The PreWrap Ep. 17 - WNBA Preseason Media Days

Today, we're covering Paige Bueckers statement following the Azzi Fudd press conference, along with Lucy's exclusive coverage of the Chicago Sky media day!!!

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

What does my opinion matter to Paige and Azy?

SPEAKER_04 0:03

Well, it matters to us.

SPEAKER_01 0:08

Oh, thanks, guys.

SPEAKER_05 0:16

All right, welcome to F 17. We're in different locations just to like leave you wanting more before the season really gets going. Switching things up. Yeah, but there's not too many storylines going on, but we're just building up towards uh the season opener, which will be next week, which is crazy. But we do have a few updates and things we want to talk about. Following up from our AZ episode, Paige Becker's uh made a statement and we wanted to start with that. So let's jump in.

SPEAKER_03 0:49

Who wants to give first thoughts?

SPEAKER_05 0:53

Yeah, we do all the time.

SPEAKER_02 0:54

We've talked about this. I feel like Paige Becker is is like a PR agent's dream client. She's so good at media. Like she's just she's like respectful, firm. You know where she stands. She leaves you wanting more.

SPEAKER_03 1:20

Like she tried like a PR dream and a journalist dream because it's like she get it's not like she's giving a PR answer in a way that's like you don't get anything from it. Like she's somehow like really answering the question while also keeping it so the PR people will be happy.

SPEAKER_05 1:37

She's answering the question and she's also making it so that you're aware why, not that it's rude to ask the question, but she's she's telling you why you kind of shouldn't be asking it again, but not in a way that's disrespectful, just in a way that's not.

SPEAKER_02 1:54

Or she's not I feel like she's not telling you like why you shouldn't ask it, but why she's not going to answer. Which I feel like is that's the difference between like what she did and what the PR person did. The PR person was like, we're not, like, you shouldn't ask that question. Paige was like, I understand that you have a job to do. I'm not going to answer it though.

SPEAKER_05 2:19

But I feel like as a journalist too, like her answer is um is something where I'm like, I respect it so much. Like, I'm like, yeah, like very fair. Like we both played our side of the game, and like you played it better than us, like you have outplayed us as you deserve. Like, yeah, and she's so nice with it, too. I know.

SPEAKER_03 2:39

That was your hope you had a great break. Anyway, I won't be answering that, by the way, if you ask it in the future. Yeah, I feel like we should almost say what she said, too. Does anyone have the statement up? She said, quite frankly, I believe me and Azy's personal relationship is nobody's business but our own, and what what we choose to share is completely up to us. Um, we've been doing this for a long time. We've countless reps added, so we'll continue to use that experience to show up, be professionals, be great teammates, great leaders, the hardest workers. We'll continue to continue to show up and do our job and help the Dallas Swings win basketball games. Um and she also said that, you know, if you ask this again, I'm just gonna like refer back to this moment or like deflect um to other teammates. Um and then she also added at the end AZ Foot was the number one draft pick because she earned it and it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with who she is as a human being, who she is as a basketball player, her resilience, her strength, and her career best year at UConn. So, I mean, a pretty thorough, well thought out statement that didn't feel like she was reading off a piece of paper. Like it felt like it was all from the dome, and clearly she thought like really hard about what she was gonna say before.

SPEAKER_05 3:52

Yeah, I think it also hit every conversation that everybody online was having um in a very clear and respectful way, and just kind of I don't know, shuts the conversation down and brings it back to basketball. And I think it's also what we were saying, where it's like it's not gonna stop people from speculating, but it's gonna like I think kind of control how it is filtered towards page and AZ, which is maybe what's most important.

SPEAKER_03 4:21

Because the journalists don't have I mean, like, there's nothing else to ask at this point because she was so thorough with her statement, and I don't know, there's just nothing that you can really follow it up with. So I feel like going forward, I don't know, I don't I can't imagine what a journalist would ask after hearing that statement.

SPEAKER_02 4:40

I know, I feel like the only thing, and we talked about this a little bit, the only thing that I feel like it left to be desired or it left me thinking about was that AIZ still is not a part of this in like a certain to a certain extent. And I just not that she has to, but I feel like I think Catherine, you said this yesterday. It's not that we want her to say something because she has to say something. As someone who really likes AZ, I want her to say something because I feel like it is in her best interest to like have agency in this situation and like speak about herself in a way that feels empowering to her. And like, listen, I don't know, I'm like kind of operating under the assumption that the PR thing that happened at her press conference happened because she said that she didn't want to talk about it, and so then the PR people said that that they would handle it. I just there's just something about that that kind of feels lackluster to me.

SPEAKER_05 5:58

It feels unplanned, and it's what you said. I think it's it it just benefits her and it it cuts off the storyline that she's in Dallas or was drafted because Paige had some sort of a say. I think it stops that dead in its tracks if she speaks for herself and it it even though everything Paige said was great, it is a little bit like, oh, does Paige? I mean, I don't think this, but I think once again the general public will run with narratives. It's a little bit like, does Paige have to fight these battles for her? And so yeah, it's not because I need to hear her like I want the T on if they're dating or not. It's like you just just like defend yourself and your own statement and your own privacy, and then I think that will also set the tone of that there's not much left to ask about the situation.

SPEAKER_02 6:47

Yeah, yeah. I I've like I kind of want to hear her be like, I appreciate your question. I'm not gonna answer it because I don't really feel like talking about my personal life. This is a professional, this is me as a professional, like operating in a as a professional in a professional setting. So I just don't want to talk about my personal life in this setting. But I appreciate the question. I'm just that's not my like I just want to hear her do that. I feel like it is within her best interest to do that. But I mean, if she doesn't want to, then she doesn't want to. And you know, it's that's for her to decide.

SPEAKER_05 7:22

It does make you wonder if that was the wings taking the lead on it or her.

SPEAKER_03 7:30

I know, I can't tell because I'm like, I'm sure they've discussed it beforehand. And then like then for the page statement, like clearly they were cooking on it, but I'm like, did they, after seeing how that went, kind of re-I don't know, decided to switch it up.

SPEAKER_05 7:44

But then it's awkward to be like, oh, like Paige, you can talk about it, but like AZ you can't, like, you know, obviously that's not the case, but I feel like the one thing I would have changed is like obviously Paige was gonna be asked about it as well, but it would have been so much better if AZ was the next person that was asked about it to so that we could see if she was gonna speak on it again or not.

SPEAKER_03 8:05

Yeah, I feel like it has to be like a personal choice choice for her because I'm like, she has so many, she has like a podcast, she has like a lot of opportunities. Right.

SPEAKER_02 8:12

This this is kind of where I'm coming down on it too.

SPEAKER_03 8:15

She like clearly doesn't want to, which is like obviously fun. Like, of course she's gonna do whatever she wants to do.

SPEAKER_05 8:20

But don't you think if you were her, like, I don't think I would go on my pod and talk about it. I feel like I would wait until I said again. Yeah, because like no one who's gonna refer to the pod. And it's also like that defeats the whole purpose of not wanting to talk about it. Yeah, that's you know, like you like, but I feel like all address.

SPEAKER_02 8:36

But that's kind of why I feel like she's it's not like she's like evading public life. You know what I mean? I think that's why I'm kind of like right.

SPEAKER_05 8:47

Like she is a celebrity, yeah, and it's celebrity status in a lot of ways.

SPEAKER_02 8:52

Yeah, yeah, and also like she is like a big part of a multi-million dollar organization. That's why she's like that's why this is in the public interest.

SPEAKER_05 9:02

I would say it's like Paige and her, I mean, and Free Urike, of course.

SPEAKER_02 9:08

Free Urique, of course. But so I think that's like the only thing to me that is still missing in this. And I don't honestly obviously, like, my opinion, what does my opinion matter to Paige and Azy?

SPEAKER_04 9:20

Well, that's why it mattered to us.

SPEAKER_01 9:25

Oh, thanks, guys. That was beautiful right there.

SPEAKER_04 9:29

Yeah, pulled open. Nice.

SPEAKER_02 9:32

Yeah. So I mean, they don't need to listen to me.

SPEAKER_05 9:36

But it's gonna come up again. That's the thing. Like, it's gonna come up again.

SPEAKER_02 9:41

There's nothing they can do to stop it from coming up. Whether they can stop it from coming up at a press conference, they cannot stop it from coming up on the internet.

SPEAKER_05 9:48

I'm also just so curious. Like, the season is so long. We have so many like practices with them ahead, games with them ahead, travel days with them ahead, all-star get-like, there's gonna be so many sightings of them together, whether it's in a romantic way or as teammates. So, like, there's unfortunately gonna probably be a lot more opportunities where they are addressed about it, you know.

SPEAKER_02 10:15

That's almost why I'm kind of like we all know that they're together. Like, they announced it themselves. So that's why I'm confused at this. Like, we're not gonna talk about what everybody knows approach. It's like I don't know other couples in the league that do that. Like, Dwana Bonner and AT enter together, they leave together. Sometimes they trust together, sometimes they don't.

SPEAKER_05 10:42

Of a successful teammate relationship where, like, I mean, obviously, like Dawan Bonner and AT are a different generation of basketball, I would argue.

SPEAKER_03 10:50

Like, pre- We have a different amount of eyes on the like people aren't as like obsessed with them as I feel like.

SPEAKER_05 10:57

I feel like with Paige, like with AZ and but especially Paige, like bringing in so many new faces to the league, there's like an added amount of pressure, and they're growing up in the age of social media. But I am just like, we don't I I want to be like, we don't care, but I'm like, oh, like we don't care a lot about deeply care.

SPEAKER_02 11:16

Clearly, some people care. Yeah, some people care a little bit too much, okay? Yeah, people. But yeah.

SPEAKER_05 11:24

But it's also one of those things where it's like, do people care more because you're like trying so desperately to like be like, well, like we're not we're not dating, you know.

SPEAKER_03 11:36

I feel like it's something that they're clearly navigating as they go, even though like Paige said they've been doing it for a long time. It's like you're in a new space, you're in a professional league, and it's just the eyes on the W are like just growing and growing, and so you're still like navigating things, like it's not like you know how to do this. So I feel like we'll just see them kind of like do it at their own like pace, and like maybe they'll I mean we there hasn't even been like their first preseason game is today, the day we're filming it. So it's like who knows? Like, we don't know if they're gonna walk in and like who cares, obviously. But yeah, it's just like fan, like I don't know, fandom gone wild.

SPEAKER_05 12:13

I'm just like, oh my god, are they gonna walk in together?

SPEAKER_02 12:17

Not to indulge it, but I know you just said that, and I was like, I haven't even considered that yet.

SPEAKER_05 12:22

Yeah, like they live together. Now I'm being a bad journalist. I know now we're we're getting trapped by the yeah, we're we're fanning the flames. Exactly. I need to calm down.

SPEAKER_03 12:34

I mean, but yeah, I just feel like it's their first season, both in the league. Like people do whatever.

SPEAKER_05 12:41

They also are like older for their age to often. But I'm also like your small baby is like figuring it out. I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 12:51

So they'll be fine.

SPEAKER_03 12:52

Either way, we know that they're gonna be fine.

SPEAKER_02 12:53

And one of these days they're gonna be great.

SPEAKER_03 12:57

And once we know that starts, that's all yeah. I think once the season starts, and like that'll take up a lot more room. I agree, I hope. Yeah, for them and for everybody.

SPEAKER_02 13:07

When there are no games going on, it's really like a whole lot of that there's like everything and nothing to talk about.

SPEAKER_00 13:18

I think that's true.

SPEAKER_02 13:18

So I think like this this course is like this right now, it's like floating to the top of everything because we have nothing to watch, so all we're doing is watching people interact with each other.

SPEAKER_05 13:29

Yeah. Once it like season starts, it's not gonna be all speculation and all like interpersonal dynamics that we can go off of of like how's the team gelling? What does it look like? Um, so and we won't know until everything starts. And they also just haven't no team has spent that much time together. Every team is looking so so different right now, too. So it's true, it'll be interesting to see. Um, in other exciting preseason news, Lucy spent a day with the Chicago Sky for their media day, our journalist. So she's a journalist. Give us a rundown of um. I know.

SPEAKER_03 14:12

I just mind you, I just got here straight from hot on the tests.

SPEAKER_02 14:17

Like, nothing. I haven't heard any of this yet.

SPEAKER_03 14:19

It's like all fresh in my mind, and at the same time, there's so much information in my mind.

SPEAKER_05 14:23

So hopefully takeaways.

SPEAKER_03 14:26

But okay, yeah, Media Day, Chicago, Media Day was today, the day we're filming this. And basically, I think everybody on the team spoke. I'm pretty sure. And Jeff and Tyler Marsh. So I let me think. What are my biggest takeaways? Like, as you can clearly tell, I just came straight from it. My my biggest takeaways, everybody was super, super excited. I feel like I wasn't there last year, obviously, so I don't know what the vibes were, but I feel like there was like like this energy of like something is brewing, like something new, something super excited. We're all like locked in in a way. I mean, this is what they were saying, so it's like I don't know. But like they're all locked in in a way that maybe they weren't before. I mean, also there's so many new people like that weren't there last season, like it's just a full, fully new team. So I don't know, I think they're still trying to. Obviously, they've only been there for like a week or two weeks. Someone asked someone a question, and I don't remember who it was. She was like, Well, I've only been here a week. I'm like, that's true. So they've only been there a week, but it seems like the locker room vibes are good, and a lot of them, like every single Skylar Diggins was like one of the first people to talk, and then after her, like every single person that came through when they were asked about like the culture or like what's kind of like motivating you guys. Um, a lot of people would point to Skylar as being kind of like a vocal leader, um, and surprising. Yeah, that's vocal, but also a lot of them were talking about how she just kind of by example, just like kind of coming in and bringing an intensity every day. Like a lot of people described her as like intense in some way. Um, and we're kind of saying that it makes everybody else do the same, which is like, I guess it seemed like it was exciting to them. Um she's a leader for sure. She's definitely it was like, yeah, clearly. And then also Corney Vandersloot was also there. Really? Her and Azare were at did theirs together, and obviously they're not they're both injured. Did she have to say about her role and like her recovery and stuff? Let me find, guys, let me log into my my notes real quick so I can be accurate. But let's see, Corney Vandersloot. They talked a lot about how they're both being present in the locker room and like talking from the bench because even though they're not there, like they're both injured right now. So it's like, how do you kind of build chemistry with the team when you're not like physically on the court with them? And so they've just described like kind of being present. Um is such a leader to 21. So yeah, you have like her, yeah, and her and Azray too, like being being on that team and like kind of coming in and wanting to like bring back that type of culture. She said um she finally feels like a basketball player again with her ACL. Did they did anybody ask her about like expected return? I think it was it Jeff. Yeah, the GM was like, we're not gonna tell you the timeline, but she did say that she feels like she was like, I will be playing basketball this season. I feel like I'm in a really good spot. She said that she feels really good, but she doesn't want to accelerate like the the timeline and like before she's ready, so she's just like really listening to her doctors. Um she described her and Skylar as a two-headed snake. Um they're like the two leaders. I guess. I like she was kind of talking about like being in that same type of position and like both being playmakers um and like kind of sharing a position. Um, but she was kind of talking about how like because you know they are both like leaders, so maybe it's like people are like, oh, if you have two people of those, like that like Skylar plus Svanderslew, like in the same role. I feel like they're balanced leaders though, and in their vibes. Yeah, you know a little yin and yang action. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 18:26

Yeah, I feel like it's very yin and yang.

SPEAKER_03 18:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:29

They have they I feel like they're both very like um you remember when we were talking about uh Natasha Cloud? Like I I guess it was like last episode, like she's such a significant role player, but she she does that through like setting up literally everything that happens on the court. That's how I think about Vander Sloot as well.

SPEAKER_05 18:51

Totally like a glue player, but also like they are they're a starter, but they're making things happen for like the bigger star players. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:01

Um so I mean I don't know when she'll like exactly be back, but it sounds like she's making good strides.

SPEAKER_00 19:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:08

Um and then let's see, speaking of injuries, Dijanae was there. Um, she wheeled in on her thing. But she said she's in a boot. She was like, Don't she literally I think she said don't be fooled. She was like, guys, like she just got the hardware taken out, but she was like, so I'm back in the boot. And like, but she said, she said she doesn't have a timeline timeline that she's gonna publicize. So I'm like, so you have one in here? But she said she doesn't have one that she's gonna publicize for her return. But she feels grave. She was like, she said it was it was up to her, she'd be out there. Of course. She was like, if it's she was like, it's a comforting feeling knowing that I have like just a couple weeks to go still. So I'm like, that kind of is a timeline. If you accidentally said that, I don't know. I feel like once you get the hardware out, it's actually it sounds long, but it's actually not right.

SPEAKER_05 20:00

Like, I think it's just kind of like I don't know, recovering from the soreness and like just getting yourself back to full strength and getting yourself back to up to like full playing speed.

SPEAKER_03 20:10

Yeah, yeah. And they also talked about like how they had a preseason game yesterday. Dream injuries came back. Yes, um was a rough game. Yeah, but they seemed pretty like I don't know, obviously it's not their like first, it's like the second unit, right? Like coming in and like I think they were kind of happy with what they were seeing. Maybe in terms of like intensity and just like I don't know, kind of I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 20:36

But I mean I feel like there it's a hard comparison to make because the dream, even though they've like added Angel, for example, to the roster, like there's a lot of consistency there, like they've been playing together for a long time. So I I don't think that any of them like expected to like well, I would be surprised if any of them expected to like blow them out or anything or like beat them, but I think like it's a being able to I mean they lost by less than 10.

SPEAKER_03 21:06

Yeah, so I mean Mercury by like four, right?

SPEAKER_04 21:11

Look, it's not that bad.

SPEAKER_02 21:13

So I'm but I'm just like for for like what their second preseason game, second, yeah, for like a brand new group, that's pretty good, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:22

And obviously, like a lot of their main players are like injured. Like Skylar, like Tower didn't play, she didn't play, like um yeah, Azrae and Vanderslewt aren't playing. Um, but Azure like speaking of like Angel's Return, like I don't know how much it had to do with Angel's return, but like they said the arena was I think Azurae said was on fire. Like she just said the environment was so much fun, and it felt like 2021, which is like when they won the championship. So I was like, that's kind of exciting. Like a lot of them talked about like just the excitement around this team and like being here in Chicago.

SPEAKER_05 21:58

Do you feel like people Here, love women's basketball.

SPEAKER_03 22:02

That's what I don't remember which one who was saying it, but they were saying that like just like the culture here and like the basketball culture. Like, she I think it was Skylar that was like, Hope everyone's gonna pull up to these games. And she was I think it was Skyler that was talking about just like one of the reasons why she wanted to come to Chicago. It's like close to her family, like where she's from, but also um just like the culture of Chicago in general and like being a part of that. So they all seemed pretty, pretty excited. That's so cool. I don't know. What did Gabriela? I wanna know. Oh sorry, sorry um Gabriela Jaquez. Honestly, she had a short, a short one, but I think she was mostly kind of talking about, you know, the she was asked about like the adjustment coming in, especially because there's such like a quick turnaround. I mean, I think it was either I think it was Tyler Marsh that was talking about like how it's like difficult to come in like so quickly and like then be in this league that has like a different level of physicality and pace. Um, but he spoke really he spoke highly of her um and like how she was kind of adjusting to that.

SPEAKER_05 23:10

Um also like when you win the national championship, like you think about how many extra games in basketball you played.

SPEAKER_03 23:17

Yeah, that's crazy. It's crazy. Um so that was mostly what she talked about. She she it wasn't like super crazy. She was like, I have a lot of belief in the team, and I think she's had like 12 minutes in the last game and scored like four, I don't know, like four points or something. So I mean she's not playing like big minutes in the preseason games, but I don't know. She said she hasn't really gotten to any spots in Chicago yet. If that's breaking news, like we need to drop some rec. It's only the past three days. Yeah, someone called her, or they said don't call her Gabby. So that's a PSA. Never call her Gabby, only Gabs or Gabriella. Good to know? That would be good.

SPEAKER_02 23:57

Um, I am really curious about Haley Van Lith because she had a pretty big game. I think it was their first preseason game. She shot like 100% from the field or something.

SPEAKER_05 24:08

Yeah, the only thing she missed was one free throw, which I'm like, I know she went home and went. Would she drop like 17 points or more? Was it more?

SPEAKER_02 24:14

It was like 20 points, right? No, 17 points.

SPEAKER_03 24:17

Yeah, in like 20 minutes.

SPEAKER_02 24:19

Yeah, 17 points in 20 minutes, eight for eight from the field.

SPEAKER_03 24:22

Crazy. Crazy. She talked about um how like this season, like last season was her rookie season. So there's like kind of like with what Gabrielle's talking about, like this adjustment period, and you're kind of trying to learn like a new pace, um, and just kind of become, I don't know, accustomed to this new like everything that comes with being in a new league. Um, so she said now she feels like she can have fun this season and like kind of lean into that side of it, and like she said consistency is a focus area for her growth because she was talking, I think, like you know, it's one thing to have like a really great game, like she did with that crazy stat line that Sydney was just talking about, and then like, but can you like maintain it and like do it again and again and again? So she said consistency is like one of the big focus areas for her, and she also said um understanding like the long game of a W season, which is like knowing that there's a balance between like be taking every game seriously, but also knowing that you need to like be prepared, not like I don't lose, yeah, and also just like I don't know. I don't know if she meant like in terms of like her body and like or if it's like a mental thing, but just like being able to kind of like I guess like take it one game at a time, but also know that you have so much longer to go, so you need to like be just prepared for that, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:44

Find like some sort of sense of moderation, I guess.

SPEAKER_05 25:49

I was gonna say, I feel like I've heard Sue Bird talk about this where she was like, when I first got to the W, it was so weird to like come from such a winning culture at Yukon and like go undefeated for like four years, and then like you're in the W and you drop a game and your teammates are like, So, like, where are we gonna get dinner after this? You know, so it's like a little bit like this is this it is like you want to win and compete, but it also is like your job, and you have to play the long game and and like make sure that you're maintaining your health and your mental health, and yeah, um, so yeah, I think it is a lot of sense.

SPEAKER_04 26:23

Um makes a lot of sense.

SPEAKER_03 26:25

Rikia, they were she was fine. She did hers with Camilla and they were like laughing it up up there. I was like, oh it was like a cute, like there's clearly like some fun thing happening. Yeah, that's so sweet. Um and I don't know, I think she they talked a lot, like her and just everybody was asked a lot about the like developmental spots, and they were all super, you know, happy about that, and just like because you know, there's a lot of injuries. We saw last year there's like an insane amount of injuries, and so like when someone you have to like call someone up who's like just like in some random place and like not ready to stay ready, but you don't know if the call is right. So she was just saying it's better for everything, like the product on the floor, like the product that you're giving to the fans when you're calling up someone who's been who knows like the plays and who's who's been there and just like knows the team, also. So they were all pretty happy about that. Yeah, um, I don't know whoever I talked about. Rachel Bannham. Pulling up with Skylar, you said that they were like besties. Yeah, they were. I I forget, I forgot that they played on Unrivaled together. So they're like they're close. Um, they had a good, like, fun little vibe going between them. Um, I mean, Skylar said Rachel's one of the reasons why she came to this guy.

SPEAKER_02 27:39

Um I I've got to s I'm gonna say it. I am really curious about Rachel Bannham's journey because before last season I never had I had never heard of her before.

SPEAKER_03 27:54

Yeah. Well, I guess you can lock into this season. Yeah, I'm gonna do it.

SPEAKER_02 27:58

I know I do need to do like an investigative deep dive on her journey.

SPEAKER_03 28:04

She had a good like personality vibe. Um, she said this year is gonna be fun because in her word, she said we have two Hall of Fame point guards. Okay, and so she could just run the floor and shoot a bunch of threes, like she said. She said, I can be Stephanie. Can you imagine?

SPEAKER_02 28:19

I do I do think like last year she got a lot of like there was a lot of chatter about her because she was not playing well at point guard, and I think she was just playing out of position.

SPEAKER_05 28:33

She was, bro. So she was also kind of just like launching threes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 28:40

So I think it'll be interesting to see uh how she plays this year with like a proper point guard around.

SPEAKER_05 28:48

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, definitely. I also feel the same way, not that this person was launching threes, but I feel similarly about like Camilla Cardoso, and I've just been like waiting for her to have her breakout W season, and I I really hope this is it because she was just so fun to watch at South Carolina.

SPEAKER_03 29:08

Um I think it was either Tyler Marsh or I think it was Tyler Marsh who was saying that like he's seen her grow a lot, but he knows she has so much growth that she can do, so it seemed like that was like a big focus for him. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:19

Here I can only imagine how high her ceiling is. Like she's just so oh my god, like literally high because she's so tall.

SPEAKER_05 29:27

She's so tall, literally six seven. Wait, they said in the press conference I was like, she also just like I do think she needs a coach that like really believes in her and is gonna push her because I feel like he was like, she needs like me to believe in her and like she needs to believe in herself, and yeah, that was kind of a she kind of is like a gentle giant, like she's so tall, but like and she has a fire inside of her, like she definitely does. I there was that one game, like uh I know what you're talking about. She got kicked out of the game, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:59

I remember that, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 30:01

But so she there's a fire, but I just mean in terms of like LSU, right?

SPEAKER_02 30:04

It was like Loki a brawl.

SPEAKER_05 30:06

Yeah, yeah, you're right, you're right. It wasn't it wasn't a Brazil game, it was LSU, but I also think she might have gotten ejected during a Brazil game as well. Maybe so it's in her, but yeah, it's just about like her having that confidence in herself, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 30:22

Yep. Um let's see. I don't know. Rachel, another thing Rachel's talked about was like Skylar's like presence in the locker room, but like also knowing that she'll she'll be like really tough on them, and she was saying that that's something that they need. So I think I don't know, her locker room presence. Yeah, I wish I could do it with two eyes, but like, yeah, they all seemed like excited. Everybody mentioned it like at some point, like her being in the locker room, and like she's the leader, being a leader, yeah. Everyone yeah, really pointed to her. A lot of the like younger players also were it was cute. They were like, We grew up watching Skylar, so it was kind of yeah. I think I forget which one of them said it.

SPEAKER_05 30:58

I feel like this team has a good balance of vets and and young faces. I agree to do something.

SPEAKER_02 31:04

It's kind of exactly what you want. I feel like sometimes you like I feel like that's at least last year with like Indiana, that's kind of how they were able to like break through and like actually make noises if they had they like added those vets that could kind of like message.

SPEAKER_05 31:21

They added D B which obviously that didn't work at all, but like and they added Natasha Howard, Sid Colson.

SPEAKER_03 31:28

Yeah, for sure. Yeah, yeah. Seems like it's pretty exciting times there. Again, like it's only been a couple weeks, but it seems like everything's coming. Seems like they're excited about it, which is always good. I mean, again, it's so early and season hasn't started, but but you want them to be showing up.

SPEAKER_02 31:46

Yeah, I want them to be excited to be here. Yeah, they're talking about me excited to be here because I want something good to watch.

SPEAKER_03 31:52

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, they definitely have like playoff runs in mind, and of course, like if you look at who's on their team, it's like horse people need to yeah. So we'll see.

SPEAKER_04 32:03

It was exciting.

SPEAKER_05 32:04

Next time we'll be just mere days away from the season opener.

SPEAKER_03 32:09

What day is the season opener?

SPEAKER_05 32:11

Like May 8th or 9th. Okay. Exciting. So exciting.

SPEAKER_00 32:16

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 32:17

And yeah, we'll be back next week. Maybe with a special guest. Oh, maybe. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 32:27

It's ritual venom.