In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams is an iheartwomen's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.

Welcome to another episode of In Case You Missed It with Christina Williams and w fans.

The playoffs have officially commenced and pretty much all the teams have had a first game and we had some lots of exciting matchups on Tuesday as well, and we're going to break all of that down as well as some headlines around the w Joining us this week is sports reporter and host Maria Marino, and she's here to talk about all of the playoff action.

Maria is a.

Multi media on air personality who has lind her voice and commentary to ESPN Digital and ESPN Radio, so we are in for a special treat having her here with us this week.

So without brother Ado, I want to welcome Maria into In Case You missed It.

Welcome to the show.

Christina, great to be here.

Thank you for having me.

So Maria one, it's so great to have you on the show.

I'm super excited.

But we like to start every episode with our guest sharing a win of the week and you can interpret that anyway that you want.

But what was a win for you this week?

Oh, win of the week I think is the fact that we're gonna have games on Thursday night.

Because after Sunday, with the way that a couple of those series went, Atlanta winning at home, Vegas winning at home, I was like, are we gonna get any decisive game threes or are they gonna you know, run away with the series.

But we get to see some basketball on Thursday as well, So I'm happy about that.

Yes, can't get enough of WNBA playoffs, and we're gonna dive into all of those things.

But let's start with the first rounds, and we're gonna start with tonight's games.

So the New York Liberty they.

Still want in Phoenix and now the Phoenix Mercury are on the brink of elimination after dropping Game one at home, the Mercury, you're on a brink of elimination.

So what has the change for Phoenix to extend this series and to get a Game three.

Well, they got to shoot the ball better.

That was just not a very favorable shooting display, let's put it nicely over in Game one, only thirty three percent from the field, twenty three percent from three.

I think the player that's probably lamenting their Game one performance the most is Sawtu Sobbly.

Unfortunately, it just was not her night on Sunday.

Two of seventeen from the floor, only one of ten from three.

And I actually think that Sawtu needs to get a little more aggressive and maybe drive in the lane more.

She shot those ten threes, and it's like, Okay, I know shooting threes is a really important part of any offense in the W but sometimes if that SHOT's not falling, get to the rim.

You know, she has the ability to do with her size, although Leoni Phoebish did a great job guarding her.

But this team also lost the rebounding battle to New York forty eight point thirty one.

That was huge, despite playing really great defense themselves on New York.

I mean, they forced New York into twenty one turnovers, which tied a season high for them, but because New York was able to grab a lot of those rebounds, it sort of negated a lot of those turnovers.

So this was a defensive battle on both end.

It's not like New York shot all that well themselves, but they made enough plays to take it home and go back to New York, the only road team to win in the first round, which it kind of makes sense the four or five matchup is typically you're expecting it to be close, but to steal that game in overtime is huge for New York.

Yeah.

Absolutely, And I was able to talk to some of the Phoenix Mercury players yesterday, and it's not to emphasize how she learned from having a poor shooting night, but I don't expect a player like Satu to have, you know, a bad game tonight going into this matchup against New York.

And also there was a lot of a lot of uncharacteristic things happening.

I think in that game one for Phoenix, Alysa Thomas, she missed the game winning shot.

That is a shot that she usually makes, you.

Know what I'm saying.

So I think that, you know, credit to New York's interior defense and their ability to just take care of the basketball.

But I expect that Phoenix will clean this up coming into you know, this eliminication elimination game tonight.

But we also learned that in that game in overtime, Brandon Stewart suffered an undisclosed left knee injury in overtime, and yesterday I practice coach Sandy Brundello, she said that, you know, Stewie had some scans.

They came back relatively clean is what she used, and that she's questionable for tonight's game.

How much of this series and the outcome of it hinges on Stewie's availability and the New York's, the New York Liberty's ability to kind of execute under pressure.

Well, first off, it sucks that Stewie was clearly injured.

She was visibly upset.

Shout out to Sandy on her wording relatively clean.

I'm not sure I've heard that one before, So that certainly leaves a big question mark hanging over Stewie.

And even though I joke about that, I obviously I feel for Stewie.

It's not what anyone wants to see in a series like this.

And I thought in Game one, especially in the fourth quarter, Brianna Stewart was really showing her value on both ends.

She was getting stops, she was getting these hustle plays.

She made clutch shots in the fourth and I was thinking to myself, Wow, like this is Brianna Stewart.

You know, vintage her just bread and butter, the calling card of her career.

Like she showed up late in that game, She's a huge reason why New York was able to take home that victory, and so it's going to be a huge loss if she's unable to go, And to be honest, i'd be I wouldn't be surprised if she does sit out, because you know, the Liberty have to take into account their full playoff lives here.

Obviously it's not a winner go home situation for them, even though they would like to finish it in game two.

I wouldn't be surprised if they're cautious with Stewie and therefore, you know other people are going to have to step up.

And when I see the New York Liberty being on their home floor at Barkley Center, I think Sabrina, you know, I think Sabrina and Escu is known for sort of getting the crowd involved at Barkley's.

We know she is also a clutch performer.

She's made huge shots in her career late, and so I wouldn't be surprised if she's the one making the key plays down the stretch in this game that New York needs.

But the Beauty of New York adding Emma Mesman midway through the season, and is probably going to show up here in game two, even though she hardly played in game one.

I do think she's going to get more comfortable New York only playing seven players.

Sandy Brundello really kept that rotation super tight in game one, and now she's going to have to dip, most likely deeper into her bench even if Stewie plays.

You know, I wouldn't expect her to be one hundred percent or to play as many minutes as she normally would, so I'm expecting more em Amesaman off the bench or maybe in the starting lineup.

Yeah, And what was interesting about attending the Liberties practice this week was, you know when the media when we were waiting before they let us into the open practice, do we walk through our area dressed in her practice gears, she had a compression on her left knee.

And then when we went into the gym, you know, she didn't participate in practice, was standing on the sideline.

So I almost wonder if that was just for show, to just show us, you know, show media like, Okay, she's doing good.

But the language around what Sandy said in terms of relatively clean.

Everyone seemed in high spirits and optimistic about Stewie.

I don't think that she will play tonight in this matchup, and in that case, you bring up Emma Meseman.

I think a player like Kennedy Burke could be good in terms of filling in that role.

She has championship experience with the Core, the Core of five, and I think that she will be a good player in terms of her length and versatility, her ability to defend, how she can shoot the three ball when they need it, just being that versatile player that they need to kind of fill that role, and then having Emma come off the bench.

I think one of the challenging parts about coach Sandy's job this year is figuring out the rotations because a lot of players in this new offense have been playing out of position, so figuring out the best possible combinations to get a win.

And I think that this Liberty team, they've been battle tested all season.

They know what it's like to play without Studio already, so I guess that gives them an advantage coming into this matchup with the Phoenix Mercury.

And so it's all about playing their basketball limiting those turnovers as you mentioned twenty one, but that's been the story of the Liberty all season, just being battles tested and being able to overcome adversity.

Will you think about this series in the context of both teams having proven champions, MVP caliber like players and talent, which player battles are most likely to shape this series?

Yeah?

So, when I look at the different matchups in this series, the first one that stands out to me is Natasha Cloud and Kalia Copper.

They re guarding each other a lot in Game one.

I'm going to just go ahead and refer to Natasha Cloud as playoff Cloud because she has gotten this reputation throughout her career of really just showing up in the playoffs, showing up when it matters, kind of turning things up a notch.

And I mean she was playing like she had revenge on her mind in Game one, played all forty minutes in Phoenix, twenty three points, nine of twelve from the floor Are you kidding me?

Three of six from three, six rebounds, five assists, four steals.

Just an absolute gem from Natasha Cloud, and New York needed every bit of that production.

However, I'm not necessarily counting on that same type of production from Cloud.

And I think that New York has the type of roster where there's so many different stars that it's gonna be oftentimes a new person stepping up from night to night.

And so, you know, one player I'm looking at I already mentioned Sabrina, who she played fine in game one, but I could I could see her definitely stepping up in game two.

But then John Quell Jones, and she certainly did her work on the glass.

She had twelve rebounds in game one, but only seven points, and so I'm wondering if she might get going a little bit more.

Christina, you talked about Alyssa Thomas for at I really think it was just the execution.

You know, she missed that layup that could have won them the game at the end of regulation.

She also missed a couple of free throws.

She just kind of missed that execution piece late in the game in game one.

But she's such a competitor, you know, she is the engine.

I expect her to play better.

And you know, it's a little interesting the matchups when you look at like inside out, because sometimes you know, JJ gets dragged out to the three point line.

Who's you know, where is Alyssa Thomas?

Like, there's different players that Phoenix was throwing at JJ, like west Beld for instance, So I'm kind of curious how that's going to shake out.

And then for the Phoenix side of things, I mean, I could see Sammy wickcumb getting hot.

I mean, wouldn't that be so Sammy?

I mean, she was a former New York Liberty player.

She's certainly comfortable playing in Brooklyn.

She just has that like killer mentality.

I could see her getting hot from three.

Yeah.

And to your point about John Claul Jones, credit to Phoenix's defense, right, they were doubling her.

They didn't let her get comfortable or settled to establish a rhythm on offense.

But at practice this week, John Cuall said that that was a point of emphasis coming into game two, that she needs to establish herself on offense, and that starts with the aggression in matching Phoenix's physicality.

So I think that on top of taking care of the ball, the New York Liberty definitely have to match Phoenix's physicality and aggression, especially if they're out without a player like Brandon Stewart who provides a lot of impact on both sides of the ball.

I want to move on to the next matchup tonight.

We have Links Valkyries, and the Links lead the series one zero.

So we know that the Links went to the finals last year.

How does that experience give them an edge over.

A first time playoff team.

Like the Valkyries that experiences everything from Minnesota.

I mean, first of all, they've been on a revenge tour all year long, and we really knew this was going to happen, right because their final series with New York a season ago was so tightly contested.

I mean, multiple overtimes, went the distance with the five games.

They were pretty vocal about feeling like they had been robbed, and so I knew they were coming into this season with just all the motivation in the world, and they have showed it from start to finish, you know, getting off to that hot start and then not slowing down throughout the entirety of the season.

And I think what makes them so dangerous is I feel like they have just the most chemistry and continuity of any team in the league.

So they largely have the same roster as they did last season.

You know, they bring in Jessica Shephard, lose a couple other ancillary pieces, but their core is the same used to playing together.

Even when the FISA Collier was out, you could tell that they were able to absorb that loss throughout the season because of how well they know each other, how much experience they have playing together.

And then I just think their depth is unparalleled.

Natisha Hideman has been sick.

Watching her has been just so so fun.

And you saw in game one, you know, when Courtney Williams struggled to start the game, boom, you put in Natisha, hide him in and it was like it wasn't even an issue.

And then of course adding Djna Carrington, who is she's shooting the three ball better, she can drive, and then of course her defense.

So I mean, this team, their experience especially also didn't even mention the experience of Cheryl Reeve as a head coach has been in these situations multiple times.

This is what she does.

So as great a story as it's been for Golden State and as admirable as their season has been, Minnesota's got to take care of business.

That's what I'm expecting in Game two.

Yeah, and the Valkyries are not really having a true home game because they will be playing at SAP in San Jose tonight and they're going to bring their Chase Center court to make it feel a little.

Bit like home.

But we talk about the one one one format and how it's not really an advantage for some teams, especially at this time of the year where arena availability could be a problem for teams like the Valkyries.

How much does losing a true home game affect their chances against a top seeded LINKS team.

Well, this is huge for the Valkyries, But I just want to react to something you said about like arena availability in general, this should not be an issue anymore for the WNBA.

We're to a point now where it's like, get it together.

However, I will give the Valks somewhat of a pass here because they had a conflict that was booked before Golden State was even awarded this expansion franchise, So fair enough, I understand that.

But apart from like an outlier like that, like this should not be a thing anymore.

WNBA teams should be able to play in their home arena, their true home arena come playoff time.

That being said, this is just a shame the Valkyries have established in their inaugural season the best home court advantage in the W and that's saying something when you have teams like Indiana, teams like Minnesota, you know, teams like New York, but it's become a true, true home court advantage for them, and I feel like this exactly illustrates why it's so important to get a home game in the playoffs.

And you know, credits to the Valkyries.

When they were in Minnesota, I thought they started out really hot.

They were the more aggressive, energetic team, and then Minnesota just kind of got a fire a little under him and ran away with it.

So I think the Valks can still be even more competitive here in game two, even though I'm still not necessarily expecting them to extend the series.

But just going back to the importance of having a home game, I mean, think about it, if this were last year, we wouldn't have seen Indiana get a crack at playing at home.

We wouldn't have seen Seattle get a crack at playing at home.

And as we know from both of those series, they those series are now going to those decisive game threes, thanks in large part to having them having a chance to play in front of their home fans.

Yeah, maybe next year they can consider going to best of five in round one to kind of even it out.

But moving right along, Tuesday nights slate of games did not disappoint, and the Fever has tied the series against the Atlanta Dream one one.

Alana entered this series as the favorite, but what challenges to they base against a Fever team who are hungry and consider the underdogs in this matchup, specifically going into Thursday where it's a winner take all Game three in Atlanta.

Yeah, anytime you get a winner go home situation, really, anything can happen.

I am expecting the unexpected come Game three in this series because I think both Game one end Game two were pretty competitive.

There were a lot of fouls called in both games.

It was a little bit hard to watch at times, to be honest with you.

It was just so many whistles, so much physicality.

But that can kind of muck up the game and that can kind of create some again, just sort of unexpected outcomes.

But you know, for the Fever, I don't know that they're necessarily thinking of themselves as an underdog, you know, I think maybe that's some motivation for them, that's fine, but they one hundred percent believe they could beat this team, and you know, coach Sephanie White has had them repaired all season long.

But then on the other side, you know Atlanta has also been very prepared and very well coached, Carl Smesko doing his job.

So I think that, you know, Atlanta has their work cutout, but they're more than capable with their personnel of winning this series.

I like that expect the unexpected in this matchup.

But as you mentioned, the Fever is a team that really doesn't think about themselves as being an underdog, and they have faced adversity as well.

I feel like that's been the through line for a lot of teams this season, in terms of dealing with injury and being without some of their star players.

How do you think that shapes this series for the Fever right?

I would argue that of any team in the league, the Fever have faced the most injury adversity in terms of still being able to make the playoffs, and that alone is impressive.

But that's not their goal.

That's hasn't been their goal, and it doesn't matter you know who's suiting up up, They're coming to play.

They're coming to compete, and they are going to fight.

You know this because this has been their story all season long.

They're really used to this.

They have had to adapt, They've had players coming in without really any chance of practicing, getting thrown into game situations, and they've still managed to find a way.

And so now I would say, like, even even as you look at their bench and like half the players are in street clothes, they're still like they're still believing in each other because they know they've done it before.

They know, you know, they can handle whatever is thrown their way.

And so this is going to be a really really exciting matchup.

I think, you know, don't tell Kelsey Mitchell or Aliah Boston that they're missing all these players, because they don't they don't care.

They're you know, really high level All League type players and they're gonna bring their best.

It's really been an next player up mentality for the Fever.

All right, Maria, which player from each team do you think will emerge as an X factor to kind of tip the balance in this game three on Thursday?

Well, there's so many.

Obviously, both teams need their stars to show out.

You saw less production from the Atlanta backcourt in game two than you did in game one.

I don't expect that to continue back on their home floor, But just looking at a couple of the role players, like, in my opinion for Atlanta, it's nas Hellman.

She's just been a complete difference maker for them.

And you know what I think changes everything is if she makes a three.

Now she wash four from three in game two, but in game one she hit two of her four attempts.

That is huge.

To have her as a threat that Indiana has to pay attention to out there on the three point line is really important.

Plus she's very very good finishing around the rim.

So Helman as a player I'm looking at for Atlanta and then Indiana, I'm gonna spotlight Lexi Hull here because regardless of what the stat sheet says, I just think that she is the motor.

She really brings the energy on both ends.

She affects so many plays.

You always see her kind of flying in for these offensive rebounds, extending possessions.

She's a hustler.

She's gonna dive on the floor, try to get you steals, try to get you extra possessions.

And then as a little bonus here.

I also think aerial powers has been a really fun addition to this Fever squad.

And again, she might not score a ton, she might not even get a ton of minutes, but when she comes in, you know you are getting an energy boost.

You know you are getting a little bit of a spark.

She likes to, you know, get the fans involved.

She's very loud, and she's just so fun to watch.

And again, regardless of the production, I just think that she is bringing something intangible to Indiana and they're gonna need everybody there, need everybody to pull off this upset.

And to your point, Ariel has also won a WMA championship, so she can bring that win in mentality to Indiana.

All right, Moving right along to ACES Storm, What a thriller.

On Tuesday night, the Storm tied the series one to one.

And for me, the biggest question mark all year has been around the Storm for me, because they've just been an unpredictable team.

But Seattle ended the Aces seventeen game win streak with a huge fourth quarter push.

Does that shift the pressure heading into a winner take all situation in Las Vegas on Thursday?

One hundred percent?

I mean this looked like this was going to be a series that the Aces were just going to completely roll over the storm.

They looked really bad in Game one.

Sorry, but they just did.

They did.

They did not look good against Las Vegas.

They would tell you the same thing.

H They were probably embarrassed by that Game one performance.

And I have to say, I'm pretty shocked by this by this result.

I was, you know, I thought that they would play better in Game two, but to be down double digits in the fourth and to show the resilience that they did and to be able to complete the comeback and end on a big run.

I think it was like a sixteen four run or a twelve four run, something like that to end to end the game.

I mean against this Aces team that has been the hottest team in the league.

That was really impressive.

And now we got ourselves a series and again winner takele.

Anything can happen.

I think both teams are going to be feeling the pressure.

You know, on one hand, it's nice that the Aces have home court, but sometimes you know, when you're at home and your crowd is hanging on every make or miss and you hear the oh if you miss, it's like, oh, God, like, what's going to happen?

So this should be another good one.

I hope we get another good one.

Yeah, and Rookie dominate Malonga.

She held her own games through time MVP Asian Wilson in game two, and I feel like she her in one play was what shifted the game.

I think the storm late.

What does that matchup tell us about Seattle's confidence in Malung because this is a player who's only nineteen years old, the youngest player right now in the league, but has such a huge responsibility going into game three.

Well, it tells us that Seattle should continue to trust Malanga, because I think that wasn't entirely clear in the first game, even though I actually thought Malonga did very well.

You know, in the first game, the first half she was getting bullied a little bit by Asia Wilson.

She had a lot of foul calls.

But that second half she really started to get a rhythm.

And it's funny if you look at her stat lines, they're very similar Game one to game two.

She had double digits, double doubles, excuse me, for both games.

But in game two she had to be relied upon because if you recall Ezie mag Bagore started to get in foul trouble and so Noel subbed in Malanga like midway through the fourth and she really really stepped up late in that game.

It's funny because, yeah, she's only nineteen years and maybe there was a little bit of trepidation from the Seattle coaching staff.

But sometimes when you're that young, you don't even know how big the moment is.

You're just you're playing free, you don't care.

There's really no pressure, and her maturity just really showed a team high plus eleven for the game in game two, which is amazing.

And also both games I noticed she had, you know, not just double digit rebounds, she had a few offensive rebounds in each game, So I think that's really important.

And then when you look at the matchup against Asia Wilson, you need to throw size at Asia Wilson, Like there's very few things that you can do to slow her down, but the size of Malanga has definitely bothered her a little bit.

Yeah, and sticking with Seattle, Skylar Diggins and Nekagoma Kay combined from more than half of Seattle scoring.

What does Vegas need to do differently to keep them from controlling game.

Three, Well, they got to harken back to what they didn't in game one, recapture that energy and intensity that they had.

They did not let those two get going.

I mean, if you recall Skyler Diggens, you know, really struggled in the in the first half.

Both of them really, you know, scored well below their season averages.

You can't let them get into a rhythm early.

And I do think that the Aces, being as experienced as they are, they're going to feed off their home fans, and I think things are going to look a lot differently like we could see three.

We could look back at these three games and see three totally completely different game scripts.

Yeah, and sticking with the Aces, even without like an official injury report, just using the eye test.

Asia Wilson appeared to be holding her elbow in Game two.

I heard from a source that after the game she was receiving treatment on that elbow.

But how do you lead that in the context of this series going forward.

I noticed the elbow and the fall that she had, and it seemed to be bothering her a little bit.

I thought where it affected her the most was with her free throw shooting.

She was only six of eleven from the line in game two, which is kind of rare for her.

And I also think that made her a little more tentative attacking the rim, and that's a big problem because that is a huge, huge part of her identity and when her game, when she's at the top of her game, she's attacking the rim, she's getting to the free throw line.

I do think she's gonna be fine, though, you know, I expect her to, you know, fully, play fully be active.

What's great is when she's out there, she is gonna steal defensive attention, you know, no matter what her you know, actual status is and how she's feeling.

From from that standpoint, I think she's going to be just fine.

But she might just have to be a little bit smarter about finding her teammates, may have to, you know, get a little more creative.

But I mean, Jackie Jung has been playing great.

I expect her to, you know, have something to say when all is said and done.

And they have just so many other weapons on their roster.

All right, Maria, I'm gonna throw one quick one at you.

Who do you have making it to round two out of all of these teams?

Yeah, So I definitely expected.

Now I definitely expect Minnesota.

I said before the series, believe or I said before the series, I thought New York might edge Phoenix again, this might go to a Game three.

I definitely did not do not expect a sweep, but I'm still expecting.

I want to see that Minnesota New York rematch.

I mean, I think we all want to see that.

That would be ideal.

And then I still do have belief in Vegas.

I think the Atlanta Indiana series a little harder to call, but I still I originally my prediction was still Atlanta and Vegas moving on all right.

And also this week, the WNBA have started to announce some of the season awards, and no surprise that Paige Becker's was named the tw twenty twenty five WNBA Rookie of the Year.

What's your reaction to Paige snagging that award this season?

No surprise, of course, And I just think that Paige came in and basically had a flawless transition from college to the pros.

There didn't look to be any sort of missing a beat at all.

She just really came in was the already the best player on her team.

So fluid, so poised.

Her experience from you know, her five years of being in college, her age, her maturity, all of that showed up.

Her efficiency showed up, which is really really impressive when you're jumping from college and the defenders you're facing there to the best league in the world, and to still be as efficient as she was, I think is really really impressive.

Bummer that you know, the team around her is not there yet, and I think that having such a losing season is hurtful for her.

But they know in that organization that they're building to something and they got to look to the future.

Yeah, and Dallas they have some of the best odds in terms of the WNBAH draft lottery, so they get that top pick.

Page, you can probably get the help that she needs next season.

But I know you've been covering Page for a really long time in your career.

What do you think that we'll see from her in year two?

What jump that she needs to have from year one to year two?

To me, the only jump is she needs to some of these games need to translate into wins.

And it's a very uncertain period in the w next year.

We know that a lot of players are free agents, but Dallas does have a lot of young players on their roster, so maybe they will retain a bit of continuity.

It's hard to say because they picked up a lot of you know, hardship players and things of that nature.

But you know, I'm.

Curious if e Rique will be remaining in Dallas, and I think her being healthy and year two, with those together, you're going to see a jump.

So that's that's more so, I'm not necessarily looking for anything to really improve in Page's game.

I think she did everything you know so well.

She would tell you she wants to improve in certain things, but I think it's more of like a personnel continuity thing that it is, you know, a skill skill improvement that I'm looking for from Page.

And breaking news out of athletes, unlimited WNBA veteran Tina Charles will be joining their roster in.

Twenty twenty six.

How do you see this move being beneficial to a player like Tina who has more years behind her than ahead when we talk about the when you talk about her career.

My reaction to that is, Tina is one of those players.

She's probably gonna be a Hall of Famer.

She's done so much in her career.

She can do whatever she wants at this point, like she has earned that right at this point in her career to approach it however she wants.

And you know, Athletes Unlimited has been a great avenue for so many W players to continue to showcase what they bring.

And I do think a lot of wnbagms make off season decisions based on what they see, you know now with Unrivaled as well, but definitely also with Athletes Unlimited.

And so I'm just excited for Tina just to continue to do her thing and defined happiness however she can.

I'm sure she would like to continue, you know, to contribute to a team that you know she will be able to instill values on these younger players.

That's what she did in Connecticut.

They may not have won a lot of games, but she was giving some of her knowledge and insight to help shape the future of this lead regardless.

But I think she would also still like to compete a little bit more in the W.

Yeah.

Absolutely, And as she said, she's going to have a Hall of Fame career.

I think that she deserves to be in what is all said and done, But I think that the league needs a bet like Tina Charles and Athletes Unlimited is the perfect place in what a full circle moment for her to be able to have a moment in her career where she can play domestically stateside here in the off season and then rest and recover and prepare for her next season.

That just goes to show you how far the game has come.

But obviously there's still work to be done.

But Maria, I want to thank you for joining us this week on In Case you missed it.

Make sure you guys follow up Maria and all of her work in women's basketball.

I appreciate you for joining us this week.

Thanks again for having me super fun.

All right.

Coming up next, we have Phoenix Mercury rookie Monique Acoa mccannie joining us, so stay with us.

After a standout career overseas, she's carried that same energy and impact into the league and has been a force right from the jump.

So, without further ado, I want to welcome Monique to the show.

Welcome to In case you missed it.

HII, thank you for joining so I want to congres radulate you in the Phoenie Mercury on clinching a playoff spot is what has it been like to be a part of the team and share that accomplishment together.

Honestly has been a great honor for me, because, to be honest, none of this was expected really once I came here was obviously for a training camp first, and I didn't really have like no big expectations on myself with it, and I ended up being like finding out that this was really like a great organization in general, And honestly, I'm not surprised that we are where we are right now, still grateful for it, because like, you don't know, like a season as long, and you know it can turn out so many other ways, and I'm very glad that we happened to find a good spot into the playoffs, and honestly, yeah, I'm pretty proud of that.

You said that it was unexpected for you to be where you are right now, and you mentioned just coming over for training camp.

What did it feel like to finally make that roster because we know how competitive it could be in terms of making you know, the final roster for the w But what was that process like for you?

Honestly, was such an emotional like process for me, because like I told you, I wasn't expecting it really and things goes like pretty fast here, so it's not like I really had time to like you know, sit and like think about it at the time.

And so it was just like, Okay, if I'm here, now I have a spot, then let's just get into it, you know, like that means I'm supposed to be here.

And yeah, like my parents always told me growing up that, I mean, everything that happens to you happens for a specific reason.

And so yeah, I was just trying to not like repeat to myself constantly that I wasn't supposed to be here, you know, and uh yeah, So yeah, I was just trying to take it like one day at the time to be able to realize it and at the same time like be on the like on the present moment, live it.

And then yeah, and you had a really strong career overseas before coming here.

What made now the right time and the right moment for you to step into the w And we've seen trends this entire season with more international players committing to the w NBA at the start of the season, But for you, what factored into that decision?

So it was an opportunity.

I'm not gonna lie I in my plan.

I haven't planned that I was going to be at the W this this year.

This season, I was more thinking of, Okay, I give myself like two three more years, you know, to like really be and become like a good year league player, you know, and like being more solid because it's actually my fourth year for Overseas and I only have like two years in like the main division back in Friends, so it's like and I was thinking, you just need more time, and I was very okay with that.

And when I'm telling you that I didn't have no expectations, like being on myself is literally because I didn't like plan it, you know.

And when you don't plan things sometimes like you just go with no pressure and it's like, oh, I just want to go out there, and like for me, it was going to be first to just like measure myself, you know what, Like I was missing to be able to really like make a team or whatever.

And it turns out that I had what was needed for me, especially like in the specific spot here.

So it was just a great fit.

And you can't really plan those things, you know.

It's like opportunity and yeah, I just happened to take it.

You know, now that you've gone through sort of a full regular w NBA season, what's been the biggest difference when you compare playing overseas versus playing.

Here the biggest difference hmm.

I would say that here I definitely experienced like reaching my not only physical limits but also mental limits, because yeah, back in France is like I was, you know, learning growing like little by little, and here is like you gotta like learn faster, you got to grow faster, and it just pushed you in a way, like with all the media that's around, you know, all those things.

It's like, yeah, it really pushed you, like to get what needs to be done, you know, mentally, really take care of the little details.

You know that you maybe would have more time to like think about it back in overseas because we don't have as much games that we have here.

So yeah, I would say that mentally, you've like rich some of my limits and more so even expended them, which is very good.

Yeah.

So you've stepped into a locker room essentially with some superstars on your team.

Alissa Thomas, who is an MVP frontrunner this season, Khalia Copper, who was a finals MVP, A champion and so too Sobbly, what has it been like being able to learn from them and competing alongside of them this season?

Honestly, I'm a really big competitor, so it's like seeing what is it to like, what is it like to be around people that are as much competitive as you are, if not more?

And it's just like, yeah, I'm not crazy.

It's right to be competitive, because you know, sometimes I've been told, like you too competitive, like sometimes not everything have to be like so competitive and stuff, and it's like, yes, I know, you know, sometimes if I feel like being myself is being competitive in every single thing that I do, it's it's fine, you know, as long as that works for me.

And yeah, I was very much, I think, how you say, lucky to be able to like just sit and sit back and be able to observe those players, which I still do now and I hope I would continue to do, because yeah, they just it's just the mad mindset, you know, like you those players don't they don't cheat with themselves.

They they really give one hundred percent and they doing whatever is it that is necessary to make the team be the best they can be.

It can be.

Sorry, and yeah, it's just it's just amazing to watch.

Honestly, Like I couldn't I couldn't dream to be in a better place as a young player.

Yeah, and as this.

Group looks to compete in the postseason, you guys have the chemistry and I think that this team is peaking at the right time.

But what will be the most important thing to make a deep run in the postseason for this group?

I think it's our consistency becoming more and more consistent, especially on the defensive end, because we have so many talented player that honestly, I don't really think that we should worry about offense so much, but definitely defense.

Like I know this sounds like I don't know say like like a phrase of sens is that somebody like people just say a lot, But it's like it's really like the defense that wins championship.

And if we are able to like become very consistent on the defensive end, and we applied the same heat that we've been applying and be more physical all those little stuff like rebounding, Like do this simple stuff even harder with more intensity and with more intentions, I think there's nobody that can stop us.

Really does it ever crossed her mind that you get to play for story franchise like the Phoenix Mercury that was built on the back of a player, like a Diana Taurazi, like a Brittany grind who came before you.

What does it mean to be a part of the Phoenix Mercury.

Oh, honestly, it's a legacy.

It's like I came here, I found out there was a legacy, and it's I mean, it's an honor, but it's also kind of a little burden to be able like to keep that going because you know, I don't want to be the player that came and all of a sudden everything stuffs.

You know.

No, I'm competitor and I want this to get even better and better.

Not to say that I'm trying to necessarily do better than Dianataurasi like what they did, but that's what I'm able to do.

Yeah, that would be the goal, because, yeah, I don't think limiting myself is gonna be the right thing to do.

In a way, you're sort of creating your own path and legacy as a professional athlete, right Because I feel like, especially this season, when we when I look at players like Marine Johannes, like Gabie Williams, the players who have committed to the w You guys are creating a new pathway to the w NBA for a new set of players who come from overseas and commit to the w NBA.

When you think about your career in totality leading up to this moment and the pathways that you all are creating for a new subset group of professional athletes, what does that mean to you?

It's Yeah, it's an honor, honestly to be able to be somebody that younger generation can look up to.

I've always wan it to be and do something that could inspire others, inspire others, because that's how I work.

I really work by inspiration.

I take my inspiration a little bit from everybody.

And yeah, it's really an honor, and I hope that not only like my generation, but even them after, they're all going to believe that.

Yeah.

It's just about like, yeah, putting the work in every day, believing in yourself, and yeah, also like enjoying the process because you know, like most of the time, even like me today, the younger generation, we want things to happen so fast, you know, So yeah, I'm realizing that it's not really like the results at the end.

It's really like the path that you just going through that makes you like, Okay, get to some places that you really on the reach, and uh, yeah, I hope that's what people are gonna like.

Remember most Yeah.

I was someone that inspired you on your journey.

Kobe Bryant a lot growing up, the member mentality part mostly, but as a player, I really looked up to Maya Moore growing up.

So yeah, those are the two players that I would say that I really looked up to.

He said, you grew up being inspired by Kobe's mama mentality.

What parts of Maya Moore's game were you most inspired by?

She can do everything, you know?

And I don't know.

I've always grew up with this thing where it's like people would always tell you, Okay, get very good at one thing, and then okay, you know, you can be all right on everything else, and you would be good.

But I always thought that, like, if I could be great at every single thing, then who is going to tell me no?

You know?

And I feel like looking at her game, she could rebound, she could pull up, like have a pull up jump shot, she had the three point shot she had, like she three throws.

She was very good, she could penetrate, she could pass, she could do it all and very good, you know.

And that's just the type of player I want to be, you know, Like I don't want to choose either defending or just the offensive part.

I want to be able to do both and at my best like abilities.

And yeah, that's that's where she inspired me.

Twenty twenty five rookie class has been one of the most talented classes you come through the w When you think about where you are in this moment in history and being a part of this twenty twenty five rookie class, how you've been able to perform above the expectations of maybe what people thought you would be able.

To do this season.

Where do you pull that drive from?

Honestly, personally, a lot from my entourage, my people, friends, family, because I'm very blessed with all the people that support me and believe in me, you know.

And yeah, most of the time I just say that whenever I get on the court, I just think about like having fun because like I know, when I'm having fun, that's where they enjoy me, like watching me, you know, play and they enjoy my game the most, so I don't really think so much about oh I want to like put this amount of point, take this amount of this.

I'm just thinking what my team needs now.

That's what I have to give, and that's why I will try my best to give.

And some days, you know, it works very good and some other days it's just not as good.

And it's just those days I'm looking at myself and I'm telling myself, Okay, as long as you did you had to do, and you gave your best, then you just move on to the next game.

Because again here, I feel like you play so much, so many games that you don't really it would be a waste of time to like, thanks so much, you know about like the mys, like mythshots or turnovers that you did.

You know, now, if you gave your best, then just move on.

I like that.

Now I have to ask you out about your Welcome to.

The W moment because when rookies come through, Diana Tarasi Papacy said, you know, reality is going to come for some rookies, But have you had a Welcome to the W.

Moment this season?

Was there a moment on the court where you're just like Okay, I feel like I've arrived.

So for me, it was my very first game against the Aces, and so I was doing this like pick and roll on forty five degree, you know, and I'm rejecting the screw, I mean, going to the layout.

And at the very end I promised you I thought I was wide open.

The very end, I see Agel Wilson coming and the way she blocked that shot out was like, yep, next time, go like go, go get some contact or whatever, but never go there lazy thinking that it's done.

So yeah, that was my very welcome.

I think Arisha Wilson gave you your first welcome.

To the WQ moment outfitting.

She's one of the best players in the worlds right now, all right off the court, I know you've mentioned missing your French bakeries and your mom's Cameron and cooking.

What's something about Phoenix that made you feel like you're home or made you feel like you are enjoying this experience.

Honestly, like I said, the organization, I don't think I could have landed in a better place, to be honest, the way people welcome me here and the way that they really like are still taking care of me right now, because of course I told you, like, this season was made of up and downs, you know, and during my downs, I know that for sure I had people that were there to listen to me, to give me advice, to take me out sometimes to go like just eat a regular dinner, to you know, just hang out, you know, to think about something else, and provide like this emotional support that I needed because I'm I'm a very much of a like family and friends person, So most of the time when I'm feeling bad, what I need is just like some good connections, you know.

And here I really felt like on the human part, people were very very human, like they really understood that human part.

And yeah, I'm very grateful for that because I don't think that's everywhere, especially like in the sports industry.

Yeah, so I would say that.

I think what you're saying it sort of is reflective of how a lot of the athletes, especially the w are starting to feel like when organizations invest into their players and it can only worry about basketball, you get a better product on the court.

Essentially, you talked about building that team chemistry.

I know that fans love to see all different tiktoks and social media videos from the Phoenix Mercury players.

But is there anyone specific on the team that has sort of taken you under your wing as you start this new chapter in your professional career.

There's not a specific person.

Honestly, I would say Sato Sabaly at Kaleia Cooper.

Yeah, Simmy wouldcom like, I have so many people that I can look up to, I can learn from.

I admire here that Yeah, they just you can tell, they just hear, like be able to give back.

You know, they're not those type of red like vets that don't really care, you know sometimes about the rookies here, I'm really lucky.

I mean all the rookies that are here, very lucky to have like some good vets.

And yeah, I would say everybody.

Honestly, I don't have one person.

Coach Nate Tippits.

He's been on the topic of conversation all season all with just how how he's been able to lead this team into the postseason and how really this team has exceeded everyone's expectations in terms of the ceiling and where you all have really gone this season.

What would you say is his philosophy for this group?

Like I told you they really care about the human parts.

So it's very important for him that kind of family kind of.

Vision, you know.

It's that's why he always says that it's about us, you know, and we have this thing where sometimes we will make shirts, you know, and you write like Mercury versus everybody or Mercury Family.

Like it's always about this family mentality, which would keep us like grounded into each other, knowing that Okay, if I'm not good today, somebody is there for me.

You know.

That's that was the very like the bigger, the biggest thing I would say, and I would say, like basketball wise, he he treated everybody the same, and that's that's pretty rare because sometimes you would you would like notice that some coaches, because of like you have vets, you have like rookies like which could could happen sometimes like have different treatments, you know, and I feel like with him, it's just everybody is treated the same way.

And yeah, just in that you know, like you're gonna have your chance at some point.

The opportunities gonna come, and so you just got to get it yourself ready for the opportunity, you know.

So yeah, well.

Monique, before we let you get out of here as the Phoenix Mercury look to compete for a championship in the postseason, and as you guys look to just accomplish that goal that you all have what excites you the most about being in your first w NBA playoffs.

I'm pretty excited to see how the atmosphere is going to be the atmosphere and even like the tension on the court between two teams that you know are really fighting for their their spot to the like to the next step.

And yeah, just seeing how good that can like even bring us even more together to be able like to focus on that one goal, which is to go get that championship.

Although I wish you the best of luck in the postseason, thank you so much for chatting with us this week.

I'm creciating the.

Wish you all the best of luck in the postseason.

Thank you for inviting me.

Thank you.

That's gonna do it for this week's episode of In Case You missed It with Christina Williams, don't forget to subscribe, rate and review this episode, and tune into the WNBA postseason.

We'll see you next time.

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