October 2, 2024 • 43 mins
Khristina is joined by WNBA Champion and LA Sparks Guard Lexie Brown. They discuss her battle with Crohn’s disease, her reaction to the Sparks parting ways with Head Coach Curt Miller, and why she thinks the Lynx will win the WNBA Title.
They also get into Lexie’s amazing run with the Chicago Sky to the 2021 WNBA Championship, her favorite memories of playing with Candace Parker, growing up with an NBA star for a father, and why she decided to get off of Twitter/X this season.
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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CREDITS
Executive Producers:
Nikki Ettore
Jessie Katz
Tyler Klang
Jonathan Strickland
Supervising Producer:
Peter Coughter
Producer & Editor:
Tari Harrison
Sound Engineer:
Ashley Burke
Host:
Khristina Williams
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
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 In case you missed It with
Christina Williams. And today we have a very special guest,
WNBA star Alexi Brown, and I'm super excited for this conversation.
(00:25):
We're gonna talk all things LA Sparks. We're gonna get
into some of the WNBA playoff talks, talk about her
winning a championship in Chicago in twenty twenty one, and
then we're gonna get some aut Yes Athletes Unlimited is
going to Nashville in twenty twenty five, and Lexi Brown
is here to break it all down for us. And
(00:47):
before we talk to Lexi, let's get into a few headlines.
Los Angeles Sparks and head coach Kurt Miller have mutually
agreed to part ways. Sparks will begin their search for
a new head coach immediately. As a team, the Sparks
finished twenty five and fifty five and Miller's two seasons
(01:07):
in LA they didn't qualify for the playoffs during his tenure.
And we know that Kurt Miller is one of the
most winning coaches in the WNBA, and the Sparks are
definitely in a rebuilt era post Derek Fisher. I'm sure
that he's a coach that will definitely land on his feet,
especially with opening in Chicago. Potentially we had the Golden
(01:30):
State Valkyries launching next year, so a coach like Kurt Miller.
I can't imagine the WNBA, you know, being what it
is without a coach like him in the league. It
is shocking, though, that they've decided to part ways with
him as this team looks to rebuild. All right, Moving
right along, the Chicago Skuy parted ways with head coach
(01:51):
Teresa Weatherspoon, and here is the statement from Chicago's Guy
co owner and operating chairman Nadia Rawlinson quote, at the
careful consideration, we've decided it is in our best interest
of the organization to part ways with head coach Teresa
Witherspoon end quote. Rollins also said, quote, we are deeply
(02:11):
appreciative of coach Teespoon's contributions to the Chicago Sky and
the energy and passion she brought to the head coaching role.
We thank her for inspiring a competitive, resilient spirit across
the team synonymous with the Chicago Basketball We remained steadfastly
committed to being a playoff and championship contender every year,
(02:33):
and we will be embarking on a thorough search for
our next head coach. Teaspoon will always be part of
the Skytown family and we wish her the very best
end quote. So, yeah, I would love to see Teaspoon
get an opportunity elsewhere, especially because her time in Chicago
was so limited. She only had eleven months to turn
(02:53):
a franchise around that was one injury ridden and in
a rebuilt stage. And so here's what Las Vegas Aces
coach Becky Hammond had to say about the Chicago Sky's
firing up. Teresa Weatherspoon, take a listen.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
I don't know how you make that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
It doesn't make any sense to me. I thought they
overplayed their roster, meaning I thought.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
They were in a rebuild, so I'll trade away all
your pieces. I don't know what you.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Expected of that roster, but I thought she got the
most out of her roster. And any organization that thinks
you're going to create culture and put things upside down
on total home improvement and.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Not less than a year.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
I just don't think here realistic expectations.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
You can't sell culture, you can't sit get character and
your pieces in the right places. So I don't I
don't understand how it makes sense at all. I think
is wrong. It just seems flat out wrong to me.
Spoon's resilient.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
I know she'll land on her feet, So yeah, I
totally agree with coach Hammond on this one. It really
doesn't make much sense to me, especially with the statement
that the Chicago's Guy made of wanting to be a
championship and playoff contending team. You're in and you're out.
(04:18):
You don't do that by firing a Hall of Famer
and you're head coach eleven months into the job. This
is something that's going to take at least two years
to continue to build, and I honestly think it's just
a bad look for the Chicago's Guy front offers to
make a move like that in the postseason unless there's
something that we don't know beyond what they told us
(04:39):
of the reason of her being fireds because they didn't
make the playoffs. It is an unrealistic expectation this season
to think that this Chicago's Guy roster was going to
be a roster to contend for one A championship or
the playoffs. And when you think about what te Spoon
has done in one season alone, this team was a
team that was about two games out of clinching that
(05:00):
eighth spot. And so when we talk about continuity, this
is something that you know, maybe year two it would
have looked differently, especially with expansion draft and having free agents.
You know, that would have been more on the GM
to get the pieces necessary to contend to make playoffs.
But you know, teaspoond as Becky said, is resilient and
(05:21):
you know, I hope she lands on her feet. So
without brother Ado, please welcome in twenty twenty one WMA
champion in Los Angeles Sparks guard Lexi Brown to the show. Lexi,
how are you doing today? And thank you so much
for being here.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
I'm good and thank you for having me. You know,
we've been planning this for a while, so I'm glad
to finally be able to make an appearance on your show.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Yes, I'm so happy to have you on. And I
know we've done some stuff in the past, but lots
to get into. So I want to start with how
you're feeling because I know that this season was a
little bit up and down for you as you revealed
your battle with Crohn's, So I just want to know
how you're doing these days and yeah, what have you
been up to.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yeah, well, first of all, I want to say, I
appreciate you asking. You'd actually be surprised at how many
people don't ask me how I'm doing or how I'm feeling,
So thank you for that. But I'm feeling really good.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
You know.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
There's a few more hurdles that I'm trying to overcome
right now with you know, the chrome stuff, But as
far as you know, when this started, it's like night
and day. So I feel like almost completely back to
myself again. I'm back at like my playing weight finally
two years later almost and it's been a struggle, but
I'm back in the gym, working out, doing things that
(06:40):
I love to do again. But every day is definitely
you know, you have that in the back of your
mind of certain things that you have to you know,
keep your eye on and worry about, which you know
that's been hard to adjust to, but that's just my
new normal. But when I feel like, you know, when
I'm getting in these moments of like why do I
have to deal with this? Why did this happen to me?
(07:00):
You know, I just think back of how bad I
felt this time last year and even during the summer
of the season last year, and how far I've come,
and that just makes me happy, That makes me grateful,
and I'm just really blessed that, you know, I'm feeling
the way I'm feeling right now because I did not
think that I would be able to get back to
this point.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
I personally appreciate your transparency about your journey, just even publicly,
how you've been able to chronicle your own experience with
Crohn's disease and just being a professional athlete and navigating
the ups and downs of it. And sometimes your test
can be a testimony, right like you raising awareness can
help the next person who's going through the same journey.
(07:39):
So I truly appreciate you just being open and vulnerable
with your journey.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
LEXI, thank you. I mean, it's been actually really amazing
how many people have reached out and said that me
being so transparent has helped them, you know, be more
transparent with their journey and you know, giving them a
little bit more confidence to do things that they maybe
didn't think that they'd be able to do again. And
at the end of the day, that's kind of why
I decided to be so transparent about it, because after
(08:05):
researching it and talking to the doctors and realizing that
people are uneducated about it, people don't really know much
about it, and people who deal with you know, autoimmune
diseases or you know, ibs, IB these type things and
colitis are like sometimes I even embarrassed to talk about
it because it is such an intimate and personal thing.
This you got affect you and impact your day to
(08:25):
day life. So I was like, you know what, let
me just take up with a team and y'all gon
just know all my business. And part of part of
it was actually even helping me get through it, because
at the beginning I really had no idea what was
going on, and if anybody has been following me, like
on TikTok and stuff, it was basically me just kind
of like, well, this is going on and I don't
really know what's happening, but we're going to try to
(08:47):
figure it out. And then all of a sudden I
got the diagnosis and we've just been moving from there.
But the support has been really amazing. My doctors have
been amazing, My family friends have been amazing. So it's
been it's been a tyranny, but it's been good.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
And I feel like you've always sort of been an
open book throughout your career, Like you're one of the
WNBA players who kind of started the trend of youtubing
and blogging, you know, your day to days, and so
we appreciate whenever athletes can open up in that way
where we can learn more about them beyond what they
do on the court.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Yeah, I mean it's important, I think.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Yeah, absolutely, So let's get into the Sparks this season.
In February, you signed, you know, your two year extension
with the Los Angeles Sparks. And I know we've talked
like off the camera about your journey as a basketball
player and all of the stops that you had, But
how does it feel for you to just finally feel
like you are in a place where one you deserve
(09:39):
to be when it comes to your skill and athletic
system that you are part of an organization that finally
just lets you grow and develop as an athlete.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Yeah, it's been a roller coaster and I tell people
all the time that if I can describe my career
in one word, it would be that. But it has
been nice to find a home in Los Angeles and
I've personally and found at home, but the stability part
has still not really kick been yet. You know, this
season will be my fourth coach since I've been here.
(10:10):
You know, I've had a plethora of teammates come through LA.
So for me, it's just nice to be grounded and rooted.
I have my confidence to sustain all this constant change,
which I think is we're changing for the better and
there's changes being made over year to year that is
improving the organization. And I'm like, I think I'm the
(10:30):
longest tenured player and it's only been three years, and
I think that's insane on a WNBA team, and you
have players that have been in organizations for eight, nine,
ten years. So I think we're headed in the right direction.
But for me personally, it was just all about finding
a home and a place where I can hone my
skills and become a specialist and shoot the ball how
I want to shoot the ball, and just build a
(10:52):
championship culture. And I think that, you know, we take
a few steps forward, take a few steps back, but
I think that's what a rebuild is all about. Really
grateful to be a part of it.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Yeah, absolutely. And you know you talked about the coaching changes,
and obviously in the headlines is the Sparks parting ways
with head coach Kurt Miller. What was your reaction to
just hearing that news that you know, the Sparks will
be looking for another head coach in the off season.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
I mean, when you have a season like we had,
that's definitely something that circulates in your brain, is what
type of changes are going to be made in the
off season. For me personally, you know, I was a
little disappointed because I thought that, you know, this season
and last season, it was just like a lot of
things that were thrown at Kurt and the and the
organization and the team. I'm sure that on the outside
(11:42):
looking and people think that we could probably have handled
it a little bit better and want a few more games,
try to keep some players in LA. But there's a
lot of things that a lot of people don't know about,
and a lot of things out of the organization and
the coaching staffs control. You know, selfishly, I was like
I would like to not have a new coach again
to you know, learning a whole new system, you know,
(12:02):
a whole new staff, a whole new anything. But for me, like,
that's one of my favorite things about basketball is learning
how other people think the game. And I'm a sponge
and I catch off to things quickly. So personally, I
like as far as like being in a new system,
a new office, new difference, Like, I'm not worried about that.
I mean it's the personal part that building a relationship
and building a connection and building a culture, like that's
(12:23):
the part that I haven't really been able to do
since I've been in Los Angeles. So I mean, I
wish him the best. I wish that we were able
to have a full season together after being with him
my rookie year. But I think he'll bounce back. He'll
be fine. You know, he's a great basketball mind. He's
a basketball nerd, just like me. So yeah, to say
like disappointing, yeah for sure. But you know, it's a
(12:44):
business at the end of the day. I've learned that firsthand.
So you know, like I said, I wish him the best,
And yeah, I hope we bring in a coach that
is ready because as you see this is not an
easy job to have, but I'm excited. I'm excited to
see who, you know, we decide to bring in.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
You talked about the next step for the Sparks and
who could potentially be the next head coach, and obviously
Hall of Famer Teresa with the Spoon is someone who
also lost a job this past week. Would you want
Teaspoon in La possibly?
Speaker 2 (13:14):
I mean, I wouldn't be against you know, her coming
in to see what she has to say. What she's
talking about. A coach getting fired after one season is
kind of odd, but you know, again, a business, you
don't know what goes on behind closed doors, what was
going on, Like I personally have no information about that
situation at all. You know, you have players who are
(13:36):
raving about her, you have players who don't really have
or really said anything. But that's again, you take everything
with a grain of salt. But I mean, I would
love to have a few coaches, you know, possibly come
in and talk with us and talk with the organization.
And I hope that at least I get to be
a little bit involved in the selection process. I think
I've earned that, I think I deserve that. But if not,
I'm not going to feel a way if they don't
(13:57):
ask me, because again, like who am I I'm not
the front office. But I think it'd be important to
get some of the player's input to who they bring
in with this group, especially this really young and super
talented group. I think it's very important to bring in
the right person.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Yeah. Absolutely. I saw some fans throughout Carolyn peck I
personally tweeted, I think ty Marsh should get a look
from the Las Vegas Aces. I think that what he's
done with that team in terms of development players like
Jackie Young, his repertoire with like players around the industry,
his NBA experience, couple with the WNBA experience with the
two time champions, the Las Vegas Aces, I think it
(14:35):
would be dope to get tie a Loop or even Natalie.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
From That's what the NBA does they dismantled championship staffs.
That we don't do in this league is we just
go find new people when really you have a whole
coaching staff that has built an amazing culture and you
just let them continue to build a championship closures. I like, no,
come build a championship called co career please, So you know,
(14:59):
I wouldn't be mad at that at all. But again,
I think Lindsay Harding was also another one that came
to my mind. But obviously she's with the Lakers now,
you know, she's dou Grad. I know what she's done
in the G League has been incredible, but obviously JJ
redd it got to her before we even had a chance.
So I'm just really excited to see you know I
would I would prefer, you know, a younger coach, maybe
(15:22):
maybe a woman. Honestly, woman or man, that doesn't really
matter to me. I just want you to know your
shit and at the end of the day, everything else
will take care of it.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
So absolutely all right, we're gonna take a quick break,
but when we come back, we're gonna discuss the w
NBA semifinals, some goat talk, as well as Alexi's life
off the court, her fashion, and her famous father more
on In case you missed it with Christina Williams, will
we get back on iHeartRadio. LEXI. So, as you know,
(16:06):
right now, we're in the middle of the w NBA
playoffs and you're a player that's been there before. In
twenty twenty one, you were part of that championship team
with the Chicago Spy. Personally, I want to get the
prediction before we go into your twenty twenty one championship.
Where do five?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Yeah, I've been saying that the Links are gonna win.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Listen, your former Links you played under coach show read
early in your career. What can you tell us about
just her coaching style and just the culture with the Links.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Yeah, I mean culture first and foremost. You know, they
have all those championships when they have that dynasty with Maya,
Simone and sil so you get constantly reminded of that,
and I think that is a super motivating thing. He
doesn't really take much to give people extra motivation when
you look up and at the banners and the whole
you know, facility has all the championship stuff all over
(16:57):
the place, and you can still feel that energy, you know,
in the target center and the practice facility. I think
the biggest thing that I remember from being on the
Links is the preparation that went into the games and
how much was put on the players. So I remember,
you know, sitting in the locker room and we would
be going down the scouting report and Coach would be like,
(17:18):
le see, what does this person do might not even
be my matchup for the night. So I think like
little things like that I remember and stuck out to
me because I thought that was really cool that, you know,
she held everybody accountable. She could have asked someone who
probably wasn't even gonna play that night what the person
on the scouting report does. And I think that's how
you keep your entire team top to bottom, locked in
and focused. And I think that's why they have been
(17:40):
so well balanced, because she keeps everybody like on top
of it, because you never know who you're gonna need,
especially in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Yeah, and you have that playoff experience you won in
twenty twenty one with the Chicago Scott What was that
championship run like? I mean, especially I was in Chicago
watching that series against the Phoenix Mercury. But as a player,
you've played with so many Hall of famers and literally
so like, what was that experience like in twenty twenty
(18:07):
one for you?
Speaker 2 (18:08):
It was so fun. I mean I was on I
came on that team, you know, over halfway through the season,
so I kind of knew what my role was going
to be, and that was just energy on the bench.
And then when I got in my opportunities, come in to
the game, just do it what I needed to do.
But I really embraced that role of just being super
locked in on the bench, being a voice on the bench,
and just kind of just being that positive energy, you know,
(18:30):
when things weren't going great. You know, I was right there,
I saw something. I was always you know, wanting to
tell somebody, oh, like the guarding you like this, or
look at this, you know, look at this read. And
that was just something that I really embraced while I
was on that team. You know, we were the sixth seed.
I think, yeah, you know, we went in was like
we wanted to win. We knew that we could win.
(18:51):
But again, there was very little pressure at least how
I felt. You know, you could say something different about
like Candice and saluting all them, like they probably felt
a lot of pressure to you know, win that championship.
But it was just really fun. And when you're able
to steal some wins on the road in the playoffs,
like that's so important. People don't realize how important that
is is to steal those games on the road. But
(19:12):
when we were able to you know, finish it up
in Chicago, it was just an amazing atmosphere is an
amazing feeling, and it's something that I want to experience again.
Like i'ven't been back to the playoffs since, so like
that's like my last memory of the playoffs is winning
a championship, So I really missed that. Atmosphere was a
blast and I learned so much.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I'm sure you'll get there. And you spoke about Candace
Parker she announced the retirement at the start of this season.
What was it like being able to, you know, just
play with Candace in Chicago and that time period with her.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
It was amazing and it made me realize something like
very interesting about like Team Dynamics because you know, like
I want to be like a GM in the future
and stuff like that. Is the relationships players have with
each other are so different, like depending on like your
playing time. So like for me, I don't think I
touched the court with Cannas like for maybe more than
like thirty minutes total, like the entire season. So for me,
(20:06):
I'm looking I'm still looking at Cannas like it's Cannas Parker.
It's like saying, when I just get to watch and
admire all the time and then you look at like
one of my teammates who plays almost the entire game
with her like a car. Like they developed a completely
different type of relationship. You know, they were able to
have candon conversations, get into it, like go back and forth,
but like also love each other and celebrate each other.
(20:28):
Made me kind of realize, like how delicate relationships on
teams are, and how when you're the leader of a
team and when you're the best player on the team,
how it's not easy to like manage all those relationships,
especially with grown women that got their own stuff going on.
Like in college and high school, that's easy, Like we're
all kids, like it's easy, and then the coach pretty
much regulates everything. But when you're a pro, like it's
(20:52):
not like that at all. So, you know, I was
just really impressed by how she was able to handle
all of that pressure, coming into a new city, coming
into a new team, promising his championship, and then also
going to do her T and T thing, Like I
think that that was one of my favorite things about
being with Cannis is we would see her on TNT
and then we would have practice in the morning and
she'd be pulling up and she saw her last soon
(21:14):
from makeup that during the show, so it was like,
that's really really when I got motivated to like, oh,
you can absolutely do both things at the same time
and be creative both, and she like really has inspired
me on. I've never really told her that, so I
don't know if she'll ever hear this, but like she's
somebody that I've always looked at and just been like,
you can absolutely be amazing at two careers at the
(21:35):
same time.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Yeah, I mean growing up, I watched Cannis Parker play
at Tennessee just from the outside looking in, and she's
definitely one of reasons why I wanted to one get
into the media side of things. I've always been like
on the story telling side, but just seeing Cannis Parker
play at Tennessee under Pat Summit was like, oh my god.
I love women's basketball. Like I mean, obviously you have
the legends like Cheryl and Lisa and who wants to
(21:58):
pay it away, But for like me and like my generation,
I just feel like Candice was just like that.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
One I watched her in the Final Four. I told
her all the time, I was like, I want to
her Final Four in Tampa. She's like don't age me.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
I think one of the craziest things. One of the
craziest things for me was like being at All Star
in Phoenix this past summer and being invited to her party,
her All Star party. It is like, damn, we're really partying. Yeah,
like insane? All right? Moving right along another goat Diana
to Razzi sort of hinting this season at.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Retire is so funny. It's funny, like who hits out
of retirement, Like just retired? I retire, but I wouldn't.
I didn't expect nothing less from from one of the greatest, honestly.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Yeah. She kind of said that if she were to
retire that she wouldn't tell anyone, she would just kind
of leave on her own terms. And that's such a
Diana to Rozzie thing.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
All right.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
So one of the things many people don't know about
you is that your dad played in the NBA. D Brown,
former Celtics player and also former Slam Dunk champion in
the NBA. What was it like growing up in like
a sports household for you and your father being in
the NBA? What was that like?
Speaker 2 (23:18):
It was really fun? And I don't honestly, I don't
really talk about like how I grew up outside of
like the court and being on like doing basketball stuff
with him, but like the things I got to experience
as like a child and the people that we were around,
like at a young age were just incredible. And it's
really like shaped who I am as a person, as
(23:38):
a businesswoman, as a professional. Like it's just so many
things that I got to do at a young age
that a lot of people probably won't get to do
in their lifetime. And I got to credit my dad
and my mom, you know, allowing us to have these
experiences and explore the world and get to know so
(23:59):
many different types people and always be willing to learn.
He has like one of the highest basketball IQs in
a person, and he doesn't talked much, but what he
does he like he's a yabber, And that's I used
to think I got my yapping from my mother, but
I think I got it from him, because once he
gets rolling, he gets going so off the court on
the court, like I'm his like his little princess, I'm
(24:19):
his baby girl forever, and I'm like the biggest daddy's girl.
So it's just been really fun for us to have
this journey and grow through this experience together.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
And when you were young, he also coached in the
w NBA and you got exposed to it pretty early
on as a young kid. How has that like kind
of impacted your relationship with the game, just seeing your
dad being able to be a player and be a
coach and just navigate through all those different parts of
the game.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Yeah, I mean I was super young when he was coaching,
but I remember being in the gym with all of them.
I was in locker room, I was in practices, never
got to travel because obviously the traveling was still what
it was. But being around the league that early has
made me appreciate the growth of it, like probably a
(25:06):
little bit more than most players, because a lot of
players weren't exposed to the WNBA to a little bit
later in their lives, which is fine. But I was
like all up in it when I was a kid,
and I thought, I mean, at that age, I thought
it was the most amazing thing ever, not knowing all
the things that they were dealing with and battling and struggling.
On the other hand, because they were they were grown.
I was a kid, and you know, I was just like, oh,
(25:26):
they're just they get to play basketball all day and
blah blah blah blahlah, and that was just not the case.
And now when I'm a little bit older, and I
talked to my dad about, you know, what he dealt
with as a head coach in the w in the
early two thousands, He's just kind of like, you better
be freaking grateful about like what y'all have now and
what y'all got going on, and all this exposure and
all this freedom and all this money, Like y'all have
(25:50):
no idea like where we were at, you know, less
than twenty years ago. So this growth period that we're
experiencing right now, even from my rookie year to now,
the growth has been incredible. So I'm always just super
thankful to be a part of the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Yeah, and you talked about the growth of the WNBA,
and we know that with the growth, there's been some
good things happening and some bad things happening, namely with
also in the headlines this week, the WNBPA and the
media relationship between players, athletes and the w and media,
but also just a relationship with I don't want to
(26:25):
say social media trolling and like kind of minimize the
experience of athletes. But for what it's worth, just with
the growth, there's a lot of things happening with with
the w and the players. How has that been for you,
just to navigate the growth and dealing with those things.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Well, last season I got off Twitter right after training
camp ended, and then I ended up getting sick, so
I remained off. This season, I did the same thing,
knowing that this was probably gonna happen. I think that
this means that we have made it. We are here,
(27:03):
we have not risen above. You know, going back and
forth with people online. You don't see very many professional
athletes in any sport anymore going back and forth with
people online because of the culture of support and fan interaction,
Like it used to be a fun thing, because that's
(27:23):
how I've kind of built my platform on Twitter, was
interacting with fans, sometimes negative, mostly positive, but always funny.
Like things are not funny anymore, and it's like, like
it's not funny, how it's funny? Weird? And I think
that a lot of players just need to get off
(27:44):
and if there's things that needs to be said, there
are things that need to be posted, they need to
find somebody to do that. For them and keep it
moving because the league is going to just keep growing
and growing. It's going to keep getting worse and worse
because the world is going to continue to get more
and more miserable and ridiculous. And that's just the reality.
And it's not just sports. Every industry is feeling it
(28:07):
and seeing it and experiencing it. But for me, like
I've coen trolled and had weird things said to me
since I stepped foot into the WBA, So I'm just like,
you know, this is just something that happens. Like people
have just been very nasty to me online for a
long time, and I've kind of just gotten to a
place of that mentally where I'm just like, one, there's
no money for me on Twitter, so there's really no
(28:29):
reason for me to be on there. Yes, sometimes it's important,
especially for people like you and I to get a
pulse on what's going on, what's happening, But it's actually
been very nice being in a Lexi bubble and I
have no idea what's going on. I have no idea
what's going on.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
I don't I don't blame you, like I'm sometimes posted
and just mute the conversation.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Exit the appan bliss. That is a real thing, and
that has been me all summer, and the things I've
seen has been because people have sent it to me.
Sometimes I will like tap in to Twitter to see
and it's like literally the wild Wild West on there,
And I cannot believe that Twitter looks like that now.
But I probably will return for NBA season. Yes, not
(29:12):
as an active tweeter, but an active Twitter watcher or
an ex watcher, like I tell people all the time
myself ever since to turn to X some things elon,
I don't know what you put an X, but it
may everybody lose their mind. So I don't really go
on there anymore, but I do. It is funny on there.
(29:33):
It is also dangerous on there, and it is very
silly and goofy on there. Again, you have no idea
who you're talking to on Twitter. So I just feel like, yes,
it's a lot of trolling, it's a lot of negativity,
it's a lot of hate, but there's also you know,
a lot of love and support and good, good pockets
of Twitter that you can find. But I hope for
next season, you know a lot of these players just
(29:56):
to just not even be on there, at all.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Yeah, you gotta protect your piece. And you know, I
thought one of the funniest things this week was the
whole nail situation cut your nails with Djna Carrington and
all that stuff. And you're someone who, you know, you're
into the beauty industry. You got your long nails and
lashes and all of that things. What do you think
is important in terms of the league promoting athletes who
(30:21):
go all out? I mean, so that it can become
a normal thing. We've seen, you know, the here's the
setting spray, Dhna care into in conversation, the Angel reies
with the Blush, Cameron Brink, your teammates for Kia Jackson,
all of y'all be slaying in the tunnels. But how
do you think that also helps the growth.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Of Yeah, I mean, I think it doesn't need to
be over talked about because I just think like, it's
just us being us, it's us existing as who we are.
And I think the more people, you know, talk about it,
and then then then you talk about it too much,
and then you get the people who are like, well,
maybe they're just doing it because they want this right,
maybe they're doing this for attention, or when really they're
(31:00):
just existing and who they are and they've always been
that way, so I feel like the conversation just needs
to kind of just relax. But yeah, I think it's
great that all the girls are getting, you know, attention
for like just being themselves and who they are and
being applauded for it. You know, there are the sprinkle
of hate, but if you're playing a professional basketball game
and someone is making fun of your nails, that's probably
(31:22):
a good thing because obviously they're not making fun of
your game and that's what you're out there to do.
If they got to go to your nails are too long,
your lashes are too long, but they are not talking about, oh,
you can't make a shot or you're not out there
doing your job, then shit, talk about my nails all
you want, because you're not gonna talk about my game
because you can't, period. So I mean, I think it's
amazing that everyone is kind of stepping into who they
(31:42):
are whatever that looks like. I'm just really happy because
I've been wanting that for the entire league for so
long and people have kind of just been like, shut up, Lexi,
and I'm just kind of like, okay, But when it happens.
Like I ain't gonna say I told y'all so, but
like when the league allowed everybody to just be who
they are and exist who they are, whatever, that looks
like the league is going to explode, and I agree,
(32:04):
we're seeing it in real time.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Also in the headlines from this past week, Yeah, your
teammate Laisha Clarendon announced their retirement from the w NBA.
What was your experience like with Ley and how do
you feel about her retiring.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
I actually crossed paths with Laysia a bunch of times
throughout my career, and it's crazy like we like linked
up at like very interesting times of our career, So
like right at the beginning of my career during COVID
when she was doing all the social justice work which
was amazing, at the tail end of her career, and
then obviously me dealing with my sickness. Just having somebody
(32:40):
like Leasia who's always just a light and so positive
and so supportive, like she was just an amazing person
to have on my team, especially these last two years
when I was dealing with all this stuff, and in turn,
like Laisia deals with with their own stuff too, so
we were able to, you know, kind of bond a
lot these last two years, you know, kind of throughout
(33:00):
our prospective traumas dealing with the WNBA stuff. And that's
kind of just sometimes how it is as a professional athlete.
You know, you you come in contact with somebody that
hasn't had you know, the most amazing and when I
say amazing, like easy, you know, just up and down.
She bounced around a lot of teams a lot, just
like me, so we were able to, you know, bond
(33:22):
on a lot of things like that. But her retiring
is super sad. I really wish I was able to
finish this season with them, And yeah, I wish them
the best, and I know that they'll be around and
her family's amazing and I'm going to miss them a ton.
But I think she's going to do amazing things in
the next part of her life. And she has so
(33:42):
much to offer this world outside of sports and outside
of basketball, and I'm really excited for them to be
able to share that.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
As a veteran on the LA Sparks, I mean, this
is a team that has some of the top rookies
in Rakiah Jackson and Cameron Brink who's recovering from a
recent injury. Been like to want to just be a
vet to them on the team as they try to
navigate their pro career, but also what do you think
about their game?
Speaker 2 (34:10):
I think that being a vet to them it was
really fun. I'm a vocal leader, I'm a lead by
example leader, but I'm also very much hands off. You know,
if you want help, ask for If you don't want help,
I'm not going to like overwhelm you with advice and
commentary and critique, because that's not what I liked when
I was young. Sometimes people just kind of like to
figure it out on their own and then if they
(34:30):
need help, then they'll be like, Okay, I need help,
and then of course I'm always going to be there.
I think it was really cool to see them get
the opportunities early that a lot of rookies don't often see,
to make mistakes, to learn to grow, to be challenged,
you know. I think we threw Key and Cam like
right into the fire. I think our first game, Cam
(34:52):
had a Guardina Charles, and we were like, sorry, Cam, like,
deal with it. Nobody can stop hers, and I'm like
she was like getting really down, Like Cam, literally, no
one has been able to stop her her entire career,
like you are fine, Like keep doing your best, like
keep doing your job, you will be okay. So it's
like little like things of confidence like that that I
like to drop to them. And seeing how her Kia
(35:14):
finished the season was really amazing, and for her to
get the opportunity this early, you know, I'm really excited
for her year two. She's going to go plan on rival,
which I think is going to be great for her,
challenge herself and come back ready for her for her
sophomore season. And then Cam just getting healthy, and I
just told her to take her time, She'll be fine,
(35:35):
stay confident, and we'll be here waiting when you're ready
to come back and join us. But I love having them.
They were a pleasure. They definitely are little young entrepreneur businesswomen,
which I think is amazing. So seeing them go do
all the little things off the court was really cool
for me too.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
And obviously the Spark season didn't end with it you
guys wanted. You guys finished last with eight and thirty
two on the season. Looking ahead twenty twenty five, what
do you hope the team does to get better in
twenty twenty five?
Speaker 2 (36:07):
I just think overall from especially for me watching for
most of the season, we were just dealing with a
lot of moving pieces. People were hurt, people were sick,
people were temporary. They were gone and they were back
and then they were gone again. So honestly, I really
think that the way they handled it, like being in
the locker room with them and being in practice, like
(36:27):
they handled it with a lot of grace because I
don't know how many groups of players would be able
to at least like stay positive with each other so much.
And I think that's one of the things I love
about this team is how much positivity and like love
there is amongst everybody. But like more it was just
like of a want to. Like I don't know if
people who know what that means know and if they don't, like,
(36:49):
I don't really know how to explain it, but in
sports terms, like people know, like you got to have
like a next level want to, and I think that
comes with maturity. I think that comes with you know,
kind of maybe being like punching them out a little bit,
which is basically what the season was for a lot
of us, was like we just got punched them out
over and over and over and never got up, So
I think it was a great learning experience. And I
(37:11):
think the best thing is we can't Loki can't get
worse than last because we got another thing coming. I
don't think that's gonna be the case. I'm really excited
for this group. And I mean, obviously things happen in
the offseason and free agencies, so I'm excited about the
moves we're gonna make. But for me personally, I'm just
really excited to get back on the court as the
(37:33):
version of myself that I was before all this started happening.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
Well, I'm looking forward to seeing you on the court.
You are a sharp shooter, and I'm so proud of
all of your development, just on and off the court,
how you've matured so much. But also your game speaks
for itself, like Lexie Brown is a freaking shooter. Last
thing before you get out of here, athletes are limited
and doubts that the twenty twenty five season will be
(37:57):
in Nashville, and I know that you're a huge part
of the player committee for AU. What can we expect
for season four of Athletes Unlimited? Give you some tea?
Speaker 2 (38:08):
The tea, well, you probably gonna see some new faces
because we've lost a few soldiers. But I think the
new city is gonna be fun. We're gonna try and revamp,
you know, the in game experience. So I'm urging people
to try to get to Nashville because if anybody had
been to games in the past, you know, one of
(38:29):
the biggest things is people didn't really like love the
in game fan experience, and like we're really working on
improving that and making it a really fun environment for
fans more competitive. I think, you know, we're we're trying
to adjust a little bit of you know, the leaderboard
things to make it a little bit more fun, a
little bit more spicy, and just good vibes and good energy.
Like you know, you've been there, people who've watched us
(38:51):
always love, you know, the freedom and just fun and
just pure joy that people play with at AU. So
I'm really excited. I'm really excited to This will be
the first time I feel like I'll be fully healthy
playing again. So I'm really excited to be back there
and get my game right and continue to grow the
game in the United States.
Speaker 1 (39:11):
I'm excited for season four, and I've been to Vegas,
I've been to the Dallas seasons, and I think that's
really great that you all have an option domestically to
just play and for fans to continue to get to
see you play beyond the w NBA season and bridge
that gap where we have women's basketball three hundred and
sixty five days.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
Yeah, it's amazing and you know, I'm gonna scare from
the mountaintops. We've been here. There's been opportunities for off
season in the United States. This is year four. We're
really excited and if any of y'all know anybody that
wants to come play with us, hit me up. Roster
spots are open still, so we're just really excited to
(39:49):
build this for season four.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
I'm excited for you. Lexi. Thank you so much for
being a guest this week on In Case You Missed
It with Christina Williams. Here on iHeartRadio. Of course, coming
up after the break, we will have The Things I
Love this week. All right, welcome back to In Case
(40:22):
You miss It with Christina Williams. I just want to
thank Lexi Brown again for just being an amazing guest
this week on the pod. And now it's time for
my favorite part of the show, The Things That I
loved all. Right, where do I start, because it's been
such a great week. I took a quick trip to
Los Angeles for the UCLA Women's basketball Women of Impact gala,
(40:47):
and I won from the podcast there but also was
able to host their blue carpet and it was just
such a great experience to interact with coach Corey Close
and just really see the culture of UCLA women's basketball
and the team's hard to serve their community and how
(41:07):
these players are just learning the importance of using their
platform beyond being an athlete and just being you know,
public figures in their local community, serving the local community.
I had a chance to talk to former UCLA women's
basketball player, you Know Westbrook, and if you don't know,
she is the wife of NBA All Star Russell Westbrook
(41:28):
and they recently launched their Westbrook Academy. But she also
is a mental health advocate and a therapist, and I
just love to hear about her story and how she
was able to just use her platform outside of being
a former college athlete to make a difference in education
and in a mental health space. And one more thing
(41:51):
that I loved this week was attending the Aces Liberty
Game one and seeing Spike Lee on the sidelines, And
I mean, Sabrina already talked about how just having him
there in that presence kind of made her feel that
New York was injected into her veins. But I think
it was super funny that he was terping all game
(42:11):
along at Kelsey Plum, and Kelsey Plumb talked back like
she did not back down with him. It was definitely
friendly banter. At one point, I did see security kind
of go up on Spike and give him a little
like a little warning and a little hug. But I
thought it was great. Sabrina Younescue in a postgame conference,
talked about how Spike has always been a supporter of
(42:34):
women's sports, but especially the New York Liberty. She talked
about how when she was drafted that he was the
first person that actually called her to share their excitement
around Sabrina being the number one pick, and she just
said every time she's seen him along the way, they
have small talk and she keeps telling him that you know,
(42:54):
she's gonna bring a championship here. So I think it's
dope that Spike on the side. Well, it's not only
for the Knicks, but the New York Liberty, who are
well on track to potentially be a championship team this year.
All right, please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe
to this podcast. And coming up next week we have
(43:15):
LSU's laj Johnson and so you don't want to miss this,
We'll see you right back here next time on In
Case you missed It with Christina Williams on iHeartRadio. In
Case you missed It with Christina Williams is an iHeart
women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
(43:36):
You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
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 In case you missed It with
Christina Williams. And today we have a very special guest,
WNBA star Alexi Brown, and I'm super excited for this conversation.
(00:25):
We're gonna talk all things LA Sparks. We're gonna get
into some of the WNBA playoff talks, talk about her
winning a championship in Chicago in twenty twenty one, and
then we're gonna get some aut Yes Athletes Unlimited is
going to Nashville in twenty twenty five, and Lexi Brown
is here to break it all down for us. And
(00:47):
before we talk to Lexi, let's get into a few headlines.
Los Angeles Sparks and head coach Kurt Miller have mutually
agreed to part ways. Sparks will begin their search for
a new head coach immediately. As a team, the Sparks
finished twenty five and fifty five and Miller's two seasons
(01:07):
in LA they didn't qualify for the playoffs during his tenure.
And we know that Kurt Miller is one of the
most winning coaches in the WNBA, and the Sparks are
definitely in a rebuilt era post Derek Fisher. I'm sure
that he's a coach that will definitely land on his feet,
especially with opening in Chicago. Potentially we had the Golden
(01:30):
State Valkyries launching next year, so a coach like Kurt Miller.
I can't imagine the WNBA, you know, being what it
is without a coach like him in the league. It
is shocking, though, that they've decided to part ways with
him as this team looks to rebuild. All right, Moving
right along, the Chicago Skuy parted ways with head coach
(01:51):
Teresa Weatherspoon, and here is the statement from Chicago's Guy
co owner and operating chairman Nadia Rawlinson quote, at the
careful consideration, we've decided it is in our best interest
of the organization to part ways with head coach Teresa
Witherspoon end quote. Rollins also said, quote, we are deeply
(02:11):
appreciative of coach Teespoon's contributions to the Chicago Sky and
the energy and passion she brought to the head coaching role.
We thank her for inspiring a competitive, resilient spirit across
the team synonymous with the Chicago Basketball We remained steadfastly
committed to being a playoff and championship contender every year,
(02:33):
and we will be embarking on a thorough search for
our next head coach. Teaspoon will always be part of
the Skytown family and we wish her the very best
end quote. So, yeah, I would love to see Teaspoon
get an opportunity elsewhere, especially because her time in Chicago
was so limited. She only had eleven months to turn
(02:53):
a franchise around that was one injury ridden and in
a rebuilt stage. And so here's what Las Vegas Aces
coach Becky Hammond had to say about the Chicago Sky's
firing up. Teresa Weatherspoon, take a listen.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
I don't know how you make that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
It doesn't make any sense to me. I thought they
overplayed their roster, meaning I thought.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
They were in a rebuild, so I'll trade away all
your pieces. I don't know what you.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Expected of that roster, but I thought she got the
most out of her roster. And any organization that thinks
you're going to create culture and put things upside down
on total home improvement and.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Not less than a year.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
I just don't think here realistic expectations.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
You can't sell culture, you can't sit get character and
your pieces in the right places. So I don't I
don't understand how it makes sense at all. I think
is wrong. It just seems flat out wrong to me.
Spoon's resilient.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
I know she'll land on her feet, So yeah, I
totally agree with coach Hammond on this one. It really
doesn't make much sense to me, especially with the statement
that the Chicago's Guy made of wanting to be a
championship and playoff contending team. You're in and you're out.
(04:18):
You don't do that by firing a Hall of Famer
and you're head coach eleven months into the job. This
is something that's going to take at least two years
to continue to build, and I honestly think it's just
a bad look for the Chicago's Guy front offers to
make a move like that in the postseason unless there's
something that we don't know beyond what they told us
(04:39):
of the reason of her being fireds because they didn't
make the playoffs. It is an unrealistic expectation this season
to think that this Chicago's Guy roster was going to
be a roster to contend for one A championship or
the playoffs. And when you think about what te Spoon
has done in one season alone, this team was a
team that was about two games out of clinching that
(05:00):
eighth spot. And so when we talk about continuity, this
is something that you know, maybe year two it would
have looked differently, especially with expansion draft and having free agents.
You know, that would have been more on the GM
to get the pieces necessary to contend to make playoffs.
But you know, teaspoond as Becky said, is resilient and
(05:21):
you know, I hope she lands on her feet. So
without brother Ado, please welcome in twenty twenty one WMA
champion in Los Angeles Sparks guard Lexi Brown to the show. Lexi,
how are you doing today? And thank you so much
for being here.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
I'm good and thank you for having me. You know,
we've been planning this for a while, so I'm glad
to finally be able to make an appearance on your show.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Yes, I'm so happy to have you on. And I
know we've done some stuff in the past, but lots
to get into. So I want to start with how
you're feeling because I know that this season was a
little bit up and down for you as you revealed
your battle with Crohn's, So I just want to know
how you're doing these days and yeah, what have you
been up to.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yeah, well, first of all, I want to say, I
appreciate you asking. You'd actually be surprised at how many
people don't ask me how I'm doing or how I'm feeling,
So thank you for that. But I'm feeling really good.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
You know.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
There's a few more hurdles that I'm trying to overcome
right now with you know, the chrome stuff, But as
far as you know, when this started, it's like night
and day. So I feel like almost completely back to
myself again. I'm back at like my playing weight finally
two years later almost and it's been a struggle, but
I'm back in the gym, working out, doing things that
(06:40):
I love to do again. But every day is definitely
you know, you have that in the back of your
mind of certain things that you have to you know,
keep your eye on and worry about, which you know
that's been hard to adjust to, but that's just my
new normal. But when I feel like, you know, when
I'm getting in these moments of like why do I
have to deal with this? Why did this happen to me?
(07:00):
You know, I just think back of how bad I
felt this time last year and even during the summer
of the season last year, and how far I've come,
and that just makes me happy, That makes me grateful,
and I'm just really blessed that, you know, I'm feeling
the way I'm feeling right now because I did not
think that I would be able to get back to
this point.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
I personally appreciate your transparency about your journey, just even publicly,
how you've been able to chronicle your own experience with
Crohn's disease and just being a professional athlete and navigating
the ups and downs of it. And sometimes your test
can be a testimony, right like you raising awareness can
help the next person who's going through the same journey.
(07:39):
So I truly appreciate you just being open and vulnerable
with your journey.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
LEXI, thank you. I mean, it's been actually really amazing
how many people have reached out and said that me
being so transparent has helped them, you know, be more
transparent with their journey and you know, giving them a
little bit more confidence to do things that they maybe
didn't think that they'd be able to do again. And
at the end of the day, that's kind of why
I decided to be so transparent about it, because after
(08:05):
researching it and talking to the doctors and realizing that
people are uneducated about it, people don't really know much
about it, and people who deal with you know, autoimmune
diseases or you know, ibs, IB these type things and
colitis are like sometimes I even embarrassed to talk about
it because it is such an intimate and personal thing.
This you got affect you and impact your day to
(08:25):
day life. So I was like, you know what, let
me just take up with a team and y'all gon
just know all my business. And part of part of
it was actually even helping me get through it, because
at the beginning I really had no idea what was
going on, and if anybody has been following me, like
on TikTok and stuff, it was basically me just kind
of like, well, this is going on and I don't
really know what's happening, but we're going to try to
(08:47):
figure it out. And then all of a sudden I
got the diagnosis and we've just been moving from there.
But the support has been really amazing. My doctors have
been amazing, My family friends have been amazing. So it's
been it's been a tyranny, but it's been good.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
And I feel like you've always sort of been an
open book throughout your career, Like you're one of the
WNBA players who kind of started the trend of youtubing
and blogging, you know, your day to days, and so
we appreciate whenever athletes can open up in that way
where we can learn more about them beyond what they
do on the court.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Yeah, I mean it's important, I think.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Yeah, absolutely, So let's get into the Sparks this season.
In February, you signed, you know, your two year extension
with the Los Angeles Sparks. And I know we've talked
like off the camera about your journey as a basketball
player and all of the stops that you had, But
how does it feel for you to just finally feel
like you are in a place where one you deserve
(09:39):
to be when it comes to your skill and athletic
system that you are part of an organization that finally
just lets you grow and develop as an athlete.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Yeah, it's been a roller coaster and I tell people
all the time that if I can describe my career
in one word, it would be that. But it has
been nice to find a home in Los Angeles and
I've personally and found at home, but the stability part
has still not really kick been yet. You know, this
season will be my fourth coach since I've been here.
(10:10):
You know, I've had a plethora of teammates come through LA.
So for me, it's just nice to be grounded and rooted.
I have my confidence to sustain all this constant change,
which I think is we're changing for the better and
there's changes being made over year to year that is
improving the organization. And I'm like, I think I'm the
(10:30):
longest tenured player and it's only been three years, and
I think that's insane on a WNBA team, and you
have players that have been in organizations for eight, nine,
ten years. So I think we're headed in the right direction.
But for me personally, it was just all about finding
a home and a place where I can hone my
skills and become a specialist and shoot the ball how
I want to shoot the ball, and just build a
(10:52):
championship culture. And I think that, you know, we take
a few steps forward, take a few steps back, but
I think that's what a rebuild is all about. Really
grateful to be a part of it.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Yeah, absolutely. And you know you talked about the coaching changes,
and obviously in the headlines is the Sparks parting ways
with head coach Kurt Miller. What was your reaction to
just hearing that news that you know, the Sparks will
be looking for another head coach in the off season.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
I mean, when you have a season like we had,
that's definitely something that circulates in your brain, is what
type of changes are going to be made in the
off season. For me personally, you know, I was a
little disappointed because I thought that, you know, this season
and last season, it was just like a lot of
things that were thrown at Kurt and the and the
organization and the team. I'm sure that on the outside
(11:42):
looking and people think that we could probably have handled
it a little bit better and want a few more games,
try to keep some players in LA. But there's a
lot of things that a lot of people don't know about,
and a lot of things out of the organization and
the coaching staffs control. You know, selfishly, I was like
I would like to not have a new coach again
to you know, learning a whole new system, you know,
(12:02):
a whole new staff, a whole new anything. But for me, like,
that's one of my favorite things about basketball is learning
how other people think the game. And I'm a sponge
and I catch off to things quickly. So personally, I
like as far as like being in a new system,
a new office, new difference, Like, I'm not worried about that.
I mean it's the personal part that building a relationship
and building a connection and building a culture, like that's
(12:23):
the part that I haven't really been able to do
since I've been in Los Angeles. So I mean, I
wish him the best. I wish that we were able
to have a full season together after being with him
my rookie year. But I think he'll bounce back. He'll
be fine. You know, he's a great basketball mind. He's
a basketball nerd, just like me. So yeah, to say
like disappointing, yeah for sure. But you know, it's a
(12:44):
business at the end of the day. I've learned that firsthand.
So you know, like I said, I wish him the best,
And yeah, I hope we bring in a coach that
is ready because as you see this is not an
easy job to have, but I'm excited. I'm excited to
see who, you know, we decide to bring in.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
You talked about the next step for the Sparks and
who could potentially be the next head coach, and obviously
Hall of Famer Teresa with the Spoon is someone who
also lost a job this past week. Would you want
Teaspoon in La possibly?
Speaker 2 (13:14):
I mean, I wouldn't be against you know, her coming
in to see what she has to say. What she's
talking about. A coach getting fired after one season is
kind of odd, but you know, again, a business, you
don't know what goes on behind closed doors, what was
going on, Like I personally have no information about that
situation at all. You know, you have players who are
(13:36):
raving about her, you have players who don't really have
or really said anything. But that's again, you take everything
with a grain of salt. But I mean, I would
love to have a few coaches, you know, possibly come
in and talk with us and talk with the organization.
And I hope that at least I get to be
a little bit involved in the selection process. I think
I've earned that, I think I deserve that. But if not,
I'm not going to feel a way if they don't
(13:57):
ask me, because again, like who am I I'm not
the front office. But I think it'd be important to
get some of the player's input to who they bring
in with this group, especially this really young and super
talented group. I think it's very important to bring in
the right person.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Yeah. Absolutely. I saw some fans throughout Carolyn peck I
personally tweeted, I think ty Marsh should get a look
from the Las Vegas Aces. I think that what he's
done with that team in terms of development players like
Jackie Young, his repertoire with like players around the industry,
his NBA experience, couple with the WNBA experience with the
two time champions, the Las Vegas Aces, I think it
(14:35):
would be dope to get tie a Loop or even Natalie.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
From That's what the NBA does they dismantled championship staffs.
That we don't do in this league is we just
go find new people when really you have a whole
coaching staff that has built an amazing culture and you
just let them continue to build a championship closures. I like, no,
come build a championship called co career please, So you know,
(14:59):
I wouldn't be mad at that at all. But again,
I think Lindsay Harding was also another one that came
to my mind. But obviously she's with the Lakers now,
you know, she's dou Grad. I know what she's done
in the G League has been incredible, but obviously JJ
redd it got to her before we even had a chance.
So I'm just really excited to see you know I
would I would prefer, you know, a younger coach, maybe
(15:22):
maybe a woman. Honestly, woman or man, that doesn't really
matter to me. I just want you to know your
shit and at the end of the day, everything else
will take care of it.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
So absolutely all right, we're gonna take a quick break,
but when we come back, we're gonna discuss the w
NBA semifinals, some goat talk, as well as Alexi's life
off the court, her fashion, and her famous father more
on In case you missed it with Christina Williams, will
we get back on iHeartRadio. LEXI. So, as you know,
(16:06):
right now, we're in the middle of the w NBA
playoffs and you're a player that's been there before. In
twenty twenty one, you were part of that championship team
with the Chicago Spy. Personally, I want to get the
prediction before we go into your twenty twenty one championship.
Where do five?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Yeah, I've been saying that the Links are gonna win.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Listen, your former Links you played under coach show read
early in your career. What can you tell us about
just her coaching style and just the culture with the Links.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Yeah, I mean culture first and foremost. You know, they
have all those championships when they have that dynasty with Maya,
Simone and sil so you get constantly reminded of that,
and I think that is a super motivating thing. He
doesn't really take much to give people extra motivation when
you look up and at the banners and the whole
you know, facility has all the championship stuff all over
(16:57):
the place, and you can still feel that energy, you know,
in the target center and the practice facility. I think
the biggest thing that I remember from being on the
Links is the preparation that went into the games and
how much was put on the players. So I remember,
you know, sitting in the locker room and we would
be going down the scouting report and Coach would be like,
(17:18):
le see, what does this person do might not even
be my matchup for the night. So I think like
little things like that I remember and stuck out to
me because I thought that was really cool that, you know,
she held everybody accountable. She could have asked someone who
probably wasn't even gonna play that night what the person
on the scouting report does. And I think that's how
you keep your entire team top to bottom, locked in
and focused. And I think that's why they have been
(17:40):
so well balanced, because she keeps everybody like on top
of it, because you never know who you're gonna need,
especially in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Yeah, and you have that playoff experience you won in
twenty twenty one with the Chicago Scott What was that
championship run like? I mean, especially I was in Chicago
watching that series against the Phoenix Mercury. But as a player,
you've played with so many Hall of famers and literally
so like, what was that experience like in twenty twenty
(18:07):
one for you?
Speaker 2 (18:08):
It was so fun. I mean I was on I
came on that team, you know, over halfway through the season,
so I kind of knew what my role was going
to be, and that was just energy on the bench.
And then when I got in my opportunities, come in to
the game, just do it what I needed to do.
But I really embraced that role of just being super
locked in on the bench, being a voice on the bench,
and just kind of just being that positive energy, you know,
(18:30):
when things weren't going great. You know, I was right there,
I saw something. I was always you know, wanting to
tell somebody, oh, like the guarding you like this, or
look at this, you know, look at this read. And
that was just something that I really embraced while I
was on that team. You know, we were the sixth seed.
I think, yeah, you know, we went in was like
we wanted to win. We knew that we could win.
(18:51):
But again, there was very little pressure at least how
I felt. You know, you could say something different about
like Candice and saluting all them, like they probably felt
a lot of pressure to you know, win that championship.
But it was just really fun. And when you're able
to steal some wins on the road in the playoffs,
like that's so important. People don't realize how important that
is is to steal those games on the road. But
(19:12):
when we were able to you know, finish it up
in Chicago, it was just an amazing atmosphere is an
amazing feeling, and it's something that I want to experience again.
Like i'ven't been back to the playoffs since, so like
that's like my last memory of the playoffs is winning
a championship, So I really missed that. Atmosphere was a
blast and I learned so much.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I'm sure you'll get there. And you spoke about Candace
Parker she announced the retirement at the start of this season.
What was it like being able to, you know, just
play with Candace in Chicago and that time period with her.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
It was amazing and it made me realize something like
very interesting about like Team Dynamics because you know, like
I want to be like a GM in the future
and stuff like that. Is the relationships players have with
each other are so different, like depending on like your
playing time. So like for me, I don't think I
touched the court with Cannas like for maybe more than
like thirty minutes total, like the entire season. So for me,
(20:06):
I'm looking I'm still looking at Cannas like it's Cannas Parker.
It's like saying, when I just get to watch and
admire all the time and then you look at like
one of my teammates who plays almost the entire game
with her like a car. Like they developed a completely
different type of relationship. You know, they were able to
have candon conversations, get into it, like go back and forth,
but like also love each other and celebrate each other.
(20:28):
Made me kind of realize, like how delicate relationships on
teams are, and how when you're the leader of a
team and when you're the best player on the team,
how it's not easy to like manage all those relationships,
especially with grown women that got their own stuff going on.
Like in college and high school, that's easy, Like we're
all kids, like it's easy, and then the coach pretty
much regulates everything. But when you're a pro, like it's
(20:52):
not like that at all. So, you know, I was
just really impressed by how she was able to handle
all of that pressure, coming into a new city, coming
into a new team, promising his championship, and then also
going to do her T and T thing, Like I
think that that was one of my favorite things about
being with Cannis is we would see her on TNT
and then we would have practice in the morning and
she'd be pulling up and she saw her last soon
(21:14):
from makeup that during the show, so it was like,
that's really really when I got motivated to like, oh,
you can absolutely do both things at the same time
and be creative both, and she like really has inspired
me on. I've never really told her that, so I
don't know if she'll ever hear this, but like she's
somebody that I've always looked at and just been like,
you can absolutely be amazing at two careers at the
(21:35):
same time.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Yeah, I mean growing up, I watched Cannis Parker play
at Tennessee just from the outside looking in, and she's
definitely one of reasons why I wanted to one get
into the media side of things. I've always been like
on the story telling side, but just seeing Cannis Parker
play at Tennessee under Pat Summit was like, oh my god.
I love women's basketball. Like I mean, obviously you have
the legends like Cheryl and Lisa and who wants to
(21:58):
pay it away, But for like me and like my generation,
I just feel like Candice was just like that.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
One I watched her in the Final Four. I told
her all the time, I was like, I want to
her Final Four in Tampa. She's like don't age me.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
I think one of the craziest things. One of the
craziest things for me was like being at All Star
in Phoenix this past summer and being invited to her party,
her All Star party. It is like, damn, we're really partying. Yeah,
like insane? All right? Moving right along another goat Diana
to Razzi sort of hinting this season at.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Retire is so funny. It's funny, like who hits out
of retirement, Like just retired? I retire, but I wouldn't.
I didn't expect nothing less from from one of the greatest, honestly.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Yeah. She kind of said that if she were to
retire that she wouldn't tell anyone, she would just kind
of leave on her own terms. And that's such a
Diana to Rozzie thing.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
All right.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
So one of the things many people don't know about
you is that your dad played in the NBA. D Brown,
former Celtics player and also former Slam Dunk champion in
the NBA. What was it like growing up in like
a sports household for you and your father being in
the NBA? What was that like?
Speaker 2 (23:18):
It was really fun? And I don't honestly, I don't
really talk about like how I grew up outside of
like the court and being on like doing basketball stuff
with him, but like the things I got to experience
as like a child and the people that we were around,
like at a young age were just incredible. And it's
really like shaped who I am as a person, as
(23:38):
a businesswoman, as a professional. Like it's just so many
things that I got to do at a young age
that a lot of people probably won't get to do
in their lifetime. And I got to credit my dad
and my mom, you know, allowing us to have these
experiences and explore the world and get to know so
(23:59):
many different types people and always be willing to learn.
He has like one of the highest basketball IQs in
a person, and he doesn't talked much, but what he
does he like he's a yabber, And that's I used
to think I got my yapping from my mother, but
I think I got it from him, because once he
gets rolling, he gets going so off the court on
the court, like I'm his like his little princess, I'm
(24:19):
his baby girl forever, and I'm like the biggest daddy's girl.
So it's just been really fun for us to have
this journey and grow through this experience together.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
And when you were young, he also coached in the
w NBA and you got exposed to it pretty early
on as a young kid. How has that like kind
of impacted your relationship with the game, just seeing your
dad being able to be a player and be a
coach and just navigate through all those different parts of
the game.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Yeah, I mean I was super young when he was coaching,
but I remember being in the gym with all of them.
I was in locker room, I was in practices, never
got to travel because obviously the traveling was still what
it was. But being around the league that early has
made me appreciate the growth of it, like probably a
(25:06):
little bit more than most players, because a lot of
players weren't exposed to the WNBA to a little bit
later in their lives, which is fine. But I was
like all up in it when I was a kid,
and I thought, I mean, at that age, I thought
it was the most amazing thing ever, not knowing all
the things that they were dealing with and battling and struggling.
On the other hand, because they were they were grown.
I was a kid, and you know, I was just like, oh,
(25:26):
they're just they get to play basketball all day and
blah blah blah blahlah, and that was just not the case.
And now when I'm a little bit older, and I
talked to my dad about, you know, what he dealt
with as a head coach in the w in the
early two thousands, He's just kind of like, you better
be freaking grateful about like what y'all have now and
what y'all got going on, and all this exposure and
all this freedom and all this money, Like y'all have
(25:50):
no idea like where we were at, you know, less
than twenty years ago. So this growth period that we're
experiencing right now, even from my rookie year to now,
the growth has been incredible. So I'm always just super
thankful to be a part of the WNBA.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Yeah, and you talked about the growth of the WNBA,
and we know that with the growth, there's been some
good things happening and some bad things happening, namely with
also in the headlines this week, the WNBPA and the
media relationship between players, athletes and the w and media,
but also just a relationship with I don't want to
(26:25):
say social media trolling and like kind of minimize the
experience of athletes. But for what it's worth, just with
the growth, there's a lot of things happening with with
the w and the players. How has that been for you,
just to navigate the growth and dealing with those things.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Well, last season I got off Twitter right after training
camp ended, and then I ended up getting sick, so
I remained off. This season, I did the same thing,
knowing that this was probably gonna happen. I think that
this means that we have made it. We are here,
(27:03):
we have not risen above. You know, going back and
forth with people online. You don't see very many professional
athletes in any sport anymore going back and forth with
people online because of the culture of support and fan interaction,
Like it used to be a fun thing, because that's
(27:23):
how I've kind of built my platform on Twitter, was
interacting with fans, sometimes negative, mostly positive, but always funny.
Like things are not funny anymore, and it's like, like
it's not funny, how it's funny? Weird? And I think
that a lot of players just need to get off
(27:44):
and if there's things that needs to be said, there
are things that need to be posted, they need to
find somebody to do that. For them and keep it
moving because the league is going to just keep growing
and growing. It's going to keep getting worse and worse
because the world is going to continue to get more
and more miserable and ridiculous. And that's just the reality.
And it's not just sports. Every industry is feeling it
(28:07):
and seeing it and experiencing it. But for me, like
I've coen trolled and had weird things said to me
since I stepped foot into the WBA, So I'm just like,
you know, this is just something that happens. Like people
have just been very nasty to me online for a
long time, and I've kind of just gotten to a
place of that mentally where I'm just like, one, there's
no money for me on Twitter, so there's really no
(28:29):
reason for me to be on there. Yes, sometimes it's important,
especially for people like you and I to get a
pulse on what's going on, what's happening, But it's actually
been very nice being in a Lexi bubble and I
have no idea what's going on. I have no idea
what's going on.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
I don't I don't blame you, like I'm sometimes posted
and just mute the conversation.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Exit the appan bliss. That is a real thing, and
that has been me all summer, and the things I've
seen has been because people have sent it to me.
Sometimes I will like tap in to Twitter to see
and it's like literally the wild Wild West on there,
And I cannot believe that Twitter looks like that now.
But I probably will return for NBA season. Yes, not
(29:12):
as an active tweeter, but an active Twitter watcher or
an ex watcher, like I tell people all the time
myself ever since to turn to X some things elon,
I don't know what you put an X, but it
may everybody lose their mind. So I don't really go
on there anymore, but I do. It is funny on there.
(29:33):
It is also dangerous on there, and it is very
silly and goofy on there. Again, you have no idea
who you're talking to on Twitter. So I just feel like, yes,
it's a lot of trolling, it's a lot of negativity,
it's a lot of hate, but there's also you know,
a lot of love and support and good, good pockets
of Twitter that you can find. But I hope for
next season, you know a lot of these players just
(29:56):
to just not even be on there, at all.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Yeah, you gotta protect your piece. And you know, I
thought one of the funniest things this week was the
whole nail situation cut your nails with Djna Carrington and
all that stuff. And you're someone who, you know, you're
into the beauty industry. You got your long nails and
lashes and all of that things. What do you think
is important in terms of the league promoting athletes who
(30:21):
go all out? I mean, so that it can become
a normal thing. We've seen, you know, the here's the
setting spray, Dhna care into in conversation, the Angel reies
with the Blush, Cameron Brink, your teammates for Kia Jackson,
all of y'all be slaying in the tunnels. But how
do you think that also helps the growth.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Of Yeah, I mean, I think it doesn't need to
be over talked about because I just think like, it's
just us being us, it's us existing as who we are.
And I think the more people, you know, talk about it,
and then then then you talk about it too much,
and then you get the people who are like, well,
maybe they're just doing it because they want this right,
maybe they're doing this for attention, or when really they're
(31:00):
just existing and who they are and they've always been
that way, so I feel like the conversation just needs
to kind of just relax. But yeah, I think it's
great that all the girls are getting, you know, attention
for like just being themselves and who they are and
being applauded for it. You know, there are the sprinkle
of hate, but if you're playing a professional basketball game
and someone is making fun of your nails, that's probably
(31:22):
a good thing because obviously they're not making fun of
your game and that's what you're out there to do.
If they got to go to your nails are too long,
your lashes are too long, but they are not talking about, oh,
you can't make a shot or you're not out there
doing your job, then shit, talk about my nails all
you want, because you're not gonna talk about my game
because you can't, period. So I mean, I think it's
amazing that everyone is kind of stepping into who they
(31:42):
are whatever that looks like. I'm just really happy because
I've been wanting that for the entire league for so
long and people have kind of just been like, shut up, Lexi,
and I'm just kind of like, okay, But when it happens.
Like I ain't gonna say I told y'all so, but
like when the league allowed everybody to just be who
they are and exist who they are, whatever, that looks
like the league is going to explode, and I agree,
(32:04):
we're seeing it in real time.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Also in the headlines from this past week, Yeah, your
teammate Laisha Clarendon announced their retirement from the w NBA.
What was your experience like with Ley and how do
you feel about her retiring.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
I actually crossed paths with Laysia a bunch of times
throughout my career, and it's crazy like we like linked
up at like very interesting times of our career, So
like right at the beginning of my career during COVID
when she was doing all the social justice work which
was amazing, at the tail end of her career, and
then obviously me dealing with my sickness. Just having somebody
(32:40):
like Leasia who's always just a light and so positive
and so supportive, like she was just an amazing person
to have on my team, especially these last two years
when I was dealing with all this stuff, and in turn,
like Laisia deals with with their own stuff too, so
we were able to, you know, kind of bond a
lot these last two years, you know, kind of throughout
(33:00):
our prospective traumas dealing with the WNBA stuff. And that's
kind of just sometimes how it is as a professional athlete.
You know, you you come in contact with somebody that
hasn't had you know, the most amazing and when I
say amazing, like easy, you know, just up and down.
She bounced around a lot of teams a lot, just
like me, so we were able to, you know, bond
(33:22):
on a lot of things like that. But her retiring
is super sad. I really wish I was able to
finish this season with them, And yeah, I wish them
the best, and I know that they'll be around and
her family's amazing and I'm going to miss them a ton.
But I think she's going to do amazing things in
the next part of her life. And she has so
(33:42):
much to offer this world outside of sports and outside
of basketball, and I'm really excited for them to be
able to share that.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
As a veteran on the LA Sparks, I mean, this
is a team that has some of the top rookies
in Rakiah Jackson and Cameron Brink who's recovering from a
recent injury. Been like to want to just be a
vet to them on the team as they try to
navigate their pro career, but also what do you think
about their game?
Speaker 2 (34:10):
I think that being a vet to them it was
really fun. I'm a vocal leader, I'm a lead by
example leader, but I'm also very much hands off. You know,
if you want help, ask for If you don't want help,
I'm not going to like overwhelm you with advice and
commentary and critique, because that's not what I liked when
I was young. Sometimes people just kind of like to
figure it out on their own and then if they
(34:30):
need help, then they'll be like, Okay, I need help,
and then of course I'm always going to be there.
I think it was really cool to see them get
the opportunities early that a lot of rookies don't often see,
to make mistakes, to learn to grow, to be challenged,
you know. I think we threw Key and Cam like
right into the fire. I think our first game, Cam
(34:52):
had a Guardina Charles, and we were like, sorry, Cam, like,
deal with it. Nobody can stop hers, and I'm like
she was like getting really down, Like Cam, literally, no
one has been able to stop her her entire career,
like you are fine, Like keep doing your best, like
keep doing your job, you will be okay. So it's
like little like things of confidence like that that I
like to drop to them. And seeing how her Kia
(35:14):
finished the season was really amazing, and for her to
get the opportunity this early, you know, I'm really excited
for her year two. She's going to go plan on rival,
which I think is going to be great for her,
challenge herself and come back ready for her for her
sophomore season. And then Cam just getting healthy, and I
just told her to take her time, She'll be fine,
(35:35):
stay confident, and we'll be here waiting when you're ready
to come back and join us. But I love having them.
They were a pleasure. They definitely are little young entrepreneur businesswomen,
which I think is amazing. So seeing them go do
all the little things off the court was really cool
for me too.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
And obviously the Spark season didn't end with it you
guys wanted. You guys finished last with eight and thirty
two on the season. Looking ahead twenty twenty five, what
do you hope the team does to get better in
twenty twenty five?
Speaker 2 (36:07):
I just think overall from especially for me watching for
most of the season, we were just dealing with a
lot of moving pieces. People were hurt, people were sick,
people were temporary. They were gone and they were back
and then they were gone again. So honestly, I really
think that the way they handled it, like being in
the locker room with them and being in practice, like
(36:27):
they handled it with a lot of grace because I
don't know how many groups of players would be able
to at least like stay positive with each other so much.
And I think that's one of the things I love
about this team is how much positivity and like love
there is amongst everybody. But like more it was just
like of a want to. Like I don't know if
people who know what that means know and if they don't, like,
(36:49):
I don't really know how to explain it, but in
sports terms, like people know, like you got to have
like a next level want to, and I think that
comes with maturity. I think that comes with you know,
kind of maybe being like punching them out a little bit,
which is basically what the season was for a lot
of us, was like we just got punched them out
over and over and over and never got up, So
I think it was a great learning experience. And I
(37:11):
think the best thing is we can't Loki can't get
worse than last because we got another thing coming. I
don't think that's gonna be the case. I'm really excited
for this group. And I mean, obviously things happen in
the offseason and free agencies, so I'm excited about the
moves we're gonna make. But for me personally, I'm just
really excited to get back on the court as the
(37:33):
version of myself that I was before all this started happening.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
Well, I'm looking forward to seeing you on the court.
You are a sharp shooter, and I'm so proud of
all of your development, just on and off the court,
how you've matured so much. But also your game speaks
for itself, like Lexie Brown is a freaking shooter. Last
thing before you get out of here, athletes are limited
and doubts that the twenty twenty five season will be
(37:57):
in Nashville, and I know that you're a huge part
of the player committee for AU. What can we expect
for season four of Athletes Unlimited? Give you some tea?
Speaker 2 (38:08):
The tea, well, you probably gonna see some new faces
because we've lost a few soldiers. But I think the
new city is gonna be fun. We're gonna try and revamp,
you know, the in game experience. So I'm urging people
to try to get to Nashville because if anybody had
been to games in the past, you know, one of
(38:29):
the biggest things is people didn't really like love the
in game fan experience, and like we're really working on
improving that and making it a really fun environment for
fans more competitive. I think, you know, we're we're trying
to adjust a little bit of you know, the leaderboard
things to make it a little bit more fun, a
little bit more spicy, and just good vibes and good energy.
Like you know, you've been there, people who've watched us
(38:51):
always love, you know, the freedom and just fun and
just pure joy that people play with at AU. So
I'm really excited. I'm really excited to This will be
the first time I feel like I'll be fully healthy
playing again. So I'm really excited to be back there
and get my game right and continue to grow the
game in the United States.
Speaker 1 (39:11):
I'm excited for season four, and I've been to Vegas,
I've been to the Dallas seasons, and I think that's
really great that you all have an option domestically to
just play and for fans to continue to get to
see you play beyond the w NBA season and bridge
that gap where we have women's basketball three hundred and
sixty five days.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
Yeah, it's amazing and you know, I'm gonna scare from
the mountaintops. We've been here. There's been opportunities for off
season in the United States. This is year four. We're
really excited and if any of y'all know anybody that
wants to come play with us, hit me up. Roster
spots are open still, so we're just really excited to
(39:49):
build this for season four.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
I'm excited for you. Lexi. Thank you so much for
being a guest this week on In Case You Missed
It with Christina Williams. Here on iHeartRadio. Of course, coming
up after the break, we will have The Things I
Love this week. All right, welcome back to In Case
(40:22):
You miss It with Christina Williams. I just want to
thank Lexi Brown again for just being an amazing guest
this week on the pod. And now it's time for
my favorite part of the show, The Things That I
loved all. Right, where do I start, because it's been
such a great week. I took a quick trip to
Los Angeles for the UCLA Women's basketball Women of Impact gala,
(40:47):
and I won from the podcast there but also was
able to host their blue carpet and it was just
such a great experience to interact with coach Corey Close
and just really see the culture of UCLA women's basketball
and the team's hard to serve their community and how
(41:07):
these players are just learning the importance of using their
platform beyond being an athlete and just being you know,
public figures in their local community, serving the local community.
I had a chance to talk to former UCLA women's
basketball player, you Know Westbrook, and if you don't know,
she is the wife of NBA All Star Russell Westbrook
(41:28):
and they recently launched their Westbrook Academy. But she also
is a mental health advocate and a therapist, and I
just love to hear about her story and how she
was able to just use her platform outside of being
a former college athlete to make a difference in education
and in a mental health space. And one more thing
(41:51):
that I loved this week was attending the Aces Liberty
Game one and seeing Spike Lee on the sidelines, And
I mean, Sabrina already talked about how just having him
there in that presence kind of made her feel that
New York was injected into her veins. But I think
it was super funny that he was terping all game
(42:11):
along at Kelsey Plum, and Kelsey Plumb talked back like
she did not back down with him. It was definitely
friendly banter. At one point, I did see security kind
of go up on Spike and give him a little
like a little warning and a little hug. But I
thought it was great. Sabrina Younescue in a postgame conference,
talked about how Spike has always been a supporter of
(42:34):
women's sports, but especially the New York Liberty. She talked
about how when she was drafted that he was the
first person that actually called her to share their excitement
around Sabrina being the number one pick, and she just
said every time she's seen him along the way, they
have small talk and she keeps telling him that you know,
(42:54):
she's gonna bring a championship here. So I think it's
dope that Spike on the side. Well, it's not only
for the Knicks, but the New York Liberty, who are
well on track to potentially be a championship team this year.
All right, please don't forget to rate, review and subscribe
to this podcast. And coming up next week we have
(43:15):
LSU's laj Johnson and so you don't want to miss this,
We'll see you right back here next time on In
Case you missed It with Christina Williams on iHeartRadio. In
Case you missed It with Christina Williams is an iHeart
women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
(43:36):
You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Host
Khristina Williams
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