🎙️ Episode 14: “Kaila Charles Joins the Valkyries Mid Season then Starts in the Playoffs!

This episode highlights Kaila Charles, our dynamic guard/forward, and former Maryland standout, wearing jersey #6. She joined us mid season and has definitely left a big mark on our hearts.

Tune in to learn why she's the best.  We love you, Kaila Charles! 🖤💜🏀

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:05

Valkyrie. Valkyrie. This is Raina. And Vanessa. And this is Valkyrie's Say Less.

SPEAKER_01: 0:16

And by that, you know, we really mean we're gonna say so much more.

SPEAKER_00: 0:20

Uh, we are two SF moms, teachers, artists, and former basketball players. Yes. And we are now podcasters. And entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur podcasters. So it's been a second since we recorded last because last week last Wednesday. Last Wednesday, we had our final game of the season with the Valkyries. I can't believe it's a good one. We made the play works. It was bittersweet. Feels like a little bit of a breakup. I know, I've been grieving. It's great to see you again.

SPEAKER_01: 0:50

Oh, it's so good. I've missed you, especially sitting so close in a bunk bed. Yeah. I only know how it is to be next to you, either in a stadium or in a bunk bed. There's no other way. Sometimes we're at the beach, but really this just feels right. There's no other way.

SPEAKER_00: 1:05

Yeah, last time I saw you, we were both in tears. I was, I as soon as Anda Lissini, my kindred spirit, started to cry, I started to cry. Of course. The tears happened. Of course. And you were my Veronica Burton. You pulled me out of that. You said, right now we gotta get up.

SPEAKER_01: 1:21

It was like one of the last people to get out of the space. And we stayed there. We stayed a bit. With everybody else, almost just like wanting to feel all the fuels. Yeah. And now that it's been a week, it's been crazy because I feel like we still need more time to reflect on just that one game as well as the entire season. Right, right. I've loved seeing like some of the media posts that the Valkyries are doing where the one where they asked all the players to say like one word about the season. That brought me to tears. So many tears this past week.

SPEAKER_00: 1:55

But like really tears of did you notice I said historic? Oh yeah. They they're listening a lot.

SPEAKER_01: 2:00

Deep pride in these, and like, oh, in these players.

SPEAKER_00: 2:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 2:04

So last, okay, so let's go back. Last Wednesday, you picked me up and we jetted down to Caltrain. Caltrain, right after school. It was intense. That was also my first time in Caltrain. Me too. I uh was impressed by how clean it was.

SPEAKER_00: 2:19

Caltrain's awesome. Oh my goodness. I felt like we were in Japan or something. Totally.

SPEAKER_01: 2:23

It was like and also like when you go and you like line up and they're all there, it it felt very futuristic and and lovely. So now I think about our San Jose players who are players, our San Jose, not players.

SPEAKER_00: 2:35

Our San Jan Joseph Bahala fans that travel every single day. You take cow trains.

SPEAKER_01: 2:42

I was like, this is weeks.

SPEAKER_00: 2:45

I did get home at 12. Oh, yes. We haven't.

SPEAKER_01: 2:48

That's right. Yes. It was I've heard from Meg.

SPEAKER_00: 2:51

It was my snoring on the train. She may have said that.

SPEAKER_01: 2:56

Correct.

SPEAKER_00: 2:57

I mean, after the game, I felt like I had run a 400-meter dash. It was the longest sprint of my life to get there. And then it was like that. So fun to meet all these people on the street.

SPEAKER_01: 3:09

We met a lot of people on the street. Wait. Personal highlight, Valkyrie's say less highlight was folks yelling Valkyrie Say Less on the street. I know. Because they recognized us. Oh my god, that was a good thing.

SPEAKER_00: 3:23

It was very, very wholesome, good fun. The food was great. They were ready. San Jose was ready for Bahala. Bahala solo. Um the sound was I don't know, I don't want to be negative, but we had to carry the sounds to Bahala. It's just an a cappella. Deadening. Yeah. It wasn't it wasn't the sharpness that we're used to.

SPEAKER_01: 3:43

But it was very light-filled. Yeah. I was like, that was one thing where I was like, oh, it feels like we're even closer to the players. Right.

SPEAKER_00: 3:49

So wonderful night. Edge of our seats. Edge of our seats. It was a great game. We're proud of our belks. We are so proud.

SPEAKER_01: 3:56

Proud of also Natalina Casey for giving that ball to Chechi and saying, you know, you've got this. I trust you. And Chechi missed it. And that that happens. But she was so close, and I I can't wait for her to see her make that shot, like in another game and like a redemption shot.

SPEAKER_00: 4:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 4:14

Because you know she's taking it hard too.

SPEAKER_00: 4:15

Yeah. No, no game is decided in the last 10 seconds.

SPEAKER_01: 4:19

No, and also the links are just so good. So good.

SPEAKER_00: 4:22

There were so many 24 second violations, and it was just that speaks to their superb defense. It's not just because people do things wrong. It's like the other team did a lot of stuff right.

SPEAKER_01: 4:33

Yeah. And they came back from, I think we were up by 17 points. They came back. At the start of the fourth, we were up by 14. It's just impressive. I have this. I am impressed by them. So I am rooting for them. For the links now? Oh, yeah. Yes. I am rooting for them to go all the way.

SPEAKER_00: 4:50

Because in my math, Raina Math, we're in second place. If they win, we actually are I love Raina Math. Thank you for that.

SPEAKER_01: 4:59

We actually got the silver belly. We already have it.

SPEAKER_00: 5:04

Absolutely. But yeah, we get to cheer on the stud buds now. Courtney Williams article made such an impression on me. And so I just I really want her to get it.

SPEAKER_01: 5:14

Totally. I mean, okay, so we're now in round two of the playoffs. Yes. And what's exciting, it's one and one.

SPEAKER_00: 5:22

I know.

SPEAKER_01: 5:23

So I really Oh my goodness.

unknown: 5:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 5:26

It's last night the Lynx lost. The Mercury came back in one in overtime.

SPEAKER_00: 5:32

The Mercury did things right.

SPEAKER_01: 5:34

Oh my goodness. And then what about the Aces? They came back and they blew away the fever after losing in the first game. So this is a great game to watch. It's games, it's it's kind of odd to me that they're playing both games on the same night. I wish they spread them out.

SPEAKER_00: 5:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 5:52

It's like you gotta have like basketball night and then recoup the next day.

SPEAKER_00: 5:55

Yeah. I oh you went to the beach on the beautiful day yesterday, right? My my beach was yesterday, which was my TV incredible. Just like set up.

SPEAKER_01: 6:02

Oh God. It's just Did you watch the game on the beach? It no, I actually I watched highlights. Oh. I didn't watch the game. I just ran up and watched highlights. I know. I know. We're just doing our reveals. Yeah. Okay. Kyla Charles. Is there anything else to say before we get into her?

SPEAKER_00: 6:19

Oh, I wanted to say that we will be keeping an eye on our Valks that are being revealed. Who do we know? Unrivaled. Who do we know? Sneaky little reveal game of hints. Um I was really excited to see. I'm actually going to check if there's any third. But we already have two Valks that are going to be playing for Unrivaled. We don't know the teams yet. That will be announced, I think, sometime October. And we have Veronica Burton. Uh-huh. Woo! And then Kate Burton's back. Woo! Yes. Okay. Oh my gosh. Mobile links.

SPEAKER_01: 6:50

Woo! Okay, that was on the edge of my that was two hours ago.

SPEAKER_00: 6:54

I missed that one. They just keep me on the edge of my. She's the most recent. Mobillings. Oh my goodness. Three Valks are playing. Look, we're blowing up the mic here. Sorry. Sorry, Mike. Okay, very exciting. Mobileings. So three Valks so far. This is so fun. This is so fun. I kind of didn't like it at first. I was like, really? I have to keep checking my phone for the Sun Rival. But now I'm like, oh, that was so exciting. Oh, it's a game. A little little joy boost. What do you call it?

SPEAKER_01: 7:20

Joy burst. Joy burst. Joy Joy burst. We need to create our joy. What if they play on the same three and three team? That would be so cute. Oh my goodness. Wait, so every year do they remake the teams, or is it like if you were on the year last year? So is Kate Martin like on the laces, or we don't know if she's a nun on the laces. We don't know. Oh my goodness. We have so much to research. I know.

SPEAKER_00: 7:44

They said they'll the team soon. But they're all in Miami, so it doesn't really matter.

SPEAKER_01: 7:49

Let's go. Raina. Let's go. Oh my goodness, let's take a business trip. I'll use my chas Chase Sapphire reserve card. Of course, everyone knows. I know Chase Sapphire is not like sponsoring the podcast.

SPEAKER_00: 8:02

We need to reach out. Wait, is it? Let's go. Let's go to Unrivaled. We'll just take a sabbatical. I I No, we'll go for a long weekend. Time's a great time to stay. We can stay at Business. Love Miami. Oh, that'd be fun. Max is like a main character. A recurring. A recurring in our podcast.

SPEAKER_01: 8:20

All right. What are we doing today? Because it's a brand new one. No one. That was not a part.

SPEAKER_00: 8:29

This is a brand new deck. No one would guess. We are doing a new little um teacher trick. And we're going to be selecting from the Valkyries this pristine deck that was given out probably through. Fan appreciation night. Fan appreciation night. It's a nice quality deck of cards. We're going to choose a card and then sort of like tarot reading, inspiration, intuition, using uh the playing connections to make connections. It's going to like can do a synapse little boost for us.

SPEAKER_01: 9:01

I mean, this the what's great about this game is that I have no idea in what direction it's going to go.

SPEAKER_00: 9:07

No, we have no idea. We have our research done, but and have you ever done tarot cards?

SPEAKER_01: 9:12

Of course.

SPEAKER_00: 9:12

Okay. I have not.

SPEAKER_01: 9:13

What kind of question is that?

SPEAKER_00: 9:14

I I have not. So this is my first time and it's probably. No. Not that I can remember. Oh my god. I don't it's just not one of the things I probably.

SPEAKER_01: 9:28

Okay. We're gonna get some card readings done. But first, back to Kyla. Okay. Do you the pick a card, any card? Wait, so I'm choosing, but then do I say something or do you say something?

SPEAKER_00: 9:40

Let's just go with it.

SPEAKER_01: 9:41

Okay, the first card that is chosen is a gorgeous eight of diamonds. Eight of diamonds. So I already have something. Go!

SPEAKER_00: 9:53

You're so intuitive.

SPEAKER_01: 9:55

Okay, eight of diamonds. Yeah. She had her highest scoring games in her WNBA season. Life fan, sorry. Uh she scored 16 points, which is a multiple of eight, but also she scored them in August. Oh, in the eighth month. Yes, in the eighth month. You're getting astonological. Oh my goodness. Okay, so the first time that she had her career high, it was against the Mystics in 2021. Okay. Okay. In August. August 30th. And what I think is completely bonkers is that she also scored 16 points against the Mystics August 30th, 2025. Oh.

SPEAKER_00: 10:42

Isn't that insane? Cosmic.

SPEAKER_01: 10:44

And she also scored it the game before against Dallas on the 24th, also in August, the eighth month. So eighth? Eight of Diamonds.

SPEAKER_00: 10:53

Eight of Diamonds. Anything with the diamond part of it? Diamond and the Rough. She is a Diamond in the Rough. That's a good one. So Diamond, how so? Say say more.

SPEAKER_01: 11:01

Diamond and the Rough. Well, she was a very, very solid high school and college player. All right. So to give some context, where is she from, Raina?

SPEAKER_00: 11:11

Uh she's East Coast, right?

SPEAKER_01: 11:12

Yep. Maryland.

SPEAKER_00: 11:14

Oh, Maryland. Yes. And then went to college there. Yep.

SPEAKER_01: 11:17

So Diamond and the Rough. Very strong player, high school and college. Yet I think the rough needs to be a few years ago.

SPEAKER_00: 11:25

Because so far we've said that she's a diamond.

SPEAKER_01: 11:27

No, no, I'm saying the rough is that in the WNBA, she's had a scattered WNBA history. She's played for on the Connecticut Suns, the Atlanta Dreams, Seattle Storm, Dallas Wings, and now the Golden State Valkyries. So I would say that's a rough WNBA like journey in the last five years. It's a lot of teams.

SPEAKER_00: 11:48

And then also she was sort of she complained about it, but she went over to Russia for two seasons and was in 30-degree weather. That was rough. Totally. She was saying that she hardly could survive that. She was fighting for her life. Oh my goodness. And then also, where was what was the other European spot she played? Hungary. That was a really good court. Hungary.

SPEAKER_01: 12:11

My last name is Hutchinson Zekeli, which is my mom and my dad's name, but Zekeli, which in Hungary is pronounced Seke.

SPEAKER_00: 12:22

So did you recognize any of the places when you were?

SPEAKER_01: 12:24

I it seemed very familiar. There was like one of the cities that I was watching a video where she was talking, and I hadn't been there, but it looked so familiar. And like the food, the people, the nature, geography, it was like comforting. I I seeing her in Hungary like sparked so much just like joy and nostalgia.

SPEAKER_00: 12:43

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01: 12:44

I don't get to see Hungary a lot.

SPEAKER_00: 12:45

Yeah. And so Yeah, she was out there, kind of buried out there in the rough. Um, Hungary also played in Israel, Russia. She actually like her season was cut because of the Russia invading Ukraine and she had to get out of there. Yeah. Um she left on the on that day. So I would say she's a diamond in the rough because she uh once again, Coach Nakase looking around the globe and being like, what does this team need? And finding Kyla Charles out there ready to play. Okay. Just pulled her in, excavated her from all right. Give me the cards. Okay.

SPEAKER_01: 13:22

Ooh. Three of hearts. I love getting hearts. Three of hearts. Yes. I just think that's a good thing.

SPEAKER_00: 13:28

These are my favorite hearts. Well, let's talk about her heart.

SPEAKER_01: 13:32

Okay, three. What do you think of? I have something, but what what I want to see if we're reading each other's minds. Oh, three is half a six. That's her number. Three. Three, three, three. Um think I'm going connections. Family.

SPEAKER_00: 13:48

All right, her heart. All right. Three, she's three siblings. Yes. You read my mind. Two sisters. No, one sister.

SPEAKER_01: 13:57

One sister, two brothers. Okay. All older siblings. Which means she the baby. The baby. Right?

SPEAKER_00: 14:04

Uh-huh. Okay, what do you think? I I know that it's another powerhouse family. Her mom played for the Olympics. Um, her parents were from the Caribbean and came to the States for college. Her mom played in the 1984 Olympics. Um not played, she participated in track, competed in track, right? Correct. Yeah, and then her brother was the one that taught her about basketball, right?

SPEAKER_01: 14:27

Yes, because her parents didn't know much about the game. Her she has two older brothers, Darren and Akhil. And Akele is the one who inspired her, helped her, encouraged her, taught her, chatted with her about basketball the most.

SPEAKER_00: 14:43

So grow she was born in Maryland in 1998. Born and raised. Born and raised. And then she actually turned down. She received over 30 scholarship offers. And she turned on Tennessee and South Carolina to go to University of Maryland. I wonder if it was just a terrapins. To stay stay close to her mom. Yeah. Yeah. But those are that's a lot of scholarship offers. Um and then she studied communications. Totally. And got a senior award, I think, along the way too.

SPEAKER_01: 15:11

Well, I love thinking that she is surrounded by three siblings. That's a lot of love for her to be surrounded by.

SPEAKER_00: 15:19

The three of hearts. Yeah. Nice. Okay, awesome. Another card? Yep. Okay, let's do it. Give me the cards. This is too fun. I love this.

SPEAKER_01: 15:26

I want to pull so many cards. I know. We gotta let's be shorter. So we can throw it at so many cards.

SPEAKER_00: 15:34

I got the ace of clubs. Okay. Um, so she never played with the aces. The ace of clubs. Do you know who her ace is?

SPEAKER_01: 15:42

God. Yeah. Yeah. She I watched a video this morning where she was talking about the importance of God and obedience.

SPEAKER_00: 15:50

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 15:51

And it was very interesting. We have several players on our Valks team who are very outspoken about the importance of God in their lives. Um, I think as people and as players, totally. So it just made me think that, you know, that's a community that some of our Valks are in together. I feel great thinking of different ways that our players are connecting off of the court. Because they've said this was a monumental experience for them. Everyone, when being interviewed, is talking about how magical it was. And I think that always has to do with it's like the vibes and when you feel close to other people and can be yourself. So I'm like, okay.

SPEAKER_00: 16:39

Yeah. Ace. I'm thinking of a video I saw where she's so ace can mean to can value a one in cards, right? Or be the top card.

SPEAKER_03: 16:50

Yep.

SPEAKER_00: 16:50

And I saw her in Hungary, she they didn't have a team shoot around, but in order to ace her shots, she would go and meet one-on-one, ace on ace, with her coach and do her own shoot around. And it was a really cool routine that she had where she would work from I think it was she'd do like form shooting and then balance shooting and then post moves and then outside shots and sort of just totally get ready on her own to ace her shot. Oh. Okay. Oh my god, you're so good. I know that was a good one. Okay, okay, okay. Now we're putting them aside.

SPEAKER_01: 17:24

Yeah, of course. We can't like redraw.

SPEAKER_00: 17:26

God, I'm I'm so excited.

SPEAKER_02: 17:28

Ooh.

SPEAKER_00: 17:30

Five. Five of spades. Has she played on five different teams? Connecticut Sun, Atlanta Dream, Seattle Storm, Dallas Wing, Valkyries. Nailed it. Nailed it. Nailed it. Nailed it. Let's just do another one.

SPEAKER_01: 17:43

Okay. I like this idea of like pulling quickly and saying less. Six. Six of clubs. Clubs.

SPEAKER_00: 17:51

Her number. She's number six. Woo! Done. Nailed up again. Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_01: 17:57

Ooh. Jack of Diamonds.

SPEAKER_00: 18:01

Jack of all trades. Jack of all trades. How so? Same word. Okay. So she does have some side projects. I would say, like, I was impressed with how DIY her side project was early on. Do you mean her vlogging? Her vlogging. She's into vlogging. Yeah. Well, and we've had other players. Mobile Lings was into that too. But she's very thorough. She's got her computer out doing her selfie vlogs. And so you can check those out on YouTube. She did them for years.

SPEAKER_01: 18:32

And then And what are they called? Welcome to the Life of Kai.

SPEAKER_00: 18:37

Life of Kai, yeah. And it's lifestyle, beauty, and basketball, right? Yes. Welcome to the Life of Kai. That's it. Welcome to the Life of Kai. Go on over to uh to YouTube. It's on YouTube, yeah. Life of Kai. That's one of her side projects. And it does have ads, right? So she's making some money there. She also has endorsement with Under Armour. Totally. And Total Jack of All Trades.

SPEAKER_01: 19:03

I get the feeling that she really wants to settle someplace. And this has not been her chosen journey, is to have been bounced from five different teams. Yeah. And so I wonder how that's going to continue to play out because we with our injuries, we ended up having, you know, more people. We had a different roster than maybe if we hadn't had the injuries. So it is one of the question marks moving forward. What is our team going to look like?

SPEAKER_00: 19:26

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 19:27

Okay, let's go back to the cards.

SPEAKER_00: 19:29

So new. I love how I'm a dealer, and you're always the picker. You just love choosing cards.

SPEAKER_01: 19:35

The two of hearts. I love choosing cards. Two of hearts. Two of Hearts. In the WNBA draft in 2020, she was chosen in the second round.

SPEAKER_00: 19:45

That's a lot of twos. Third overall by the Suns. And then she also played two seasons with the Suns. Yes.

SPEAKER_01: 19:54

Which is two than any other team.

SPEAKER_00: 19:57

Let's go. New card.

SPEAKER_01: 19:58

I will distribute if you want and you can choose because you also need the joy of choosing.

SPEAKER_00: 20:03

Okay. Eight of spades this time. Eight of Spades.

SPEAKER_01: 20:07

How would you describe a spade? A shovel? Yeah. Okay. Oh yeah. I was like, is there something else? I was just like trying to think, because what is that symbol?

SPEAKER_00: 20:15

Is that a I guess it could be a shovel tip? So digging deep. I think she's had to dig deep a few times. Her her career reminds me a little bit of my dad's, where like if other people were healthy or doing well, then then he would like not get as many minutes. And I feel like that's happened a bunch on hers. It's like she's not the sixth man. She's been kind of like waiting for her moment. Speaking of um waiting for your moment, she had a woman fest womanifesting uh moment that I saw where she said, I've had visions of me playing, dominating on this level. Visions of me being one of the best players to play the game and play in the W. And those dreams are still alive. You're gonna fail on your way to success, but it's how you respond. Failure doesn't mean you're denied, it just means you're delayed. I love that. She said that in 2022. Okay, I also completely agree. Um, so yeah, she's on this level, uh, starting for the Valks. Woman of Festival. I know. Starting for the Valks in their playoff games.

SPEAKER_01: 21:22

I mean, that's incredible. I also want to say, okay, eight of spades, it's not the same, but like we did see that the contract that she signed with the Valks is$78,831. So right underneath$80,000. Uh-huh. Just to give context as to what these players are making. Right.

SPEAKER_00: 21:44

So she's kind of an in-betweener vet, not quite a vet, but she has experience and she's been playing for years and years and yet is still making$80,000.

SPEAKER_01: 21:54

Which if you live in San Francisco, that's not, you know, that's a that's not a lot of money. And we understand that it's you know, not a full year, but like it means that you have to go and do things. So what is she gonna do in the off season? Oh goodness, that's what we gotta figure out.

SPEAKER_00: 22:11

We gotta figure out maybe she'll be another unrivaled player. Oh my goodness. Okay, next card. Seven of Hearts. Um, let's think. Seven is like a godly number. Um, I just was at a a lovely wedding this past weekend where the number seven was sort of appreciated as like seven days of the week and of creation and um sort of a mystical number. Okay. Um, so we how are we connecting that to girls? She reminds me a lot of like the the idea that your basketball can be a piece of your spirituality. Um, and the way that many of our players are sort of saying, like, this is God's plan for me to to work hard and follow, like she was saying, obey God's plan and then see where it gets me.

SPEAKER_01: 23:02

And I feel like it also is a massive source of strength for them. And hope, yeah. And like what is also a career full of challenges. Yeah. Injuries. She had an injury.

SPEAKER_00: 23:12

Yes.

SPEAKER_01: 23:13

Um, and that was She said when she was in Russia that she could not bend her knee. She couldn't get out of the car. She couldn't bend her knee and yet also had to stay in good enough condition so that she could play in the W like when the season started.

SPEAKER_00: 23:27

Yeah. And then she got back and she was, you know, still rehabbing that that knee that had gotten worse in Russia. I'm sure the cold 30 degrees in Russia didn't help.

SPEAKER_01: 23:38

And then she was waved.

SPEAKER_00: 23:39

And then she was she said she had to find a balance of resting knees, but being in the game uh being in game playing shape. Yeah. I I don't know what that workout would look like.

SPEAKER_01: 23:49

I know, not knee focused.

SPEAKER_00: 23:50

All upper body and maybe swimming. No, you need to use your knee for swimming.

SPEAKER_01: 23:55

Or you're just you're sitting, you're doing like seated bench presses one-legged and crunches. Yeah. Okay, new card. Look at this one. Oh I just pulled it. A queen of spades. Nice. Oh, a queen. I feel like she is a queen.

SPEAKER_00: 24:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 24:09

All right. Someone who is putting themselves out there on the court and also as an entrepreneur, and also, you know, embracing connections and volunteer work. Uh, we read more about some of the volunteer stuff that she's doing, where she and the team volunteered with a special Olympics when she was in college. And also at the DC Central Kitchen, and also in local nursing homes or women's hospitals in Puerto Rico. Oh. Yes. She spent time visiting patients in a children's and a women's hospital there. Cool. While she was in college. And so I was like, we so she is doing a lot of service. Yeah. She is doing a lot also of bringing attention to her passions of basketball and beauty. And she has been applauded by her teammates as being a wonderful teammate. And I'm like, how else would we define a queen by those measures?

SPEAKER_00: 25:07

And you know, my favorite cleaning. My she is queening. My favorite um videos that I saw of her was her very generous and lovely teaching of how to do your own hair. Oh, yes, yes, yes. Say about that. I mean, I just watched for so long to just learn and she about the braids? The braids, of the box braids, and the twists and the tools that she used, and then it's a lot of work. Six to seven hours. Yes. Um, and she's taking a video of it and looking amazing and explaining at the same time. Yes, so educational. And looks beautiful after. Oh my goodness. Love her. Okay, we're gonna do another card. Okay. I wonder if I was inspired to do this game because of the unrivaled clues where they give you like a little because they give you the sticker and then you have to guess what's that's fun. Yeah. You you would like it.

SPEAKER_01: 25:54

There's something else for me to lean into.

SPEAKER_00: 25:57

Let's do one more card and then we'll do a synopsis and like of whatever else we need. All right. Pull the card. The missing facts. You ready? Okay. Ready? I get to pick it. Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_01: 26:08

Oh, the Valkyries. Wait a second. The Joker. The Joker is the Valkyrie. I love this deck. Also black and purple. Black and purple. Okay, so we've got the Joker. The wild card.

unknown: 26:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_00: 26:23

Otherwise the wild card. Known as. Oh. So she started the season 25 25 season. Kyla started with Dallas Wings, and she was getting decent playing time. And then she was waived by Dallas on June 28th, was her last around June 28th. Was her last game there. And then she got picked up by Coach Nakase. When we were in need of some players, um, with the injuries that were going on on August 1st was her first game with us. Um and she had 17 minutes. So she she's been getting decent playing time in in August, it kind of went down, but then August 22nd, 26 minutes, and then like all the way to the end, she was averaging more than 20 minutes a game. Okay, so the wild card, Kyla Charles. Yeah, like I can't predict with her starting in that final game of the Valkyries, it makes me appreciate how far she's come. Oh, totally. It's a wild card to me for what the Valks are going to do next year with their roster. I feel like she's been shuffled around so much and she's just proven herself so coachable. She's arrived and in the middle of a season from another team, totally, wrapped her head around our very creative offense, totally, showed up for defense, getting rebounds, and ends up starting? Yeah. Like that's amazing. Yeah. Beautiful.

SPEAKER_01: 27:45

The trajectory is awesome. Okay, since we're on here and wrapping up, is it possible? Would you mind if I read some of the comments from the Valkyrie's Facebook group about her?

SPEAKER_00: 27:56

I would not mind.

SPEAKER_01: 27:57

Okay, because one thing comes off a lot, and I'm just thinking I'm gonna talk about it. Her arms.

SPEAKER_00: 28:02

Oh, really? People are commenting. Oh, I do have her arms. What do you call that? It's like an arm crush. It's not like I have a crush on that. It's like I just would love to have arms like that.

SPEAKER_01: 28:12

Um, her arms are ripped, yeah, is what Lucas Black said. Jacqueline Lugo immediately was like, her arms though.

SPEAKER_00: 28:19

Oh, maybe that goes back to the injury workout.

SPEAKER_01: 28:22

Michelle Wilson Noble also is like, those arms, lol. Seriously, though, her poise on and off the court. Okay, so it's not just about her arms. We also have Ball Mama in the world.

SPEAKER_00: 28:35

Oh, I thought that was a nickname they were giving Kyla.

SPEAKER_01: 28:37

Okay. Um, did Ball Mama say Hella Swole. And then in parentheses, as a compliment to make sure we all understood, solid per Temi. I like her fight. There was an almost loose ball in the SAP game that I told my dude, Bet Kyla would have swarmed on that. She was such a welcome addition to the Valks fan. Yes. Gave that big energy. We needed, well, KT recoupes. We are so lucky to have her. I I mean, beautiful end, say less. Yes. Yeah. Well, we know that we don't need to do our little game for who is next because we know it's Caitlin Chen. Yes. Saving Caitlin. Ender. We end with Caitlin Chen. Yes. But we need our song. You have to do that.

SPEAKER_00: 29:21

But I have I had something in mind. So the the Diamond and the Rough thing, I was listening to an ex-student of mine who came to me in Spanish class, I don't know, maybe six years ago. Okay. And was like, Can you listen to this demo of me singing? Okay. And he was a kid that was like his voice would crack and he would, you know, be a little self conscious of it. And I listened to him and I said, This is just so beautifully vulnerable, and like you're controlling your voice in such a lovely way. And just was like, Go you. And then fast forward, he's now like on tour. No. Stop. Yes. Which is Stephen Dawes. He is just he's just a very, really awesome person. And he writes his own songs. He did a cover of Teenage Dream. But this one is sort of like that. It's like meta. It's like a love song of like, it's called Want Me. And I feel like Kyla Charles, a big part of what I hold dear in my heart about her is that she's working so hard, and she showed up and she made the Valks want her. Yes. She's like, I am gonna do anything I can to make you love me. Yes. And so this is a love song. Yeah. But I thought it was appropriate because she she wants us to love her, and we do. Okay. Okay, love this already. Obvious. The way we're gonna change the lyrics is first of all, we're so we're so young. We're a young team. And so she's in the passenger passenger seat under your control, and you're so cool. The Valkyries are so cool. I want to be your boy, but we could change it to I wanna be your I want to be your dog. I wanna be your dog, D-A-W-G. I want to hear my name in the tone of your voice, but we can say I want to hear my name on the jumbotron. And now you're pulling me close off the bench seat. Uh fall in love with the Valkyries, got my heart in my throat, and I'm gasping. I want you, I want you, I want you to want me.

SPEAKER_02: 31:20

You're so cool.

SPEAKER_00: 31:45

Okay. That's a stretch. All right. Did you have any? Oh my god, that is great. That is great. Just a little shout out to Stephen Dawes as well.

SPEAKER_01: 31:57

I mean, we gotta shout out our former students who now have 1.3 million monthly listeners.

SPEAKER_00: 32:02

Is that real? I just saw that. Oh my gosh. Steven, making us proud.

SPEAKER_01: 32:07

Yeah. Yeah, I've got one. Go blues. It's the Beyoncé Run the World.

SPEAKER_00: 32:12

Oh.

SPEAKER_01: 32:13

Girls. Okay.

SPEAKER_00: 32:15

How do we not have a Beyoncé yet?

SPEAKER_01: 32:17

Uh-huh. Okay. I know. I had some incredible shout out to my eighth grade girls today while teaching PE, who just choreographed an entire dance routine to four different songs, starting with this one. And so it was just like so fun. We run this motherfucker. Girls. We run this mother. Girls. We run this mother. Anyways, you get it. Okay. Short but sweet. Shorty. I mean, Queen Bay herself, and we're, you know, got another queen on our team. Kyla Charles, you are running it. You're running the court. You're running your biz. It's just impressive. Very impressive. So hats off. Hats off to you. Hats off to you. Hats off to you, Raina. It's been an incredible season. Season one? I can't believe we're here. I know. Like we started this in May on Mother's Day in May with a desire to be a part of something that was cool without knowing what we were doing exactly. And it has grown into this incredible experience to have like done it with you. I guess I should probably save this until next week when it's our last one. So just gonna table it. Hats off to you, and we'll come back to maybe a re- a recap, a revisit of the whole season next episode. Yes. Let's do it. Okay, awesome. So thank you, dear listeners. You know we appreciate you and you fuel our fire.

SPEAKER_00: 33:47

Thank you, dear listeners.

SPEAKER_01: 33:50

That's it for now. I'm like, thank you for next time.

SPEAKER_00: 33:53

We'll see you next time for Caitlin Chen.

SPEAKER_01: 33:55

On Valkyrie's Say Less. Valkyrie