January 16, 2025 • 42 mins
On this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl and Tee talk with Megan Perry, Head of Basketball for Athletes Unlimited, about this upcoming season of AU. Megan details what makes the league so exciting from the unique scoring system to being entirely player-led. The three talk about this year's talent pool, the space AU is creating for current and former players and more broadly how the growth of women's sports is nothing but positive.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Levels to.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
This is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with
Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Hey everybody, it's your girls. Henrica Foster Brasby what's.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Up, y'all?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
It's your girl, Cheryl Swoops And this is the Levels
to this podcast. This is the show where we share
that it's levels to the shit that women go through.
And we certainly have an incredible guest lined up today
to really help talk us through and get us up
to speed with some great basketball that we're gonna witness
over the next few weeks. But first, Cheryl, I feel
(00:43):
like we have to take a moment to recognize and
acknowledge that we are really.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Going through some devastating time.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Specifically if you are living in the state of California.
The La fires have really ravaged through that area, the Palisades,
calabass Is eating fires. I mean, it's just been very
difficult to watch some of the photos and videos of
areas that don't even look the same.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
I I've cried and cried and cried, and I'll cry
some more, you know, Tea even if you're not in
LA and you're not personally affected, like for me, I
am so like I'm hurt for the people, I'm devastated.
(01:31):
I've been praying NonStop and like there's just so much
to say, and you know, I think the part for
me that as if the people of LA aren't going
through enough, right, or if California aren't going through enough.
The part that just frustrates me is everybody wants to
(01:52):
point fingers right, like you're to blame, You're to blame,
You're the blame, You're the blame. And my thing is,
let's just try and come together as a country, as
a people to try and support all of these families
who some of them have.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Lost everything everything.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
And I know people talk about, oh, well, it's just
materialistic things and you can rebuild and you can go.
It ain't even about that. I honestly can't. I can't
even wrap my mind around like just what's going on
and how they feel. I get on social media and
then I have to get off because it's a lot.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
And it I don't know.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I'm just going through so many different waves of emotion
for them, and.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I feel helpless.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
I feel so helpless and it's wild that people want
to place blame on anyone or anything, because it's like
some things can't be helped and some things can't write.
And part of this situation, a large part of this
situation has to do with earth and nature, climates and nature,
(03:04):
and it's unfortunate that we have lost lives. To my understanding,
twenty four have been killed.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
It's the last number I heard.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Yeah, twenty four was the last number that I heard
the situation. I have a cousin who lives in LA,
some friends who lives in LA. I actually opened my
home to my cousin this weekend, and I thought she
was going to try to make it. But I think
that she's gone to a safe zone. But I say
all that to say I agree with you one hundred percent.
There are so many things that we focused our attention
on it really just don't matter. And this is one
(03:34):
of those situations where our attention and our focus needs
to be on helping those people who have quite literally
lost everything. And to the first responders, the firefighters, those
who have assisted, no matter what part you've played in
trying to make a difference, we thank you and we
appreciate you. It's not easy to deal with that situation.
(03:55):
So we will most certainly keep LA lifted, keep all
the families that been affected lifted in prayer and in
our thoughts, And with that, we certainly want to just
kind of talk about how important it is to be
in the moment because we never know when that moment
may change. I know those people in LA didn't wake
(04:16):
up thinking that this was a situation that was going
to escalate to where it's been, So being in the
moment is certainly important. And not to minimize that scenario
with the transition to this one, but we are certainly
in a moment in women's basketball that we have to
just kind of sit back and think and revel in
(04:37):
and say, wow, Like we've gotten to a place where
we can almost watch women's basketball all year long.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Right, and like, who would have ever thunk it would
have ever thunk it that we would be in this moment.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Yeah, in this moment. Yeah, you're long. You've got WNBA.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Immediately after WNBA, we got Unrivaled, which is going to
be kicking off this week, and we certainly can't wait
to talk more.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
About that league.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
And then after Unrivaled starts only a short couple of
weeks later, we are going to get Athletes.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Unlimited, which is going to be on its fourth season.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
And I'm excited because I'm gonna be in Nashville, and
you gonna be in Nashville, and our guest today.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Is gonna be in Nashville.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Gonna be in Nashville, so she better bean in Nashville
for real, or we got some real problems.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
But I'm excited about about chatting today with Megan Perry.
Meghan Perry is someone who is very near and dear
to both of us. She's been a leader in the
sports industry for many years, but she is currently, i
want to say, the executive operating an executive of a
head of basketball for Athletes Unlimited right now, and so
(05:52):
we are going to kick it with her on today's show.
I'm excited about it, You're excited about it. So let's
not waste any more time. Let's go ahead and into
the next level. Friends, we are incredibly excited about our
guests today. SHERL and I try to do our due diligence.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
To talk to people who not.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Only interest and fascinate us, but also who just deserve
the recognition.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Right and this person.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Right here truly deserves the recognition for all that she's
been doing for women's basketball. Not only did she lead
her Cornell University team.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
To Yes, I'm bringing it back.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Oh we going all the way back.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And spokes don't know Meg and kabol for real.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yeay, yeah, that's an IVY League champion letter number one.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Let them know.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
She has done so much off the court as well.
In the boardroom. She worked for NBA, she served in
the WNBA, and now she is currently the head of
Basketball for Athletes Unlimited Professional Basketball League affection known to
all of us as AU.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Please welcome Meghan Perry to the show.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
Hey Megan girl.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Oh my goodness, thank you all the applause?
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Did you hear all the applause?
Speaker 6 (07:09):
That is the kindest introduction. I so appreciate you all.
And you took it.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
All the way back to play days. Okay, Megan, you.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Gotta let folks know that not only do you talk basketball,
but you do basketball.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
You do it.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
When I first met Meghan, she was actually on broadcast
for the IVY League. We would do the China and
I would always do every year a final four or
like a tournament roundup, and we wanted everybody from every
league to come in and give us insight, and we
knew as it related to the IVY League, we needed
to get Megan on the show because she had all
(07:44):
the deets.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
Oh my goodness, I so fondly remember those days and times.
But yes, we go way back to Rika as well.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
Cheryl and I go way back.
Speaker 6 (07:53):
But I've been around the game for a minute now,
so yes, I played college basketball, turned that into the
opportunities to work in the game professionally. Since two thousand
and eight, I've been around this game and tried to
dip my toes into the media space like you guys
and enjoyed it, and then said I think I have
more to give and want to be more in the
front office space, joined AU and have been working for
the past year and a half to give all I
(08:14):
can give to that space and grow the game.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
So thank you for the kind recognition.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Absolutely so deserving, and we're excited to have you on
and let's just hop right into it. T and I
we're very familiar with athletes Unlimited or AU. But for
those who are listening who may not, I don't know
why they wouldn't know about it, But those who may
not know about AU.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Why don't you tell the people about AU. What's it
all about?
Speaker 6 (08:42):
Yeah, I cannot wait to tell you all about AU.
So Athletes Unlimited Professional Basketball we call it AU for sure,
you'll finally hear it called that. But AU we're entering
our fourth season. Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball was founded by
Jonathan Soros and Jonathan Patrick Off back in twenty twenty,
and they really set out to provide a platform, in
(09:02):
a space for women to be able to compete here
domestically in the United States in the off season of
the WNBA.
Speaker 5 (09:09):
So we really started.
Speaker 6 (09:10):
Out with the opportunity to create more space for women
because we deserve that. And since twenty twenty, we have
been providing a space for now forty women in the
off season in the WNBA to be able to play
domestically here in the United States for four weeks in
one city at one time. So we're building a community,
we're building a sisterhood, and it's the only place where
you can still find five on five elite women's basketball
(09:34):
here in the United States.
Speaker 5 (09:35):
We're excited about that.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Again, t and are very familiar. But what do you
say to people who.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Might look at AU or think of AU as like
a G league to the w I.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
Would say, that's not it, that's not it. We are
so excited about the roster of talent that we put
together so as far as timing and space right, and
you came along and provided that time and space so
that if players choose not to go overseas, they do
not they have an option to stay here. We are
providing a space for some of the same faces that
you know well and have been following across the WNBA
(10:11):
landscape that have been playing overseas for quite some time,
and some players that you're familiar with across the collegiate
landscape and may have gone overseas, got an injury or something,
but are looking for a spot to come back. We
have embraced the entire women's basketball community and.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
We have top talent. We have had names that you.
Speaker 6 (10:30):
Will recognize as WNBA All Stars and champions, and this
season we are in the process. I will say I
won't announce anyone new of sharing our roster. If you
go to auprobasketball dot com, you can see who we're
bringing in this year, and it's an elite talent, group
of seasoned that's emerging talent and It's a quality that
you should know and recognize that you're already familiar with
(10:51):
across the landscape. So that's what I would tell people.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
One thing that I love is you talk about being
in one city in one place, and I know that
when a if you first started in the first season,
you were in Vegas, last couple of seasons Dallas, this
year in Nashville.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Can you talk to.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Us a little bit about the process of selecting Nashville
and really what the thought process is in terms of
selecting any city in which you desire to host an AU.
Speaker 6 (11:16):
I appreciate that question so much to you because the
first season of AU Pro Basketball was played in Las Vegas.
Season two and three were in Dallas, and I will say,
this is my second year with athletes and limited pro
basketball and having an opportunity to spend time in Dallas
last year.
Speaker 5 (11:32):
We appreciated that time.
Speaker 6 (11:33):
We thought it was a great time, but we also
recognized the growth and the opportunity that exists around women's
basketball and finding out that professional women's basketball has not
existed in the state of Tennessee since nineteen ninety eight
when the ABL was there, I felt that that was
specifically something that we had the power to change we
wanted to do so. We were looking for a place,
a place that wanted to partner with AU Pro Basketball,
(11:55):
that wanted to host us. In Nashville has been more
than warm and welcoming to U Pro Basketball. It is
a hot bit of talent for anyone that knows anything
about the history of women's basketball across the collegiate landscape.
But it is a space that is warm and ripe
and wanting professional women's basketball to find a home there.
It's also a space that we recognize that the WNBA
(12:15):
has named as a potential expansion city, and so we
wanted to be the first ones to bring professional women's
basketball back to that space. And we're excited about the
response that we've seen thus far.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
People are excited.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
I'm very excited and interested about this because I've been
one of the people who have been very critical of
the state of Tennessee as it relates to professional women's basketball.
And I want to tell you why, because I would
love your thoughts. One of the things that scares me
the most about Tennessee is when I think about women
who play professional basketball, specifically in the WNBA AU other places,
(12:50):
they have a specific or at least a large quantity
of them identify with a specific group. And Tennessee from
a state, local government kind of place. When you think
about players having to live there, having to reside there,
you think they we want to feel welcomed, and Tennessee
hasn't always been a state in my opinion, that has
made people of certain.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Groups feel welcome.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
So I've always known of how important women's basketball has
been in Knoxville and how in certain areas because of
Pat Summits legacy, that Tennessee has been the epicenter. It's
where the Women's National Basketball Hall of Fame is like.
We understand that, but I've also been very scared about
bringing professional basketball to Tennessee for other reasons. Would you
(13:35):
say that this experience could possibly give a little bit
more insight into what a larger professional women's basketball presence
could look like in Tennessee.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
I would say one thing that the state of our world.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
I'll be real about the state of our world, and
is to be someone in a position that has the
opportunity to I'm a woman of color, I'm a black woman,
and I have the opportunity to lead a league that
has a large population of women of color for sure,
and people that identify as LGBTQ plus. I will say
this the state of the world that we live in
right now. There are unfortunate things that could happen everywhere,
(14:08):
and it.
Speaker 5 (14:08):
Is very volatile.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
However, and working with our Player Executive Committee, our PEC,
which is part of the governing body, I work with
a group of four players. We collectively work together to
figure out where we want to be, where we want
to play, what we want to do. Thinking about Nashville
and spending time there, it is a space that has
been nothing but warm and welcoming and it's something that
we do not take lightly. That we spend a lot
of time thinking about and a lot of time experiencing.
(14:32):
And I will say that within the spaces that we've
been in Nashville, we are excited about and I think
people that might have some of those questions and concerns
they may be dismissed because we have met a group
of people that are very engaging, very forward thinking. It's
a home to a number of I will add universities,
HBCUs and places that tend to have a more open
and very liberal mindset. That's not everyone, but it's most
(14:55):
and it feels like a place where we can grow
the game, that we can have impact in a community
in which is something au is really passionate about. And
a space quite honestly, is a tourist destination. It is
a hot spot. It is a space where we've hosted
the Final Four, they've hosted the SEC women's basketball Tournament,
they will have the men's basketball tournament. It is a
(15:15):
space that people come to and visit frequently, and it's continuing,
I think, to raise its profile.
Speaker 5 (15:20):
It relates to not only.
Speaker 6 (15:21):
Just women's basketball, but women's sports and the larger sports landscape.
So with all those factors that we put together and
we reflect on, we still think that it's a space
where we can grow and that's going to receive what
we have to offer really well. I would also say
to that, come join us, experience us, because I guarantee
once you come and you get that button the seat right,
(15:42):
you're gonna want to come back. You're gonna say, oh,
that was really dope. I would just say give it
a try. Give it a try.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
First of all, TA great question, but I will vouch
for the excitement of the game. Right me being able
to be a part of AU all three seasons going
into the fourth. It's different, right, systems different, and if
you haven't been out, if you haven't come out to
a game, you gotta come.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
I agree with you, Megan.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
I keep saying it's different without taking up a lot
of time to go into all of that.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
It's fun, it's exciting.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
I don't know if you want to explain a little
bit about the scoring system and why it's different from
your typical five on five.
Speaker 5 (16:21):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
Let me also say, what can you expect when you
come to see AU Pro basketball game?
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Right?
Speaker 6 (16:26):
We have a unique environment. It's an intimate experience. You
are up close, right, Our athletes are accessible. We energize
our crowds our in game and entertainment.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
It's hot.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
You have familiar names and faces on the sidelines right,
not only on the floor, but around the sidelines.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
It's a family atmosphere.
Speaker 6 (16:42):
And so when you think about the product on the
floor and what makes AU Pro basketball difference, I always
say to people, at its core, we're five on five
basketball and what you've known, come to love for years
and years competing up and down that.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
Floor that exists.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
The cool part is that We've layered on an innovative
scoring system on top of the game, where in AU
we are competing to crown one individual champion at the
top of the AU leader board. So we have forty
players across four teams. Each team is headed up by
a captain. We are player led, and so every week,
(17:15):
our captains have the opportunity to participate in a draft
where they select their teams, and throughout the course of play,
the players will have the opportunity to ascend or descend
up and down that leader board to determine where they
land if they are going to be the captain the
next week, right over the course of the time that
they're there. It creates a really cool environment for playing
because it allows you to be able to follow your
(17:38):
favorite athletes or individual performances, but also how.
Speaker 5 (17:41):
Their teams perform.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
We reward individual performances as well as teams.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
That's unique.
Speaker 6 (17:46):
I think it's also an opportunity for fans to be
able to engage in a different way than they traditionally
would because in AU, every moment counts. Our players are
playing for the forty minutes, but they're playing not only
to win the game, they're playing to win a quarter,
our players get points and they get bonuses that are
tied to that leaderboard. So you're following a game within
(18:07):
a game, and you're trying to keep up with not
only who's on top of the leaderboard, but who has
the opportunity to ascend to that position. And it fluctuates
from week to week. So one week you could be
playing with one captain and the next week you could
be on defense against them. We mix it up and
over the course of the time on the ground being together,
that creates some really interesting dynamics. I will say, where
(18:28):
your teammates one day and the next week you are
not right. So it's fun, but it's five on five
in its core. Come enjoy five on five basketball. That's
what we have professionals playing at a high level, but
we also have layers of engagement for our fans that
will allow them to follow the game a little bit differently.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah, the thing I love about it is everything that
Megan said, but from a former player. For me, I
love seeing the growth, right, I love seeing the growth
of the game. I love seeing more opportunity and AU
has given these women this opportunity, and not just basketball, right,
there's lacrosse, there's volleyball, there's softball. So AU has given
(19:06):
so many women opportunities to continue to play professionally. And
for a lot of players, it's their only time playing professional,
right They either tried out for the w and didn't
make it, or they tried overseas and it didn't work out.
But now they get a chance to stay in the
state and play professional basketball for four weeks. And to me,
(19:27):
it's just a great sign of the growth of the game.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
You know, my favorite part so far of AU because
I've also had the opportunity to be a part of
this league from its inception, covering it from a reporter's perspective,
a content creator's perspective. I love the fact that players
get to be coaches. And I remember having a conversation
with Dja Carrington a couple of years ago, and she
(19:51):
was a captain for a couple of years.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
As a matter of fact, there was this little secret tandem.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
That she and Natasha Cloud had going on round I
was like, you two are trying to make something happen here.
But it was the conversation of I get an opportunity
to understand what my coaches in the WNBA have to
go through when we have to think about strategy, when
we have to think about substitutions, when we have to
think about selections and not about who may be my
(20:16):
friend or who I may like, but who works well
with what. And you can see that translate over when
they approach the WNBA season, and I credit a lot
of growth from certain players in their IQ. Not just
their physical ability, because I think they've always had that,
but just the growth of your basketball IQ tends to
(20:36):
increase when playing in this league because of.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
All of the different things that you're asked to do.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
So can you speak a little bit about the fact
that they don't necessarily have coaches, but they do have
like moderators who assists the coaches, the player coaches on
each team.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
Let's nerd out a little bit. Let's talk about how
this all works for AU our format. One of the
differences is we say we're player led. We literally mean
that down to how we play on the court. In
our format, we have changed the model from the traditional model.
It's not top heavy, it's the other way around. So
traditionally the history of most leagues is where you have
your general managers and your head coaches, right you have
(21:14):
your executives that are the decision makers. With AU our PEC,
our player Executive Committee is formed as part of our
governing body. It extends onto the court with our captains
are the primary decision makers. We have empowered our captains
to be able to select their teams, to decide how
they want to prepare for the games. They're the ones
that are influencing game strategy. They have the power to substitute,
(21:38):
to call the time out, they have a larger game
management role if.
Speaker 5 (21:42):
They choose to take that on.
Speaker 6 (21:44):
Fully, we recognize every player is different. There's some point
guards that are like, I want to do all those
things right, I want to sub I want to be
in charge of practice, I want all the control. And
then there are some players that are like, I actually
just want to hoop. I love being a captain, but
I need some support. And so what we provided is facilitators,
which is the AU terminology for what would traditionally be
(22:05):
an assistant coach to support all the needs of the captain.
So the captains can lean on the facilitators to be
able to help them with their game prep strategy, to
help them with the substitutions, to manage the dynamics that
come with just managing a team, quite frankly, and.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
So that's the cool part.
Speaker 6 (22:20):
And our players are supported with facilitators that are top
line professionals. I will not spoil what we have on
the doc for this season, but amazing facilitators in the past,
names like Poke Chapman, Simone Augustus Freon, January Chastity Melvin Kareema,
Christmas Cality. We have very high level professionals supporting the game.
And I'll say our players love that because it gives
(22:43):
them the opportunity, like you said, to be able to
play the game with a little bit of a different
mentality in that captain's position, you're looking for different things
on the floor, but knowing that you have a Simone
Augustus like right next to you on the bench and
has your back, that allows a freedom of play that
they do not get in other spaces, and they keep
coming back for more. They love it.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
It's not just a place for current players, it's also
a place for former players. And when you talk about
growth and you talk about opportunity, the names that she
named right, like so many players who played in the
league and now they're getting an opportunity to in a way,
they are coaching, right, they're the facilitators, but they're also coaching.
(23:24):
So what I love about it is it's not just
about the current players, but it's about the former players
as well. And so, Megan, that leads me to another
question that I'm sure people who are listening to this
are probably like, Okay, now you got the WNBA, you
got AU, you got this other league.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
So when I look at AU and AU.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Has been around for four years now on the basketball side, right, this.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
Will be our fourth season.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Yeah, this will be the fourth season.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
And now you have unrival coming in who it's going
to be their first season.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
When you see that, two questions. One do you look
at Unrivaled as a rival?
Speaker 2 (24:07):
And what does this say about the growth of the
women's game.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
Yeah, I'm going to step back for a second and
just bring you guys into where I'm coming from with
this and that. Okay, I have been you took a
way back to playing days college of basketball. But then
after I've put my sneakers up and decided I wanted
to work in the game. Still, since two thousand and eight,
I've been working in professional women's basketball, and I've seen
during my time at the WNBA when there were not
(24:35):
so many people paying attention the difficulties that our athletes
had in finding places and spaces and opportunities a platform.
When I think about how even this past season and
then the growth of women's sports and the women's basketball
landscape and how that has exploded, there's nothing but pure
joy as it relates to the opportunities that are available
(24:56):
for players.
Speaker 5 (24:57):
So AU continues to be.
Speaker 6 (24:58):
An opportunity platform, a space for our players to play.
The growth of other opportunities like Unrivaled and other leagues
that may pop up in the future is that as well,
and we welcome that. We think that is great, That
is great for women's basketball. But then when people say
is it arrival, absolutely not. What are we talking about here?
Speaker 1 (25:16):
It is absolutely not.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
The rising tide lifts all votes.
Speaker 6 (25:19):
So also recognize that we have two distinct offerings. And
so the format of AU, it's five on five basketball.
What Unrivaled is preparing to offer is three on three
and one on one. So we're just a different format.
Speaker 5 (25:31):
Right.
Speaker 6 (25:31):
The game is the game, but different formats within the game,
and I think that's welcome. We look at how women's
basketball is growing in the Olympics and the growth of
three on three, Right, it is natural that if something
grows and involves, there are going to be different formats, right,
that come along with that. But I think what's different
about AU is the sisterhood, this community aspect that we
are forming and how we are connecting the veterans of
(25:54):
the space, the legends of the space to be able
to say that we have Cheryl Swoops.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
And we have some Augustus Right and Poke Chapman.
Speaker 6 (26:01):
These are people that have been long time contributors to
our game and connect that with the new and the
younger and the emerging talent to spend time together for
four weeks on the ground together, We're building a sisterhood.
We're building a community that is about basketball but embracest
so much more. And I think that's this like intangible
factor that exists within AU that you kind of have
(26:23):
to come and show up to know it and to
feel it.
Speaker 5 (26:26):
But that's the difference.
Speaker 6 (26:27):
I would say, we are excited about the growth of
the women's basketball landscape, but within the AU family, what
we're building is something unlike what we've seen.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Yeah, we are talking to Meghan Perry and when we
come back.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
We are going to not only continue to talk about.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
AU, but also to talk about Meghan and how she
got to this point and in this place, in what
she brings to AU as head of basketball. Stay tuned,
all right, friends, welcome back to the levels to this podcast.
(27:03):
Today we are joined by special guest Megan Perry, who
has given us all the deats on athletes unlimited. And
I think that this year we are going to see
some new faces playing in AU. My girl Isabelle Harrison,
who's played in AUS for a few years now, a
few seasons now. She is incredibly excited about going back
(27:26):
home a Tennessee. We know she's a volunteer, but honey,
she is not kept it a secret at all about
how excited she is about going back home and playing
in front of her home crowd.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
And I know that's got to be exciting.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Her sister also plays in AU, so I know they're
going to be real excited about this. But just how
is this roster different how it's for me? What is
the process with building it the roster? Is it more
so executive driven or is it player driven? Like my homegirl,
I love you, come play with me in this league.
Speaker 6 (27:58):
Yeah, I would love to dive in to this a
little bit. So when we think about AU Pro basketball
and we get this question like how do we come
up with our roster one, I want to say, we're
really excited about the roster that we're building. We haven't
announced every player yet, so I will be careful in
sharing who we do have. But as far as like
our process is an invitation only process, I work in
collaboration with our player Executive Committee, which I think is
(28:20):
really cool because in most spaces people talk about wanting
to have player input and consulting a player core. We
work together and our players are actually the ultimate decision
makers when it comes to who we bring in. But
as a collective process and thinking about who is the
best fit and the best available on court and who
is going to be the best community member, that is
a big part of our process, and when we're evaluating
(28:41):
talent and our roster needs. And then I'll say from there,
and thinking about our arrival to Nashville as being our
first time in the city, of course, we wanted to
make sure we had some players with some Nashville ties.
So Isabelle Harrison and Dori Harrison, sisters that are born
and raised in Nashville, and people know the profile that
Isabelle Harrison had probably continues with her legacy at the
(29:03):
University of Tennessee. So that was our first announcement, but
I will say that we have gone a little bit
deeper as it relates to our roster in our Tennessee ties.
Fans will be excited to see that we have Alicia
Clark of the Las Vegas Aces, who is very familiar
with the Nashville and Tennessee landscape right coming from Belmont
and Middle Tennessee State University.
Speaker 5 (29:23):
We're excited about her.
Speaker 6 (29:25):
Jordan Horston coming out of the Tennessee University as well.
Speaker 5 (29:28):
We have Yeah, we have some Tennessee ties. Some of
their names.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
New names to AU that we have announced will be
welcoming Keia Nurse to the Au family, Brea Heartley to
the Au family, Alyssa Peelee to our AU family. I
don't want to go too deep because I don't want
to announce something that has not been announced. But what
I can say is we have a healthy roster of
players that are currently on a WNBA roster, of large
(29:53):
majority of players with WNBA experience, meaning that they are
either on a w team most recently, and perhaps because
we know about how limited those roster spaces are. It's
not about their abilities, it's just about not enough space, right,
And so we welcomed them into our community as well.
And so we have a balanced roster of some new names,
some young talent, and I will say some returning vets.
(30:15):
So Sidney Coulson, We're excited. A welcome Sidney Coulson, Lexi
Brown back to the AU family, Kirstin Bell.
Speaker 5 (30:22):
We have a lot.
Speaker 6 (30:24):
Of names that people will know, Maddie Segrest, but stay
tuned for a couple new names. I think you got
to get excited about. The talent is locked and loaded,
and we are feeling excited. I think probably one of
the best rosters we've put together in our four years.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
Just given the name that you just gave us.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
From top to bottom, I will say, this will absolutely
be a.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
Competitive season in AU.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Here's what I love, because I've seen it from season one,
two and three.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
You have players like season.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
One when Klinie Brown played Season one, Klannie was trying
to make a roster right. Calanie played in AU and
she wasn't in the best headspace as far as being
confident in herself. But she came, she played well, she
then got a chance to oversee she came back home.
Now to me, I feel like she has a home
(31:15):
in Dallas. Is that all because of AU. No, it's
because of the hard work she put in. But AU
gave her a home like it gave her a place
to work on her game and understand what she needed
to work on. I even look at a player like
Alexi Brown, Lexi Brown was the same way Lexi Brown
now being with the Sparks and getting a guaranteed contract
(31:37):
last year. I think that AU did have a lot
to do with that. And I only bring that up
to say a player like Elisa Peeley, I think Athletes
Unlimited AU is a perfect place for her right playing
for Minnesota, didn't get a lot of playing time.
Speaker 4 (31:53):
Now she can.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
Stay home in the States but get an opportunity for
four weeks to work on her game, to get better
and to gain some confidence getting ready to go into
the next to BNBA season.
Speaker 5 (32:07):
I absolutely agree.
Speaker 6 (32:08):
I think that's what's so special about AU and what
we provide is that opportunity.
Speaker 5 (32:12):
It's that platform to become your best self.
Speaker 6 (32:14):
That's what I always tell people, And yeah, ardly love
where you are in your playing career and on that spectrum,
this is the opportunity for you to become your best
self wherever that Isles of Paley and others will have
the opportunity to play with kind of like a renewed
sense of freedom. And we also support the games and
the practices and the shoot arounds with skill development. You know,
we bring in professional development coaches, and our players are
(32:37):
spending dedicated time right to grow their game and the
ways that they specifically find that they need to listen.
For the purpose of this conversation, we for sure will.
Speaker 5 (32:45):
Credit AU it has pushed where they they continue to grow.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
And you know what, just to put a cap on that,
I think it not only allows younger players to grow,
but it allows players who may have played several years
in the league an opportunity to still be active and
still increase their viability to make a roster to be
on the league as well. I think about the winner
of the first season, Siana Hawkins, right, Siana Hawkins is
(33:13):
a Vet, a true VET, and yet she still came
to AU and produced and excelled in a way that
I think maybe some people didn't realize she was still
capable of doing.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
You look at Melissa Smith who won.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
Season two and again you can see her coming in
as a number two overall pick.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
And then now Alisha Gray.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Right, we know what kind of year she had this
past season.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
She won at every level.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Right, So I just think it's an opportunity for people
to not only grow and learn, but for veteran players
to also maintain that fierceness in that standard and should
remind folks like I still got gas and no doubt,
don't come out and to your point, T.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Because this is a player that I talk about all
the time and I've yet to understand why a W
team will not sign her to a contract. So I'm
going to put it. I was, Yes, listen, honesty Sims.
Every year she's played in AU, like she dominates.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
She's just the kid. She ain't a kid, but she's
a kid to me.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
The kids is just good.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Like she can flat out play, and I feel like
AU gives her that platform for teams to see her,
and yes, they'll come get her after AU they sign
her seven day contract. Listen, anybody out there with a
W team that's listening, y'all need to go grab Odyssey.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
Sims Golden State.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Yeah, that's yours, that's your PG.
Speaker 5 (34:41):
Listen, I'm gonna add to that.
Speaker 6 (34:42):
I'm gonna say I know appreciates that for sure, and
I think she is a great example of kind of
the visibility in the platform. Sure you does provide, but
I will say, listen, coaches, GMS, they come just smam
part of the experience, and we recognize this free agency
period is about to come up in how that landscape
is going to shift and mold itself. AU is a
(35:03):
space where people are watching closely because they recognize that
there are going to be some changes and they're looking
for some gems that people may not be paying attention
to but need to as well. So there's so many
layers to it. I think that's what makes it so
fun and so special.
Speaker 4 (35:16):
Absolutely, I love that, Megan.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
You gotta tell to people when can they expect the
first game? How can we get tickets? Is their merch
because really you got to have to merch, right.
Speaker 6 (35:28):
Perfect, Oh, all very cool merch, all of that. So
first of all, games check us out. Games tip off
February fifth. Last game is on March second. We are
playing in downtown Nashville at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium a
really cool spot. We're bringing music, city and basketball together
to downtown Nashville. If you are looking for tickets, come
get them. They are hot.
Speaker 5 (35:47):
They go to auprobasketball dot.
Speaker 6 (35:49):
Com or you can check out any of our social
handles on IG. Ticket information is available there to any
fans that want to come and join us. I would
also say as far as march, AU Pro shop where
it is, and so we are excited to roll out
some special edition Nashville items and overall some cool and
different looking AU gear.
Speaker 5 (36:07):
So yes, come get all of that.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
Let me know if you need me.
Speaker 5 (36:12):
I have some intel.
Speaker 6 (36:13):
I believe we are already taking care of you.
Speaker 4 (36:19):
She she has some intel.
Speaker 5 (36:21):
Yes, I have some intel. I think we're taking care
of you.
Speaker 4 (36:25):
But you know that's coming your way.
Speaker 6 (36:28):
Honestly, I think what's so cool about AU is not
only with our merch yes, like we will have some
basketball teams, but a lot of the stuff that we
put out and our team works really hard on connecting
with our player group. What do they want to see?
What can we amplify? That's about them, right, It's about AU,
but it's also about our players and putting that on
the forefront, so we can expect to see some things
(36:49):
that are player centric as well this season when that
stuff drops.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Listen, I'm excited about the season. I'm looking forward to it.
Can't wait. Megant's and you know how I feel about you.
Speaker 4 (37:01):
The love goes deep, we go deep.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
We just truly appreciate you for stopping by and talking
up athletes unlimited.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
Looking forward to the season.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
I'm going to bring half of Tennessee State out to
My sister is a sophomore, and so I've been to
Nashville more in the last year than i have in
like forever. So I'm excited about the season for sure,
and thank you for coming by the show to share
with us. Congratulations on everything that you're doing. You speak
with so much passion about this league, and you can
(37:33):
tell that you are not only the perfect person, but
just to have utilized all of the things you've learned
over the many years that you're bringing to this position.
And we can feel it, and we can see it,
we can see it says so kudos to you.
Speaker 5 (37:47):
Thank you. You guys are so kind. I really appreciate that.
Speaker 6 (37:50):
And stick with us, Stick with us. We are building
something good and else.
Speaker 4 (37:53):
Girl, we ain't going nowhere nowhere.
Speaker 5 (37:55):
We love it, we love it.
Speaker 6 (37:57):
Come on out and can I say it? Shout out
to Kandice, do pree it to you? Shoot her season?
So we were very much so we'll be making sure
that we're in supporting Candace.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
Yes, let's go.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
I tried to get my sister to play on the team.
Now she can't play basketball for real, but I was
just like, listen, just go try out so you can
meet Candace Stupree.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
That's a legend.
Speaker 6 (38:16):
Yes, yes, so good stuff, bru, and I can't wait
to see you guys in Nashville.
Speaker 5 (38:20):
Thanks for having me on and listen, let's continue this conversation.
There might be for sure to talk about.
Speaker 1 (38:25):
For sure.
Speaker 4 (38:26):
Absolutely love you guys.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
All right, sureyl So, we have basically given our fans
all the rundown on Athletes Unlimited, why they need to
be there when they need to tune in four weeks
of this, we're going strong until the end of March.
You're gonna be there on the call. I'm gonna be
there as the digital reporter. We're gonna have a lot
of fun with Athletes Unlimited. What's the one thing that
you can't wait, and that you're looking forward to when
(39:03):
you get to Nashville.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Besides kicking it and hanging with you and having a
few dreams we won't tell nobody about.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
Listen, Megan laid it all out.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
She told the people what they need to hear, what
AU is all about. I'm excited about this talent, right.
I know we're they're still adding pieces, but of the
players she has mentioned and named, I'm excited about this
talent level. I think from top to bottom, it's gonna
be probably more balanced than we've seen in the previous years.
(39:34):
And from what I hear, Nashville is a good place
to be. And I'm just excited. I'm excited to be
a part of some more women's professional basketball.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
I know that's right.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
I'm excited for those same exact things, especially the kicking
it with you part, the kicking it with Cindy.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
I'm also really excited to see my baby sister. She's
a student at Tennessee State University who has a job
at AU working with their merchandising department.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
I had nothing to do with this, by the way,
so bad.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
It so I'm excited to see my baby sister once
I get there. But with that, UYL go ahead and
close us out and level us up for next week.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Listen, I am going to give y'all some good words today.
And yeah, let me just read this to y'all for
anybody that may be going through something and you're feeling
a little down, not really sure what's going on, what's
next for you? People talking about you behind your back,
more than likely not to your face. This is for
(40:35):
you and for me, and it says dirty water doesn't
stop plants from growing, so don't let negative words stop
your progress.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
M hmm. I definitely needed to hear that. How about that.
I definitely needed to hear that. I don't cause I don't.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
Care how dirty the water is. If you put it
on the plants, it's still gonna grow. It's still gonna grow.
That's a big yag.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
Hopefully that helps somebody lift somebody up today. I needed
that to lift me up today for sure. Cause girl,
I beat a villain in some people's stories, y'all, but
it's all good. We don't make it work because they
do what it do. Okay, we beat a villain in
folks the story. But with that, as always, we absolutely
love kicking it with you guys here, and thank you
(41:23):
all so much, so very much for listening.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
We will be.
Speaker 3 (41:26):
Back next week with more next level conversations and we
have an incredible guest next week too, so you really
don't want to miss out. But we're all just talking
about the real shit that women go through. And remember
this is not just our show, it's our show, so
we want to hear from you. Please leave us a
review in Apple Podcasts, or you can email us at
Levels to This Podcast at gmail dot com and tell
(41:47):
us what you thought of this week's show or maybe
what you want to talk about in a future show.
You can also follow us on Instagram at lct pod.
But until next time, keep your mentals ground level and
we'll be back next week.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
Peace.
Speaker 4 (42:00):
Peace.
Speaker 2 (42:02):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart.
Open your free iHeart app and search Levels to This
with Ryl Swoops and Tareka Foster Brasbee and start listening
Levels to.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
This is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with
Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Hey everybody, it's your girls. Henrica Foster Brasby what's.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Up, y'all?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
It's your girl, Cheryl Swoops And this is the Levels
to this podcast. This is the show where we share
that it's levels to the shit that women go through.
And we certainly have an incredible guest lined up today
to really help talk us through and get us up
to speed with some great basketball that we're gonna witness
over the next few weeks. But first, Cheryl, I feel
(00:43):
like we have to take a moment to recognize and
acknowledge that we are really.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Going through some devastating time.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Specifically if you are living in the state of California.
The La fires have really ravaged through that area, the Palisades,
calabass Is eating fires. I mean, it's just been very
difficult to watch some of the photos and videos of
areas that don't even look the same.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
I I've cried and cried and cried, and I'll cry
some more, you know, Tea even if you're not in
LA and you're not personally affected, like for me, I
am so like I'm hurt for the people, I'm devastated.
(01:31):
I've been praying NonStop and like there's just so much
to say, and you know, I think the part for
me that as if the people of LA aren't going
through enough, right, or if California aren't going through enough.
The part that just frustrates me is everybody wants to
(01:52):
point fingers right, like you're to blame, You're to blame,
You're the blame, You're the blame. And my thing is,
let's just try and come together as a country, as
a people to try and support all of these families
who some of them have.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Lost everything everything.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
And I know people talk about, oh, well, it's just
materialistic things and you can rebuild and you can go.
It ain't even about that. I honestly can't. I can't
even wrap my mind around like just what's going on
and how they feel. I get on social media and
then I have to get off because it's a lot.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
And it I don't know.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I'm just going through so many different waves of emotion
for them, and.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I feel helpless.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
I feel so helpless and it's wild that people want
to place blame on anyone or anything, because it's like
some things can't be helped and some things can't write.
And part of this situation, a large part of this
situation has to do with earth and nature, climates and nature,
(03:04):
and it's unfortunate that we have lost lives. To my understanding,
twenty four have been killed.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
It's the last number I heard.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Yeah, twenty four was the last number that I heard
the situation. I have a cousin who lives in LA,
some friends who lives in LA. I actually opened my
home to my cousin this weekend, and I thought she
was going to try to make it. But I think
that she's gone to a safe zone. But I say
all that to say I agree with you one hundred percent.
There are so many things that we focused our attention
on it really just don't matter. And this is one
(03:34):
of those situations where our attention and our focus needs
to be on helping those people who have quite literally
lost everything. And to the first responders, the firefighters, those
who have assisted, no matter what part you've played in
trying to make a difference, we thank you and we
appreciate you. It's not easy to deal with that situation.
(03:55):
So we will most certainly keep LA lifted, keep all
the families that been affected lifted in prayer and in
our thoughts, And with that, we certainly want to just
kind of talk about how important it is to be
in the moment because we never know when that moment
may change. I know those people in LA didn't wake
(04:16):
up thinking that this was a situation that was going
to escalate to where it's been, So being in the
moment is certainly important. And not to minimize that scenario
with the transition to this one, but we are certainly
in a moment in women's basketball that we have to
just kind of sit back and think and revel in
(04:37):
and say, wow, Like we've gotten to a place where
we can almost watch women's basketball all year long.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Right, and like, who would have ever thunk it would
have ever thunk it that we would be in this moment.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Yeah, in this moment. Yeah, you're long. You've got WNBA.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Immediately after WNBA, we got Unrivaled, which is going to
be kicking off this week, and we certainly can't wait
to talk more.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
About that league.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
And then after Unrivaled starts only a short couple of
weeks later, we are going to get Athletes.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Unlimited, which is going to be on its fourth season.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
And I'm excited because I'm gonna be in Nashville, and
you gonna be in Nashville, and our guest today.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Is gonna be in Nashville.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Gonna be in Nashville, so she better bean in Nashville
for real, or we got some real problems.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
But I'm excited about about chatting today with Megan Perry.
Meghan Perry is someone who is very near and dear
to both of us. She's been a leader in the
sports industry for many years, but she is currently, i
want to say, the executive operating an executive of a
head of basketball for Athletes Unlimited right now, and so
(05:52):
we are going to kick it with her on today's show.
I'm excited about it, You're excited about it. So let's
not waste any more time. Let's go ahead and into
the next level. Friends, we are incredibly excited about our
guests today. SHERL and I try to do our due diligence.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
To talk to people who not.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Only interest and fascinate us, but also who just deserve
the recognition.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Right and this person.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Right here truly deserves the recognition for all that she's
been doing for women's basketball. Not only did she lead
her Cornell University team.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
To Yes, I'm bringing it back.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Oh we going all the way back.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
And spokes don't know Meg and kabol for real.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yeay, yeah, that's an IVY League champion letter number one.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Let them know.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
She has done so much off the court as well.
In the boardroom. She worked for NBA, she served in
the WNBA, and now she is currently the head of
Basketball for Athletes Unlimited Professional Basketball League affection known to
all of us as AU.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Please welcome Meghan Perry to the show.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
Hey Megan girl.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Oh my goodness, thank you all the applause?
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Did you hear all the applause?
Speaker 6 (07:09):
That is the kindest introduction. I so appreciate you all.
And you took it.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
All the way back to play days. Okay, Megan, you.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Gotta let folks know that not only do you talk basketball,
but you do basketball.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
You do it.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
When I first met Meghan, she was actually on broadcast
for the IVY League. We would do the China and
I would always do every year a final four or
like a tournament roundup, and we wanted everybody from every
league to come in and give us insight, and we
knew as it related to the IVY League, we needed
to get Megan on the show because she had all
(07:44):
the deets.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
Oh my goodness, I so fondly remember those days and times.
But yes, we go way back to Rika as well.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
Cheryl and I go way back.
Speaker 6 (07:53):
But I've been around the game for a minute now,
so yes, I played college basketball, turned that into the
opportunities to work in the game professionally. Since two thousand
and eight, I've been around this game and tried to
dip my toes into the media space like you guys
and enjoyed it, and then said I think I have
more to give and want to be more in the
front office space, joined AU and have been working for
the past year and a half to give all I
(08:14):
can give to that space and grow the game.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
So thank you for the kind recognition.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Absolutely so deserving, and we're excited to have you on
and let's just hop right into it. T and I
we're very familiar with athletes Unlimited or AU. But for
those who are listening who may not, I don't know
why they wouldn't know about it, But those who may
not know about AU.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Why don't you tell the people about AU. What's it
all about?
Speaker 6 (08:42):
Yeah, I cannot wait to tell you all about AU.
So Athletes Unlimited Professional Basketball we call it AU for sure,
you'll finally hear it called that. But AU we're entering
our fourth season. Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball was founded by
Jonathan Soros and Jonathan Patrick Off back in twenty twenty,
and they really set out to provide a platform, in
(09:02):
a space for women to be able to compete here
domestically in the United States in the off season of
the WNBA.
Speaker 5 (09:09):
So we really started.
Speaker 6 (09:10):
Out with the opportunity to create more space for women
because we deserve that. And since twenty twenty, we have
been providing a space for now forty women in the
off season in the WNBA to be able to play
domestically here in the United States for four weeks in
one city at one time. So we're building a community,
we're building a sisterhood, and it's the only place where
you can still find five on five elite women's basketball
(09:34):
here in the United States.
Speaker 5 (09:35):
We're excited about that.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Again, t and are very familiar. But what do you
say to people who.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Might look at AU or think of AU as like
a G league to the w I.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
Would say, that's not it, that's not it. We are
so excited about the roster of talent that we put
together so as far as timing and space right, and
you came along and provided that time and space so
that if players choose not to go overseas, they do
not they have an option to stay here. We are
providing a space for some of the same faces that
you know well and have been following across the WNBA
(10:11):
landscape that have been playing overseas for quite some time,
and some players that you're familiar with across the collegiate
landscape and may have gone overseas, got an injury or something,
but are looking for a spot to come back. We
have embraced the entire women's basketball community and.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
We have top talent. We have had names that you.
Speaker 6 (10:30):
Will recognize as WNBA All Stars and champions, and this
season we are in the process. I will say I
won't announce anyone new of sharing our roster. If you
go to auprobasketball dot com, you can see who we're
bringing in this year, and it's an elite talent, group
of seasoned that's emerging talent and It's a quality that
you should know and recognize that you're already familiar with
(10:51):
across the landscape. So that's what I would tell people.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
One thing that I love is you talk about being
in one city in one place, and I know that
when a if you first started in the first season,
you were in Vegas, last couple of seasons Dallas, this
year in Nashville.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Can you talk to.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Us a little bit about the process of selecting Nashville
and really what the thought process is in terms of
selecting any city in which you desire to host an AU.
Speaker 6 (11:16):
I appreciate that question so much to you because the
first season of AU Pro Basketball was played in Las Vegas.
Season two and three were in Dallas, and I will say,
this is my second year with athletes and limited pro
basketball and having an opportunity to spend time in Dallas
last year.
Speaker 5 (11:32):
We appreciated that time.
Speaker 6 (11:33):
We thought it was a great time, but we also
recognized the growth and the opportunity that exists around women's
basketball and finding out that professional women's basketball has not
existed in the state of Tennessee since nineteen ninety eight
when the ABL was there, I felt that that was
specifically something that we had the power to change we
wanted to do so. We were looking for a place,
a place that wanted to partner with AU Pro Basketball,
(11:55):
that wanted to host us. In Nashville has been more
than warm and welcoming to U Pro Basketball. It is
a hot bit of talent for anyone that knows anything
about the history of women's basketball across the collegiate landscape.
But it is a space that is warm and ripe
and wanting professional women's basketball to find a home there.
It's also a space that we recognize that the WNBA
(12:15):
has named as a potential expansion city, and so we
wanted to be the first ones to bring professional women's
basketball back to that space. And we're excited about the
response that we've seen thus far.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
People are excited.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
I'm very excited and interested about this because I've been
one of the people who have been very critical of
the state of Tennessee as it relates to professional women's basketball.
And I want to tell you why, because I would
love your thoughts. One of the things that scares me
the most about Tennessee is when I think about women
who play professional basketball, specifically in the WNBA AU other places,
(12:50):
they have a specific or at least a large quantity
of them identify with a specific group. And Tennessee from
a state, local government kind of place. When you think
about players having to live there, having to reside there,
you think they we want to feel welcomed, and Tennessee
hasn't always been a state in my opinion, that has
made people of certain.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Groups feel welcome.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
So I've always known of how important women's basketball has
been in Knoxville and how in certain areas because of
Pat Summits legacy, that Tennessee has been the epicenter. It's
where the Women's National Basketball Hall of Fame is like.
We understand that, but I've also been very scared about
bringing professional basketball to Tennessee for other reasons. Would you
(13:35):
say that this experience could possibly give a little bit
more insight into what a larger professional women's basketball presence
could look like in Tennessee.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
I would say one thing that the state of our world.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
I'll be real about the state of our world, and
is to be someone in a position that has the
opportunity to I'm a woman of color, I'm a black woman,
and I have the opportunity to lead a league that
has a large population of women of color for sure,
and people that identify as LGBTQ plus. I will say
this the state of the world that we live in
right now. There are unfortunate things that could happen everywhere,
(14:08):
and it.
Speaker 5 (14:08):
Is very volatile.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
However, and working with our Player Executive Committee, our PEC,
which is part of the governing body, I work with
a group of four players. We collectively work together to
figure out where we want to be, where we want
to play, what we want to do. Thinking about Nashville
and spending time there, it is a space that has
been nothing but warm and welcoming and it's something that
we do not take lightly. That we spend a lot
of time thinking about and a lot of time experiencing.
(14:32):
And I will say that within the spaces that we've
been in Nashville, we are excited about and I think
people that might have some of those questions and concerns
they may be dismissed because we have met a group
of people that are very engaging, very forward thinking. It's
a home to a number of I will add universities,
HBCUs and places that tend to have a more open
and very liberal mindset. That's not everyone, but it's most
(14:55):
and it feels like a place where we can grow
the game, that we can have impact in a community
in which is something au is really passionate about. And
a space quite honestly, is a tourist destination. It is
a hot spot. It is a space where we've hosted
the Final Four, they've hosted the SEC women's basketball Tournament,
they will have the men's basketball tournament. It is a
(15:15):
space that people come to and visit frequently, and it's continuing,
I think, to raise its profile.
Speaker 5 (15:20):
It relates to not only.
Speaker 6 (15:21):
Just women's basketball, but women's sports and the larger sports landscape.
So with all those factors that we put together and
we reflect on, we still think that it's a space
where we can grow and that's going to receive what
we have to offer really well. I would also say
to that, come join us, experience us, because I guarantee
once you come and you get that button the seat right,
(15:42):
you're gonna want to come back. You're gonna say, oh,
that was really dope. I would just say give it
a try. Give it a try.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
First of all, TA great question, but I will vouch
for the excitement of the game. Right me being able
to be a part of AU all three seasons going
into the fourth. It's different, right, systems different, and if
you haven't been out, if you haven't come out to
a game, you gotta come.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
I agree with you, Megan.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
I keep saying it's different without taking up a lot
of time to go into all of that.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
It's fun, it's exciting.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
I don't know if you want to explain a little
bit about the scoring system and why it's different from
your typical five on five.
Speaker 5 (16:21):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
Let me also say, what can you expect when you
come to see AU Pro basketball game?
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Right?
Speaker 6 (16:26):
We have a unique environment. It's an intimate experience. You
are up close, right, Our athletes are accessible. We energize
our crowds our in game and entertainment.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
It's hot.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
You have familiar names and faces on the sidelines right,
not only on the floor, but around the sidelines.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
It's a family atmosphere.
Speaker 6 (16:42):
And so when you think about the product on the
floor and what makes AU Pro basketball difference, I always
say to people, at its core, we're five on five
basketball and what you've known, come to love for years
and years competing up and down that.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
Floor that exists.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
The cool part is that We've layered on an innovative
scoring system on top of the game, where in AU
we are competing to crown one individual champion at the
top of the AU leader board. So we have forty
players across four teams. Each team is headed up by
a captain. We are player led, and so every week,
(17:15):
our captains have the opportunity to participate in a draft
where they select their teams, and throughout the course of play,
the players will have the opportunity to ascend or descend
up and down that leader board to determine where they
land if they are going to be the captain the
next week, right over the course of the time that
they're there. It creates a really cool environment for playing
because it allows you to be able to follow your
(17:38):
favorite athletes or individual performances, but also how.
Speaker 5 (17:41):
Their teams perform.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
We reward individual performances as well as teams.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
That's unique.
Speaker 6 (17:46):
I think it's also an opportunity for fans to be
able to engage in a different way than they traditionally
would because in AU, every moment counts. Our players are
playing for the forty minutes, but they're playing not only
to win the game, they're playing to win a quarter,
our players get points and they get bonuses that are
tied to that leaderboard. So you're following a game within
(18:07):
a game, and you're trying to keep up with not
only who's on top of the leaderboard, but who has
the opportunity to ascend to that position. And it fluctuates
from week to week. So one week you could be
playing with one captain and the next week you could
be on defense against them. We mix it up and
over the course of the time on the ground being together,
that creates some really interesting dynamics. I will say, where
(18:28):
your teammates one day and the next week you are
not right. So it's fun, but it's five on five
in its core. Come enjoy five on five basketball. That's
what we have professionals playing at a high level, but
we also have layers of engagement for our fans that
will allow them to follow the game a little bit differently.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah, the thing I love about it is everything that
Megan said, but from a former player. For me, I
love seeing the growth, right, I love seeing the growth
of the game. I love seeing more opportunity and AU
has given these women this opportunity, and not just basketball, right,
there's lacrosse, there's volleyball, there's softball. So AU has given
(19:06):
so many women opportunities to continue to play professionally. And
for a lot of players, it's their only time playing professional,
right They either tried out for the w and didn't
make it, or they tried overseas and it didn't work out.
But now they get a chance to stay in the
state and play professional basketball for four weeks. And to me,
(19:27):
it's just a great sign of the growth of the game.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
You know, my favorite part so far of AU because
I've also had the opportunity to be a part of
this league from its inception, covering it from a reporter's perspective,
a content creator's perspective. I love the fact that players
get to be coaches. And I remember having a conversation
with Dja Carrington a couple of years ago, and she
(19:51):
was a captain for a couple of years.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
As a matter of fact, there was this little secret tandem.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
That she and Natasha Cloud had going on round I
was like, you two are trying to make something happen here.
But it was the conversation of I get an opportunity
to understand what my coaches in the WNBA have to
go through when we have to think about strategy, when
we have to think about substitutions, when we have to
think about selections and not about who may be my
(20:16):
friend or who I may like, but who works well
with what. And you can see that translate over when
they approach the WNBA season, and I credit a lot
of growth from certain players in their IQ. Not just
their physical ability, because I think they've always had that,
but just the growth of your basketball IQ tends to
(20:36):
increase when playing in this league because of.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
All of the different things that you're asked to do.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
So can you speak a little bit about the fact
that they don't necessarily have coaches, but they do have
like moderators who assists the coaches, the player coaches on
each team.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
Let's nerd out a little bit. Let's talk about how
this all works for AU our format. One of the
differences is we say we're player led. We literally mean
that down to how we play on the court. In
our format, we have changed the model from the traditional model.
It's not top heavy, it's the other way around. So
traditionally the history of most leagues is where you have
your general managers and your head coaches, right you have
(21:14):
your executives that are the decision makers. With AU our PEC,
our player Executive Committee is formed as part of our
governing body. It extends onto the court with our captains
are the primary decision makers. We have empowered our captains
to be able to select their teams, to decide how
they want to prepare for the games. They're the ones
that are influencing game strategy. They have the power to substitute,
(21:38):
to call the time out, they have a larger game
management role if.
Speaker 5 (21:42):
They choose to take that on.
Speaker 6 (21:44):
Fully, we recognize every player is different. There's some point
guards that are like, I want to do all those
things right, I want to sub I want to be
in charge of practice, I want all the control. And
then there are some players that are like, I actually
just want to hoop. I love being a captain, but
I need some support. And so what we provided is facilitators,
which is the AU terminology for what would traditionally be
(22:05):
an assistant coach to support all the needs of the captain.
So the captains can lean on the facilitators to be
able to help them with their game prep strategy, to
help them with the substitutions, to manage the dynamics that
come with just managing a team, quite frankly, and.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
So that's the cool part.
Speaker 6 (22:20):
And our players are supported with facilitators that are top
line professionals. I will not spoil what we have on
the doc for this season, but amazing facilitators in the past,
names like Poke Chapman, Simone Augustus Freon, January Chastity Melvin Kareema,
Christmas Cality. We have very high level professionals supporting the game.
And I'll say our players love that because it gives
(22:43):
them the opportunity, like you said, to be able to
play the game with a little bit of a different
mentality in that captain's position, you're looking for different things
on the floor, but knowing that you have a Simone
Augustus like right next to you on the bench and
has your back, that allows a freedom of play that
they do not get in other spaces, and they keep
coming back for more. They love it.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
It's not just a place for current players, it's also
a place for former players. And when you talk about
growth and you talk about opportunity, the names that she
named right, like so many players who played in the
league and now they're getting an opportunity to in a way,
they are coaching, right, they're the facilitators, but they're also coaching.
(23:24):
So what I love about it is it's not just
about the current players, but it's about the former players
as well. And so, Megan, that leads me to another
question that I'm sure people who are listening to this
are probably like, Okay, now you got the WNBA, you
got AU, you got this other league.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
So when I look at AU and AU.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Has been around for four years now on the basketball side, right, this.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
Will be our fourth season.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Yeah, this will be the fourth season.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
And now you have unrival coming in who it's going
to be their first season.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
When you see that, two questions. One do you look
at Unrivaled as a rival?
Speaker 2 (24:07):
And what does this say about the growth of the
women's game.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
Yeah, I'm going to step back for a second and
just bring you guys into where I'm coming from with
this and that. Okay, I have been you took a
way back to playing days college of basketball. But then
after I've put my sneakers up and decided I wanted
to work in the game. Still, since two thousand and eight,
I've been working in professional women's basketball, and I've seen
during my time at the WNBA when there were not
(24:35):
so many people paying attention the difficulties that our athletes
had in finding places and spaces and opportunities a platform.
When I think about how even this past season and
then the growth of women's sports and the women's basketball
landscape and how that has exploded, there's nothing but pure
joy as it relates to the opportunities that are available
(24:56):
for players.
Speaker 5 (24:57):
So AU continues to be.
Speaker 6 (24:58):
An opportunity platform, a space for our players to play.
The growth of other opportunities like Unrivaled and other leagues
that may pop up in the future is that as well,
and we welcome that. We think that is great, That
is great for women's basketball. But then when people say
is it arrival, absolutely not. What are we talking about here?
Speaker 1 (25:16):
It is absolutely not.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
The rising tide lifts all votes.
Speaker 6 (25:19):
So also recognize that we have two distinct offerings. And
so the format of AU, it's five on five basketball.
What Unrivaled is preparing to offer is three on three
and one on one. So we're just a different format.
Speaker 5 (25:31):
Right.
Speaker 6 (25:31):
The game is the game, but different formats within the game,
and I think that's welcome. We look at how women's
basketball is growing in the Olympics and the growth of
three on three, Right, it is natural that if something
grows and involves, there are going to be different formats, right,
that come along with that. But I think what's different
about AU is the sisterhood, this community aspect that we
are forming and how we are connecting the veterans of
(25:54):
the space, the legends of the space to be able
to say that we have Cheryl Swoops.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
And we have some Augustus Right and Poke Chapman.
Speaker 6 (26:01):
These are people that have been long time contributors to
our game and connect that with the new and the
younger and the emerging talent to spend time together for
four weeks on the ground together, We're building a sisterhood.
We're building a community that is about basketball but embracest
so much more. And I think that's this like intangible
factor that exists within AU that you kind of have
(26:23):
to come and show up to know it and to
feel it.
Speaker 5 (26:26):
But that's the difference.
Speaker 6 (26:27):
I would say, we are excited about the growth of
the women's basketball landscape, but within the AU family, what
we're building is something unlike what we've seen.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Yeah, we are talking to Meghan Perry and when we
come back.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
We are going to not only continue to talk about.
Speaker 3 (26:43):
AU, but also to talk about Meghan and how she
got to this point and in this place, in what
she brings to AU as head of basketball. Stay tuned,
all right, friends, welcome back to the levels to this podcast.
(27:03):
Today we are joined by special guest Megan Perry, who
has given us all the deats on athletes unlimited. And
I think that this year we are going to see
some new faces playing in AU. My girl Isabelle Harrison,
who's played in AUS for a few years now, a
few seasons now. She is incredibly excited about going back
(27:26):
home a Tennessee. We know she's a volunteer, but honey,
she is not kept it a secret at all about
how excited she is about going back home and playing
in front of her home crowd.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
And I know that's got to be exciting.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Her sister also plays in AU, so I know they're
going to be real excited about this. But just how
is this roster different how it's for me? What is
the process with building it the roster? Is it more
so executive driven or is it player driven? Like my homegirl,
I love you, come play with me in this league.
Speaker 6 (27:58):
Yeah, I would love to dive in to this a
little bit. So when we think about AU Pro basketball
and we get this question like how do we come
up with our roster one, I want to say, we're
really excited about the roster that we're building. We haven't
announced every player yet, so I will be careful in
sharing who we do have. But as far as like
our process is an invitation only process, I work in
collaboration with our player Executive Committee, which I think is
(28:20):
really cool because in most spaces people talk about wanting
to have player input and consulting a player core. We
work together and our players are actually the ultimate decision
makers when it comes to who we bring in. But
as a collective process and thinking about who is the
best fit and the best available on court and who
is going to be the best community member, that is
a big part of our process, and when we're evaluating
(28:41):
talent and our roster needs. And then I'll say from there,
and thinking about our arrival to Nashville as being our
first time in the city, of course, we wanted to
make sure we had some players with some Nashville ties.
So Isabelle Harrison and Dori Harrison, sisters that are born
and raised in Nashville, and people know the profile that
Isabelle Harrison had probably continues with her legacy at the
(29:03):
University of Tennessee. So that was our first announcement, but
I will say that we have gone a little bit
deeper as it relates to our roster in our Tennessee ties.
Fans will be excited to see that we have Alicia
Clark of the Las Vegas Aces, who is very familiar
with the Nashville and Tennessee landscape right coming from Belmont
and Middle Tennessee State University.
Speaker 5 (29:23):
We're excited about her.
Speaker 6 (29:25):
Jordan Horston coming out of the Tennessee University as well.
Speaker 5 (29:28):
We have Yeah, we have some Tennessee ties. Some of
their names.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
New names to AU that we have announced will be
welcoming Keia Nurse to the Au family, Brea Heartley to
the Au family, Alyssa Peelee to our AU family. I
don't want to go too deep because I don't want
to announce something that has not been announced. But what
I can say is we have a healthy roster of
players that are currently on a WNBA roster, of large
(29:53):
majority of players with WNBA experience, meaning that they are
either on a w team most recently, and perhaps because
we know about how limited those roster spaces are. It's
not about their abilities, it's just about not enough space, right,
And so we welcomed them into our community as well.
And so we have a balanced roster of some new names,
some young talent, and I will say some returning vets.
(30:15):
So Sidney Coulson, We're excited. A welcome Sidney Coulson, Lexi
Brown back to the AU family, Kirstin Bell.
Speaker 5 (30:22):
We have a lot.
Speaker 6 (30:24):
Of names that people will know, Maddie Segrest, but stay
tuned for a couple new names. I think you got
to get excited about. The talent is locked and loaded,
and we are feeling excited. I think probably one of
the best rosters we've put together in our four years.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
Just given the name that you just gave us.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
From top to bottom, I will say, this will absolutely
be a.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
Competitive season in AU.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Here's what I love, because I've seen it from season one,
two and three.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
You have players like season.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
One when Klinie Brown played Season one, Klannie was trying
to make a roster right. Calanie played in AU and
she wasn't in the best headspace as far as being
confident in herself. But she came, she played well, she
then got a chance to oversee she came back home.
Now to me, I feel like she has a home
(31:15):
in Dallas. Is that all because of AU. No, it's
because of the hard work she put in. But AU
gave her a home like it gave her a place
to work on her game and understand what she needed
to work on. I even look at a player like
Alexi Brown, Lexi Brown was the same way Lexi Brown
now being with the Sparks and getting a guaranteed contract
(31:37):
last year. I think that AU did have a lot
to do with that. And I only bring that up
to say a player like Elisa Peeley, I think Athletes
Unlimited AU is a perfect place for her right playing
for Minnesota, didn't get a lot of playing time.
Speaker 4 (31:53):
Now she can.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
Stay home in the States but get an opportunity for
four weeks to work on her game, to get better
and to gain some confidence getting ready to go into
the next to BNBA season.
Speaker 5 (32:07):
I absolutely agree.
Speaker 6 (32:08):
I think that's what's so special about AU and what
we provide is that opportunity.
Speaker 5 (32:12):
It's that platform to become your best self.
Speaker 6 (32:14):
That's what I always tell people, And yeah, ardly love
where you are in your playing career and on that spectrum,
this is the opportunity for you to become your best
self wherever that Isles of Paley and others will have
the opportunity to play with kind of like a renewed
sense of freedom. And we also support the games and
the practices and the shoot arounds with skill development. You know,
we bring in professional development coaches, and our players are
(32:37):
spending dedicated time right to grow their game and the
ways that they specifically find that they need to listen.
For the purpose of this conversation, we for sure will.
Speaker 5 (32:45):
Credit AU it has pushed where they they continue to grow.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
And you know what, just to put a cap on that,
I think it not only allows younger players to grow,
but it allows players who may have played several years
in the league an opportunity to still be active and
still increase their viability to make a roster to be
on the league as well. I think about the winner
of the first season, Siana Hawkins, right, Siana Hawkins is
(33:13):
a Vet, a true VET, and yet she still came
to AU and produced and excelled in a way that
I think maybe some people didn't realize she was still
capable of doing.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
You look at Melissa Smith who won.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
Season two and again you can see her coming in
as a number two overall pick.
Speaker 1 (33:30):
And then now Alisha Gray.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Right, we know what kind of year she had this
past season.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
She won at every level.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Right, So I just think it's an opportunity for people
to not only grow and learn, but for veteran players
to also maintain that fierceness in that standard and should
remind folks like I still got gas and no doubt,
don't come out and to your point, T.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Because this is a player that I talk about all
the time and I've yet to understand why a W
team will not sign her to a contract. So I'm
going to put it. I was, Yes, listen, honesty Sims.
Every year she's played in AU, like she dominates.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
She's just the kid. She ain't a kid, but she's
a kid to me.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
The kids is just good.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Like she can flat out play, and I feel like
AU gives her that platform for teams to see her,
and yes, they'll come get her after AU they sign
her seven day contract. Listen, anybody out there with a
W team that's listening, y'all need to go grab Odyssey.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
Sims Golden State.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Yeah, that's yours, that's your PG.
Speaker 5 (34:41):
Listen, I'm gonna add to that.
Speaker 6 (34:42):
I'm gonna say I know appreciates that for sure, and
I think she is a great example of kind of
the visibility in the platform. Sure you does provide, but
I will say, listen, coaches, GMS, they come just smam
part of the experience, and we recognize this free agency
period is about to come up in how that landscape
is going to shift and mold itself. AU is a
(35:03):
space where people are watching closely because they recognize that
there are going to be some changes and they're looking
for some gems that people may not be paying attention
to but need to as well. So there's so many
layers to it. I think that's what makes it so
fun and so special.
Speaker 4 (35:16):
Absolutely, I love that, Megan.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
You gotta tell to people when can they expect the
first game? How can we get tickets? Is their merch
because really you got to have to merch, right.
Speaker 6 (35:28):
Perfect, Oh, all very cool merch, all of that. So
first of all, games check us out. Games tip off
February fifth. Last game is on March second. We are
playing in downtown Nashville at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium a
really cool spot. We're bringing music, city and basketball together
to downtown Nashville. If you are looking for tickets, come
get them. They are hot.
Speaker 5 (35:47):
They go to auprobasketball dot.
Speaker 6 (35:49):
Com or you can check out any of our social
handles on IG. Ticket information is available there to any
fans that want to come and join us. I would
also say as far as march, AU Pro shop where
it is, and so we are excited to roll out
some special edition Nashville items and overall some cool and
different looking AU gear.
Speaker 5 (36:07):
So yes, come get all of that.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
Let me know if you need me.
Speaker 5 (36:12):
I have some intel.
Speaker 6 (36:13):
I believe we are already taking care of you.
Speaker 4 (36:19):
She she has some intel.
Speaker 5 (36:21):
Yes, I have some intel. I think we're taking care
of you.
Speaker 4 (36:25):
But you know that's coming your way.
Speaker 6 (36:28):
Honestly, I think what's so cool about AU is not
only with our merch yes, like we will have some
basketball teams, but a lot of the stuff that we
put out and our team works really hard on connecting
with our player group. What do they want to see?
What can we amplify? That's about them, right, It's about AU,
but it's also about our players and putting that on
the forefront, so we can expect to see some things
(36:49):
that are player centric as well this season when that
stuff drops.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Listen, I'm excited about the season. I'm looking forward to it.
Can't wait. Megant's and you know how I feel about you.
Speaker 4 (37:01):
The love goes deep, we go deep.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
We just truly appreciate you for stopping by and talking
up athletes unlimited.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
Looking forward to the season.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
I'm going to bring half of Tennessee State out to
My sister is a sophomore, and so I've been to
Nashville more in the last year than i have in
like forever. So I'm excited about the season for sure,
and thank you for coming by the show to share
with us. Congratulations on everything that you're doing. You speak
with so much passion about this league, and you can
(37:33):
tell that you are not only the perfect person, but
just to have utilized all of the things you've learned
over the many years that you're bringing to this position.
And we can feel it, and we can see it,
we can see it says so kudos to you.
Speaker 5 (37:47):
Thank you. You guys are so kind. I really appreciate that.
Speaker 6 (37:50):
And stick with us, Stick with us. We are building
something good and else.
Speaker 4 (37:53):
Girl, we ain't going nowhere nowhere.
Speaker 5 (37:55):
We love it, we love it.
Speaker 6 (37:57):
Come on out and can I say it? Shout out
to Kandice, do pree it to you? Shoot her season?
So we were very much so we'll be making sure
that we're in supporting Candace.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
Yes, let's go.
Speaker 3 (38:07):
I tried to get my sister to play on the team.
Now she can't play basketball for real, but I was
just like, listen, just go try out so you can
meet Candace Stupree.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
That's a legend.
Speaker 6 (38:16):
Yes, yes, so good stuff, bru, and I can't wait
to see you guys in Nashville.
Speaker 5 (38:20):
Thanks for having me on and listen, let's continue this conversation.
There might be for sure to talk about.
Speaker 1 (38:25):
For sure.
Speaker 4 (38:26):
Absolutely love you guys.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
All right, sureyl So, we have basically given our fans
all the rundown on Athletes Unlimited, why they need to
be there when they need to tune in four weeks
of this, we're going strong until the end of March.
You're gonna be there on the call. I'm gonna be
there as the digital reporter. We're gonna have a lot
of fun with Athletes Unlimited. What's the one thing that
you can't wait, and that you're looking forward to when
(39:03):
you get to Nashville.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
Besides kicking it and hanging with you and having a
few dreams we won't tell nobody about.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
Listen, Megan laid it all out.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
She told the people what they need to hear, what
AU is all about. I'm excited about this talent, right.
I know we're they're still adding pieces, but of the
players she has mentioned and named, I'm excited about this
talent level. I think from top to bottom, it's gonna
be probably more balanced than we've seen in the previous years.
(39:34):
And from what I hear, Nashville is a good place
to be. And I'm just excited. I'm excited to be
a part of some more women's professional basketball.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
I know that's right.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
I'm excited for those same exact things, especially the kicking
it with you part, the kicking it with Cindy.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
I'm also really excited to see my baby sister. She's
a student at Tennessee State University who has a job
at AU working with their merchandising department.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
I had nothing to do with this, by the way,
so bad.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
It so I'm excited to see my baby sister once
I get there. But with that, UYL go ahead and
close us out and level us up for next week.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Listen, I am going to give y'all some good words today.
And yeah, let me just read this to y'all for
anybody that may be going through something and you're feeling
a little down, not really sure what's going on, what's
next for you? People talking about you behind your back,
more than likely not to your face. This is for
(40:35):
you and for me, and it says dirty water doesn't
stop plants from growing, so don't let negative words stop
your progress.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
M hmm. I definitely needed to hear that. How about that.
I definitely needed to hear that. I don't cause I don't.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
Care how dirty the water is. If you put it
on the plants, it's still gonna grow. It's still gonna grow.
That's a big yag.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
Hopefully that helps somebody lift somebody up today. I needed
that to lift me up today for sure. Cause girl,
I beat a villain in some people's stories, y'all, but
it's all good. We don't make it work because they
do what it do. Okay, we beat a villain in
folks the story. But with that, as always, we absolutely
love kicking it with you guys here, and thank you
(41:23):
all so much, so very much for listening.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
We will be.
Speaker 3 (41:26):
Back next week with more next level conversations and we
have an incredible guest next week too, so you really
don't want to miss out. But we're all just talking
about the real shit that women go through. And remember
this is not just our show, it's our show, so
we want to hear from you. Please leave us a
review in Apple Podcasts, or you can email us at
Levels to This Podcast at gmail dot com and tell
(41:47):
us what you thought of this week's show or maybe
what you want to talk about in a future show.
You can also follow us on Instagram at lct pod.
But until next time, keep your mentals ground level and
we'll be back next week.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
Peace.
Speaker 4 (42:00):
Peace.
Speaker 2 (42:02):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart.
Open your free iHeart app and search Levels to This
with Ryl Swoops and Tareka Foster Brasbee and start listening
Hosts And Creators
Terrika Foster-Brasby
Sheryl Swoopes
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