The PreWrap Ep. 14- Tournament recap!! Free agency!! WNBA Draft!!

In today’s episode we share our final thoughts on the NCAA tournament before diving into free agency and giving our FINAL draft predictions.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Like that, I actually feel like they are colluding with like the house. Like and taking bribes and bets. Like I just like and like this is not you don't trade Angel Away and probably know that you're gonna do that, but then you go ahead and you protect your team your team with the expansion draft.

SPEAKER_02 0:27

Welcome back to the pre-rap. Woo! Um so we just need to jump right into this because a lot has happened um and a lot is happening like as we speak in this very moment. We have three little sections that we're gonna do this week. Um first is the tournament. Like we can't, there's so much that we haven't spoken about. Um, and then we're gonna talk a little bit about free agency, just like some highlights, and then we're gonna go into our draft predictions because that's gonna be on Monday.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

That's crazy. I'm so excited. I saw I saw a crazy uh draft prediction by like a journalist uh yesterday. So I can't for number one pick, so I can't wait to drop that on you guys.

SPEAKER_02 1:14

I think I know what you're talking about. We'll see, we'll see. Don't spoil, don't spoil. Okay, okay, no spoilers. Okay, so first we're gonna jump into the tournament. Um, I feel like just like let's just clear the air. I have we all arguably have the worst five four blood.

SPEAKER_00 1:33

I can't believe this.

SPEAKER_01 1:34

I know, I was watching like crazy.

SPEAKER_02 1:37

And I feel like um, okay, the one thing I did get right is I said that the Yukon South Carolina game was gonna be a dog fight. Yeah. And I said if Yukon ones, it's only gonna be by seven. Well, they lost.

SPEAKER_01 1:50

Now that it's happened, I'm like, how could it have happened any other way? Like, I'm like, oh yeah, of course you got this guy.

SPEAKER_02 1:56

I know. It's uh it's that hindsight bias. Yeah. Shout out to um AP Psychology. Anyway, um, so we just had to like get that out of the way. Um, any like reactions from the games? I mean, like, I feel like I need to say that UCLA's performance in the final four in the national championship. No, their performance in the final four fully converted me into a true believer. Yeah. I walked into babe sports.

SPEAKER_01 2:28

I actually can't with you. I'm gonna get but you know what? Like, people can get to the heart with you. Like you you keep an open mind.

SPEAKER_02 2:37

Yeah, I mean, I really um I did not believe in them all season. But the one thing I will get myself is that they really peaked in the tournament.

SPEAKER_01 2:49

That is true, at the right time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:50

Yeah, but am I not? I did say I walked in the babe's sports bar and I looked you in the eye and I said, I think UCLA is gonna win the national championship.

SPEAKER_01 2:58

Right, you're right. Well, the 48 hours in between you sitting on my couch being like, I can't stand them to being like, like, they're gonna win, and like I'm okay with that. I think I want them to win.

SPEAKER_02 3:09

Yeah, I was like, you know what? Like, this this basketball that they're playing right now is just too good too good.

SPEAKER_00 3:15

And they're so like happy. I was just like, wow, this is such a cute team.

SPEAKER_02 3:20

Yeah, and I was happy to like, sorry, go ahead.

SPEAKER_00 3:22

No, you go.

SPEAKER_02 3:23

I was just happy to see like someone other than like these dynasties women.

SPEAKER_01 3:30

Win coach, yeah. It reminded me very much of like Alyssa Liu Olympics vibes where it's like you're just you're just performing and playing so free. Yeah. And like, like even like the dancing, which like obviously we have a lot of opinions about, but I think that they just they like just like cracked the code of like chemistry and like on the court and off the court to the point that they were playing at such a high level.

SPEAKER_00 3:56

I also feel like it's impressive, like if I feel like they were like what, like all senior, like so many seniors, it's like their last chance. I feel like it could they could either be so extremely stressed and like have all that pressure, or like what they did play super like free, just like enjoying their last, like not letting them each other be bigger than them. Like yeah, I feel like that was really impressive.

SPEAKER_01 4:18

And even like Corey's progression as a coach, I feel like in the tournament has been so evident of just they looked like an extremely well-coached team.

SPEAKER_02 4:28

Yeah, they did. Shout out to Corey Close. You are a cookie lady, and I'm I'm here for you. The leather pants. The leather pants. It was like so awesome to watch like Don do the tunnel walk and like Dawn do the tunnel walk, and then watch Corey Close, who looks like she's entering a PTA meeting with her leather pants on her batteries. Yeah, like but you know what, like she ate, and I'm really happy for her. I know. Um yeah, like I think that I think that the the best way to like convert me is for me it's like it's like good passing. Yeah, like yeah, they move the ball, yeah, or did move the ball so well.

SPEAKER_03 5:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:13

Um, and I think like last year we saw like a lot of growth in like how, especially like Lauren Betts, like I think like it's so easy, and we saw this like last year in the tournament, like Corey Close kind of defer to Lauren in every single situation. Oh, we have this six foot seven girl in the middle who can just like get easy layups for us, like most of the time. Exactly. Yeah, and this year what we saw is Lauren like mixing it up, like there were outlet passes from her. She uh Yeah, she had two assists. Yes, and she like expanded her game a lot, like she was shooting more from mid-range and not just under the basket. So I think like both Lauren Betts and Corey Close, as well as like the rest of the team, this year like really reached like what I feel like their full potential could have been last year. And to me, I'm like, that is real growth, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:06

So but kind of the antithesis of that is like yes, UCLA played amazing, and the national championship was their peak, and South Carolina played so poorly, they weren't even present.

SPEAKER_00 6:19

And also, like, we're you're talking about the passing, and like who is another team with like excellent passing? It's Yukon, and they weren't able to do that against South Carolina. So I'm like, South Carolina, what happened? I know they just weren't there. Their defense, I I have a lot of.

SPEAKER_02 6:34

Their rebounding was so it was so out of character, and I think this is also something that we've talked about obviously not here, but amongst ourselves, is like kind of the weird this this has been like a very weird final four with like obviously the Geno Dawn incident and like all the discourse around it has been like first of all really overshadowed UCLA's win.

SPEAKER_01 7:00

Yeah, and like we could have a whole pod just about that. I know, but yeah, continue.

SPEAKER_02 7:04

Um, but it's like I feel like we saw both of these like legendary coaches out of character out of character in ways that I, as like a longtime fan and viewer, just felt confused by. Yeah, like it's not like Gino's never lost in the final four before, he's actually lost in the final four more than he's won. Yeah, right, right. So it's I mean, it's not like obviously I think we can all agree that he was totally in the wrong. Yeah, right. And also, it's not normal for him. Like, it's weird that this was the thing that sent him over the edge.

SPEAKER_01 7:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:39

Similarly, watching Don coach in the national championship game, I was kind of like it's hey, where's the science of life?

SPEAKER_01 7:50

Yeah, yeah. They also like ran. I mean, they looked so flat. I feel like we're not saying anything that anyone else hasn't said of like the Yukon South Carolina game felt like that was their national championship, and then they were just like completely gassed, and I think that's part of it, but it was also like they seemed like they ran out of ideas. Like, I feel like their perimeter shots and their mid-range shots weren't falling, and they were just trying to load the paint, and it just wasn't working. And then it was like, okay, well, that's it, like that's all we got.

SPEAKER_02 8:17

I know it was weird. I I was and I I keep saying this to you guys, but it it was so striking to me to go from last year in the national championship. This is their second blowout loss in the national championship in a row.

SPEAKER_01 8:35

But I think the difference is just to add, like, last year didn't feel like a lack of preparation, it just felt like Yukon was the better team. And this year felt like a lack. Well, I still think probably UCLA was the better team, but this this also had an element where I was like, you guys are not prepared for like they did not it's like you mentioned the rebounding, Catherine.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

It's like I feel like it's just a reflection of how much you want it. Like they were not going up for those. I'm like, what are you doing? They're just standing there.

SPEAKER_02 9:01

And so the thing that was interesting to me was like juxtaposing like Dawn's body language and reaction to last year's game. Yeah. Where I mean, we've all seen the memes of her like literally staring at the sky, shaking her fist, like yelling to this year, just kind of looking dumbfounded. Yeah. It was confusing to me. I I don't know really what to make of that.

SPEAKER_01 9:25

Do you think it was kind of just like she knew, like at a certain point, she knew the game was out of reach, and then just sort of like the amalgamation of the all the Gino stuff and and beating Yukon, but then kind of it being tainted that she was just like, I have nothing left.

SPEAKER_00 9:41

Yeah, I don't know, but I also feel like the Gino thing, I'm like, I thought that would maybe like give them a little fuel, or like it's kind of like you know, Tessa and her like la like laughing about it on the court. Like, I feel like it wasn't something where they're like, I can't believe this happened. Like it's rude. I feel like they're kind of like, well, we won, and you're a sore loser, and we're gonna go and win the national championship. But that's like the opposite of how they kind of reacted in the championship game.

SPEAKER_02 10:05

I totally agree. I was like, I don't think that I like kind of disagree with I feel like that kind of is like the opposite of what I know Don who I know Don Staley to be publicly, as this is this like person who gets bogged down by like public discourse and like and who like gets uh off off-centered when when things go wrong. Like, I feel like I know her as the total opposite of that who like digs her heels in and is like, we're gonna power through this and we're gonna do it with excellence. Like, yeah, I don't know. It was just bizarre. It was bizarre, it was bizarre, like really out of character. Um, okay, so is there anything else that we want to say about the Natty, the final four? Um I mean, I was excited for UCLA.

SPEAKER_00 10:55

I'm happy to go. I'm happy there's a new winner, yeah, yeah, yeah. New coach, new squad. Like, they've been really cute this week, going on all their appearances, like, so happy, and I'm just like it's a great way for like Warren Betts and that whole senior squad to go out.

SPEAKER_01 11:07

I feel like I totally agree. That there I feel like there's rich storylines on either side. Like, this is super exciting. Their first win in the NCAA era. On the other side, I'm just like so entirely fascinated about like how this happens twice in a row and like where you go if you're done.

SPEAKER_00 11:24

Right, and also like what is it? I mean, she's a legend for sure forever, but it's like also like two blowout losses in the championship game in a row is kind of like do you like do you think it's a stain? And like how big is of a stain?

SPEAKER_01 11:36

Um, I think I think it's too early in her coaching career to be able to determine it because it's like this is clearly a coach that's gonna be back on that stage. She's in her three years in a row. More times, yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 11:47

Like this is a dynasty fourth and five years. Yeah. Right. It's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 11:51

It's so crazy. So I think that like she's approaching like a Gino type status where it's like there's gonna be so many games, so many final four losses, so many probably championship wins and losses that like we just don't know how it's gonna look yet. I don't wanna like count Dawn out, never, you know, like that's the never out, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:12

So unless it's the national championship. Anyway. Sorry. Perfect. Um, okay, so we have like two things going on at once right now, which is like free agency in the W, and then like I guess college free agency, like the transfer portal.

SPEAKER_01 12:31

Anybody, this is a PSA if you want to join Tennessee's basketball team. But they're open. They're wide open.

SPEAKER_02 12:37

Yeah, Tennessee has no roster. They have no roster, they have one player, a com a commit, yeah, not even like a returner. Zero returners. Zero returners. So um that's like just like a fascinating storyline that we have to keep revisiting because like whoa.

SPEAKER_01 13:00

It's crazy. We really like followed it all the way down. Remember when we were like high on Tennessee's play and we were like good. Never won again.

SPEAKER_00 13:10

I know in the first round.

SPEAKER_02 13:12

I know. Shout out to Tennessee though. Um, I did pick you to be NC State in the first round. Yeah. I did not. I didn't that was definitely a pick that you guys were like, what are you doing? And I was like, no. And I was also just so wrong. Um, okay, and then in free agency, we have like the major highlight that everyone has to talk about.

SPEAKER_01 13:33

Oh my god. Wait, also sorry, can we just shout out um Camille Barber's bracket for a second?

SPEAKER_02 13:39

Okay, yeah, shout out to one of our loyal listeners, Camille Barber. Um got into the top 58 of all women's brackets on ESPN. Come on out of like how many million. Out of like four million.

SPEAKER_00 13:55

Crazy. That's insane.

SPEAKER_02 13:57

So she did pick Texas to win the national championship. So that's kind of where it fell off. But overall, I think before the final four, she only dropped like, I want to say like four or five games. That's the entire tournament.

SPEAKER_00 14:08

We need like we need to get her on and what was the secret of the week.

SPEAKER_02 14:12

I know. Well, I actually I've I've spoken to my source and I do know how she did it, but I don't think I can I don't want to share it on the pot. Yeah, yeah. Because I don't know how much I can buy money next year. Yeah. I know. Exactly. So yeah. Shout out.

SPEAKER_00 14:27

Shout out.

SPEAKER_02 14:28

Shout out. Okay, so back to free agency. Angel Reese.

SPEAKER_00 14:34

But we were just talking about her on the pod last week, too.

SPEAKER_02 14:38

It was like we predicted it, but we didn't know where she was going. Like we knew she was probably gonna leave, or we were suspecting that something was there.

SPEAKER_01 14:46

Well, we were really bragging on Chicago, but I feel like we were also like, you can't let Angel slip through your fingers.

SPEAKER_00 14:52

No, they freed her. They freed her.

SPEAKER_01 14:54

I'm like, guys, I guess like happy for her, but but how do you make the expansion draft like that? I actually feel like protect everybody colluding with like the house. Like and taking bribes and bets. Like, I just like am like this is not you don't trade Angel Away and probably know that you're gonna do that.

SPEAKER_00 15:14

Like, there's no way that's like two first round picks in the next two drafts. Like, I was like, oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:20

So that's basically them being like, we're done. But then you go ahead and you protect your tea your team with the expansion draft.

SPEAKER_00 15:27

The whole the whole team, the whole squad.

SPEAKER_02 15:28

It makes no sense.

SPEAKER_00 15:30

I don't understand what the long game is yet.

SPEAKER_02 15:33

Well, I think the problem is that they've been playing the long game for like seven years. Like ever since ever since Candace Parker won, though. Ever since Candace Parker left, it was like all they do has it seems, and I maybe I need to read more into this, but it kind of seems like all they've done is invested in future draft picks.

SPEAKER_00 15:54

And then they just give it a lot.

SPEAKER_01 15:55

I'm getting really upset. So what's the draft class next year even really look like? Hannah Hidalgo?

SPEAKER_02 16:04

Hannah Hidalgo, but like Juju?

SPEAKER_01 16:07

Yeah, but she but it's like who knows how she's gonna come back to four. Yeah. And also she might opt to stay an additional year. I was gonna say she redshirted last year.

SPEAKER_00 16:17

Is Sarah Strong 28? Yeah. Yeah, but I don't understand. No, because she's a sophomore right now. She's a sophomore. That's just the logging.

SPEAKER_02 16:28

I know, but I'm like, okay, how long are you gonna do? Also, not that long game.

SPEAKER_01 16:32

No, like, and also Sarah Strong is like a number one overall pick. Like, that's not what the dream is giving you. They're just giving you first round picks. It's bizarre. It is bizarre. It makes no sense. It's boiling. I almost like how we almost have to move on because I'm like getting so upset talking about it.

SPEAKER_02 16:47

Okay, so let's move on to then what might be the most interesting part of this, which is that okay, so Angel moves to the dream. No one's surprised that she's leaving Chicago. We're all like, okay, ATL, good fit.

SPEAKER_00 17:02

Yeah, she's free. She's loving life.

SPEAKER_02 17:05

And then you look at the schedule.

SPEAKER_00 17:08

Yeah. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:09

And you see that the fever and the dream. Play the most times. Play the most times. Great. So Kathy, Kathy knows like people, like this was a secret to nobody except for like us. You know what I mean? But scheduling reveals it. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 17:30

I mean, I guess you don't know for sure, like what this like is crazy.

SPEAKER_02 17:36

It could be a coincidence, but also I personally think that that I think that that they're trying to fuel the they they knew.

SPEAKER_00 17:45

They know they're trying to fuel the this rivalry thing. Guys, of course they knew. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:54

That's so messy.

SPEAKER_00 17:56

The first preseason game is sh is Chicago and Atlanta, also. Like, wow.

SPEAKER_01 18:00

There's gonna be a lot of Oh, would they believe it? That's just crazy. Wow. Yeah. Come on. Yeah, so but that means they would have known like over two months a month, two months ago when did this be?

SPEAKER_00 18:16

Well, they probably knew that Angel was leaving. And she took that she always they said that she wanted the dream.

SPEAKER_01 18:21

But it's just like the irony of like, well, free agency is paused. Like, I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 18:26

Yeah, I think I think that it kind of seems to me like they both knew that this was going to happen. Like the dream, Angel, well both, and Chicago probably all parties knew. And so then, like, Kathy probably knows. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:44

Maybe. And so then they just create the schedule to maybe they knew even like we could even have thought. Like month. Like before last, like last season. Like, because they were already issues last season.

SPEAKER_02 18:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:57

She was making it clear by the end of last season that I also saw some that they said that they had worked with her, like they had kind of taken her wishes into account, like Chicago. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:06

I mean, it's hard because it's like it's hard to build a team around a franchise player that doesn't want to be.

SPEAKER_00 19:12

Yeah, and so I think they want to have one of those like amicable separation.

SPEAKER_02 19:15

But I'm just like And I also saw a lot of stuff on social media of Angel wearing like her USA jersey, and then was it Howard and Alicia Gray, maybe? Red looks great on you. Oh my gosh. Three letters. I know another three of us that would look real good on your red jersey. Like that kind of thing. They're soft on it. Yeah, I people people knew that this was gonna happen, and I think the schedule reflects that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:42

Um I guess it'll be a better game for any Chicago. It's actually gonna be exciting. It'll actually be exciting, yeah. So we just won't be there to watch it. Yeah, wait, that sucks.

SPEAKER_02 19:53

I know whatever. Gotta get that League Pass. Gotta get that League Pass, gotta put that game on.

SPEAKER_00 19:58

All Star game.

SPEAKER_02 19:59

All-Star Weekend is here.

SPEAKER_00 20:00

There's gonna be no All-Stars from Chicago in the whole city. Oh, yeah. I guess we don't know. We don't know.

SPEAKER_02 20:05

We don't know.

SPEAKER_00 20:07

Wait, no, you're right. We'll see. The random Rachel Van strays. Sorry.

SPEAKER_02 20:11

I know. Rachel, come on, prove them wrong.

SPEAKER_00 20:15

The franchise player, her and Camilla.

SPEAKER_02 20:17

I know.

SPEAKER_01 20:18

Prove them wrong. I hope Camilla, I was talking about this last night with a a fellow peer. Uh, I hope Camilla like has a breakout year. I just think that like she's not the kind of, also we can move on, but she's not the kind of player that Angel is where she can just make like points for herself as easily and like make her own space. Like I feel like she needs a guard and like needs somebody to stretch the floor for her to actually. Maybe with that fifth round pick, they'll uh I don't think Angel is worth two. I think Angel's worth way more than two first round picks. Like, I'm sorry. I know it's two first rounds, it's like a second, like it's two second round picks, like it's like, like it's like I don't, it's way more than just that. Chicago's just gonna be rebuilding for the rest of her in the time of the franchise for the rest of our lives. Okay, okay, let's keep it going.

SPEAKER_02 21:08

Does anyone want to say anything about like this Nega Balloon situation?

SPEAKER_00 21:13

I'm so confused about it. I don't know that it necessarily means she's going to Minnesota. I think she's like going on these like little trips to like tour, but I'm like, is she whatever? I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 21:25

Yeah, I want to know what's going on in this yard. Don't you think we're blogger room. Right. Yeah. We have not touched on that at all on the pod.

SPEAKER_01 21:32

I know.

SPEAKER_02 21:33

We don't we don't have time to get into that today.

SPEAKER_01 21:34

But oh no, there's so much time to talk about everything.

SPEAKER_02 21:39

Yeah, we can get into that later, but it is interesting that Neka is definitely exploring her options.

SPEAKER_00 21:47

Yeah, she's which she should. Yeah, she should. But they're really pulling out all the socks parents.

SPEAKER_01 21:52

I got on the links being absolutely nasty.

SPEAKER_00 21:55

Like with their second round pick, too. It's crazy with their second. Overall. Yeah, second overall pick. I mean, yeah, not yeah, not second round, second overall.

SPEAKER_01 22:03

Like it's gonna be what? Like NECA, like Phi. It's Kayla McBride signing. Ooh, I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 22:10

Ooh. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 22:12

I guess we'll find out. A Z and or like Olifam. Yeah. Or Lauren Betts. Or Lauren Betts. Oh, you just or Olivia Miles. That was the number one overall. I know! Okay, okay, we just need two on them.

SPEAKER_02 22:27

We just have a bumble. Okay, so okay, so then let's just jump into the draft predictions.

SPEAKER_00 22:33

Yeah. They switched, they all like to do it. The tournament really But here's what my question is how much does the tournament affect what the GMs are thinking? Like I think it does a lot of.

SPEAKER_01 22:47

I mean, yes, of course, like the your four years counts, but also it's like it's like the biggest stage. It's the most competitive. Like, if you have a good tournament, like right, I don't know. I think that that is a lot for your draft stock.

SPEAKER_02 23:03

I think that like if there's a clear overall number one, doesn't it? That one is kind of fixed. Yeah, yeah. Everything else, boop, boop, boop, boop, boop, boop.

SPEAKER_01 23:11

I don't think there's a clear like I am the clear number all I don't think there's a couple of I don't think there's overall.

SPEAKER_02 23:18

I think it really just depends on what the GMs feel the team needs in the moment. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:24

In the moment, like for next season. It's hard to tell because like free agents, like who is gonna be on the weight. Right, right, right. I like you don't know what the number. It's hard to predict. That's why I like I also don't know like how much when you look at like ESPN and the Athletic, all of their predictions, like how much do they know? They don't know.

SPEAKER_02 23:45

I know. They could have insider impact. They could.

SPEAKER_01 23:48

Did you guys see this? Is like so unrelated, but it's wing stuff on Twitter, and it's like, you know Lee Yu Ru, who's like Yeah, yeah. Did you see the thing where she was like practicing like drop step step threes? And someone was like, when in the hell is our like six, seven center ever gonna be taking drop step threes? Like, yeah, yeah, yeah. I saw that. So good.

SPEAKER_00 24:09

They're like, wait, no, we don't need a three-point shooter shooter out of our center. Yeah, we have Lee.

SPEAKER_02 24:16

Like, that's so awesome.

SPEAKER_00 24:18

Yeah, that was funny.

SPEAKER_02 24:20

Okay, so here are my questions. Yeah. Whose draft stock went up the most in the tournament?

SPEAKER_01 24:28

That's a good question.

SPEAKER_00 24:28

Like maybe Lauren, because I feel like people have her low, which was like I feel like coming into the preseason. Coming into the college season. College season. Yeah, I feel like a lot of people were like, she would go number number one. And then over the course of this past season, they were like four, four. They were dropped, she was dropping to like lower in the top five. Right. But I feel like this tournament raised up. I'm gonna like when people are like, oh, a fam could be number one. I'm like, over Lauren, like is she the computer? Yeah, right. Interesting. So I feel like Lauren's raised the most.

SPEAKER_01 25:01

I feel like it's also relative because it's like whose draft stock raised the most and whose draft stock raised the most in a way that's like the most important. Does that make sense? Like it's like, oh, like it's this is like high impact for Lauren because now it's like she's in number one conversations. Whereas, like, I don't know, like Kiki Rice's draft stock, I feel like improved in this tournament, but she's probably still sitting at like below like an eight, nine.

SPEAKER_00 25:27

Because she's not gonna be maybe higher, a little higher. Six Olivia. I've never done that before.

SPEAKER_02 25:35

I know, I was just gonna be like, I've literally not seen you do that before.

SPEAKER_01 25:39

This was too perfect.

SPEAKER_02 25:41

Um, yeah, I personally think that uh I think we do have to Olivia Miles shout out. I think Olivia Miles is up there. I think Gabriela Hawkes is up there.

SPEAKER_00 25:55

Do you think she was not gonna go in the first round? I think she was gonna go late first round. Or second round. Early is second round. But I feel like now maybe she might go like late first round or. Yeah. I kind of have a hot take.

SPEAKER_02 26:09

Wait, where is she? I'm like trying to find I'm because I don't want to say her name.

SPEAKER_01 26:15

Oh, I'm so curious.

SPEAKER_02 26:17

Wait, yeah. Angela Duglich. Oh you think she were. I was so impressed with her in the tournament. I thought she was like one of the biggest difference makers for them.

SPEAKER_01 26:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:29

I like her, she's so skilled, she plays like a really great mid-range game, which a lot of GMs love in the W.

SPEAKER_01 26:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:37

Um, and she can shoot three ball really well, and she can play around the rim. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:42

I feel like a lot of the UCLA seniors draft stocks.

SPEAKER_00 26:45

Clearly, just like shoot! Like literally shock. For who dropped, like, I feel like we have to say AZ. Flag, I feel like, has dropped out of the top five.

SPEAKER_03 26:56

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 26:56

I said AZ just because I she was like number one for so many, and so it's since it's so high, like it drop, like is gonna be significant for her, like even if it's number like three.

SPEAKER_02 27:06

Do you think that's purely based on the point spread that she's gonna be able to do that?

SPEAKER_00 27:09

But uh this is what it's I mean, her whole season was great.

SPEAKER_02 27:14

She just didn't have to play that much. Yeah, yeah. I I think that it's more for me, if I were a GM watching her play in this tournament, I would be like, Easy struggles with a killer instinct. Like she doesn't. It's a confidence. It's a yes. I think that she like I mean, watching her play against South Carolina, I was like, why are you not shooting the ball? I don't know. Stop passing the ball.

SPEAKER_00 27:42

Shoot the ball to her last year against South Carolina, it's so different. I feel like she had it last year, and it's like I don't know if it's because she had people around her who were like better at motivating or like giving her like she didn't have to like ride quite a bit. It wasn't like on her shoulders, which like it wouldn't be at in Dallas. Like it's not like she's that star player, I guess. So it's like maybe that's less of a factor.

SPEAKER_01 28:03

I kinda don't know. I'm not like seeing A Z as number one overall right now. Like, I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 28:09

I don't I don't agree with either. I I think like I I think the thing that I wanted to see from her is like, and the thing is that she was able to do it earlier when they were playing at home, which is like that 35 point game. Right. Um, which is like a wasn't that a that was a career high for her earlier, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:29

Um it's like But that's not what GMs want to see.

SPEAKER_02 28:33

Right, it's like when you get uncomfortable, how do you like adapt? And how do you pump yourself up? Yeah, get yourself to like consistently do that again and again. And I think like I don't know, that was like hard to watch. I did like I know I ever I mean, and she it was like every time she got the ball, she wasn't she she was never looked, she missed like a couple times, and it was just like I'm not gonna look to shoot anymore.

SPEAKER_00 28:57

Yeah, I know, and like you're still the best shooter out there, but I was gonna say like her mechanics are so so good. Like it's gonna start.

SPEAKER_02 29:05

I don't know, because then I remember the there was like a point where they're they scored like almost 10 points in like a minute and a half. Yeah. And like she was kind of the impetus for that. Like or like a really significant part of that. It's like I don't know. I I feel like she has these moments where she shows that she's like willing to like take the risk and shoot the damn ball, but like there are other times where she just won't do it. And that's that's kind of that's not the most assuring.

SPEAKER_01 29:36

And as good as she is, like, I feel like eight points in the final four game against South Carolina, like, is not good enough because she's so good. Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_00 29:46

It was crazy, like and Sarah also only had like what 10 or something like that. I know, yeah. That was a crazy shotdown of that.

SPEAKER_02 29:52

The last two of their tournament games, both of them not good, had very little impact. Yeah, and I like almost struggle to say that because I'm like, it's not that they have such a little impact, it's because everybody's on them on them, so it's like opens everyone else up. So it's like, okay, like obviously they're impacting the game when they're just by being on the floor.

SPEAKER_00 30:14

But seeing those numbers So you think someone would take like if they want if Dallas wants a guard, I guess it also depends. I don't know if they want a guard or a big, but if they wanted a guard, do you think they would take Oliv like a point guard? Like, because this is what like when they're thinking of like they're obviously building their franchise around Paige. Yeah, so it's like is Olivia Miles up a complimentary guard?

SPEAKER_01 30:36

I feel like I would take Z over Olivia to compliment Paige.

SPEAKER_00 30:40

That's why I'm like that's why I think yeah, I know. Right. I feel like if they're trying to compliment Paige, because not that Olivia and Paige do the same things, but they're both kind of like playmakers, like I don't know, run through the size-wise too, like pretty simple. Yeah, and I mean Olivia Miles is a great shooter as well. Totally.

SPEAKER_02 30:58

But it's her her thing is like the the flashy playmaking, the passes, like yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:06

Um which like you have Paige doing it. Paige can kind of do all that. So it's like, are they trying to like yeah, I don't know, it's just like what's their role for Paige and like who do they want around her? And are they gonna or do they want a big? Right. Again, I like I said last week, I feel like they need to get a big and free agency from like a vet.

SPEAKER_01 31:23

Yeah, I'm angry. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:25

So okay, overall, like, if you had to make your number one pick right now, like just not like who you would draft, but like your prediction. I guess it could be like who you think is. I have two more. Oh wait, yeah, go.

SPEAKER_01 31:36

Raven Johnson, Tanaya Latson have their job at Stock Fair.

SPEAKER_00 31:40

Well, Tania Latson, I had a great until the last game. I think she had a pretty good she had a good tournament.

SPEAKER_02 31:49

I think the thing that Tania Latson the thing I struggle with with her in terms of her like viability in the W is like she's not that much of a three-point shooter. She but she's so skilled around the rampage.

SPEAKER_01 32:01

I know.

SPEAKER_02 32:02

And so, um and I don't think she's that tall.

SPEAKER_01 32:06

She's not.

SPEAKER_00 32:07

She's like 5'9. She's Okay. I don't know, but I I think it's like somewhere around there. Okay, so I can fact check.

SPEAKER_02 32:14

But also, like that is for her size, um she's if I'm like a GM like looking at her, I feel like, oh, I kind of wish you had a more well-rounded scoring ability. That being said, I think that's something that she will be able to develop. Yeah. And so I don't I don't know if I see her being in like a top 10 draft pick, second round, but I think she's gonna be a steal for someone in the second round.

SPEAKER_01 32:42

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I like that.

SPEAKER_00 32:44

I think that's like that.

SPEAKER_01 32:45

About Raven. Ooh, I don't know. I don't know. I think I feel kind of similarly. I mean, I feel like she could be a good sort of like glue player for like a W team.

SPEAKER_00 32:57

I was impressed by her in the Yukon game when she was on Sarah Strong.

SPEAKER_01 33:01

That's what I mean. Like, has like is kind of like multi-channel, like Swiss Army knife can like fill in the gaps where you need. Also, kind of is like would be a steal, but I don't know if she's a top 10 pick in terms of skill set translating to the W. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:15

I would agree with that, yeah. Yeah. I'm actually so excited. I feel like this one's so I mean last year, like you knew it was gonna be page. It was just like who's going after. This one's exciting because it's gonna be kidding. So if you had to bet your house on someone going to one, who would it be?

SPEAKER_02 33:28

My house!

SPEAKER_00 33:29

I need to call Camille Barbara. I know literally what is gonna be. I know.

SPEAKER_02 33:33

Um I've been saying easy. Yeah. All right. Wait, we're always wrong. Yeah. I know, so I like don't I like for easy sake, like maybe we shouldn't say that. Um, in terms of what I feel like Dallas is looking for, or if I were the GM of Dallas.

SPEAKER_00 33:51

Kurt, if you were Kurt.

SPEAKER_02 33:53

Yeah, if I were Kurt, I think I would take a shooter over a big. I would look for a veteran big take a shooter over a big. I also think. And so in that case. Because it's kind of like easy. Yeah, I would think so.

SPEAKER_01 34:09

What's a harder learning curve as for the W? Like, is it coming in as a big or is it coming in as a shooter?

SPEAKER_02 34:14

I from what I have heard, it's that playing as a big is like the most difficult because you come in from college, you're used to being, especially if you're like over six foot, you're kind of used to being, or like the biggest person on the court. And now everyone is the same size as you. Yeah, I think it's I agree. So I think like a really reliable three-point shooter is probably.

SPEAKER_00 34:42

I think Ace's also very like reliable, like you said, reliable, like structure. Like she's super developed, but it's not like she's reached like she can't grow anymore, but she is like super developed.

SPEAKER_02 34:52

Yeah, and I don't think she's like competential.

SPEAKER_00 34:54

No, I agree. I think she's coming in like kind of like where you would want.

SPEAKER_02 34:59

You want to be able to like develop a player, get a player comparable, right?

SPEAKER_00 35:03

But they're already confident. Right.

SPEAKER_02 35:07

Yeah. So oh god, am I I guess I'm going easy.

SPEAKER_01 35:12

Yeah, I guess we're still like going easy, even though we don't think she's gonna go number one.

SPEAKER_00 35:16

I know. But I'm like, I'm just trying to pick who else her. I that's what I'm saying. Like, I just don't, unless it's gonna be Olivia Miles, but I just don't think they would pick her as if they were going to pick a girl.

SPEAKER_02 35:27

It's like, right, it's like like if you wanted, maybe if you wanted like I they just don't need it.

SPEAKER_00 35:31

So you think it's between like Awa Fam or Azy, which is like what it's been like the whole season. I think it still is, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 35:37

Because and it's just it's just really it just comes down to the lineup that they want to play this upcoming season.

SPEAKER_00 35:42

It's like, do we want Well, maybe they don't need a shooter because they have Lee Yuru back jobs? So I guess we'll see. We'll see.

SPEAKER_02 35:52

Okay. So okay, I think that's like all we have for this week.

SPEAKER_01 35:55

After this week, we'll know the draft though.

SPEAKER_02 35:57

I know we will have so much to talk about, which is gonna be so exciting. So watch draft on Monday and then come back on Friday to hear what the heck we have to say about this. Um, so thank you for watching, and we'll see you later.