm taking into
account we talked about what you mentioned earlier, Christina, in
that this team was in a drastically different position one
season ago, and to now get this team to have
(36:56):
the opportunity to continue to make program history, I think
that has to mean something and also dependent on how far.
Speaker 6 (37:05):
This team championship as well, exactly, And I think, you know,
you have to take into account when you have a
coach that's doing something that's unprecedented in program history.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
That being said, Don Staley is the coach in women's
basketball that is transforming the sport. Her program is transforming
the sport, and she is a coach that players want
to be with, be in her program, understand the game,
(37:39):
how she understands the game. And so those two are
on opposite sides of a spectrum that is only going
to lift women's basketball. But for the purposes of this year,
given everything that I've already said, I'm going with Campbell absolutely.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Look, I agree, and I think that a case can
obviously be made for all of the candidates. I mean,
Corey Close, what she's done with UCLA and their regular
season record being the number one overall seed in a tournament.
You know, you can make a case for each one
of them. But I think that because of what Mark
Campbell's been able to do in terms of getting recruits
to go to TCU then also turning that program around.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
In just one season. Like I said earlier in.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
The show, this was a team who was literally holding
open tryouts last season because they did not have enough players.
They landed Haley Danlyth and other players and now making
their first Sweet sixteen a parents in program history. All Right,
so last topic of the headlines for this week. You know,
I got to bring up the New York Liberty because
(38:36):
we both cover the New York Liberty here in the city.
And so the New York Liberty made a big splash
in acquiring WNBA champion Natasha Cloud via Trode, but also
re signing Marine Johannes. Now, when free agency was happening,
a room's really counting Liberty out, like, oh, they're not
(38:58):
making any news.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
What's going on on? You know, you offlow.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
Courtney Vanderslut who went back to Chicago, and they needed
to fill that point guard position. Now we saw what
happened last season with Subrinio and Escu played point for
that eight game stretch when Courtney was out. But I'm
so happy they acquired a point guard to help her
because you know, you want her to play her best
at her best position and to bring us her best
at the two position. And so you bring in a
(39:23):
defensive point guard like Natasha Cloud who can help to
find that perimeter, which was like the New York Liberties
Achilles Hill for a very long time. But she's she
can also play make and play defense. That's like a
chef's kiss to making this team a lot better. And
then you bring that Marine Johannes, a player who is
very familiar with the team, has been around since twenty nineteen.
(39:45):
You know, played with her French national team. She can play, make,
she can score. My only issue with Marina is consistency
and efficiency but in defense. But you know, we'll get
around to that. She didn't have to do all that
because now she has the help around her right and
the supporting role players with the Liberty. But I think
that with those chin moves, the New York Liberty are
(40:07):
a little step above everyone else and they are certainly
going to be the team to beat. Obviously, they won
the championship last year. Ranna Stewart had a service recently, but.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
She should be ready by the time the season comes around.
What are your thoughts on these moves?
Speaker 3 (40:23):
Well, first, before, I want tosh Cloud coming for us sis,
so we gotta make sure we also put respect on her.
She can score two Okay.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
Remember said, oh wait, sorry, she's a shooter. As she says,
she's a shooter. Don't want Toshloun to come for us,
but uh shoot, she can shoot that thing.
Speaker 3 (40:42):
I got you, I got you. Yeah. Jokes. Aside, we
saw that tosh Cloud I was actually down in Miami
for Unrivaled. Around the time that that news came out,
it was wild, and we saw in her social media
video that Tosh said, New York, I know you need
a dog, and now you got a dog. I don't
(41:03):
know that I need to say anything else. I literally
have chills when I saw her say that, I was like,
that's absolutely correct, because, as you said, Christina Sabrini and
esk who's best position is at the two. I thought
she did a great job when she stepped when she
needed to step up for the team. I thought her
defense has been much better. And you know, everyone want
(41:24):
to clown her for that one in nineteen Baby Sabrina
needed to shoot them those shots even if she knew
they weren't going in, because she did what she needed
to do to make sure that everything was open for Leo, Niara,
JJ and everybody else. So I love that Sabrina has
that in her bag. Now she can be a leader
for this team and that this team is setting her
(41:46):
up to do what she does best. That's number one.
Then you think of Marine Johannes, who, at least with
the roster as we have it now, including all of
the training camp players, we're expecting her still to come
off of the bench. She is electric, She is known
as the magician, and she can get you quick shots,
quick buckets, and I think that's going to be huge.
(42:09):
So she can spell, you know, she can give you
time on the court, maybe taking over for that to
having her on the court with a player like Leo,
I cannot wait. I just I'm so glad that New
York was able to hold onto both of them, who
are just Jonathan Colb did a great job being able
to keep Leo and MJ marine Johannis in my opinion.
(42:31):
Then the other thing I have to mention is is
he Harrison. Why I think that's an important get is
because if Isy you know, is on this roster, she
gives you what Jonathan Colb built last year's team to
be long and versatile, and then to boot she has
WNBA experience. Unfortunately, be Nigelni Hamilton suffered an injury while
(42:55):
filling in at on Rivals. We know that she was
not one hundred percent take a few shots from what
we understand to be ready for that team. And so
with Benaja maybe not coming back one hundred percent stew
we expected to be back for a training camp, but
maybe you just want to be a little bit cautious
there as much as you can be, and knowing that
(43:16):
this is a little bit of a longer season for
a team that went the full distance. I like these moves.
I have given up making fun of Jonathan Colb and
his hybrid rebuild. For people who cover the New York Liberty,
you know, that's a little bit of a joke between
Jonathan could their GM and I because I was like,
explain this to me, Jonathan, I don't know what you mean,
hybrid rebuild. What are we doing here? He's shown the
(43:38):
league what he's doing. He's shown the league what he's doing.
It's length versatility, That's how he's building this squad. And
every one of his players can get a bucket on
the block and can shoot from range, and that, as
you said, makes this New York Liberty team dangerous. They
went up against Minnesota, though, that has a lot of
(43:58):
the similar skill sets, and they got burned, as you said,
in the backcourt going shot for shot with Tosh Cloud.
Now less of a likelihood that a team like a
Minnesota can do that. So I think the Liberty are
looking good, but as we all know, they got to
get the job done on the court. But I think
they're ready. I think they're hungry, they know what it
takes to win a championship, and everyone clown in them,
(44:20):
you know, perhaps about maybe they shouldn't have won. Well,
we'll see, because the banner's going up, the rings have
been sized, and the New York Liberty are champions and
you know, if they need more whiteboard material, then I
think the off season the WNBA has given it to them.
Speaker 1 (44:37):
I just want to bring up that they also will
have Rebecca Gardner back, who we know the season that
she had in Chicago prior to her injury in her
off season and she's been rehabbing in New York and
I'm excited to see her back in the mix as well,
another great player coming off the bench with experience as well,
in a player you broke up in the Tasha Cloud
saying that she's a dog, while the Liberty lost Kayla Thornton,
(44:59):
who was that for the New York Liberty team, And
so they insert a player like Natasha Cloud and it's
kind of seamless when you look at it. I know
that fans were expecting big splashes, but I think that
one thing that makes in Liberty a strong team is.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
The continuity and the chemistry amongst.
Speaker 1 (45:16):
The players, you still have pretty much your championship roster
intact outside of Courtney Vandals, Caleb Thornton. And then you
brought up the players being interchangeable, and I remember speaking
to Brian A. Stewed about that in training camp last year.
So crazy at years almost coming up again and we're
treating it was starting, but she talked about it the
start a training camp last year about you know, players
(45:38):
being able to play any position. I know that for
Jonathan coleb after their loss to the Las Vegas Aces
in the finals two years ago, it was about the
minute stew he was playing and not having players who
can necessarily, you know, go in for her, John Paul Jones,
same thing. And so now you have these interchangeable players
where it just strengthens the team, the depth of they'll
they'll have coming off the bench, Leo taking a bigger role,
(46:01):
Niara having a bigger role, as well as we await
the status of Benaja Wayney Hamilton in terms of what
her injury is and what that will look like. I
think that the New York Liberty will definitely farewell this season.
So all right, thank you so much for joining us
this week on and case you missed it with Christina
Williams Erica always fun to chat hoops with you.
Speaker 3 (46:23):
Absolutely, thank you, Sis, and you know we we we
always cross paths every once in a while. Now that
unfortunately I'm not living in New York anymore, but you
already know that we'll be there for that ring ceremony.
And you mentioned the Las Vegas aces. Chelsea Gray's like,
oh oh, we got them for the for the banner raising,
let's go. So from jump the w NBA season is
(46:45):
about to be wild. We get to see also Golden
State where Kayla Thornton went. So I'm excited for it all.
But thank you for everything that you do, Sis, and
for always bringing you know, the homies along for the ride.
I appreciate everything that you and your current.
Speaker 2 (46:58):
I was gonna say, I was like, we should get too.
We've been there since the trenches in Westchester, in Madisonsburg,
Chester and where there.
Speaker 1 (47:06):
Was just like four or five of us covering this
team and now we see them win a championship.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
But all jokes aside Africa.
Speaker 1 (47:12):
I'm looking forward to Ring Knight to see that banner
go up in New York. I'm unbiased, but I'm from
New York. So just to be able to see that
women's warts being the standard in the city, you can't
beat that.
Speaker 2 (47:24):
So I'm excited for Ring Knight.
Speaker 1 (47:41):
Welcome Back to in case you missed it with Christina Williams,
and it's time for my.
Speaker 2 (47:47):
Favorite part of the show. And here is the thing
that I love this week.
Speaker 1 (47:52):
All right, y'all, So over the weekend, I feel like
I've relived my childhood and that I went to the
twenty twenty five Millennium Tour and it was something that
I was honestly on the fence about because a lot
of the artists are a lot older, don't really.
Speaker 2 (48:09):
Move the same way that they used to back in
the day. But I was born on a Friday night
and I was like, what the heck, get tickets and
go to Barclays Center.
Speaker 1 (48:18):
And so I arrived at Barkways and the vibes were immaculate.
Speaker 2 (48:22):
I had floor seats. My favorite performance had to be
bow Wow.
Speaker 1 (48:26):
I feel like there's a lot of TikTok trader about
the tour in general. People are really upset about, I guess,
the quality of performances.
Speaker 2 (48:36):
But I feel like bow Wow proved why he.
Speaker 1 (48:39):
Is a living legend in that he did what needed
to be done, his stage presence, his audience engagement, his
set list.
Speaker 2 (48:48):
Like he sung all of the hits. He did the
Harlem Shake in New York, so I really felt.
Speaker 1 (48:53):
Like I was reliving my childhood. I also enjoyed Trey's songs.
I feel like the mic was on the vocals there.
Speaker 2 (49:01):
But yeah, it was a fun time. Overall, very chaotic
ray J.
Speaker 1 (49:05):
I don't know why he did a song where he
was like walking through the audience. I feel like there's
nothing in his catalog that was solicit him to do
anything like that.
Speaker 2 (49:15):
But he had good energy. But overall, I would give
the Millennium Tour a six out of ten.
Speaker 7 (49:22):
It's worth going if you loved all of these artists
when you were like a teenager or in middle school,
for sure you can relive some of that glory.
Speaker 1 (49:33):
But yeah, the vibes were good. I think that what
made it good was the people the vibes. Brooklyn is
always a good time, but yeah, that was the thing
that I loved this week. That's gonna do it for
this week's show. Next week we have more from the
NCAA Tournament, and we are still gonna come live from Tampa,
so make sure you tune and don't forget to rate, review,
(49:56):
and subscribe to the show and Peace in case you
missed it with Christina Williams is an iHeart women's sports
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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