Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where I'm trying to figure out how not to put my entire life in a suitcase.

An African safari means small planes and small bags, and I'm struggling.

Just once, I'd love to check a bag that weighs like seventy pounds and have someone else carry it.

Of course, It's Friday, August twenty ninth.

The Happy Friday Slices on today's show will be getting you ready for the home stretch of the WNBA season With Women's basketball writer, podcast host, self proclaimed professional yapper, and friend of the show Jordan Robinson.

We dish on the teams at the top as the postseason approaches, the streaking aces, the battle for the six, seven, eight spots, and more, plus a heated moment at the US Open.

We send our best wishes to mister and missus Swift, and a social media troll surround and finds out it's all coming up.

Right after this.

Welcome Back Slices, Happy Fria, Here's what you need to know today.

In tennis news.

On Wednesday, Taylor Townsend picked up a second round upset win at the US Open seven five six' to one over world number twenty Five Elena.

Ostapenco It's townsend's second victory Over ostapenco in a short period of.

Time she also defeated her in straight sets at The National Bank open In toronto earlier this.

Month it was a.

Good, win but it's the exchange that the two shared following the match that's making.

Headlines After townshend's, win the two shook hands with each other and the chair, official and then started talking and then.

Shouting at one, Point ostapenco pointed demonstratively At townsend and at the, court but neither party back.

Down crowd got into it, too dishing out a cascade of.

Booze video can show you better than we can tell, you so we'll just link to a clip of the whole situation in our show, notes but we will tell you that in the postmatch on court.

Interview townsend shared this with THE.

Espn, YEAH i, mean you, know it's.

Competition people get upset when they, lose and you can some people say bad.

THINGS i have no, CLASS i have no, education and to see what happens when we get outside THE.

Us Matthew futterman Of The New York times described the mid match incident that seemed to Inspire ostapenko's comments in a story On, thursday writing, quote late in the first, Set ostapenko prepared to close into the, Net townshend fired a groundstroke that ticked the net and looped up into the, air Sending ostapenko scrambling to lever the ball over the net from just in front of.

It it Gave, townsend who said she was shocked the ball went over and easy put.

Away in the heat of the, moment she celebrated her good fortune and rode the momentum into the next point and on to the victory For, ostapenko the perceived snub of an apology lingered to the end of the match and into the furious altercation end.

Quote, now apologizing for a net cord when the ball hits the net and then goes over is very common in, tennis but it is not required by, rule And townshend is neither the first to skip the apology nor the first to be criticized for skipping, It but many in the sport acknowledge how silly and unnecessary it is to apologize for what's ostensibly a lucky.

Point of, course the language that ostapenco used about the perceived snub seemed racially.

Coded townsend was asked in the postmatch press conference whether she believed that the comments were racially.

Inspired take a.

LISTEN i can't speak on how she felt about.

It that's something that you're going to have to ask.

HER i didn't take it in that.

Way but, also you, know that has been a stigma in our community of you, know being non educated in all the things when it's the furthest thing from the truth and the most the thing That i'm the most proud of is.

THAT i let my racket talk because.

Ultimately i'm the one here sitting in front of you, guys moving on to the next, round getting the next, check moving, on being able to still be here and speak to you.

Guys and that's what's the most.

Important she's packed up and she's, Gone i'm.

Here after the, Match astapanco made a statement of her own on social, media posting to Her instagram story that she quote told my opponent that she was very disrespectful as she had a netball and a very deciding moment and didn't say sorry at.

All there are some rules in tennis that most of the players, follow and it was first time that happened to me on.

Tour if she plays in her, homeland it doesn't mean that she can behave and do whatever she.

Wants end.

Quote we're all welcome to pick a side on the net court, dispute but either, Way townsend advances to the third round and will face world number Five Mira.

Andreva TO Wnba, news don't call it a.

Comeback after dropping as low as ninth in the league standings back In, july The Las Vegas aces clinched a playoff birth and sole possession of second place in the standings with an eighty one seventy five road win over The Atlanta dream On wednesday.

Night Asia wilson continued stack in stats for HER mvp campaign in this, one Leading vegas with thirty four points and ten.

Boards Jackie young also put on a, show notching ten, points a career high tying eleven rebounds and ten, asis good for her second triple double this.

Season Watching vegas claw their way back towards the top has been so much, fun and there are a handful of teams hoping to do the.

Same in the last couple weeks of the, season every squad in the w has less than ten games left, now and eight teams are in the mix for the final six playoff, spots so teams out of the running as of this.

Recording buckle, up.

Y'all speaking of teams trying to make the, playoffs The Golden State valkyries are currently seventh in the standings and hoping to stay in the.

Pack head Coach Natalie nicasse has helped the first year franchise to fight all.

Expectations they've won nineteen games this.

Season that's good for the most dubs by an expansion squad in league.

History now worth noting that each.

Team in the w is playing forty four games for the first time this, season but that's still a lot of, wins especially the big wins That nicase squad has racked up over teams like The, Aces, Dream Indiana, fever And Seattle storm have turned heads And nicasse herself has two in immediate.

Scrum On, wednesday she was asked about being a front runner For coach of The.

Year take a listen to her, Response no one really.

Cares, Honestly i'm just being dead Us, like our goal is to make the.

Playoffs, okay that's our.

Goal but WHEN i actually to think about, it it should be coaching staff of the.

Year Like i'm not doing the scouting on my.

Own i'm not doing the player development on my.

Own you, Know i'm not doing the film work where they have to individually do it with their.

Players not doing this on my.

Own so it shouldn't be coach of the.

Year it should be coaching staff of The.

Year and you, know if that ends up, again it doesn't really.

Matter but like it's credit to my.

Staff dead.

ASS i love.

It, listen she's keeping the main thing the main.

Thing more on the basketball, court two games, tonight both On ion And League.

Pass at seven Thirty, eastern The Dallas wings pay a visit to The dream hoping to play spoiler for the number three team in the.

League atlanta's hanging on to that number three spot by a, thread only a half game up on The Phoenix.

Mercury then at ten Pm, eastern it's The La sparks host in The Indiana, fever who are sitting at sixth in the, standings just a half game ahead of The.

Valkyries since in a theme, here that's, right this playoff race is, tight we'll link to the remaining regular season schedule in our show notes MORE wnba.

News AND i hate THAT i even have to say, this but you may have heard by now that there was yet another mass shooting On wednesday, morning this one At Annunciation Catholic, school a preschool through fifth grade primary school In.

Minneapolis two children aged eight and ten were killed and seventeen, others mostly, children were.

Wounded an immediate scrum On, Wednesday Minnesota link's head Coach Cheryl reeve was asked about the, shooting which happened less than seven miles From Target, center where The Minnesota links play their home.

Games here's what she had to.

Say it's you, know to have you, know our staff that has.

Kids we drop our kids off to, school.

Texting with my mom, saying you, know, mom when we would go to, school we trained for.

Tornadoes kiss today trained for after.

Students it's such an indictment of our society and our lack of regard for.

Life there are things that we can do about, it and we, know but for some, reason As, americans we value sick the goods staff for the hiss world safford, hilt.

Not know one's going to.

Happen well said By Cheryl reeve In footy plenty OF nwsl action to catch this.

Weekend there are still nine match weeks left in the regular, season but believe it or, not On, saturday The Kansas City current could become the first team to mathematically clinch a playoff.

Spot Kansas city has a record of fourteen, wins one draw and two losses so far this, year with one of those losses coming against The North Carolina, courage who they play again On.

Saturday there are also FOUR nwsl games, tonight starting With Racing louisville and in The Houston dash at seven Thirty eastern that'll stream ON Nwsl.

Plus then at eight The Orlando pride square off With GOTHAM fc On Prime, video and capping things off two contests at ten thirty Eastern Seattle rain Versus San Diego wave and The Portland thorns playing The Utah.

Royals both those games are ON Nwsl plus And Paramount plus.

Well link to the FULL nwsl schedule in our show notes and some more soccer.

NEWS a fifty nine year old man was arrested yesterday in relation to online racist abuse sent To England's Jess carter during the twenty twenty Five Euros you might recall us telling you That, carter who also plays for THE nwsl Side GOTHAM, fc shared a statement about the abuse on social media back In.

July she, said in, part quote hopefully speaking out will make the people writing this abuse think twice so that others won't have to deal with.

It end.

Quote while it appears her speaking out has sparked some, action the man was arrested on suspicion of malicious communications after an investigation by THE Uk Football Policing, unit per a police news.

Release he has since been released under.

Investigation All, Right seys, says you heard me mention my vacation in the, open WHICH i am so excited.

For i'm hitting the road for An african adventure with my mom and Super Slice Hobby, brad which means today's show will be our last normal show for a few.

Weeks but don't.

Fret we've got some incredible episodes slotted in the next Two mondays and when days to keep your company while we're.

Away just you, know little names Like Robin.

Roberts i've said too.

Much you'll just have to wait and see what we serve y up.

Slices just know it'll be.

Good we'll get back to regularly scheduled every day programming On, Monday september, fifteenth hopefully with a few fun tales From Cape town And botswana to.

Share as, always we thank you for sticking with, us and if you're anything like, me we hope this inspires you to plan a vacation because you deserve a.

BREAK i think we know that we all deserve a.

Break speaking, of we got to take one when we come.

Back my chat with hoops journalist Extraordinaire Jordan, robinson see you on the other.

Side joining us now for a third.

Time a member of the rare three timers club here On Good.

Games she's host of The Women's Hoops show podcast formerly known As queens of The.

Court she does bi WEEKLY wnba chats as part of the new Br, creer and she's a host for The Women's Sports.

Network she co authored a book with friend of the Show Emma, bacalari coming out In march of twenty twenty, six Called Court Queen Welcome.

Back Jordan.

Robinson, Hi, Jordan.

Hi thanks for having me.

BACK i love being part of a rare.

Club love.

It, yeah did you pick up any new jobs since you were last?

HERE i feel like every time you.

Have i'm trying to.

Think, WELL i did complete a season of my radio show Called She's Got next With Jordan, robinson which was all about women's, sports and it was.

Awesome we just finished our last.

Episode it was kind of like in between football.

Season so now that football season's picking back.

Up but that was so much, fun so.

Amazing, yeah you're everywhere another.

Job, yeah we love, It we love.

It so our show is taking a little break SO i can take a trip with my mom and my.

Hobby so we're going to be out for two weeks of some real JUICY wnb.

Action we're still gonna have, shows but we won't be keeping up day to day with.

Everything so we're going to rely on your sort of encyclopedic knowledge of everything women's basketball to set us up for this final.

Stretch make sure we got to have our storylines and all of our controversies, sorted and that we know what to expect over the next few weeks of.

Action, now we're recording this On, Thursday august twenty, eighth which means there are just two weeks left until THE wnba regular season.

Ends as of this, moment two teams of clinch playoff.

Spots The Minnesota links and The Las Vegas.

Cass three teams are already out The Connecticut's, On Chicago sky And Dallas, wings which means they're eight teams in the mix.

For the final six playoff.

Spots we're going to get to that mix in a, minute but FIRST i want to start at the.

TOP i want to start with The Minnesota.

Links they have the best record in the.

League they've pretty much had the best record all.

Season they weathered the loss Of visacalia for seven.

Games they've kept basketball the main, thing even as the stud buds are popping off and becoming media.

Darlings they've got new, Owners they've got a NEW, CEO i Think prouble the, mascot got a new.

Tricycle everything is, changing and yet it doesn't.

Matter they look teflon.

Strong so what is the weakness of The Minnesota Links?

Who that is a great.

QUESTION i don't know if too many people have figured that part out.

Yet AND i think we all thought it was going to.

Be, oh they don't have no feast of, caller they don't have THEIR mvp front.

Runner that's this is the.

Time if we were going to beat The.

Links this would be the time when she was out for what almost three, weeks but that.

Also proved not to be.

True they had a winning record without.

Her they were still able to stay afloat do more than just hold.

ON i think The Minnesota links are at their best when they are moving the ball and turning teams, over and so when you have seen them.

STRUGGLE i think their worst game was The Commissioner's cup.

Game the brightest, stage the brightest, lights the most, money the most money on the.

Line you, Know Courtney williams wanted that, money and their offense was really, stagnant and The Indiana fever were taking care of the, ball and both of those things kind of are the kryptonite to The Minnesota links because they can't get into their offensive, flow which is mostly run off of fast breaks and then they lead in team.

Assists they want to pass the, ball they want to move it.

Around it's like the old School San Antonio.

Spurs they want the ball moving AND i Know Cheryl read wants.

That so when you start seeing people go one on, one when you start kind of one shot jacket, up one pass jacket, up that's where they can kind of get into, Trouble so defenses make sure you want that to.

Happen pressure them so that they can feel out of sorts and feel.

Rushed all, right that's a good scouting.

Report we'll see if anyone can actually make it.

Work it's been tough so far all season.

Long noone's done, it so they do what they want to, do all.

Right so we've got The Las Vegas, aces who many all but gave up on after a terrible start to the.

Season they have ridden a twelve game win streak all the way up to second.

Place right, Now Asia wilson's tearing it.

Up Jackie young And Chelsea gray showing, Out Jewel lloyd taking one for the, team learning how to come up off the.

Bench Melissa smith a solid.

Edition is this the Real aces this last twelve games or?

So or are they still susceptible to the inconsistencies that we saw earlier this?

YEAR i think this is the Real.

Aces this is The aces we were expecting from the, Beginning AND i think that's what a lot of the disappointment and the questions were from the beginning of the, year because we.

Were, like, wait this doesn't make.

Sense they're supposed to be on, paper they are supposed to be winning.

Games they are supposed to be you, Know asia is supposed to be Doing asia, things which that hasn't.

Changed she's been doing that all season.

Long but it was everyone else not playing the, role not living up to the.

Hype so now that they, are it's, Like, okay this is what.

We thought was going to happen from the.

Jump it just took you guys a little bit to now get, here and it had.

To they had to go through a huge embarrassment to get.

Here that fifty three point loss against The Minnesota lynx that's the last time they, lost And asia became more, vocal became more of a vocal.

LEADER i don't think anyone would say that she isn't a leader just from what she does night in and night.

Out but she, said do not come here if you are not embarrassed off of that, loss like it needed to be a culture, shift AND i think that's what we all, saw like something just seems.

Off not everybody is really hype to be, here what are the?

Roles?

Like it was just a lot of question, Marks and NOW i feel like those questions have been answered and this is The aces team THAT i was predicting to be one of these top top teams THAT i had given up on before The All star, break and they approved everyone wrong who was giving up on.

Them i'm this has been one of my favorite stories all season, long of their complete and utter.

Turnaround.

YEAH i think you're right on so many.

THINGS i do think maybe we didn't put enough stock into the transition From Kelsey plum To Jewel.

LLOYD i think we knew they weren't interchangeable.

Players we knew, that but we, ALSO i think expected one great player another great, player they'll figure it.

Out there's so much talent on this.

Team, style, chemistry, flow everything just didn't seem to work at the beginning of the.

SEASON i did expect them to fix it, faster, though and part of that was that inconsistency didn't seem like it was solely, like.

Oh we're still figuring each other.

Out it just seemed like.

Sloppiness for a while, there and to your, point they got their asses beat and it was, Like, OKAY i guess we got to figure this, out and now they.

Have i'm interested to see if they can keep up what they're doing.

Now it is what's expected from a team with this kind of, Talent but it's very surprising to see a team snap their fingers and that's.

It they fixed all the problems that they.

Had so jury's still a.

Little out for me on whether they're this what they were before or a little bit of somewhere in the.

Middle Asia wilson figuring out how to consistently hit threes all game is going to be a, problem as if she.

Wasn't everyone should be garriflied.

Terrified if she is going to be shooting consistently from, three there's no.

Way you have to lock her out of the.

Gym that's the only way that you're going to keep her.

Under thirty points a.

Game that's.

It there's no other answer talk about.

Consistency let's get to The New York, liberty the defending.

Champs solid twenty three and fifteen on the, season just five and five in their last, ten but most of those Without Brianna stewart and earlier in the season a long stretch without John Quell.

Jones this team has excuses for why they aren't the top of the table because of those.

INJURIES i don't think it's a hangover from the championship to, me it feels like you just keep missing really important parts and you're still doing really well despite.

That earlier in the, SEASON i think we saw some stretches when everyone was there and we were, like, oh, yeah it's still The.

LIBERTY a bunch of trees who can hit.

Threes this is a giant lineup with tremendous ability to spread the.

Floor outside Of sabrina And, escu who's not, short they are.

Huge so now With stuart, back is this team as likely as any to win it?

All how do you stop a, fresh Healthy liberty.

Team not a lot of things you can do to stop a, fresh Healthy liberty, team which we saw at the beginning of the.

Season when they started, undefeated it was, Like, oh my, goodness this is A liberty team that could go back to.

Back and then even though there were some injuries WITH, jj they Get Emma miseman and you're, like, oh this is a done.

Deal this is a team that you know it's going to be The Minnesota links and The liberty in the finals.

Again but as we're recording, this seeing The liberty in the fifth spot of the standings is a huge, surprise AND i think now it's going to take so much effort for them to not only possibly have to win out the rest of the, season they have one of the challenging schedules.

Left they had a easier front, load a way harder back end of the season scheduling.

Wise then you're going to have to now fight to get back to those, finals whereas you were kind of cruising last season as the number one.

Seed SO i think it's this thought That i've been having to process that we might not get A links And liberty rematch in the, finals WHICH i think is a huge, surprise even though they might be.

HEALTHIER i think we have to think about how.

Everyone else is, playing Because minnesota's playing so, well Because atlanta is playing so, well because The aces are playing so.

Well The liberty have to kind of play catch up right now because of all of that valuable time and also winnable games that they lost without being.

Healthy so it's this kind of fingers crossed weight and see if everyone is able to make it to the playoffs and make it through the.

Playoffs But i'm going to be disappointed with the additions Of Natasha cloud With Emma, miseiman with them being able to win a.

CHAMPIONSHIP i THINK i was just hoping and everybody was hoping that The liberty would be for sure one and two With, links and that's just not the Real it still could.

Happen i'm looking back at when My Chicago sky won it all coming out of the sixth.

Seed they just have to stay in those eight positions and if they are, Healthy i'm telling you, WATCH i, mean.

LISTEN i had a very bad sample size in person recently when they lost to The Chicago, sky which was, Wild but on a good, night they look like a very tough team to, guard a very tough team to deal with that, height to deal.

With their ability to shoot from the.

Perimeter SO i think you might be, Right BUT i also think you might have forgotten just how good they looked at the beginning of the season when everybody was in.

There, okay that's.

FAIR i think that it's anything could.

Happen Your Chicago sky of twenty twenty one proved that to the point where they changed the playoff, schedules so when it happened, again but they the idea of them just having to work, HARDER i guess to get there when The links are, like, yeah we're, wait, Hoasting we've been at the top all all season, long that's, true can't DO i want a finals.

Rematch of, course we're gonna get seven.

Games it's gonna be so much fun to see them go at it.

AGAIN i think The links just look more.

Poised, YES i, AGREE i.

Agree, yeah let's talk about The Atlanta dream because you mentioned, them AND i have to ADMIT i have not gotten a hype on them AS i.

Should this season twenty four to, fourteen third best record in the league as of right, Now Ali Sha gray having the best season of her career since the, Jump Ryan howard back, healthy you got The, Bigs jones and grind are clogging up that.

Middle this is a team that has outperformed my.

Expectations so what AM i sleeping on when it comes to The Dream no pun.

INTENDED i think that The dream have been sneaky like they have.

Been this sneaky good team that coming into the YEAR.

I was excited.

About But i've also been let down By dream hype in the, past SO i didn't want to get too.

Excited new coach And Carl, smith we knew what was going to.

Happen we knew they were going to shoot threes in kind of this running gun.

Style but then the free agency signings Of Bree jones And Brittany, griner we were, like, well how is that going to fit into the mix of shooting a lot of.

Threes so again it was a lot of question, marks especially for our first year head coach coming to THE, wnba but they have proved everyone, wrong like we can shoot, threes we can be.

Big they also started Bringing beg off the bench recently and that has been.

Helping also riddled by, injuries the fact that they are third when they missed a month Without Ryan howard and now they're Missing Jordan canada, again those are the things that still.

Them being able to hold three makes me way more confident that WHEN jc comes, back they'll have a point guard to be able to run their system like they were all season, long and they're going to be.

Solid the thing with The Atlanta dream, though is that they're there have been some moments where they could shine even brighter and they've fallen.

SHORT i think of The Commissioner's, cup they pretty much had that in the, bag like they just needed to win one game to be able to go to The Commissioner's.

Cup that was to defeat The.

Liberty they had already beaten them.

Before they couldn't do.

It they fell short and recently in these close, Games Ryan howard her shot selection at the end of the games last second draw, Up i'm, Like, god.

You guys are so, Close BUT i don't believe put it all to be able.

To get, it put it all together and get over the hump when the playoffs are on the, line or when it's a close game at the.

End so that's my.

Hesitation BUT i think Nas hillman is someone that we need to talk about more and who has needed to be in the most improved category Sixth player of The.

Year for most of the, year she has completely changed her game and turned into a three point shooter because of carl S mesko's offense and taking on the challenge of a lot of defensive, assignments and has been a key piece outside Of Alicia gray having her career Year Ryan howard doing all star.

Things Na's hillman has also been a piece THAT i don't think we talk about.

Enough one team we have talked about here Because i've been excited in surprise since the start of the season is The Phoenix.

Mercury top of the table for much of the.

Season No Dinah, tarrossi No britney grind or no.

Problem Alyssa thomas is putting up triple doubles night and night, Out Sawtu soabai the unicorn that she, Is Kalia copper.

Consistent then they add To Wanna bonner midway, through like this is a surprise for me BECAUSE i expected time to adjust a new, look a new.

Roster they haven't needed.

Time how dangerous can they actually be when it comes to the.

POSTSEASON i think they can be very.

DANGEROUS i was right there with.

YOU i was not a believer in This Phoenix mercury.

Roster on, paper this was pre Do Wanna, bonner but it was a lot of.

People we just didn't.

Know they have a lot of.

Rookies they pulled.

And did some scouting THAT, i even THOUGH i love this, game did not know what these players could bring and shocked.

Everybody they have been shooting the three so, well and especially when they started the, season and that is always a weapon that you can pull out in the postseason when.

You're at, home when you need a.

Game Sammy wickham is going to come out of nowhere and have a twenty point game because she can light it up from beyond the arc like.

That Catherine, westbeld like all of these players can really really.

Shoot and then you have the.

Engine you Have Alyssa, thomas who unfortunately probably won't win THE Mvp award even though she is so deserving and having career triple.

DOUBLES i feel like we have gotten used to, it, unfortunately but it is a really hard thing to do what she has been able to.

Do AND i, GOSH i think when you have An Alyssa Thomas Adwana, bonner these are players who have made it to.

The, finals who have won, championships who have been there.

Before that experience alone makes them so deadly when it comes to the, postseason AND i think that's going to carry them a lot farther than other.

Teams, okay, so as we're recording right, now the six, seven eight spots are The Indiana, Fever Golden State, balkyries and The Seattle Storm.

Sparks just a couple games, back mystics aren't yet out of it is the current top, eight the eight you think most deserve to see the, postseason and the eight that you think Will.

Oh my, goodness that is such a good.

Question, okay let me go one by.

One The fever somehow still being able to make the playoffs would be, remarkable like injury devastation this, year a huge shock to the system because nobody thought that The fever would be hanging on by a thread when you especially at the start of the year with their huge free agency.

Acquisitions SO i think just despite everything they've been, through would love to.

See them make the.

Postseason The Golden State valkyries my second favorite.

Story of the.

Year they totally deserve to be in the playoff, run especially With Cayleer thornton going, Down SO i just want to see what they would.

DO i think that would be really good.

ENTERTAINMENT i think they could play spoiler to someone at least a couple games here and, there just by the home court.

Advantage SO i did, strategy, strategy not only she is so so.

Good so if, anything just for them to get that experience and to be the first expansion team to make the, POSTSEASON i want that for them.

Now The Seattle, Store.

By the grace Of, god somehow they are holding on.

To this eighth.

Spot they have been lucky in the sense that The sparks and mystics have not.

Been able to win a couple close games.

That people above them haven't completely lost.

Control but The Seattle storm is a really good, team but they have not figured it out and people have very much figured them out on how to beat.

THEM i think Nekau maka having an incredible season that we haven't really been talking about because we've just been so confused at why The Seattle storm have been losing so.

Much there's no way this team should have nineteen, losses like, honestly there's no reason for, that and especially when it was a what was it a seven game losing streak at one.

Point SO i think right now The sparks are playing.

BETTER i think them Getting cameron bring, Back Kelsey plumb is putting up career.

Numbers Rakia jackson gets me so excited about the future of THE wnba And Deerica azure both having unconventionally great seasons for The sparks and they have put it together at the right.

Time is it enough to pass The Seattle.

STORM i would like that storyline.

BETTER i think that they are more deserving right now because of how Poor seattle has been playing and could They Seattle storm could turn it.

Around they have the, veterans they could turn it around in the, postseason BUT i just don't believe.

IT i don't believe in this team anymore because of what they showed me all.

Season SO i would want The sparks to get in at that eighth spot.

Well and, interestingly The storm actually get The sparks pick in the draft twenty twenty, six their first round.

Pick and this is a team that we've sort of, wondered are they four right now or are they building for an next?

Year dominique no.

Longer early on was just getting her feet.

Wet now we've seen her consistently putting up double.

Doubles neka obviously the every single season matters to, her she's later in her, career but it was kind of a question mark about whether this team was intent on getting it right now or looking.

Ahead and to your, POINT i think some of the, inconsistencies the maddening, inconsistencies especially down the stretch of close, games has made it really hard to get a read on this.

Team so sometimes when they're playing, Well i'm, like, OH i want to see them in the.

Postseason they could mess some shit.

Up and then Sometimes i'm, LIKE i don't know if they've earned.

It they just they just aren't showing up in and out every single.

Night to your.

Point The, fever on the other, hand have been inconsistent for very obvious.

Reasons all the injuries that you, mentioned including Losing Said colson And aarry McDonald for the, Season Kaitlin clark missing more than half the season with a couple different.

Injuries can you even get a read on how head Coach Stephanie white has done in her first year back with this team with all the injuries that we've, Seen it's.

HARD i think she's doing the best that she.

CAN i think that this is just there were such high expectations For Caitlyn clark's team in year, two and When Kayln clark isn't even on the, floor you can't you can't even gauge how many games they would have won or could have, lost OR i just don't feel like.

Their record is a full.

Picture if if everybody was healthy and if everyone was there those glimpses that we did see that were, Intoxicating LIKE i will never forget That Fever liberty.

Game that's how The fever got into The Commissioner's, cup and it Was caitlin being her best.

Self Aliah boston is her best.

Self When Caitlin clark is on the, floor you had every all the others knocking down, shots doing their.

Roles Natasha howard is, incredible AND i think we've seen glimpses of that.

For maybe like four.

GAMES i want to, say but it's hard to say that for the entire.

SEASON i Think Stephanie white has tried her, best AND i feel very confident in her, knowing, like all, right IF i had everybody, healthy we would be having a different conversation about this.

Team and she knows that her, receipts her resume speaks for.

Itself SO i think they're just hoping that everybody comes, back And i'm, like, whoop we'll try it again next.

Year.

Yeah and that's what's going to be so difficult about this, offseason that there could be a ton of movement and all the work put in with a build toward the future might have to be shaken up by different.

ROSTERS i do think If clark gets healthy enough to be in the, postseason it's really hard to get a read on what's really going on with.

Her injury, wise but if she comes.

Back hard to say they have enough pieces or enough time on the court together to really factor into the.

Postseason but to your, Point i'd like to see them in.

It it feels like such a lost season for a team that puts so much investment into this second year Of Caitlin, clark The All Star, game everything.

Else just a lot of disappointments for The fever all season.

Long so be nice to see them at least get in, there get a couple, games even IF i don't know that they'll have the chemistry to put it.

Together The valkyries that you mentioned potentially A coach of The year season For Natalie, nicasse especially since many me included really questioned the makeup of this roster coming.

IN i was surprised they couldn't get more big free.

Agents Kayla, Thornton Veronica, Burton Tiffany.

Hayes you see these.

Names they're great, players but they're not house.

Names how did they make it work without?

Superstars and how are they continuing to make it work Without?

Thornton it is one hundred thousand percent buy.

In this is a wonderful.

EXAMPLE i hope high school, coaches college.

COACHES i hope they are all telling their team to watch The Golden State valkyries.

On it doesn't matter if we have a superstar or, not if everyone is bought into.

The system to the goal the idea of we are a defense.

First this is a scouting, report this is what we're gonna.

Run this is the example of, that and The Golden State valkyries have shown that time and time, again where we were all, like who are these?

Players where did they come?

From what country did you pull them?

From how do we pronounce their?

Name doesn't?

Matter they're hoopers.

And THE gm did an amazing job of putting together complimentary pieces that all work.

Together Veronica burton is also one of those names for most improved.

Players she is shining in a role that puts her as a point, guard puts her as a scorer and a defensive, presence which she has always been Since.

Northwestern so it has just been fascinating to see everything come together.

Because you have a good coach that the players trust and, say you, Know Natalie, nicasse what are we gonna?

Run what's the scouter report On Caitlin?

Clark what's the scouter report on every?

Team superstar and they have limited them under their scoring averages for most of the.

Time and that is because what's the.

Deal what do we gotta.

Do give us our marching orders and we will execute, that and.

We're gonna go do.

It we're gonna go do.

It not all teams do, that not all players want to do.

That so that's WHAT i.

Think is the main.

Thing so we're watching all these teams that are going to be battling it out down the.

Stretch question for, you how do you think coaches are going to manage THEIR mvp candidate stars when it comes to balancing playing time versus rest when they've sewed up a, spot versus trying to move around to try to get the right.

Matchups what do you think we're going to see from these coaches who might have very different ideas about what the right thing to do is for their.

STAR i would.

Be so curious if we're going to be able to, see especially in those first, rounds superstar is playing heavy.

MINUTES i think that this season has put a glaring spotlight on how many, games how little.

REST i feel like the league, said, oh we gave you charter, flights so you can't complain about these back to.

Backs this is what you.

Wanted, right and it has not taken into a full count of rest and, recovery and it has felt like there's just so many injuries and so many people not able to be on these bright, Stages like we're having These links And liberty games in the middle of the.

Year we're really excited about.

It but both of the superstars are out with injuries because their bodies are.

Tired so you don't want that in a game seven in the.

Finals so how do we pace in these early?

Rounds how can we use the strategy of get an early lead so we can rest In Asia, wilson so we can rest A Brianna stewart to make sure that the one day in between these playoff games they can get the most.

Rest so this is a whole other conversation about the others.

Too who else is going to be able to step up so that we can rest our superstars to make sure they're going to be in the game and healthy when we get to the finals or the later in the playoffs to hit those.

Shots, Well i'm going to be trying to keep tap on all the action from the continent away AND i look forward to seeing how it all shakes out over the next couple, weeks the final weeks of regular season.

Action you got us ready for.

It we couldn't have asked for.

More thank you so, Much.

Jordan thank you for having.

Me oh we got a dance, too Because i've got me really excited NOW i want the playoffs to.

Start thanks so much To jordan for joining.

Us we got to take another break when we come.

Back sports headlines aren't the only Headlines i've got my eye.

On welcome.

Back.

Slices want to give a.

Quick shout out to The Atlanta, dream who yesterday announced a powerful tribute to celebrate the anniversary Of Martin Luther King JUNIOR'S I have A dream.

Speech they partnered with cash app And Forgive coo to eliminate ten million dollars in debt for families Across.

Atlanta per, release the funds will directly benefit more than thirty five hundred.

Recipients one of our favorite parts of women's sports is that it's not just about the.

Game it's always about so much.

More shout out to The dream for proven that once.

Again we love that you're, Listening, slices but we want you to get in the game every day, Too so here's our good game play of the.

Day Follow jordan on.

Socials it's her third time on the, show.

Y'all if you.

Haven't followed her, already what are you?

Doing we'll link to our instagram in our show.

Notes also one more call for, athletes, agents, coaches and other influential folks in women's sports who are interested in Supporting Representative Lori trehan as she works to stop the passing of The Score.

Act that's A republican led bill that will not center and serve women college.

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Email good game at wondermedianetwork dot, com or leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two o four fifty, seventy and don't forget to, subscribe rate and.

Review it's easy watch Pretending Taylor swift And Travis kelsey's engagement news is a.

Sport twenty four out of twenty four hours of the day spent monitoring coverage.

Review is it my job to read every piece of commentary About tay And travs pending.

Nuptials AM i being paid to know every detail of the?

Proposal is it important THAT i listened to every Interview travis's dad does and keep tabs On travis's mom changing Her facebook cover photo to baby pictures Of tay And.

Trav, no of course.

Not but we're living in a fascist, state.

People everything is a.

Disaster EVERYWHERE i.

Look everything is the literal.

Worst so just let me read about ring designers and floral arrangements and the dent In taylor's hair that was clearly from wearing, headphones which definitely means that the proposal happened right after The New heights podcast, recording which means When travis winkingly looked at the camera When taylor said, boyfriend it's because he knew he was about to be her.

Fiance and that podcast was recorded On august, thirteenth but they didn't announce it until exactly thirteen days, later and it was shared right at one Pm, eastern which is thirteen hundred in military, time and everyone knows thirteen Is taylor's favorite.

Number, guys these are important statistics to.

Know Thank, God i'm going on vacation AND i can devote my entire fourteen hour flight To africa to continuing this deep dive into the biggest game of our, lives The Royal WEDDING.

Tnt it's a love, story, baby she just.

Said, yes holy, Shit i've lost it.

Entirely it's time for THAT.

Vaka now that's your.

Turn, Y'all rate and Review daxualists and, Slices Good Game, Jordan Good Game, tailor And Travis few the fact That i'm probably not going to that, wedding AND i only say probably because even Though i've never met either of, THEM i don't.

THINK i do think if they knew how MUCH i wanted to be, there maybe they would consider.

It AND i don't.

Know it's pbably gonna be a pretty big, wedding so like it's one more, INVITE i mean probably plus one BECAUSE i would need to Bring brad of, course but it's like that much of an inconvenience to just add like two more people to a wedding like.

THIS i don't really think it.

Is PLUS i don't know when the wedding.

Is by the time it actually, HAPPENS i might know, THEM i might know.

THEM i don't know if it is be, INVITED i might be one of.

Them Good game With Sarah spain is An iHeart women's sports production in partnership With Deep Blue sports And.

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