2024 WNBA Season Preview

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Greetings my peeps and welcome to the All Things Basketball Podcast with your boy GD.

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In this episode WNBA season is starting and we have the preview for you right here.

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We'll go through all the teams, all the news surrounding what's going on as well.

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We'll do that and we'll just break it down and chop it up as always.

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So just sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

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Okay guys it's your boy GD back with the All Things Basketball with GD Podcasts and guys

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it has come.

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WNBA season starts May 14th.

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We are on the eve of it right now so I said you know what let me push out this episode

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and get you guys ready and cared for that so let's get right into it guys.

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So with that said let's talk about some of the top stories and then we'll get to the

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previews for each team.

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Top stories of course you have to start with the rookie class that rookie class that came

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in 2024 all the star power there you have Caitlyn Clark of course for Indiana Fever

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so you know she casts such a large shadow and then also you have the combination of

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Angel Reese and Camilla Cardoso out there in Chicago then in LA you got Cam Brink there

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along with Rikia Jackson and then up there in the Northwest in Minnesota you have Alisa

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Peely and then of course you have Nika Maul second round pick over there with Seattle

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and the aces they got a couple of rookies themselves.

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Diacia Fair and Kate Martin she made the team guys and then I was just reading this on social

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media and actually this is out of the 36 picks in the 2024 draft only 13 made the roster

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wow including four second rounders nine first rounders because a few of them were international

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picks that chose to stay in their respective countries especially with the Olympics coming

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up so that's why you have that kind of disparity it probably would have been more so yeah so

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you know and with that said there's a need for expansion guys and word has it we're getting

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that golden state next year will be added in as the 13th team and then word has come

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down guys Toronto thanks to the great showing that they had in preseason for game up there

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in Canada now they're going to get a franchise guys so in 2026 you'll have a team in Canada

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playing out of Toronto and according to Kathy Engelberg the commissioner they want to expand

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to 16 teams and guys they need it because some of these girls that's getting cut forget

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about it is it's just utter nonsense you got so much talent but not enough spots there

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so that's good news for the league so we'll see what happens there more opportunities

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for the ladies there and of course that's always a plus so that's your two big items

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there and then of course the TV coverage now you're gonna have a lot more coverage a lot

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more avenues in which you can watch the games from prime to ESPN to Ion so you're gonna

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have a number of options guys you got four games on the slate open at night Washington

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takes on the New York Liberty actually they host the Liberty and then Caitlin Clark she'll

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be going to Connecticut to play the Connecticut Sun the defending champs the Las Vegas aces

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they'll be at home putting up their banner as they host the Phoenix Mercury and then

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a game also around that same time Seattle be at home hosting the Minnesota links so

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you have four games on the top open at night guys and from what I understand they're all

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available on TV so like I had mentioned maybe a couple of episodes back you have to take

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advantage right now of this exposure that's now on the league you got these rookies coming

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in with huge followings Caitlin Clark of course her following Angel Reese you know

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she has a large following on all your socials so a lot of these ladies here got big followings

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you're gonna have to maximize Kathy Engelberg and the powers that be in the WMBA so bear

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that in mind with that said also to some big news for them charter flights guys I had talked

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about this last season when you had the Brittany Griner incident where you had the provocateur

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I'm using air quotes go and go harassing her and then the league came to Brittany and said

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okay we know it went down we will have you on the charter flight but just you that didn't

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and didn't sit well with her because of course she doesn't want to be separated from a teammate

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so it seemed like she's getting preferential treatment so she declined it but now the teams

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are able to use charter flights thanks to a partnership between the WMBA and Delta Airlines

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so there and it costs 25 million to for the next two seasons so so kudos to the league

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for you know putting up the dough I think this was in large part because of the what

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happened with the Indiana fever going to Dallas for their first preseason game and all the

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clamor you know of course people trying to get close to Caitlyn and all those sort of

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things so the league said you know what now's the time so let's get this thing up and right

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running as far as the charter flights and good for them they're doing the right thing

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in that regards so and that's your other bit of news as far as top stories and then also

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two guys old faces and new places you start with Seattle now you have the combination

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of neck of a woman K season Seattle now along with scholar digging Smith to give you a potent

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combination there you add that to what you already have players like of course jewel

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Loy who's all world over there as the Magda gore you have her as well a defensive presence

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inside so you add those two pieces to the mix I see good things happening in Seattle

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here I'll talk about them in a minute then you have the Phoenix Mercury and they have

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made a few additions as well signing a Natasha cloud from the Washington Mystics also in

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a couple of trades they made they were able to secure Kalea Copper from the Chicago sky

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and you know she's an all-star baller and you get a shooter like Rebecca Allen that

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you got by she was a free agent but you got a via trade nonetheless and she's coming

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from the Connecticut Sun so those additions there should help Phoenix and I'll talk about

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Phoenix in a minute and then down there in Minnesota you added yourself a nice little

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backcourt there the combination of Courtney Williams and Natisha Heidelman so these are

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two players who know each other well they played together with the Connecticut Sun so

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Courtney Williams is one of those players that's very unsung but boy does she get it

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done on the court she's a floor general she gets her teammates involved Natisha Heidelman

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she's choosing from long distance and also gives you another ball handler in the backcourt

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I think that's going to be a big help over there in Minnesota I'll talk about Minnesota

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in a minute and then you have Jordan Canada coming over from the Los Angeles Sparks and

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you signed a Tina Charles Tina Charles still trying to cat trying to grab that elusive

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WNBA championship so she signs with the Atlanta dream over there to add to what they already

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have the lights of Ryan Howard over there Alyssa Gray and then you have Cheyenne Parker Titus

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she got married in the off season so congrats to her so you get you add that to the mix

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and things are looking good for Atlanta so those are your old faces in new places well

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at least some of them at least so with that said guys let's get right into it with my

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look at each of the teams starting in the east your top team in the east the New York

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Liberty of course being coached by Sandy Brondello and you got the star power over there you

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got Stewie over there Brianna Stewart Sabrina and Escu John Quill Jones who is now healthy

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guys she came into last season where she was banged up and she got healthy down the stretch

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but she comes into this one pretty healthy coming in so that's good and you got Courtney

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Vanners-Sleuth of course the point guard over there and then Banaji Laney Hamilton she

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went and got married in the off season so big ups to her and congrats to her but she's

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there player very unsung she does the little things that help your team get the win she

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plays both ends of the court and definitely a staple for that Liberty team then of course

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you got the likes of a Kayla Thornton over there coming off your bench Nyara Sabali

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who now really gets a chance to shine now that you no longer have Stephanie Dalson she

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went to Washington so now this is Sabali now she's the premier backup to John Quill Jones

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the center there Marquisha Davis that you got in the draft I call her Kalea Copper 2.0

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she plays just like her and if that's the type of player that they were able to draft

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kudos to them I still tried the New York Liberty for not getting Nika Moll who you could have

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got in the draft I think not not saying that they shouldn't have got Marquisha because

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I think they should have you could have also went to the Chicago sky I think I talked about

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this with that hot pick in the second round you could have made a trade and snatch that

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pick to take Nika Moll because oh by the way that pick that Chicago sky use she she didn't

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make the roster so I'm just saying New York Liberty you could have drafted the heir apparent

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to Courtney Vandersuit who isn't going to play forever guys so let's be clear about

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that I'm just saying and then you had a shot at Jaylin Sherrod who you got got as a rookie

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free agent she played at Colorado and she was ballin in training camp and you guys waved

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her I don't understand that because if you watch the playoffs last year they were getting

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smoked by these quicker point guards so what are y'all doing over there New York Liberty

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I'm just saying so that's neither here nor there they wave the young lady a whole she

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catches on somewhere else but I think the Liberty did a disservice to themselves not adding

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her I'm just saying and then you also let the forward out of the Dominican Republic is

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Mary Martinez you wave her as well so so much for Washington Heights coming to Brooklyn

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that's another story but anyway so the New York Liberty I think will be the top team

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in the East still coming up second Connecticut son I mean you you'll be getting Brianna Jones

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back which will be a plus for you you already have the engine Alyssa Thomas there to wanna

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Bono you were able to bring her back via free agency.

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Mariah Jefferson who you got in that trade for where you sent out Rebecca Allen to Phoenix

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you got Mariah Jefferson there a player who's played in the state of Connecticut before

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playing for Gina R. E. M. up there in in stores Connecticut so that's a plus for you.

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Deja Naye Carrington a six six person of the year last year who I expect to see her gain

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blossom Olivia Nelson a doota who filled in admirably for Brianna Jones when she went

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down and Tiffany Mitchell you have as well so Connecticut son I see them being the flying

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the ointment in the East they're always not an easy team to deal with and especially you

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got the likes of Stephanie White over there last year's coach of the year so Connecticut

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son will be a problem in the East at number two. Number three spot I'm going with the

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Atlanta dream and I mentioned their additions Jordan Canada something that they sorely needed

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guys they needed a floor general over there and they're getting one in Canada a two way

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player who will definitely help this roster Tina Charles who I mentioned she's you signed

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her so you add some depth to the front court Ryan Howard who's absolute star you have her

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there Alyssa Gray your your guard over there who was all star last year and Cheyenne Parker

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Titus your center for that team and then of course you still have players like Haley Jones

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who will be one of your top guards coming off the bench near coffee there LaTisha at

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Mahir and aerial powers as well so you got some depth over there. Tanisha right of course

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she's the coach over there she's fiery she gets her team to step up in place so I think

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the Atlanta dream takes a step forward this year and I'm picking them third fourth place

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I'm going with the Indiana fever guys I think Christie sides I think she's I thought she

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coached very well last year it was a few things I had issue with I thought she could have

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played players like Victoria Saxon more I think she'll see more playing time this year

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though but of course you have a Leah Boston there that's your anchor in the middle and

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of course you add a Caitlyn clock to the mix I think and I was on social media and

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somebody was saying how Chrissy side once Caitlyn clock to kind of alter a game a little

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bit not too many logo threes work on a mid-range game and stuff like that which is helpful

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for the young lady in all honesty and somebody was saying oh Chrissy size won't have her

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job for very long I adamantly disagree with that she wants a young lady to improve on

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our game to be more of a distributor and you got to remember guys this is not the cornfields

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of Iowa this is Indiana here and this is the WNBA so you're going to have to ingratiate

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yourself with your teammates and get them involved and those sort of things you have

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much more talent than you had over there so you're going to have to kind of I want to

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say you got to there'll be more team oriented let's let's put it that way and then you know

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as time progresses her game will start to open up more but I think in interim you won't

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see her shoot as many shots I know in her very first game she took 13 shots from three

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I think Chrissy size wants her to lower that number just a bit with a little more efficiency

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and now be good for Caitlin in my estimation and it'll be good for the team you gotta think

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of the team first anyway so that's all I'm saying with that but she'll be fine she'll

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acquiesce she'll be fine she'll blend in she's already endearing herself to her teammates

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and that's a good thing so Kelsey Mitchell she's still there along with Nalisa Smith

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I say watch for her I think she's going to be an X factor for this team this year Erica

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Wheeler who the Cosmant Pro she knows Caitlin's coming in she has taken her under a wing she

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knows that Caitlin will probably start over her and she's good with it she's been the

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Cosmant teammate for her which you always like to see that guys somebody that's welcoming

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of rookie coming in kind of showing her the ropes and she's done that Katie Lou Samuelson

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a veteran there that definitely gives you help up front Grace Berger who's had a very

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good training camp guys I think we kind of forget about her but she's going to be a vital

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piece Lexi Hall you know she's a tough defender so I think this team is poised to really towards

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last year they were kind of a problem for other teams I think this year they'll be much

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more so so don't be surprised if perhaps Christie sides get some culture the year considerations

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I think that's how much this roster can improve so we'll see and then in fifth place I wanted

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to pick them higher but I would have felt better if not for the shoulder injury with

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Camila Cardoso that's going to keep her out for the six weeks so that's going to be a

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kind of a blow to her but Chicago sky you got players like Diamond De Shields there

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a veteran who's going to run the show Marina Marbury look out for her this season guys

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I think she's poised to have a really good season I think last year for some reason

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she was kind of stuck in the mud but I think this year I believe she said it in her exit

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interview last year how disappointed she was in her game so look for Marine Marina Marbury

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to really show herself because two seasons ago she was such a beast with Dallas and I

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think this year I think this is kind of her revenge tour or redemption tour whatever you

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want to call it we'll see and then of course how can I not mention Angel Reese who she

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she had a very good training camp guys and she's she's been a sponge over there willing

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to take in learning learn what she needs to do to help this team I think you're going

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to see her game blossom as the season goes on but Angel Reese I have no qualms with her

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she's going to work hard she understands this guys that basketball is the avenue towards

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other things she may want to pursue whether it be modeling being an entrepreneur those

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sort of things she knows that basketball is her bread and butter so I think she's going

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to do the requisite things to improve herself on the court and the locker room and with

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others so and you know Teresa Weverspoon she's the coach over there you know she's going

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to coach her hard and she welcomes that that's the good thing about Angel she welcomes being

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coached hard so I think this is going to be a nice little fit over there for her and again

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I was I think she'll blossom as the season goes on Elizabeth Williams who's going to

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have to step in and place of Cardozo as far as someone in the middle so I'll be interested

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to see how her and Reese kind of play off each other inside for the sky Dana Evans who

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was a sixth person of the year candidate as well there and then also to Michaela Anaware

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who they got via the trade with Phoenix the one that sent Kalia Copper over there to the

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Mercury so that's another piece there so I see them finishing fifth guys and then in

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last place unfortunately I think it's the Washington Mystics guys I understand you still

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have players like Ariel Atkins there you have a Shakira Austin who hopefully you have her

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healthy for the entire season her first couple of seasons she's been banged up a little bit

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but you have her coming in healthy so hopefully she can have a nice campaign where she's kind

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of injury free Britney Sykes who was a godsend last year for them last year in the backcourt

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with Natasha Cloud but now you're going to have to rely on Britney Sykes to be kind of

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the floor general there can she do that we'll see and then of course in the draft you got

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Leah Edwards there a fine piece there that you can put next to Shakira Austin then you

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also have my Asia Heinz Allen there coming off your bench they dealt Queen Egbo she

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usually went to the Connecticut Sun so so the Connecticut Sun has her Stephanie Dolson

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that's your backup center there very valuable player in the league always beloved by her

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teammates so she'll be a nice fit there and actually she's returning she once played

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for Washington Mystics now she comes back to the DC area D.D. Richards she makes her

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return back to the league guys and then they just recently traded for J. Milbourne a guard

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I guess this is insurance you know in that you don't have a Natasha Cloud and she's

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coming via Seattle so but Eric Tybald I think he's going to have his hands full this season

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especially in that Eastern conference that's going to be so tough but I think they end

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up finishing last and then remember to you have no Alayna Deladon too so here's that

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all right so that's the East guys let us turn our attention to the West and of course we

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start with the best team in the W. The Las Vegas Aces of course being coached by the

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great Becky Hammond who's known nothing but winning since she's taken over that operation

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over there. Aja Wilson the best player in the league bar none oh by the way she's everybody

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was talking about you know this one getting a shoe deal that one getting a shoe deal and

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she just revealed playing her preseason game at home Columbia South Carolina there where

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they had the exhibition game against well preseason game against Puerto Rico and there

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is where she revealed that she's getting her own shoe deal with Nike and that's set to

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come out 2025 and also a clothing line guys so so she broke that news on Twitter or X

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and then Dawn Staley she went IG live to let it be known. Aja's good she got her deal and

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she was kind of doing what what she does. Well Dawn Staley's something else but nonetheless

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Aja Wilson the head of the snake over there for the Las Vegas Aces. Chelsea Gray looked

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like she's back now remember she went down with the foot injury and the finals against

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the Liberty but she's back now the best point guard in the W bar none then you got Jackie

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Young a player the silent assassin of course doesn't say much but her game talks loudly

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guys and a player who if she was somewhere else she'd probably be Aretton 25 again but

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she's here with the Liberty not the Liberty she's here with the Aces doing her thing there

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and just fitting in with those ladies. Kelsey Plum I think Kelsey Plum she has a axe to

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grind this season that all that's going on with her off the court whether it be the you

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know the impending divorce and all those sort of things but she's come back she's got some

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guns on her guys she's been working out big time but Kelsey Plum I think she she's going

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to be a force to be reckoned with this season. Kia Stokes the unsung fifth player over there

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the fifth starter who does all the dirty work I love how Aja Wilson recognized her when she

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got her defensive player of the year award where she brought Kia Stokes with her and

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says she doesn't get this Aja doesn't get this without the help of Kia Stokes I like

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that so Kia Stokes there Alisa Alisa Clark does heady veteran who got six player of

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the year she actually won it so she's back over there with them Kirsten Bell I think

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she takes another step forward I mean she's already a baller guys but you know it's always

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time and opportunity especially when you got those four ahead of you but Kirsten Bell it

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seems like every time they call on her she answers the bell no pun intended but so you

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have her there Megan Guffa Gus Gus Gus the front so you have her as well another veteran

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in your front court Sydney Colson of course the the teens class clown but she keeps them

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loose she keeps them ready and when she's called upon she balls so said Colson definitely

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solid piece for them for the Las Vegas Aces and then I told you about the two rookies

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making the roster Aja Fair and Kate Martin who they've and the rookies seem to have endured

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themselves to the sort of vets over there which is a good thing and think about this guys

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all these other teams here did have any use for any of their rookies only three other

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teams added two rookies to their roster that's Indiana fever Chicago sky and the Los Angeles

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sparks the defending champions add two rookies in so what's wrong with everybody else what

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are they doing but I digress so well Vegas Aces at the top of the West then in second

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place I had to really go back and forth with this one guys but I think yeah I'm gonna do

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it the Seattle Seattle storm guys I think those additions of a neck of a woman Kate

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and scholar diggin Smith I think that's gonna be huge for this for this team especially

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given the fact scholar diggin Smith a fellow alum with jewel Lloyd coming out of Notre

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Dame so you know they're gonna be pretty much on the same page there they're gonna be a

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big help to jewel Lloyd I expect jewel Lloyd to see a lot more open looks and I expect her

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efficiency to really go up with the addition of these ladies I talked about as the Mac

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McGor you still have the sophomore well it's a sophomore year coming in second year player

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Jordan Horst and who I think can be a solid piece for them Sammy Whitcomb who can light

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it up from deep Gabby Williams hopefully she's around for the whole season she wasn't last

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year guys and then Nika mall who everybody seemed to be clamoring for her and rightfully

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so she's she's a player who can dish to the open open player and also she's a absolute

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dog on defense guys so and you know with Subaru at the helm over there over there with Seattle

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they're gonna take good care of Nika that's for sure so Noel Quinn I see her having a

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much better season this season coaching this squad and I'm picking them second then and

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third the Dallas Wings you definitely can't count them out Latricia Tramble has done a

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excellent job over there with those ladies and of course the top player over there are Rika

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Agumbawale who's an absolute beast and she sees the engine that makes them go of course

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she have Natasha Howard there another baller Satu Sabali most improved player last year

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now we have to see guys because she has the shoulder injury and she may not be there at

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the start of the season but eventually you'll see her and I actually ran into her during

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the draft she seems to be okay but you know we'll see what happens with her and then you

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got the two headed monster inside tiara mcowen and Kalani Brown that that's your two centers

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over there Jay she's shelled in who's the rookie there I expect her to kind of get a little

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baptism by fire but I think she'll be okay she's a player willing to play both sides

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of the ball which is always a good thing and I expect her to have a little rough going

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early on but I think as the season goes on I think she'll get acclimated there Maddie

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Seagress I expect to see more of her this season and Lou Lopez Senichal she made the

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roster member guys last year she was banged up pretty much the most of the year so I'll

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be interested to see her role with this team but Dallas I see them with a third place finish

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fourth place guys yeah Minnesota links I think Minnesota links will be in fourth place in

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that tough West Division right now you have the Fija Collier who's their all star all

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world player over there and then I told you about the back court additions of Courtney

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Williams and the Tisha Heidelman I think that's gonna help this squad big time Cheryl

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Reeves she's the coach over there and of course she's knows what she's doing a well seasoned

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coach and she's has the requisite pieces this year guys also I'll be interested to see Diamond

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Miller she had kind of a rough go of it her rookie season but I expect her game to really

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show itself this season dorker you house who had a very under the radar very good rookie

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campaign and I just expect her to get better and then also a lot of Smith of veteran you

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have there and then your rookie Alyssa Peely I think I like her being with this squad there's

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not too much of a demand on her unlike some of her other fellow rookies she could come

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off your bench and be firepower coming off your bench I think she's gonna have a solid

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year for them because again you're not gonna ask her to do too much just come off your

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bench give you firepower I think she could do that for this squad so Minnesota I'm picking

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forth and then in fifth place I would have had them in fourth but then I found out about

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this Britney Griner injury she has a fractured toe guys it's in by all accounts she's out

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indefinitely unfortunately for that team so that kind of puts a cloud over things and

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then remember to you have Nate Tibbetts coming in first year coach he is he's a long time

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00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:49,080
assistant coach in the NBA then he takes this WNBA job match Ispia he hires him so this is

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gonna be his first dip into WNBA basketball I hope he realized this is a whole different

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thing than what he's seen in the NBA but he does have assistant coaches like Christy

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00:40:07,160 --> 00:40:15,160
Tolliver she's a 14 year vet in the W and actually she's a former teammate of Natasha

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Cloud so that'll be a help to him somebody who knows the league and can kind of help

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him in that regard but you still have Diana Terrasi is this her last hurrah we'll see

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and Kalia Copper I told you they got her via trade as well as Rebecca Allen also Natasha

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Cloud I mentioned who's gonna be the floor general for them so I'll be definitely interested

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to see how all of that plays out because you're probably gonna have a lineup where you have

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Terrasi Copper and Cloud in there Sophie Cunningham will she still start for them I imagine so

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Rebecca Allen probably come off your bench if I had to guess Morgan Burch I guess now

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you have to thrust her into the Brittany Griner role as far as center so we'll see there and

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then Ashley Jones is also so I see them finishing fifth guys I would have had a little more

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00:41:24,600 --> 00:41:32,880
confidence if you had a healthy Brittany Griner but that's not the case and speaking of Brittany

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Griner I did watch the sit down she had with Robin Roberts it was gut-riching guys what

317
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she had to endure over there overseas with in that Russian jail and you know of course

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you're gonna get the knuckle draggers the ones locked in grandma's basement with cheeto

319
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dust on their fingers who has nothing else better do than the child this young lady to

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00:42:04,560 --> 00:42:14,240
them I say you'll be alright anyway that's all I'm gonna say for that but she really

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endured something she wrote a book about it you know that's gonna be out there for you

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00:42:19,480 --> 00:42:26,520
to purchase so but is the interview was pretty gut-riching and you can tell there's still

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00:42:26,520 --> 00:42:31,720
some trauma there that she's dealing with hopefully she's seeking help she needs in

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that regard so of course prayers and well wishes to Brittany Griner in that regard so

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with that said so I have them fifth and then your last place team I think will be the Los

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Angeles Sparks I would love to pick them higher guys but hmm yeah so it is a tough

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00:42:57,480 --> 00:43:03,520
it's a tough division that's for sure so I'm saying Los Angeles Sparks I understand

328
00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:10,200
I get it like I said you have Cameron Brink who's looking good so far and Rikkiah Jackson

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who I think I think as the year progresses you'll get to see her really kind of come

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00:43:17,840 --> 00:43:24,000
out of her shell a bit that's what I'm seeing with her then you have of course Lexi Brown

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there Zaya Cook this this will be her second season so I'll be very interested to see the

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growth in her game this year Monique Billings is there the Erica Hanby guys I think I think

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last year she was kind of still dealing with you know life post baby you know after the

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baby comes but she really looks good in the preseason guys I think I think we kind of

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forget how good a player she is I think this year she's gonna remind some people that yeah

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00:44:08,280 --> 00:44:17,680
yeah I'm that Hanby so so we'll see there Azirah Stevens and then Ray Burrell also

337
00:44:17,680 --> 00:44:23,920
on your roster Kurt Miller we'll see what he can do but it's gonna be tough in that

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division it just is so in any event that's it guys that's it for this episode I appreciate

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you always listening and watching definitely I can't do this without you guys watching

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00:44:41,160 --> 00:44:47,160
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the all those buttons there on my website cash app guys I have that dollar sign GD that sports

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dude so you can do it that way also guys write reviews write reviews on Apple podcast you

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write reviews there on YouTube like the videos wherever you see them like the videos whether

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it be on IG whether it be wherever it is YouTube even write comments guys I get to see those

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I'll comment back if it makes sense to comment back but yeah so and then all the socials

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on there tick tock I do my videos there IG I'm there a lot Facebook you know I'm on there

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as well and then you already know what to deal with Twitter and X is alright so with

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that said thank you for listening as always and we'll talk soon take care guys.