The PreWrap Ep. 13 - Final four predictions and WNBA preseason updates

It's the final four! This week, we break down our predictions for the second-to-last round of the tournament before talking WNBA preseason updates. Why is Chicago....doing that?

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Corey clothes is one of the most fascinating pitches I've ever seen.

SPEAKER_01 0:05

A leather pan. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 0:06

Like when you're in the middle.

SPEAKER_01 0:09

I know if you're next to it, you can hear them like scream, scream, scream, scream.

SPEAKER_00 0:11

I know.

SPEAKER_01 0:12

I'm like, it's like crazy.

SPEAKER_03 0:21

Welcome to the pre-wrap. We're in the ugly stew. Yeah back. It just had to happen. Ugly stew, but most crisp audio. We like to bring you down to the ugly stew so that your expectations can be blown away when we go back to the beautiful stew. Exactly. So um we're here with some we're barreling towards the final four in the March Madness Championship. It's crazy.

SPEAKER_05 0:43

I'm so excited.

SPEAKER_03 0:44

So we're gonna do some predictions and then there's some W updates that are slowly coming together, but I feel like there's still a few unknowns, but we'll touch on those as well.

SPEAKER_05 0:54

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 0:55

Cool. Let's do some Final Four stuff. Who wants to be bold and and get outed as being wrong first? Are you are we doing like champion or like each game? Let's do each game first. Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:08

Okay, my prediction is UConn in Texas in the championship.

unknown 1:14

Whoa.

SPEAKER_05 1:15

I feel like Texas looks so scary right now. I know, I know. So you said it in the chat, but I'm like gonna uplift that.

SPEAKER_02 1:23

I was like, yeah, especially like they're just running over the the Wolverines. That was so crazy. To be fair, Michigan's like small. I was like, there's they look so small, and that's not UCLA, but still.

SPEAKER_05 1:36

And I also felt like UCA UCLA in that first half looked so unlike themselves. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:43

And they've already lost a Texas this year. And so I'm just I don't know. I feel like their side of the bracket is like has definitely been the most interesting. Like um and I but I I don't know. Like there's something about Texas's energy right now. Um both of these teams like want it.

SPEAKER_02 2:05

Yeah. They want I think more than the other side of the South Carolina even.

SPEAKER_05 2:10

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:11

Well, because they've been there before, you know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 2:13

Yeah. And both of the, I mean, so I yeah, I I just I don't know. So there's just something Texas just has that like special quality right now.

SPEAKER_02 2:21

And the physicality is gonna be huge.

SPEAKER_05 2:24

Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 2:26

Yeah. I also feel like UCLA has had not slow like you wouldn't be able to tell from the final score of these games, but like not fast starts against these teams. And I think if they come out slow against Texas, they won't be able to recover as easily as they did against like Duke. I feel like that's also classically them.

SPEAKER_03 2:45

Like they just have weirdly like off games or off starts to games.

SPEAKER_02 2:49

Right. Like Lauren Betts had like eight points in the first half against Duke. And then she like locked in the for the third quarter, but it's like it might be too late at that point if you're playing Texas.

SPEAKER_05 2:57

I know they're really scary.

SPEAKER_03 2:59

I would feel absolutely amazing if I was Texas going into that game. They're so confident. I'm playing another like Big Ten team that we can kind of like out muscle and like yeah, wear them down. And I think that's like what it's gonna be. And they've done it before.

SPEAKER_02 3:16

Yeah. Oh wait, so do we all think I don't know because before I was like, I was gonna say UCLA, but you kind of convinced me. But I also just don't know like, do you think UCLA would not take the first loss to Texas and kind of want to avenge it? Like it was it ruined their perfect a perfect season for them. Like they could have been the number one overall, maybe if they hadn't lost to Texas. And like, do you think they're trying to avenge that? And I think they want it so bad.

SPEAKER_03 3:41

I know. I can't tell though if that's like why I yeah put them in my bracket as going to the championship. Just because I know that they want it so bad and because it's like this perfect storyline ending for them. But I don't at the end of the day, like when you're on the court playing, like that's not necessarily enough. Like when Texas is breathing down your neck. And they want it like equally as bad.

SPEAKER_05 4:03

Yeah. I also feel like Texas's identity as like this mm inside presence team that's like is just able to bully you off the ball. Like, I don't know. I they are they seem more robust than UCLA does, even though UCLA is also known for their inside presence, like Lauren Betts. And I feel like if any team can can challenge like UCLA's identity as like I mean, because that's how they win games. It's like you go inside to Lauren Betts and either she just like makes it the easiest layup you've ever seen anyone make because she's so freaking tall, yeah, or she just guts it out and then someone can make a three-point shot. So I so I I just feel like because Texas is so used to playing inside, they're in a good position to like stop.

SPEAKER_02 4:57

It's like a battle of the pain a little bit. Yeah. But you you convinced me. I think I would go. Yeah, I think I would go Texas. Watch us, it just fully used to.

SPEAKER_03 5:06

I know every time I make a prediction, I'm like, well, we're like cursing whatever to say pretty good.

SPEAKER_05 5:11

I really don't even want to because I but that's how I feel. That's how I feel.

SPEAKER_03 5:15

Yeah, I don't it's not crazy. I also feel like UCLA's guards are like so small. Like they're pretty small. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 5:21

Yeah, I that's a good point. That is a good point. Oh god, I don't know. It's hard to say. It's hard to say, but no, I'm gonna go to Texas.

SPEAKER_03 5:31

I also find like Texas the Corey close, like Vic Schaefer matchup, like so fascinating.

SPEAKER_00 5:37

Corey close is hilarious.

SPEAKER_03 5:39

She is like one of the most fascinating coaches I've ever seen. The leather pants. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:44

Like when you're running in the like, I know if you're next to it, you can hear them like. I know. I'm like, it's like if you're too close, it'd be crazy.

SPEAKER_05 5:54

So I don't know. I this is I feel like they're very different coaches, but their players love them just as much. So I don't know. It's like very different team dynamics that are coming into play here. Like, I don't know. But it is cool. Like it this will be a good marker to see like UCLA's growth over the season. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:14

To see their growth kind of over like the past four years almost. Yeah. I know. Like kind of everything is coming to this moment for it's huge. The stakes are huge. It's so crazy.

SPEAKER_02 6:26

Wow. Okay, so wait, we're all we all think Texas out. I can't. I don't I can't let go of like the fact that it feels crazy to not say UCLA, like to for having to have no one say UCLA.

SPEAKER_03 6:39

I think it's just it's not it feels like you're only as good as your last game. And I think what's fresh in our memories right now is Texas, Michigan, which was just unbelievable. Horrible. And then UCLA's game was they weren't that strong. Right. Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 6:55

They ended strong, but I I don't know. I I feel like this score didn't really communicate. Like obviously, you can look at that score at the end of the game and be like, that wasn't even really, but I that just that's not how the game felt.

SPEAKER_02 7:08

No.

SPEAKER_05 7:08

Um, especially that first half. Oh my god. Like that was just kind of insane. I it wasn't I didn't expect that at all. No. Um and Texas is just such a nightmare defensively, too. That it's like if that's how Duke was able to get them so out of their element in that first half. Like I just Yeah. Yeah, I don't know. Watch me be like so wrong.

SPEAKER_03 7:31

I know. That's just all of us, but I know most of the time it feels like. But that's the beauty of March Madness. Like you kind of are just wrong because teams dig deep and surprise you. So let's go to the other side. The game I've been dreaming of all seasons.

SPEAKER_05 7:46

You've been talking about this literally since the very beginning. Oh my god. Okay, start us off.

SPEAKER_02 7:51

Carolina, Yukon. Rematch. Rematch.

SPEAKER_03 7:56

And Yukon's won the last two matchups. This is what I was saying to a classmate yesterday because she was asking me about it. Shout out Monique. Um I was just like, who do you think is gonna win? And I was just like, I mean, Yukon has just been so unbelievably dominant all year.

SPEAKER_05 8:14

Like so cohesive all year.

SPEAKER_03 8:16

Just and like for the past like now like two years essentially. Like it's crazy. But then I was like, but on the other side, it's like Dawn doesn't lose twice like that. You know, like I feel like she just won't will like not lose in an embarrassing blowout fashion to them like again. So it leaves me in a weird place.

SPEAKER_02 8:40

So do you think it'll be like still a loss but close? Or you think they would be a dog fight?

SPEAKER_03 8:45

Yeah, dude. I because also like if you're South Carolina, like you're going in and your blood is boying. I know. I'm getting chills just thinking. Yeah, literally, I oh god.

SPEAKER_05 8:56

Like I'm like You're pissed off.

SPEAKER_03 8:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 8:59

I just don't even know. Like, I'm like scared when I think about this game for both of them. Yeah. And I don't really know. Like, I I find both of these teams, we were kind of talking about this before. It's like I think the thing that I find like so fascinating about Yukon and South Carolina is they are the most like sympathetic blue bloods I've ever run into.

SPEAKER_03 9:21

Yeah. Um they're very humble. They're they're so likable.

SPEAKER_05 9:26

Both of the both of these teams are so likable, even though they are always winning. Yeah. And I don't like I don't want either of them to lose.

SPEAKER_02 9:35

I know. That's that's a that's such a good point. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:38

Well, they just play good basketball, and what you're saying, it's built on like just such a strong foundation. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 9:45

Like selfless culture, exactly. Selfless basketball, like good quality basketball.

SPEAKER_03 9:50

The players that they produce are like some of the greats that go onto the W and are champions and MVPs, and so it's yeah.

SPEAKER_05 9:59

You just have I don't know. Every time I watch both of those teams, I just feel like I'm like, I'm like, oh my god, I'm like watching history right now. Yeah. Like both of them. And so I I know. And so I I just have a really hard time picking either one. I this game to me is much less in my and I don't know why. Don't ask me why. But when I think about this game, I am so much less certain about who will win than when I think about the Texas UCLA game. And I don't and I don't know what it is, but I because it's kind of like is it like a legacy game?

SPEAKER_03 10:32

Is it an instant classic? Like what do we hope so. You know, like it's like I don't know.

SPEAKER_05 10:39

I think well I think what I what I've been noticing about South Carolina and this tournament is like they've maybe had like a less uh convincing quote-unquote. Yeah, like outwardly dominant.

SPEAKER_03 10:53

Yeah, even going back to the Big Ten tournament too. Right. I mean Big Ten SEC SEC tournament. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 10:59

But like why they're just rolling in this tournament. Like they look so confident, and they're having people step up in in these games who like haven't I haven't paid attention to as closely in the regular season, which I think is also what makes this team so hard to count out. Like I don't know. And and like even but I could say the same thing about UConn. It's like who it was like Ali Z Bell like came off the bench and made all these like it's like anyone can come off the bench. Yeah, it's like she's not the star.

SPEAKER_03 11:32

I don't even feel like UConn's shown us like 100% yet.

SPEAKER_02 11:35

And I think that's scary about it too. Like they have Janile Alfie who's just like not getting that many minutes, and she's so good.

SPEAKER_05 11:42

Like they can just drop her in there and because sh that was their that was their ace card against last yeah, UCLA. It was like, okay, you have Lauren Betts. Well, we also have a freakishly tall girl who's like super talented and also a lockdown defender, and she's not phased.

SPEAKER_02 11:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 11:57

Like Wow, I just got another time.

SPEAKER_02 12:00

I'm getting so many jokes.

SPEAKER_03 12:01

I don't even if I was like one of these players like about to play tomorrow, like I wouldn't even know what to do with myself either game.

SPEAKER_02 12:08

I feel like also though, for these two teams, like they're so like used, like they've been here so often, and that's like also what separates them from like all the other like the number two seeds, like who get to like the Elite Eight. Like they're just they just haven't been like in this moment as much. And I feel like both of these teams, like, they've been here and like I feel like they're so locked. Yeah, they performed.

SPEAKER_03 12:31

They show up.

SPEAKER_02 12:31

They kind of like show up when the lights are the brightest.

SPEAKER_03 12:34

And I feel like especially like those two, that side of the bracket. Yeah. I feel like that's what I was saying before with like Dawn, where it's like you were you were saying they've been rolling in the tournament and it's like they got knocked off in the SEC tournament, and I think that was like By like kind of a lot. Like I feel like they're they're not I feel like that might also be fueling them. That's what I mean. So it's like you have that, and then what's fresh in your mind is last year's loss, and so I that's why it's just hard to say where it's like, yeah, Yukon's unstoppable, but like you have so much to motivate you if you're in South Carolina.

SPEAKER_05 13:08

Okay, so who are we picking?

SPEAKER_03 13:10

I would still go Yukon. I mean, it's yeah, we picked all this, and it's gonna be Yukon, and it's it's gonna I feel like it's gonna be Yukon by 20, but that's like still respectable at this point.

SPEAKER_05 13:20

I think I think I'm gonna pick Yukon, but I think I'm gonna go Yukon by like 15, 10, 7. 7.

SPEAKER_03 13:28

That would be, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 13:29

I think it's gonna be, I think it's gonna be much closer than I don't I don't necessarily think it'll be low scoring. I do think it's gonna feel like I think like I think it's gonna be like I think like 6781 you gotta.

SPEAKER_02 13:48

Wow No no no, like 6981.

SPEAKER_05 13:51

Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_03 13:51

I feel like I don't know. I'm kind of like, I know that this is like not goat talk, but if I'm South Carolina, I like hang my hat on that and I'm like, okay, yeah, yeah. At least we didn't get blown out like all the other teams. Like, I don't know. Like, and obviously that's not how greatness is but like do anything is better than last year's loss.

SPEAKER_02 14:12

How do you think they're gonna come out? Do you think it's gonna they're both gonna be like hot out the gate or no?

SPEAKER_05 14:20

I honestly well this is kind of what I I said this a little bit earlier too. I'm like, I feel like both of in the Final Four and in the national championship game, I don't I feel like most teams play like maybe one of their worst games. Yeah, like the stakes are so high, everyone is so effing nervous.

SPEAKER_04 14:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 14:40

Like I I don't know if I've ever watched it. I would even go as far as to say that about like some of the finals I've watched in like the WNBA, like those series, like it's really some of the worst basketballs. And it's not because people are are can't show up in the big moments, it's because everyone's freaking out adjusting.

SPEAKER_02 15:00

Um you have like one star that like just blocks in.

SPEAKER_05 15:04

Sets the tone and gets everyone. So I feel like it's gonna be at the beginning at least, I feel like it's gonna be a little chaos.

SPEAKER_02 15:10

Yeah, like what am I watching?

SPEAKER_05 15:12

And then once people settle in, I think that's when we're gonna be.

SPEAKER_03 15:14

So it's like who can settle in quicker? I'm a little bit like well, definitely that. Who can settle in quicker? But I'm also like, I wonder if you're Yukon, if you're kind of like, how much do I have to give? Because they're like so good. Not that Yukon's ever like, I'm only gonna give 50%, but like they were blowing out games with like AZ playing like 25 minutes.

SPEAKER_02 15:34

Like the last game against Notre Dame, they had like a current Sarah had like a combined like 10 or something, like in the first half. That's what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_05 15:42

That was that was what made me be like shoot F. Like I don't know why I'm being like I can't cuss right now, but like I it's a the the stew just makes it so that I can't see. But I'm like, that's that's what made me be like, damn.

SPEAKER_03 15:56

So I'm just like I feel like if you're Yukon and you've been having the season you've been having, like the tournament you've been having, you have like less to lose a little bit, like going in and kind of like they can play like freer and like that like helps them.

SPEAKER_02 16:14

A little bit.

SPEAKER_05 16:14

I think they just feel like I mean I would feel such little play with playing with joy. I would feel just so much so little pressure.

SPEAKER_03 16:23

Yeah. Like you don't have to adjust your game plan as much. Like you're kinda it's kind of like South Carolina has to plan around you.

SPEAKER_02 16:29

Yeah. Because how different are the teams from last year or last time they met?

SPEAKER_05 16:35

Like well, I mean, no page.

SPEAKER_02 16:38

No page, but but I still think they're better. I think they're better, and I feel like everyone's said that. It's like they're not like yeah, like they are better. They are better.

SPEAKER_05 16:47

God.

SPEAKER_02 16:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 16:50

And and I also feel like last year they had dropped some big games, and it was just like this year they just haven't really done that. I so I think for me it's like the cohesion that I noticed with them. And I said this on the last pod, who knows if it made it because you had some technical. Right, right, right, right. But like the way they share the ball and move the ball between it's literally like watching an orchestra play music.

SPEAKER_04 17:18

They are so in sync.

SPEAKER_05 17:20

And and I feel like um I I don't know if I've noticed that to like as great of an extent. Maybe like the last especially like this last game where they beat Notre Dame. But the thing is like they they still won by 18 points. I know.

SPEAKER_02 17:34

I knew it was like a quote unquote bad game. I feel like the whole last weekend wasn't their best performance, which makes me feel even more like this weekend they're gonna be like locked in. Yeah. That's kind of what happened last year. I feel like they didn't have they had like Paige with like 40 points. Yeah. Was that last year? Yeah, but they had like her, but I don't know. It's gonna be they're gonna be locked in. Who do you think is gonna be like the star of you? Who's gonna like lock in for you, Consturant or like Easy? Bud. Bud Bud, by the way.

SPEAKER_05 18:04

Um That's hard. I think they I mean I think they're the best when it's both of them. Yeah, I but honestly, what I what I think is is the real star of the show is going to be like a Blanca figure. Yeah. Blanca, oh my god. Goat of the last week of last week literally is so incredible to watch.

SPEAKER_02 18:26

How old is she? 19?

SPEAKER_04 18:27

Yeah, I mean, and she's literally 19.

SPEAKER_02 18:29

She's played five years pro. Pro, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 18:31

That's great. It's just like that.

SPEAKER_02 18:32

So I think the what can you do if that's the team you're playing?

SPEAKER_05 18:36

But that's upside for even like playing for Yukon. It's like you can't, you only have so many people on the floor. It's like if you have to give two of your players to guard Sarah, and you have to give two of your players on the keep two of them on the corner for easy. It's like you can't stop Blanca playing her one-on-one. Right. Yeah. So that's I just think that everyone is so effed for like years to come.

SPEAKER_03 19:02

Like this is like a stewy, like 4P. I know, I know.

SPEAKER_05 19:07

Right. He doesn't have to. I know.

SPEAKER_02 19:09

He can't.

SPEAKER_05 19:10

And then like defensively, I like can't even say enough about how good Yukon is on the other side of the floor either. Watching KK Arnold chase Canada Dalgo after that, like throughout that game. I was just like Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:25

Like she just doesn't get tired. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 19:28

I she's like, I love watching her. She's so funny. She's so she's hilarious. I feel like she's just the best.

SPEAKER_03 19:34

She's got that dog in her. She does.

SPEAKER_05 19:36

Oh my god. I don't understand how she just she does it. Never. I it's like she's such a well-conditioned player. It's unbelievable to watch.

SPEAKER_03 19:44

Who are we thinking for South Carolina is gonna have to step up? Raven.

SPEAKER_05 19:49

Tanai Latson, Raven, Johnson, Tessa.

SPEAKER_03 19:53

Yeah, Tessa.

SPEAKER_02 19:54

Tessa who can garner?

SPEAKER_03 19:56

Yeah. But like multiple. Like that whole team and the bench.

SPEAKER_02 20:00

They can all garner in the bench can Yeah, you're literally. Yeah. Be a Raven. And it would be like if she had like an incredible game, like it would be really like it's like she's leaving. Yeah. I know. There's just so many good stories like in this Final Four. And like I think it's just gonna be such a good is the super interesting Final Four is such a good weekend.

SPEAKER_05 20:21

I think the um the Tanaya Latson Raven Johnson storyline is like one of my favorites of this year too. Like and especially they've had to step up so much. I know, and and they've been friends for so long and seeing Tanaya Latson like Carrie. Oh god. Seeing seeing watching Tanaya Latson in the ACC, because everyone knows that I'm a little bit of an AC, I have a little bit of an ACC bias, but like watching her play for Florida State all these years in the SEC and watching her just be like a total problem. Yeah, yeah. And then and seeing her just be like a scoring monster. I know. And then make the decision to go to a South Carolina where she's not gonna be like the star of the show anymore. Oh, like that's just such an admirable quality in a player.

SPEAKER_03 21:09

But I feel like you gain so much just from getting to play under Dawn and like developing.

SPEAKER_02 21:16

There was the when they made it like punched their way to the sweet 16, and it was like all the other players are kind of like, okay, they're there every year, and she was like super excited. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, it's so I love women.

SPEAKER_05 21:30

Like that's just yeah, like it's just so amazing. Like, I yeah, I just love that storyline. I'm like, wow, this is really beautiful.

SPEAKER_02 21:40

So good, man. So good. So wait, so then do we both so we so we're thinking about it.

SPEAKER_05 21:45

We all think that Texas is winning, we all think UConn is winning. They're so boring.

SPEAKER_03 21:49

But like I kind of think UCLA. I'll take UCLA. Okay, okay, okay. I had UCLA originally. Like 30 minutes ago, I had UCLA. Oh, when we stepped in before we stepped into the four wheel. Of the stew. But once you get in the stew, it's like it's a big thing. I just get so persuasive. Yeah. Literally, exactly. Everything can happen. Everything I say in the stew just never happens. Yeah, exactly. So it's like actually like a portal to other worlds. Yeah. Alright. All right. Should we do some W stuff? Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 22:18

Okay, so with the end of the tournament comes the beginning of the W season, which mind you like week two weeks ago, we didn't even know if it was gonna happen. But there's so much happening right now. It's honestly like hard to follow. I know. Yeah, it's a lot. We'll do our best. So what do we want to start with?

SPEAKER_05 22:35

Well, I mean, I feel like we should start with the biggest news, which is that the Suns was sold.

SPEAKER_03 22:39

Oh yeah, the Suns were sold to Houston. They're going to Houston. Houston to become the comets.

SPEAKER_05 22:45

Yeah, going so the comets are making a comeback.

SPEAKER_03 22:48

Which is a kind of cool. That's cool. Such an iconic franchise.

SPEAKER_05 22:51

Yeah, it is cool. I like feel really bad for everyone in the street.

SPEAKER_03 22:55

I know, like in Boston, like just the new England area. And it's such like a sports heavy area. It's like you would think they would want to have a WWE. You were reading, Lucy, that Boston wanted to be.

SPEAKER_02 23:09

Yeah, I remember like a while ago, they had there was like almost like this sale that happened. Like the uh Celtics Minority Owner or Steve Pagliuca? Pagliuca. I don't know how to say his last name. He offered $325 million, which is $25 million more than what they agreed with the Comet or with Houston.

SPEAKER_05 23:31

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 23:32

Um, to move them ultimately to Boston. But the WW said no. This was like a month ago, and people were kind of like annoyed. I know. They're like, why wouldn't they? Because I think maybe they were like, what, hopping the line because Houston was supposed to be next up for an expansion? But it's not really an expansion. Like, I don't know.

SPEAKER_05 23:51

It's like it's a new team. Like they bought an existing team.

SPEAKER_03 23:54

Maybe it doesn't matter though. Like because they just easier to ha to inherit a franchise than it is to have to build a brand new one.

SPEAKER_05 24:06

Yeah, exactly. And also, I mean, it's it's all already there. Right. You know, it's like Connecticut and Boston are like an or from each other. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 24:18

Right. So you just have like the whole fan base already there. Like, what do you do if you're a Sun fan? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 24:23

That's what we were saying.

SPEAKER_02 24:24

And you just have no team.

SPEAKER_03 24:25

And you latch onto New York, but you're like, fuck New York, why do you Boston?

SPEAKER_05 24:28

Yeah, exactly. And it's also like I I feel like the New England fan base, they do not see themselves as part of the New York fan base at all.

SPEAKER_02 24:37

No, exactly.

SPEAKER_05 24:38

Actually, they see themselves as like enemies of the New York fan.

SPEAKER_02 24:42

So they're just like teamless. And also like, what happens with like the history of the sun? Like all those players, like who who's like a maybe Alyssa Thomas? Like who's like a player who's like I know would have their jersey retired, but now there's like no rafters to put it up. Like what happened? I mean, I guess like that's the same thing with the comets, but it's like maybe but now that's just happening to the sun.

SPEAKER_05 25:04

I know it it's a very weird thing to me. Like, I I I feel like I guess like you were saying it's easy. But I'm like, what is the difference between like moving the sun to Houston and whenever like at this point in the league, like I don't see how moving your f a franchise to a different city and rebranding it as a different franchise is any more or less difficult than just having an expansion team.

SPEAKER_03 25:33

Yeah, right. It is essentially the same thing as having because you have to build out the fan base there. And obviously you can go off of the fact that they used to be there and like they're bringing the team back, I guess. That has some pull to it.

SPEAKER_05 25:48

Like how how long has it been?

SPEAKER_03 25:49

Like when like when did Houston like it's something like 20 years.

SPEAKER_05 25:55

I'm looking it up. Founded in 1997 and then dissolved in 2008. So yeah, it's almost been 20 years. Yeah. So I I feel like the it's not like they have this huge fan base that's just like waiting for the team together. Right, exactly. Like I don't know, I just find it confusing. But you know, I'm I I'm happy for them.

SPEAKER_03 26:16

Yeah, I mean I know it's yeah. I do feel like the way that the league is growing, Boston hopefully will have a team.

SPEAKER_02 26:23

Yeah, maybe they're just next up and then they can just later later incorporate like I don't know.

SPEAKER_05 26:28

Yeah, I don't really know either.

SPEAKER_03 26:30

Let's move to the vein of expansion drafts anyway, because since we're talking about new teams, we have um two new teams coming in. Yep. And with new teams, you need players for a team. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 26:44

You would think, yeah. That's usually how it works.

SPEAKER_03 26:46

And now they can finally do that. So Friday, 3 30. 3 30. Oh my gosh. It'll be Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo picking. Crazy.

SPEAKER_02 26:58

And we don't know who's protected and unprotected.

SPEAKER_05 27:01

I find that insane.

SPEAKER_03 27:04

Basically, no, why don't we get to know that?

SPEAKER_05 27:06

Why don't they why don't we get to know? I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 27:08

So I guess uh f from what I'm seeing, the tempo they had a coin toss and they won. Yeah. And so they also get the number six overall pick in the WMBA draft, period. Okay. But in exchange, that means the fire get the number one pick in the expansion draft. Okay. Two rounds, 12 picks per round, six picks each team. And then, like you said, Lucy, uh teams submitted protected players to the league this past Sunday, which consists of five players that are off limits to be selected from, but everybody else is fair game.

SPEAKER_05 27:45

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 27:46

Um that's gonna happen tomorrow. I wonder if there will be any surprises.

SPEAKER_05 27:52

I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 27:53

I have no idea what to do. Well, there is already a that crazy trade that you've got to mention.

SPEAKER_02 27:59

Right. Okay, so we're here in Chicago, and it was like Tuesday announced that the Sky agreed with deals to deals with both the tr both Toronto and Portland, and they're sending their 17, number 17 overall pick in this draft, 2026 draft, to the fire in exchange for the number 21 overall pick. And the fire agrees to not select anyone from the sky's unprotected list in this expansion draft, and then the same thing like with the fire, but they're sending the 26 overall pick um in the draft to the tempo in exchange for them. The tempo agreeing not to select anyone from the skies unprotected list, and I'm like, why? I'm like, why are they I don't understand?

SPEAKER_05 28:43

I I don't really know.

SPEAKER_02 28:46

I'm like, maybe I'm not like a business, like I don't understand the business of it, but who are they who do they not want other teams to take from just no offense?

SPEAKER_03 28:53

I just feel like literally no offense besides like we said, Camille Cardoso. An angel, like protect them. Yeah, I just I don't have anybody that's like a must-have.

SPEAKER_05 29:02

They also had a horrible thing.

SPEAKER_02 29:04

I was gonna say the record speaks for itself. Like the concept of it is like almost unserious.

SPEAKER_05 29:09

Like what it's like I don't really think I understand So I'm like, maybe I'm not getting maybe I'm missing something.

SPEAKER_03 29:15

Yeah, I don't understand at all. And I mean it's crazy.

SPEAKER_05 29:21

I just feel like if you were actually like the worst team in the entire league last season, you gotta do something different.

SPEAKER_03 29:32

You have to donate all of your players up for grabs. Like, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_05 29:37

Like, and I'm not I don't even necessarily think that it's like yeah, like Angel, Camilla Cardoso, I think like Haley Van Lith has like, you know, she has a future as a point.

SPEAKER_03 29:48

Yeah, but it's some potential. But if that's like the number three, I don't even know what other two you protect. I I don't want I want to give cash. I think I want to give my protected picks up for I just don't understand.

SPEAKER_05 30:02

I just don't understand. And I also think like okay, that doesn't protect prevent anyone from leaving through free agency, right? Right. So then it's like, okay, you're you're there's all these reports about like Angel and whether she actually likes it there in Chicago or here in Chicago or whatever. Like but I'm like, okay, so then I'm just running. It just feels like they're on they're operating from like a defensive perspective instead of like thinking about who can we get.

SPEAKER_03 30:36

I'm getting like angry thinking about it. Like I just feel like you're literally giving away draft picks is what you're doing.

SPEAKER_04 30:43

It makes sense.

SPEAKER_03 30:44

For no return on investment.

SPEAKER_02 30:46

No return. To keep like to keep who? Like Rachel Banner.

SPEAKER_05 30:51

Yeah, that's what I was gonna say. Like literally. I don't get it.

SPEAKER_06 30:57

What?

SPEAKER_02 30:58

I don't know. I maybe if it's just go like whoever the the organization, like, is just like not well run. That's like at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_03 31:06

Sickening to me.

SPEAKER_05 31:07

This doesn't even this makes no sense. Yeah, it doesn't make any sense to me either. One picks and also I think the reason why we can tell that it doesn't make any sense is that nobody else did that. No one else is doing that.

SPEAKER_03 31:22

Well, because it's also like what there's also so many free agents this year, too. Like so many unrestricted free agents. And there's so much talent coming into the league. Absolutely. So you're kind of just like, pick whoever you want. Like, we're gonna have so much to choose from between the WMBA draft and the free agent market this year. I would be like, okay, like I have my core five. For them, it's not even three. It's not even five, it's perhaps three. Yeah, on the good day. It's crazy. I mean, at least I guess they're just moving down four picks with their trade with the fire, but with the tempo, they're just giving up the pick. It's so hard to like literally just giving it away. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 32:09

Yeah, I don't know. I don't understand. Um Chicago's just unreal. I like it. Get ready for our All-Star Weekend.

SPEAKER_03 32:19

Well, wait, this year.

SPEAKER_05 32:23

I haven't heard anything about that either.

SPEAKER_03 32:25

She's was coming off the or she tore. Yeah, I'm that's another thing I'm gonna do.

SPEAKER_05 32:28

Wait, they're gonna pretend I'll respect to Courtney Vandersluute, but I mean she's almost 40 years old, and she she's she's a WMBA champion.

SPEAKER_03 32:38

She's a legend. She's a legend. Yeah, respect.

SPEAKER_05 32:40

She's I no disrespect to her at all, but she's coming off of an ACL tear at 37 years old. Right.

SPEAKER_03 32:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 32:47

So I it was hard.

SPEAKER_03 32:51

I mean, the season, or was it? Oh like I'm like, I don't know if she's gonna be right. She's definitely not gonna be back. At the beginning. Yeah. I don't know. I wouldn't say so.

SPEAKER_02 33:04

I just don't know if you wouldn't b I mean, not to be like you should give up on a legend that like played for your team, but it's like and one for your team. And one, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 33:14

I just feel like it's hard for me to understand them not looking to the future at all when they've had such unsuccessful seasons.

SPEAKER_02 33:25

Right, and they have like an angel race. Like you have like a young star. You have you have and Camilla Cardoso, it's great.

SPEAKER_05 33:32

You have you have two stars you could stars. Big stars who you can build a roster around. These could be these are these should be franchise players, and I guess maybe in their minds they're thinking like we are protecting our franchise players, but it's like you can protect them without like protecting everyone around.

SPEAKER_02 33:51

Right, because they don't they want to win, like they don't. I mean Who will this guy take at five? Sorry, I'm during the draft?

SPEAKER_03 33:58

Yeah, in the draft. In the draft draft. Like, are they taking like who's gonna be available? Flog J.

SPEAKER_02 34:05

I was about to say, is it gonna be a flage?

SPEAKER_03 34:08

Do you think they would act they would have to be a few?

SPEAKER_05 34:09

I don't even know. I feel like she's gonna go higher than that.

SPEAKER_02 34:12

You think like she's gonna drop, or she's gonna go earlier?

SPEAKER_05 34:15

I think she might go earlier.

SPEAKER_02 34:17

Interesting. What do you think is your draft order? Do you still think Izzy's going number one?

SPEAKER_05 34:22

Actually, you know what? If there I think what I'm not factoring in, and this is just me being uneducated on like the international prospects.

SPEAKER_03 34:30

But all of a sudden, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 34:33

I mean, if there are international prospects that I'm not aware of.

SPEAKER_03 34:36

I feel like all of fame is like I think she was the one in the top five, maybe. Yeah, she was like, She might be one.

SPEAKER_05 34:40

Yeah, Izzy, and they like switch off like.

SPEAKER_03 34:44

There's a mock drop with the Lynx like getting her. Can you imagine if the Lynx had all of fan?

SPEAKER_02 34:49

It's crazy that the links have the second pig in the drift.

SPEAKER_05 34:52

That is just ridiculous. No, it's unfair.

SPEAKER_02 34:54

And who did they take? It was great. Wasn't it originally? Who did that? Wasn't it originally Chicago?

unknown 35:04

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 35:05

I'm dead. Okay, this is interesting because I actually agree with this after watching the tournament. Like that is the ESPN smoke draft? Yeah, the Olivia Miles draft stock like went up so fast after the tournament. I was like, this is unbelievable. So they have her at three, which I'm kind of like, yeah. Lauren Batts at four going to the Mystics, which is interesting because I'm kind of like, they took um, what's her name last year? Kiki, who's a great. Yeah, so I'm kind of like, do you need and they have Sonya too? Son.

SPEAKER_05 35:36

Yeah, they have a really nice, like core young core.

SPEAKER_03 35:40

So I don't know if you need another big, but I guess like Lauren's skill set is pretty different than Kiki Erichen. So yeah. Because Kiki can shoot. Kiki is Kiki's got a mid-range, she's got a MIDI that's mobile.

SPEAKER_05 35:53

Yeah, she's versatile. She's fast. She's fast. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 35:56

She's a great defender.

SPEAKER_05 35:58

Yeah, I I I think she's like just an all-around superstar. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:02

Um definitely.

SPEAKER_05 36:04

And I think I I think she's also she's so versatile. Like if you have a Lauren Butts, you can put her in the middle. Yeah. And then play Kiki as a as a forward. Like she's definitely capable of doing that. Yeah. And really successfully. So yeah, I mean, maybe.

unknown 36:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 36:20

If you have a chance of getting a six foot seven anyone, yeah, it's true.

SPEAKER_02 36:24

Like the athletic put um always their number one. Number one. And then AZ second at in Minnesota.

SPEAKER_03 36:32

Which would be fun. That would also be nuts.

SPEAKER_02 36:35

Minnesota, like, this is crazy. I guess it's the A Z together.

SPEAKER_05 36:41

Chicago, what are we doing? We got out of the house.

SPEAKER_03 36:45

Fee and A Z together, guys.

SPEAKER_02 36:47

Yeah, that would be crazy. That would be kind of cute. Um, she's like has family. Doesn't AZ have like her grandparents from Minnesota? Like, she always be in her lives home. And she grew up there, so she like grew up visiting her there. Kind of cute.

SPEAKER_05 37:00

It is kind of cute.

SPEAKER_03 37:01

Cuter than them both being in Dallas. No? Are they still dating? Sorry, we don't have to talk about this on the bot.

SPEAKER_05 37:07

I feel like yes.

SPEAKER_03 37:08

Deaf, deaf.

SPEAKER_05 37:09

I feel like definitely.

SPEAKER_03 37:10

I feel like they've been yeah.

SPEAKER_05 37:12

But I'm convinced that they're locked. Yeah, I'm convinced.

SPEAKER_02 37:17

They were just talking about she was just no facts, wait. She's not gonna show in that outfit at Unrivaled. She was just at Unrivaled. Oh, AZ.

SPEAKER_03 37:25

Yeah. Well, so I know.

SPEAKER_05 37:27

You would show up a brand in that outfit for someone you're on the rocks with? No.

SPEAKER_03 37:33

I guess you wouldn't be around at all, yeah. But they're gonna be around each other in so much, whether they're dating or not, because they're both entering the league.

SPEAKER_02 37:40

I feel like they're both like killers, like unproblematic killers. I just can't imagine there'd be like beef. Spice? Yeah. Like beef, like just beef.

SPEAKER_05 37:49

Like, should we talk about Jackie Young and DJ Harrington?

SPEAKER_02 37:55

Oh my goodness. That was also crazy too.

SPEAKER_05 37:59

So I think we can both That's interesting. What?

SPEAKER_03 38:03

ESPN has everywhere. ESPN had Kiki like going way lower in the draft, Kiki Rice, I'm sorry, at like 12 or 13, but the athletic has her going at five. I could see that from the case.

SPEAKER_05 38:17

Over flaget.

SPEAKER_04 38:18

Over flaget?

SPEAKER_03 38:19

Hmm.

SPEAKER_04 38:21

I feel like they're I wouldn't have flag. Who has a fifth pick?

SPEAKER_03 38:27

This guy. They're gonna do something crazy and like wait, what's crazy is they have flag going at like 11. Oh. What? Yeah, the athletic. That surprises me. That's kind of surprising me. I just feel like they have some like international. No, I don't trust I feel like Kiki's like not like has a good skill set, but I don't know about her confidence and her like translation into the league.

SPEAKER_05 38:56

I think I think the one thing that I that I think she has is like as a point guard.

SPEAKER_03 39:03

Yeah, she's agreeing.

SPEAKER_05 39:04

She's a very like she's a pure point guard who can shoot really well. Yeah. And I think that's like not something that's the mar very marketable skill set in the W. All respect to Haley Van Lith.

SPEAKER_03 39:19

But she's not a pure point guard.

SPEAKER_05 39:21

She's not a pure point guard. Uh and like part of that is like She's more of like a two to three. She's like a so Which is also hard for her because she's so short. Like her size is just hard. But I I I mean, I so I I think that is something that they they could use.

SPEAKER_03 39:39

Yeah. They need a playmaker who's also maybe not gonna do.

SPEAKER_05 39:44

They're making creeps. That's what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_03 39:46

Like they're gonna go like some rogue like decision.

SPEAKER_05 39:48

And I don't even know.

SPEAKER_03 39:49

But then Flager would mean like an LSU reunion. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 39:53

Yeah, that would be pretty literally. Tried and true. Yeah. That'd be kind of fun. Flager and Chicago. That would be fun. Flaget and Angel back together again. Wait, that would be so much fun.

SPEAKER_05 40:02

We'll get to go watch them.

SPEAKER_02 40:04

I know. That's why I'm like late. I'm like selfishly. Who do I want? I know. I don't want Angel. People are like, like, would Angel leave Chicago? How? I mean, she's been saying that. She's kind of been alluding to that.

SPEAKER_05 40:17

So I don't know. We'll see. Like literally anything could happen. I know. This all I mean, this free agency's gonna be this whole that's yeah.

SPEAKER_03 40:26

Well, and speaking of free agency, we also saw that Stewie and Sabrina have verbally said Yeah, they're staying free agency hasn't technically started yet, but they are gonna stay in New York, which is I mean, they'll Good for them. Yeah, we'll see what happens with New York this year.

SPEAKER_02 40:42

Serena's been there her entire career. Yeah. She probably wants to finish it out. Like I feel like he wants to be there for her whole career. But do you think like how far in advance do picks know if they're gonna be drafted top like three? Or top one? No, number one. Because I feel like that's the only one. I mean like if they know, like when do they decide? It's year to year. But do you uh when do like the teams decide, like, okay, this is who we want.

SPEAKER_03 41:05

But do they are they like we're choosing you?

SPEAKER_02 41:08

I don't I feel like they surely like give you a call. But I don't know if it's day of.

SPEAKER_05 41:12

There's no way. Well, I think like I think I know that teams have calls with players before before the draft. I would think that okay, like for Dallas and Paige, for example, like you know, like there's just no way that they waited to reach out to her. And she was talking about it pretty early in the season. I feel like as soon as like the the player declares.

SPEAKER_03 41:39

Yeah, if it's a clearer number one. So then it's kind of like you start building around them as soon as possible.

SPEAKER_02 41:45

But this one, when it's like anyone could there could there's multiple people who could go number one. Like it's harder to and like maybe closer to when do you decide? Also, like they've said like Paige, like we want Paige to be involved in like building around her and like putting around. Who the heck do you think they're gonna be?

SPEAKER_03 42:02

But right, but like if they were dating AC doesn't A Z doesn't mean I also feel like they would be like that. Like, like, don't you think of your they need a big?

SPEAKER_02 42:15

Do you think they want a veteran big from free agency? Like, who do you think Paige needs a vet that's what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_04 42:22

You take I think like someone who's already like adjusted to the I would pick for insurance around.

SPEAKER_05 42:30

If there's any chance that she could make that for her, yeah, and if there's any chance that she could leave for any reason, even if it's that her girlfriend is on a different team. I mean, we saw Dewana Bonner try to go to Indiana to play with Caitlin. I feel like guess what? She would lie back with her partner. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 42:47

But she's like older, like they're like more like fan. Like, I feel like Paige and Aisy would go wherever and like beef whatever. I feel like just like to like sh if it's like strictly like strategy, like you would want maybe to draft someone who's like older, like AZ, who's like kind of a trend and cheer, you know, she's gonna get out on the court and like she's like already kind of like a pro.

SPEAKER_03 43:12

Right. Like she's like yeah. But I also am kind of like, okay, I'm looking at the list of free agents, so which also AT is a free agent, but I'm kind of like, is she gonna re-sign with the Mercury?

SPEAKER_05 43:23

I just feel like Yeah, we're they're not gonna split up again.

SPEAKER_03 43:27

Okay, let's see.

SPEAKER_05 43:28

That's my take. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 43:30

Let's see some bigs. Jean-Claude Jones. Oh, like I feel like a veteran big could be good. Though I guess if they're keeping a Riket.

SPEAKER_02 43:42

How maybe they want a veteran big and awa fair.

SPEAKER_03 43:45

What do you say?

SPEAKER_02 43:46

Maybe they just want a they would get a vet big and awa. Yeah. Cause if they keep a Rike, like I don't know. I actually don't know. Yeah. I saw like um in media last weekend they asked. Like, oh, like that, how do you cause it was in Fort Worth and they're like, oh, would you like to like stay here or something like that? And she was like, Me, yeah. And I'm like, Do you know?

SPEAKER_03 44:08

I'm like, it's not giving I don't think that she knows. I don't think she knows. I don't I think it's what you said. Like it's not like Paige or like Caitlin. Like those are like clear back to back years of like that is the number one pick franchise player, face of the league, even for both of them. Yeah. Yeah. Is here's different?

SPEAKER_02 44:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 44:28

Which is exciting.

SPEAKER_02 44:29

Exciting. Wait. What's the draft? The 13th. It's close. Yeah, it's coming. Wow. Another we can next next next week we can do a draft. Yeah. Top five.

SPEAKER_05 44:45

Right before the gata. Got to gotta. Okay. Okay, cool. All right. Peace. Happy viewing, people. Well, or listening. Yeah. Yeah, sorry.

SPEAKER_03 44:57

Bearing with us.

SPEAKER_05 44:58

All right. Bye.