Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Nick Hamilton’s Top WNBA Playoff Contenders | The Post Up Exclusive
0 Plays2 seconds ago
In this episode of The Post Up, I sit down with Nick Hamilton of Nitecast Media to talk all things WNBA Playoffs. From surprise contenders to powerhouse favorites, Nick gives his full breakdown of the teams he believes are built to make a deep postseason run. We talk mid-season momentum, star power, coaching strategy, and the matchups that could shift the playoff landscape. This one’s for the real hoop heads.
🔔 Make sure to like, comment with your picks, and subscribe for more WNBA coverage, culture, and commentary.
🎙️ Hosted by: DJ Tricey Trice 🧠 Guest: Nick Hamilton (Nitecast Media)
#WNBA #WNBAPlayoffs #NickHamilton #ThePostUp #BasketballBreakdown #NitecastMedia #WomenInSports #HoopsTalk
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to 'The Pulse Up'
00:00:03
Speaker
I'm running my mouth on everything hot in sports, news, drama, and whatever is blowing up the timeline. Let's get into it.
Introducing Nick Hamilton
00:00:16
Speaker
What's going on y'all? Y'all already know me as DJ Etreese Etreese and welcome back to another episode of the Pulse Up where I post it up running my mouth about sports always. and You know we live right at the five. I got a new friend here on the show today. One of, I personally call him my arch and nemesis of the sports world, which is a term of endearment because this is one of my
H&M vs. Bloomingdale's - Lifestyle Choices
00:00:36
Speaker
homies.
00:00:36
Speaker
Welcome to the show, Nick Hamilton. How are you? Hey, you know, I'm in my fresh H&M shirt, so I ain't going to be crying about going to Bloomingdale. Oh, I knew you was going to come with some drama. Hey, you know what's funny?
00:00:48
Speaker
that is that That is so funny to me because I understand what she's saying. It's just not a personal conversation. I don't think, I mean, like public conversation is what I'm saying. She should have had that with her homies.
00:01:01
Speaker
Having that out in the world just don't sound good ever. and i really no one really cares people got real problems out here trying to get groceries and medication out here talking about you can't afford to go to bloomin no one really cares man tom be quite honest with you and i'm not and i'm not mad at her because she's accumulated so much success and i'm glad for her success um i got a chance to interview her but you know a time or so you know really cool person um it's just unfortunate you got to read the room Yeah.
00:01:30
Speaker
And this ain't the climate for you talking about first world problems. Yeah. Yeah, I agree. I agree with you because and me and you both know, you know, with productions and with budgeting, like you, you understand what she's saying fundamentally, but okay culturally, like, girl, what is you even?
00:01:46
Speaker
thinking.
Be Simone's Statement Controversy
00:01:47
Speaker
We talking about Be Simone for y'all that don't know what we talking about. Just Google Be.Simone S-I-M-O-N-E s i m o n e if you are listening in audio and don't have time. But do it when you're in your car, all right? She had some controversial statements just talking about, you know, she had to downgrade her lifestyle.
00:02:02
Speaker
Shop at H&M. So, you know, we're crying. tears for her but thanks so much Nick Hamilton for just bringing in some cultural stuff because you know we we like to talk about what the internet is. Thank you man I need a tissue hold on second. tissue for her.
00:02:16
Speaker
Nick to start off just tell tell the people who are this is your first time on my show so tell the people where they can find you you know what what you're most known for. Well, if you got a smartphone and you got some Wi-Fi, you can find me on Instagram at Nick Hamilton. it Excuse me, at the NH Experience.
00:02:32
Speaker
You can find me on X at NickHamilton213. You can also follow us at Nightcast Media on TikTok, Instagram, and X or Twitter, whatever y'all calling it these days. And also find me at YouTube.com slash at Nightcast Media TV, ah where sports, entertainment, culture, and lifestyle square up.
00:02:54
Speaker
All right. And I'll make sure I link all of those in the description for those y'all who couldn't write it down or didn't have time to like type it into your phone. So rest assured that it'll be in this description as soon as we get done. So Nick, let's talk about W, okay?
00:03:07
Speaker
I love running my mouth about the W with you because you have a lot of controversial um takes. And I only say that because and mom my definition of controversy is like,
00:03:18
Speaker
Takes that you won't hear on yeah ESPN, takes that are rooted in some behind the scenes kind of things, but also takes that are like as audacious as mine sometimes. But, you know, you kind of go against
WNBA 2025 Season Predictions
00:03:29
Speaker
the grain. So let's just open it up with a discussion about like, who are your top four teams right now in the WNBA in the 2025 season?
00:03:39
Speaker
Well, i'm I'm so privileged and glad that you said that about me. That warmed my heart. Some people call me a contrarian, but, you know, I don't know if they know how to spell it. But, um you know, my four teams, I would probably say would be obviously Minnesota, New York, Phoenix.
00:03:58
Speaker
um And I would probably say. Right now, I'm loving my Golden State Valkyries right now. Okay, okay. And this is good news, Nick.
00:04:09
Speaker
This is the first time I ever heard you mention your Las Vegas Aces, dawg. What's going on? Well, first of all, they not mine. I just cover the team like everybody else. I'm not a fan.
00:04:20
Speaker
You are the fan. I am not. I don't get a check from nobody, which gives me the all-out right to talk about and critique the team the way I see fit.
00:04:32
Speaker
The thing with the Aces is this. Like, the Aces, and
Las Vegas Aces Analysis
00:04:35
Speaker
I've always said this. First of all, the face that runs the place, my my basketball my basketball chief, acknowledge her, um known as Asia Wilson, yeah ah the MVP.
00:04:46
Speaker
p p um acts you know i she's she's dynamic in itself right you got the point got over there with chelsea gray yep ah you still got jackie young who i think is a downright assassin um and then you added jewel lloyd switching her out basically for kelsey plumber moved on to purple and gold pastures um so they so she thought but anyway um I think it's just a new team. I think it's a new dynamic. I think it's I don't. And I've always questioned their bench and more so this year than I've ever questioned their bench and in years prior.
00:05:20
Speaker
um I think Becky Hammond is an absolute Hall of Future Hall of Fame coach. Yep. um I think she knows what she's doing. She she'll forget more basketball than we'll know. ah she would you know and And the thing about it is I don't think they have enough on the bench.
00:05:34
Speaker
i think I love Aaliyah Nye. I think Aaliyah Nye was an absolute steal in that draft for them. I think she fits well. I think she's going to do well as long she stays healthy. I think she's going to continue to do well. She's got all the support from not only Asia and Chelsea, which we saw on Sunday, but also to the organization.
00:05:52
Speaker
um But also, you know, there's some question marks there that need to be answered. You know, um I think they need a general manager. I think they need ah money to to really build that bench out and to really build that roster out.
00:06:05
Speaker
Yeah. um because Asia is going to need it. You cannot waste any years of Asia Wilson. I don't care. It's about to enter her prime in her prime past. I don't care when it is. You cannot waste crucial years of Asia Wilson. Asia Wilson needs to at least have at least four chips like she's my or more or anybody of that caliber because that's exactly what she is.
00:06:26
Speaker
um So the aces are they're trying to figure it out. This day, you know, the this the struggle was real, you know, but I think um Are they a
Trades Impact on Teams
00:06:35
Speaker
playoff team? Yeah, I think they can make the playoffs. Absolutely. If they stay healthy, they'll definitely make the playoffs. I think Jewel Lloyd had finally figure it out.
00:06:41
Speaker
Maybe it'll take her a whole half a season to kind of figure out that offense because people forget Becky's offense is a bit complicated and it takes time for you to really master it and understand it and then be able to execute it on a nightly basis.
00:06:53
Speaker
um And there's some things in there that you hear from former players that, man, her offense is kind of complex at times. So you got to know what you got to know in order for you to be able to be efficient inside of her offense.
00:07:06
Speaker
yeah um So it takes time. um And then also, too, like i said, they've got to get her some more players. They've got to get Asia some help. I mean, that's just what it is. ah The Fantastic Four that I mentioned, including the rookie, that's all fine and great.
00:07:21
Speaker
But they need they need some help. yeah you in the records this season or next season you got to get asia some help and and the bench was always kind of what what the the the Achilles heel for the Aces was.
00:07:35
Speaker
Because it's undoubtedly when that starting five is on the floor, that starting five was was on the floor. I do like the Jewel for KP switch only because it takes two of those players on an interpersonal level and takes them into two different directions, right?
00:07:50
Speaker
Jewel was the leader of Seattle, had been doing that, had had been working with that administration. had become unhappy and frustrated at at that organization and moved on and take a leap of faith to to not be the leader anymore.
00:08:02
Speaker
Whereas KP was doing the opposite. She wasn't really the roster number one go-to, even though she definitely KP was a reason why they got ah a cup those two championships. But, um you know, she's going and stepping out on faith and stepping into a leadership role where Jewel Lloyd just left, right? We're at a struggling franchise. You need to be a leader in the locker room.
00:08:22
Speaker
So I liked those for their two individual careers. What it did for those two rosters, I don't think... we ah it panned out like we thought just yet for the same reason that you said, right?
00:08:34
Speaker
It's going to take Jewel Lloyd a minute to figure out the offense. And same with KP, right? KP came into LA Sparks organization with a new coach Right.
00:08:45
Speaker
A fairly new GM with a whole new system and a whole new set of players. So they have not equal battles. They have both challenging battles and they've been seeing hardship in that transition. So I'm excited to see those weathered season players, how they turn it on for the playoffs, because I think you're right. Vegas, I don't care how how far down they fall.
00:09:05
Speaker
The players have played at such a high caliber that when the pressure is applied, they can turn it on and be a playoff team whenever. I don't know how much longer are you looking because it's only one year and that year we already eaten into that year.
00:09:18
Speaker
Yeah. So when I, when I look at Jewel Lord and when I look at KP, I can look Kelsey plum. I'm like, what are y'all
Player Contracts and CBA Strategy
00:09:25
Speaker
doing? because it's it's a year contract there's no guarantee they're going to resign with those those direct teams they could they have the freedom to go elsewhere and i mean obviously one of the main reasons was because the new cba that's on the horizon they don't want to be stuck into yeah you know their current deals which was very very smart from a business perspective uh with that and i know there was a lot of talk about the cba uh the last couple of days from a lot of different players uh regarding the future of the cba but when i look at it overall
00:09:56
Speaker
I look at this, I look at, you know, the Aces, and I think the Aces have a bright future. I think they have a really, really well-ran organization. i mean, from ownership on down. I mean, we've seen other organizations. you When you look at the New York Liberty with Joe Cy, when you look at the Phoenix Mercury, when you look at, um you know, the the Atlanta Dream, when you look at the Seattle Storm or even the port the Portland team that's coming into the fold, or even Golden State, you know, the Valkyries, how they've been able to have a good organization supporting them.
00:10:26
Speaker
um And I think that's what's really missing. I think we don't really see ah some of these ownerships, you know ownership individuals or groups really supporting these teams the way they need to be supported.
00:10:36
Speaker
Yeah. um And you're seeing the results of that even here in l L.A.
00:10:41
Speaker
And and i i I hear what you're saying and I agree with what you're saying. I do think that ah when you said what they waiting for. I think that sometimes you go into these positions and you think, like, I think both of them are trying it out, if it makes sense, right?
00:10:57
Speaker
one One year, KP could come to LA. This is, um there's no loss to her brand for this. She's coming to LA, which is a better market for her to be a leader on the roster.
00:11:08
Speaker
I'm not saying it's a better sports market. I'm not saying it's a better market for her to make more money, as you can see how how Vegas went. But you come here to to try out if you can be the leader in the locker room, see what this larger sports market is like.
00:11:20
Speaker
um And then if you decide to go somewhere else, if the season busts, ain't nobody going blame you and say, dang, why KP didn't resign? You will be able to see why she didn't resign until she gets to try out the leadership role without committing long term to the organization.
00:11:36
Speaker
But the unfair part is some there will be some that will blame her. Right. Because I say, well, you should have never left Vegas. You should have stayed in Vegas. You should. Why did you thought? Why did you think you could come to L.A. and do X, y and Z?
00:11:47
Speaker
This is it's totally unfair. Yeah. But if that does happen, I agree with you on that regard. Oh, my God. Write that down, ladies and gentlemen. um But I will say.
00:11:58
Speaker
that you know it's unfair because you can't it's it's not it's five on five. It's not one on five. You can't put all the pressure and all the the the expectations just solely on Kelsey Plum when she has four other players that she could play with, right, that didn't necessarily maybe didn't come through at at different points throughout the season that they should have.
00:12:19
Speaker
You can't solely blame Kelsey Plum. um And I think Kelsey Plum is a star. I think she's absolutely a flat-out baller. um And I think she yeah she came here with the best intentions.
00:12:31
Speaker
Yep. But however, intentions are like volunteer work and don't pay no bills. um Either it's going to be or it's not. And if Kelsey does leave, which wouldn't surprise me, um especially if they don't make the playoffs, which I don't think they're going to make the playoffs this year.
00:12:48
Speaker
Nick. Yeah. it ah It's reality. Truth hurts. It hurts, but he heals too. They can totally make a playoff push for sure. Because in the WNBA, the name of the game is, in the W, where yeah the the healthiest team lasts. We done had all our hardship at the beginning.
00:13:06
Speaker
Everybody done been injured at the beginning. So if after All-Star break, we our our schedule could easily flip. We've seen this happen on the adverse where teams were at the top and dropped to the bottom once the playoffs came.
Sparks' Injuries and Performance
00:13:18
Speaker
Well, see, there's more layers to this story. and and there's more layers to this story and that's why i i'm not convinced that they're going to make the playoffs there's a lot of moving pieces that are happening that i don't feel confident in um i love rakia jackson i'm so happy that rakia came back um and i hope she she remains with the club the entire the rest of the season because i think she's dynamite um And I think as she continues to improve her game, I mean, I just saw something the other day when Kelsey was talking to Lisa Leslie about how much she admired, you know, ah playing with Rekia Jackson, such ah an intelligent basketball mind and an intelligent player. And that that speaks volumes when you have somebody like KP speaking about you in your second year. That speaks volumes. It's only basically been around you for you know a few months. Two months, yeah. Maybe played against you. But when you're in that locker room, now you get a chance to know somebody and really see what they're really about in practices and even you know inside and outside the locker room. So for her to speak about that by Rekia Jackson, it speaks volumes.
00:14:24
Speaker
And then also, too, when is Cameron Brink coming back? Because now that they sit at, what is it, 4-10, maybe 4-11 by the time this airs, what is the rush for Cameron Brink to come back?
00:14:36
Speaker
yeah Because if I'm Cameron Brink, why am I rushing to come back for him with 4-11? Yeah. You know? um So, I mean, and she's a major contributor to this to this organization, to this squad.
00:14:46
Speaker
I mean, Cameron Brink is an absolute baller. Yeah. And we miss a defense right now. So this that's where we're literally, even with her being out, she was still one of the top defensive players and she had missed like 11, 12 games in the season.
00:15:00
Speaker
She was still at the top. Still Cameron Brink. You know what mean? So... I mean, there there's, I mean, you got, you I know Ray Burrell's scheduled to come back in the six to eight weeks, and I hope she does make a full recovery.
00:15:13
Speaker
yeah um You never want to see players, you know, injured and not be able to give their full potential i' on the floor. But, you know, how long does it does it take her to get back into basketball shape? Yeah. um And if you're so far down after the All-Star break, can you climb out of that hole?
00:15:28
Speaker
There have been teams that have tried and come up shorter than a midget at a urinal. I mean, it doesn't, it doesn't, It doesn't mean a whole We got 30 games left.
00:15:39
Speaker
We got 30 games left. we Actually, we got less than that, but go ahead. we look We a quarter into the season. A quarter. You're third and into the season, but go ahead. Okay, cool. The third end into the season, right? Well, go ahead. um I do not agree with that. Arguably, the best of the Sparks, we haven't even seen.
00:15:58
Speaker
We had two hardship players. And who's fault is that? Hardship. Hardship, Nick. No, no, no. Hardship. we been new We've been the most injured team for the last three seasons.
00:16:10
Speaker
Period. DJ. DJ. Come on now. Nick Hamilton. You love you like a play cousin. But come on now. Come on now. You know. you We lost Ray Burrell in the first 46 seconds of the season.
00:16:24
Speaker
46 seconds, Nick. That's one player. That's one player, DJ. Then we lost Rekia Jackson to a concussion the next game. Okay. and sort of And the Aces lost Asia Wilson, their top player. And they still battled out at 500. They're close to 500. Nick, Nick, we had le Leah 2 King.
00:16:41
Speaker
Them played more minutes than Ray Burrell. Leah 2 King. You know i know what it comes down to, DJ. You know what this comes down to. Stop making... you make more What it comes down to, Nick? I need you to make it clear.
00:16:55
Speaker
You know what it is. It comes down to what? Who graces the sidelines, DJ? You talking about coaching? What the coach going to do? What she going to do? What she need to do better?
00:17:07
Speaker
First of all, don't even let me let me I'm not going even I'm not going to get you canceled on your show. I'm going to do that. Listen, we can talk. Let's talk X's and O's. I really want to hear your perspective on culture. First of all, okay.
00:17:19
Speaker
It doesn't even start
Coaching Critiques and Suggestions
00:17:20
Speaker
with the culture. You know where it starts? Up top. What's the hiring? It starts with the hiring. It starts with the hiring. First of all, and I've said this on my own show, The Hardwood 94, that you can catch every Thursday. Yeah, pro plug it, plug it Listen, tell my people what you're saying so they can go listen to you over there What I said was, if I had an opportunity, there's three coaches out there I would have chosen before Lynn Roberts. And I don't have anything against Lynn Roberts. I think Lynn Roberts knows the game of basketball, okay?
00:17:47
Speaker
I've never said she doesn't own the game of basketball. I've never said she couldn't coach. Not saying that. What I am saying is if you got a prime star in Kelsey Plum and she's on a one year deal for whatever reason is on paper.
00:18:02
Speaker
Yep. OK, but we know it's a one year deal. All right. Then we see the one year deal happen with a with a number of former number one pick from the Sparks. They end up where is she at now in the Pacific Northwest.
00:18:13
Speaker
Yep. Why? Because they didn't make the playoffs. Right. Max. Okay. You think Kelsey's going to, if Kelsey is about winning, if she's truly about winning, right. And they don't make the playoffs this year and she resigns, that will tell me a whole lot.
00:18:30
Speaker
If she doesn't resign, it tells me a whole lot too. But if I have a a star player in Kelsey plum, yep you best believe Lynn Roberts may be on the list, but she ain't the first call. I get, you know, why I will call. There's three people I'm calling.
00:18:46
Speaker
I got one name in mind. That's what I was going to say. I'm calling Lisa Leslie. If not, I'm calling Teresa Weatherspoon. If not, I'm calling Kara Lawson. okay yeah Okay. I'm calling them. One of them three going to answer the phone.
00:19:00
Speaker
Yeah. First of all, why the hell is Lisa Leslie not coaching and not in Los Angeles is mind-blowing. We already know that one ah according to some of the reports, one of the teams that passed on her is now struggling with the number one pick.
00:19:14
Speaker
Okay. Now, First of all, the Sparks have to create a culture. I have not seen them create culture. When you have a person like Lisa Leslie, and by the way, remind me of this, DJ, since you are the ultimate Sparks fan.
00:19:29
Speaker
Remind me of this. Who did Cameron Brink said she looked up to that was a former Spark? It's definitely Lisa Leslie. Oh, wow. Okay. Not to mention, um i'm asking some let me ask Emma why you cooking.
00:19:42
Speaker
Lisa Leslie was an active coach for the big three. ah Yeah. Coaching men at a high level and won a championship. So um I'm passing you up on that because I agree with the Lisa Leslie argument.
00:19:58
Speaker
and and And correct me, this is a two-time WNBA champion? For our franchise. One of our all-time greats. The best. Lisa Leslie? du Defeated the the the defeated the the the the Avengers known as the Houston Comets?
00:20:12
Speaker
Yep. Okay. All right. I'm just checking. Anyway. um Also, ah mentored a young lady who we're about to put her jersey in the rafters. Yep. Okay.
00:20:25
Speaker
yeah okay All right. All right. Okay. You're right, Nick. I'm going to be real with you, Nick. I was salty. Now, I knew of Lynn Roberts because I followed the Utah and Alyssa Peely rise to fame, if you will. That's how I got. I'm not a Pacific Northwest kind of girl, so I wasn't familiar with Lynn's game.
00:20:45
Speaker
I got to know her. I think that she is a great fit for the Sparks long term now because I've met her, I've talked to her. I think where the organization is going. Would I have loved Lisa Leslie? Absolutely.
00:20:56
Speaker
Undoubtedly. That was my number. That's who I thought we were getting. I thought we were getting her. But when I didn't get her, long term? We wasn't getting her. We wasn't getting her. The three coaches we named, we wasn't getting.
00:21:09
Speaker
I was shocked we didn't get her. It seemed like a PR home run for me. I wasn't. I wasn't. You know how to hope Nick. talk aboutitude I thought for sure,
00:21:20
Speaker
If it walk like a duck and quack like a duck and ain't no damn mongoose. Nick, I thought things were changing. I saw KP coming. I got the the bright lights. I saw the click, the camera flashes. Rakia, right? It may seem it made it seem like we were doing We California. what kind what What stuff was you smoking?
00:21:39
Speaker
Nick, I believe. i be believing. Man, I hope you have that kind of belief in God because that's what's going to come through for you. Unshakable, man. Listen, unwavering faith in God and yourself, hey, I'm all for it.
00:21:54
Speaker
Anything else that you can't control? Mm-mm. Not over here. No longer. Yeah, yeah. So I was asking about this. And I'm not, and i'm again, I'm not knocking the organization. I'm not knocking, because I think they have some talented players on that roster, but I think it comes down to coaching.
00:22:10
Speaker
I think it comes down to coaching and the coaching staff. And when you have a Lisa Leslie, first of all, you build culture.
Sparks' Legacy and Culture
00:22:16
Speaker
Because then Lisa, who, that now, if you're trying to build culture, right, look what they're doing in Minnesota. yeah who was on the coaching staff in Minnesota?
00:22:25
Speaker
yeah want help one fort That one win, rather, four chips. And as a product of that environment, Lindsey Whalen. Yeah. Right? who recently Who recently came to a practice before they retired her jersey?
00:22:38
Speaker
Simone Augustus, who was also a four-time champ. Right? Okay. You got Maya Moore at times sitting in the stands, cooling out. You know why? Because the Minnesota Lynx know how to continue to upgrade and elevate culture.
00:22:52
Speaker
They show those young players, hey, these are the players that you want to be like. yeah Even Mama Taj, right? where Where are the sparks the former Sparks players coming from? Where's the Elena Beards?
00:23:04
Speaker
where Yeah, we got a Candace Parker, but that's a limited time like the McRibs. Because we only doing a Jersey retirement and then we may not see her anymore. i like me maria because She's very busy.
00:23:17
Speaker
Yeah. You know what I'm saying? i mean, one thing because Candace is on, she's doing her immediate thing. She's doing a great job doing that. She got a lot busy with that. She's got a family now. You what mean? She's got a family. She's continuing to raise and that, which is a beautiful thing. I love that for her.
00:23:31
Speaker
She's happy, you know, so she got a book tour that she's been on. oh which is a great read, by the way. um And so, yeah, she's busy. But the thing about it is you can bring back Delisha Milton. You can bring back ah Elena Beard, who's a Hall of Famer. You can bring back Mawadi Mubika. You can bring back a lot of people from their former Sparks to integrate with this new generation of Sparks.
00:23:55
Speaker
But we don't see that. And the person that could have bridged that gap would have been Lisa Leslie. Bring all the homies back. named after for God's sakes. Yeah, I just took a picture with the floor. I don't know. I'm such a Lisa Leslie fan. Again, Lisa Leslie is why I am a Sparks fan. 1996, 1997, Chicago did not have a WNBA team. I was a little girl in Chicago watching LA Sparks.
00:24:18
Speaker
That's how I became a fan, y'all. I'm telling you. so For me, I think it's such a miss to not bring back some of those players. And two, as a fan, I would be so excited if some of these players was coming back and I can get autographs that they would set up some kind of oh old school, new school blast from the past. I don't know. Let Cam and les Lisa Leslie sign autographs together. Something to connect and and bridge the two generations. i don't we but I don't even see it from a marketing perspective. Like, where is the marketing?
00:24:48
Speaker
Like, when I go to Vegas and I'm in that airport, You know what I see? I see Raiders. I see Aces. And I see Golden Knights. Yep. When I'm in Phoenix. You know what I see? Suns, Mercury, and depending on the season, the Cardinals.
00:25:03
Speaker
Yeah. Okay? You know what I come when I go through LAX? Dodgers, Lakers, Rams, maybe USC.
Marketing the Sparks in LA
00:25:13
Speaker
Not even the Clippers.
00:25:16
Speaker
Not at airport. Not in that airport. And they down the street. You go to little airport shops? Mm-mm. Not a banana. so But you know what? Maybe some King stuff, depending on the year. Maybe you might find some l L.A. King stuff, depending on your specialist playoff time.
00:25:30
Speaker
Facts. I will say that I was just at a um ah Fanatic store. No, no, no. Liz's store. And I saw some Sparks jerseys up in there. They had KP. Yes. They had Cameron. This is the first time I've ever seen Sparks stuff out in the wild. Like, you could actually shop and they got enough jerseys for you to actually cop one.
00:25:47
Speaker
So, i'm I'm excited to see us on the shelves more. But I agree. Like, there are no buses. There are no trains. Like, Even like when i first became a Sparks um season ticket holder, they gave us these Metro passes that had the season season ticket holder thing on it. like We were integrated into the city even. like I had my stuff out, so I just i think maybe this year...
00:26:08
Speaker
um don't know if it caught him by surprise or we what we doing no no well no we're not doing that no no we're not doing that it's been the same for you for years there was some buses and trains i remember seeing them nick it's been the same for years that's all it's been the same for years and it's really it's really sad because being growing up in this city hu being a part of the city i mean I've been to a Sparks game before I covered it, before I even got in the media at the foot when it was at when they were playing at the forum. We got a couple of tickets and we were able to get close enough to the court you know because
00:26:41
Speaker
you couldn't necessarily all the time afford laker tickets yeah yeah know we both especially taking your family like that yeah right we couldn't afford the king's tickets all the time you what i mean so there were the most affordable tickets going and you saw people come out you know especially those first couple of years you saw people come out and you had a hometown person at lisa leslie i mean morningside high usb i mean she was homegrown so we yeah we go she rep she repped the west so yeah we're gonna definitely rep lisa she repped the
WNBA's International Growth
00:27:10
Speaker
west yep you know and so i don't see that now like i don't i don't i don't feel that now yeah you know and i'm like these are the faces of your franchise which is rakia cam and and kelsey those are the faces of your franchise at least for right now yep and i need to be i want to see more of them i want to see more of them i mean i love the slam cover don't get me wrong even though they had different regional slam covers and that was a great that was great but that's slam magazine
00:27:38
Speaker
Yeah, that's not... no you've got a copy Every fan should got a copy. Walking through the turnstiles should a copy of that slam magazine. That would have been lit. With a poster.
00:27:49
Speaker
Old school poster. Right, or something to that. A t-shirt, a poster, ah the actual copy of the magazine. like Every fan should have got a copy of some sort just to represent. Yeah.
00:28:00
Speaker
Right? And that's the thing I look at. It's like, man, where... that's You've got to do, I mean, this league is growing exponentially. Yep. I mean, beyond Kaitlin Clark, beyond Angel Reese, beyond Paige Beckers, this league is growing across the board.
00:28:17
Speaker
Yeah, and across the world, too. People are. Right. um mean you actually have I mean, yeah, Kaitlin Clark was just told that she got a heavy presence in Hong Kong. Like, imagine that.
00:28:28
Speaker
Yeah. You know, when we think about China, we think about Jordan and Kobe and Yao Ming. And Kobe was probably the biggest one over there. over Yeah. what he ever saying a I had a lot. I had a lot of love, but he it wasn't bigger than Kobe.
00:28:44
Speaker
Oh, no, I one definitely want to be bigger than Kobe. Oh, come on. And that's what I'm saying. And Kobe, let speaking of Kobe, Kobe is the one that really thrusted the presence of the W because when he came wearing that orange hoodie.
00:28:57
Speaker
Yeah, agree. And came with his daughter. He would come to to games pretty regularly. Yep. yeah And he would travel. And I was loving to see, like, you see LeBron and AD in Las Vegas supporting Asia, or you see Kyrie,
Attracting Celebrities to Games
00:29:10
Speaker
you know, going to games, or you see Chris Paul that will come to games, or even, like, we recently seen Kevin Durant, who is now a Houston Rocket, but him coming to games and supporting. Like, I love seeing that stuff because that's needed.
00:29:25
Speaker
But in l L.A., you can't tell me why Snoop Dogg shouldn't be sitting on on a front row seat, him and his wife, a boss lady. Yep. Hanging out at the game. Yeah.
00:29:36
Speaker
Where's the game? The game is a hooper. yeah You ain't invited the game. You have an invited exhibit. Yeah. Um, You know, I mean, there's a plethora of other people. I mean, even if you wanted to invite Ice Cube and do like a... baby dinner but eat that's purple and gold right oh I mean, he's trying to do his Big Three thing. They could put him up there as the owner of the Big Three and just literally put the logo up there for a little bit and he'll come sit on the floor.
00:30:01
Speaker
I know it ain't gonna happen, but that would be a smart play for the streets. You know, you know the... I know, he's going to be with the NBA. I get it. I understand. Well, the NBA is beating him.
00:30:12
Speaker
was gonna say, he wanna... yeah he wanted to be nice but they ain't trying to hear so i'm saying you know i'm looking at this like there's a plethora i mean you got kendrick you got scissor you have j-rock you got dom kennedy you have d smoke i mean you got a plethora of people that could come out on on a nightly basis and really fill up really make that celebrity role look what they're doing in new york with the liberty they got celebrity rope popping but also too they they invested more than that they already winning you feel me like so it's like for us i don't know that they would invest a whole bunch of money and bring ah money presence media pr and we ain't we getting smacked up by the uh because you not because you because you want because you want to go to ebt route can't go to ebt right and then you're going you're going want you're going to be whining and dining at ruth chris they don't accept ebt
00:31:07
Speaker
ebt is diabolical how are how are he taking the ebt route nick is lisa leslie gretchen sidelines right now i agree with you okay let me ask you this dj why did why did they trade the number two pick for one-year rental possibly Oh, man. That draft, it wasn't we could do with that.
00:31:33
Speaker
It wasn't nothing we could do in this year's draft. Dominique Malik. What's her name? roni We already had... We got eight girls that 6'5", bro. So that goes back to drafting, right?
00:31:46
Speaker
So that goes back to drafting, correct? Yeah, we already got a... We could have got Sonia Citrone. Okay, Sonia Citrone should have came over here. Yeah, you know why? Because we drafted at nine.
00:31:58
Speaker
I don't... ah That's the only thing. We didn't need Dominique Belonga though. The number two draft pick Seattle could have had that one because we got all the, that's so much redundancy. I'd have took, out listen, this is what I would have done. I'd had the twin towers down here.
00:32:12
Speaker
I'd have been like, going to have Cam and going have Dominique. Now Cam is on her way, working her way back. Dominique is you know, we're going work her in slow like, like, like Noel Quinn in the and the coaching staff is doing. I talked to the coaching staff, uh,
00:32:24
Speaker
on you know before the last game and i was asking him like hey you know what's the plan will you guys see with dominique like are you guys gonna kind of bring her on slow as you know it's kind of and it's kind of like a shohei ohtani type thing like hey we're gonna let her do one inning and then we go we're gonna see what happens in yeah yeah yeah right and they're bring her on slowly right because they know she's the future yeah and she got she got some she got some victory win beyond my qualities ain't gonna lie you call ah She cold. Her game is really, really dope. and I just think it's too much redundancy for our roster.
00:32:55
Speaker
We would have to... like here this is what You cut it. You cut the deck. Okay, so let's cut the deck. Okay, take Malunga second. Walk me through the rest of the roster. So you got the Twin Towers with Cam and Malunga, but Cam is on the bench, and we slowly working in Malunga.
00:33:11
Speaker
So while we doing that, De'Erica and Azare are holding down the five and the four? Okay, which is what's happening right now anyway. i ni' ready Bye-bye, Azare. Bye-bye, De'Arica. It's been nice knowing you.
00:33:24
Speaker
Because the young one got to come up. Or just from from the spot? from the team. It's time to go. But that's years in the making.
00:33:36
Speaker
You know You know what you know who who was brilliant at at developing young talent and making sure that they didn't go outside their wheelhouse too much? Sam Presley and the OKC Thunder.
00:33:47
Speaker
Okay. You can mimic the similar type of thing with that. If you would drafted right, made sure. Now, listen, I love ah Sanaa. I love that. I think she's i think she's a talent.
00:34:05
Speaker
I wouldn't have drafted Sarah Ashley Barker. I wouldn't have drafted her. um And that's no diss to her. I just wouldn't have done it. i would have may I would have looked at other other players at that at around that area. And now again, that's no diss to her. I'm just saying if we're going to keep the number two pick, yeah then there's no need to be drafting that way, right?
00:34:25
Speaker
Yep. And then you develop the talent, yes, hey, ladies and gentlemen, we're going through a rebuilding period. So please be patient with us, we're going to rebuild. We're going through growing pains, but it's going to be sweeter later.
00:34:38
Speaker
You don't think the OKC Thunder told them people in OKC, hey, we just traded Paul George for a kid that we haven't even heard of yet yep the guy has a but is immensely talented which you're gonna watch over the course of time not only is he a leader but he plays as a unit and you bring in lou dort you bring and then you trade later on yeah they traded for heart and time right you know and they built that roster right chet holmgren you draft you know you build
00:35:11
Speaker
I'm glad you brought this conversation up. because Okay, let's talk about it. You're talking about OKC versus you know the Sparks right now in comparison with building and telling people to be patient, right? So the Sparks have been in a rebuilding phase. When we were with Kurt, he was building this system. We were doing the thing. So people have been being patient.
00:35:28
Speaker
So then you take it from from that rebuilding phase, but then you switch to coach. OKC got a new coach in 2020. They continued to draft to Jalen Williams and all of them was 2012.
00:35:42
Speaker
So they didn't fire the coach and scrap the whole system and say the coach is bad and do all the things. They let the coach develop alongside the players for those five years, which is what we're not seeing in the W. So it's like you can't even hold them to the same standard of we're building, we're growing. If every single turn we fire in a coach and switching out the players.
00:36:00
Speaker
i Second time during this program, I agree with you. And the thing about it is, okay, let's say you don't like the contractor. The contractor bails out on you. You want him to finish your bathroom up. He ain't finishing the bathroom in time. Okay, you fire him and find somebody else. But then the second time you find somebody else, make sure they finish the bathroom on time, on schedule.
00:36:19
Speaker
Yep. Right. But the plumbing might be bad from the last contractor name. Well, that's what I'm saying. You got to gut that out. But at least you got somebody and that can recognize, hey, man, this plumbing, this these are 1965 pipes. No, no, you you you get you got shafted, man.
00:36:33
Speaker
Let us go in here. Let us redo these pipes. Let us redo this sink. And let's get this bathroom on so we can move on to the next job.
Improving Game Management in WNBA
00:36:40
Speaker
and that's what i felt like if you're gonna let kurt go then fine bring on lisa leslie let her develop these young ladies especially the bigs let her let her right let her find the coaching staff that's needed you know to to be able to develop and be able to develop the rest of the players and then let her be a manager let her be a game manager yeah yeah right that's what becky is becky was a game manager
00:37:06
Speaker
Becky was Bill Belichick. yeah Yeah, Becky was Bill Belichick. She was the CEO. She was like, okay, what do have? Okay, what do you have? And then Becky sees something, she's going implement it. But she was she was she was game managing.
00:37:18
Speaker
yeah And that's what I think that's what this team needs. They need a game manager on the sideline. You know? And I mean... Listen, I'm not paid for this. we This is just all conversation.
00:37:30
Speaker
Some people may agree, some people may disagree. It's fine. You listened anyway, so it's too late. You can't unhear what you heard. um But I say this because I want to see, the i was there when the l LA Sparks went to the finals.
00:37:46
Speaker
Yep. Right, I was covering the team, right? When we had those rivalries with the Minnesota Lynx and Maya Moore against Candace Parker, and you had Nneka who was emerging as that player, and you had Chelsea Gray.
00:37:59
Speaker
And, you know, you had Atlanta Beard and you had all these these talented, this talented roster against this the big, bad Minnesota Lynx. And they were going at it like two heavyweights. Yep. Back to back years.
00:38:10
Speaker
Three years actually beyond it. Yeah. Those are our rivals. People forget. Right. Right. Back then, yeah, it was. And that's what I'm saying. And then watching Candace get the championship and then going to the rally where it was 2,000 people at LA Live at the rally.
00:38:24
Speaker
Yeah. And going back the following year to the finals and then unfortunately losing in in the last game of the WNBA finals to Minnesota. Yeah. um Going through all that and in watching.
00:38:37
Speaker
I mean, I want to see that again. We all deserve that. Yeah. the City deserves that. But again, if you don't do certain things on the on on in the ground, the surface is not going to be right.
00:38:50
Speaker
If don't plant the right seeds, the harvest is not going to be right. Yeah. yeah and that's And that's where we are. There's no reason why this squad should be 4-10. There's no way in hell this squad... But that goes back to drafting...
00:39:08
Speaker
positioning, strategy, yeahp and development. Executing. i execute So listen, you know I love talking Sparks and I'm glad our conversation went on this way so we can figure out because I think a lot of people get, no, I don't think you get a bad rap. I just think people think that you be hating and just be saying stuff. But now that you get a chance to say what you're saying, and give you give your justification, it's like, all right, cool. I can hear what you're saying. You know how I'm to feel regardless of, people could say, listen, I have on paper that the Sparks think, I would look you in your face and be like, I don't know what that piece of paper say.
00:39:38
Speaker
You know I will. I've been an advocate for the W. The Sparks will always have a special place in my heart because that's my very first professional team that I covered in this media business.
00:39:49
Speaker
Yep. They were my very first professional team in two and the second half of 2009. and Okay. And that's the year Candice wasn't playing because she was pregnant with Layla at the time. yeah So she took that entire year off and she didn't come back to, I believe, part of 2010.
00:40:04
Speaker
So the Sparks will always have a special place in my heart as an organization, as a record label, and as a crew. Right. But um ah i'm here to tell it like it is and not like it was and if you think i'm a hater then hey man that's your business yeah no plenty of people think i'm a hater on the internet i'm completely fine with it mean it's cool nah man you you are a homer i don't understand how the hell anybody thinks you're a hater you are a complete homer i mean lunch lunch box in hand
00:40:35
Speaker
yeah down to the, the you you probably got some some Sparks swimming trunks somewhere. I i know how get down, DJ. I know you like to swim, get to swim on. You probably got some Sparks house shoes, gonna swap me. I know you done went down to the sloss and had the little man in the back get you some Sparks house shoes.
00:40:53
Speaker
I know. I'm running it with the, I'm running to the wheels fall off. I don't care how bad it get on, how ugly it is. Them my girls. So let let's. The wheels, the rotors. The rocker.
00:41:03
Speaker
Nick, please, please. You're killing me, man. All right, final question. Let's ah let's wrap this up. um So where we are right now, what teams, I asked you about your fur your four top teams at the top.
00:41:16
Speaker
Let's talk about the teams that you think are being slept on and after um the All-Star break are going to take off the second half of the season.
Indiana Fever's Potential Rise
00:41:23
Speaker
Give me your predictions so we can circle back after and we can have another show to talk about that.
00:41:28
Speaker
I think the Indiana fever. I mean, I think if Kaitlin Clark, and and and I give Kaitlin Clark a lot of credit, I think she admitted to, hey, man, the turnovers continue to kill us, and I'm the reason why they continue to kill us. yeah And the thing about is Kaitlin Clark's have to figure out a way because the turnovers have not improved from rookie year until now.
00:41:43
Speaker
She's still continuing to battle with those turnovers, and she's going to have figure it out. I know she's been struggling shooting, but that's not going to last long. It's Kaitlin Clark, for God's sake. She's going to figure it out. numbers game um So I'm not concerned about that. I'm more concerned about her turnovers and players not getting...
00:41:59
Speaker
more themselves more involved. I love her and Aaliyah Boston. I think that Shaq and Kobe, oh the the the women version. i there' no There's no disrespect to the ladies. I'm not going to say that. No, no, that's a good comparison. That's a sports comparison. I'm just giving a comparison because we have nothing else to compare it to too much.
00:42:14
Speaker
Yeah. um You know, I love I think that squad is talented. um You know, prayers up to DeWanna Bonner. I know she's going through some personal issues and hopefully she's going to be OK and her family is going to be OK. And whoever else, you know, and I would love to see DeWanna Bonner return because I think she's going to be a key element for them in that second half of the season, especially going to the playoff push.
00:42:35
Speaker
um So I think Indiana is one um New York. New York is shaky because I wanna, because now that John Quayle unfortunately went down, that's gonna be a huge piece that they're gonna have to pick it up.
00:42:48
Speaker
And again, they have some talent on that roster. I love the Natasha Cloud move. saying I think that was icing on the cake. um Natasha Cloud is a baller. she she She has excellent court vision. I mean, the way she runs that offense and is able to be able to to play off the ball.
00:43:04
Speaker
I think people don't really pay attention to her how she moves off the ball. um You know, New York is one. I think Atlanta. I think people are still not giving Atlanta their props with Alicia Gray. Yep. um Listen, that woman. Okay, ladies and gentlemen, let me say this. I'm going to tell you. You're going to be my first to say this, DJ. So, you know, like I said, love you like a play cousin on the other side of the tracks.
00:43:29
Speaker
I am a WNBA national voter. And let me just say this. I have been thoroughly impressed with Alicia Gray. Yeah. and that And that Atlanta Dream team, period, between BG, Brianna Jones, Ryan Howard.
00:43:45
Speaker
I love that coach. I love what they've been able to instill. See, they're instilling culture over there. That's what I'm talking about. they're starting to They're starting to have a culture. And I think Phoenix going to make a a big push. I think Nate Tibbetts, let me explain something to y'all.
00:44:00
Speaker
Everybody thought when the departure of Dona Tarazi and BG left, they thought, oh, man, this team going to be a lottery team, maybe hang around the bottom of a barrel. No, no, no, no. When they got Alyssa Thomas, when they got Sato, and now that Kai's back,
00:44:14
Speaker
and they and it let me But the props goes to not only again, DJ, drafting yeah again, but also the Phoenix Mercury scouting team with those Euro players that they have well i don't know none of them girls. Listen, I had to go but i to go watch some tape on them. I'm like, wait, where did they come from? Where did you drag them from?
00:44:36
Speaker
and we go are we are we in are we in the Are we in the universe? What is happening? Yeah. What portal did you drag these ladies from? Because, man, they out there playing like a collective unit.
00:44:48
Speaker
Yes, they are. and that's what you And that's why they they have they have the success that they have now. And I hope they continue that because I think they are playing extremely hard. They're playing extremely well, but they're playing disciplined.
00:44:59
Speaker
And they will run through a wall for Nate Tibbetts. Let me tell you something. I've been down there. they They will run through a they were run through hellfire and brimstone for that man. Because that's how much he believes in them. But he makes sure he puts them in prime positions to excel.
00:45:14
Speaker
Agreed. That's a coach. Yeah. And he will save them from themselves. I think the Mercury, like you said, that was a team that surprised me the most. I mean, because with Sato and A.T.,
00:45:27
Speaker
That was already, I didn't i didn't think they were going to be at the bottom, but I didn't think they were going to have the impact that they have already because I was so unfamiliar with the bench, because I was so unfamiliar with the the other people that they dropped.
Phoenix Mercury's Resilience
00:45:38
Speaker
I'm not kidding.
00:45:39
Speaker
I'm not saying, I don't even pretend to be like a person who knows everything about international players and all these, but I'm running my mouth constantly about basketball. And these girls came and just surprised me. I mean, watching them play in person was super, super impressive, especially because they all share the ball.
00:45:57
Speaker
They don't have no like superstar complex. There's not even a lot of people on the roster on paper for you to think that team is going to be as good as it is. So, shouts out to ah the Mercury and Valkyrie for being just like two teams to just come out swinging first.
00:46:11
Speaker
And I said, my co-host brought up a great point, Lauren Jones. She said, you know, Minnesota. yeah Because with Minnesota... they didn't they didn't They didn't have a lot of interchangeable pieces. They may have picked up a piece or two there, but they kept their their their horse their roster intact.
00:46:27
Speaker
yeah And that's why they've been successful the way they've been successful, even without, unfortunately, unfortunately being without the services of ah Nafisa Collier. yep They were able to still bring it bring it to to to the forefront. And that is a talented roster.
00:46:43
Speaker
And they have a great coach. Cheryl Reeves is a great coach. She is one of the like Olympic level men and women. i mean, she can scout. She can coach.
00:46:55
Speaker
I mean, like you said, her execution on game day. she has a great scouting department. She does. She has a great scouting department. And that's key. Yeah. They have a great organization. yeah And yes, they're part of that Timberwolves you know tree, but they have a great organization and they know what they're doing. They know how to get stuff done.
00:47:15
Speaker
Courtney Williams, ah that to me, that signing a couple of years back, crazy man, was that a blessing in disguise for the Minnesota Lynx? Them ending up with Heidemann somehow out of that whole ah Connecticut trade.
00:47:28
Speaker
I'm like, how the hell they get Heidemann? Oh, what's what's we're and they have another player, by the way, number 21. You saw him, Caleb McBride. Uh-huh, uh-huh. Yeah, she played, you know. LA's been pretty familiar with her. I'm just, I just want to make sure you remember. I know, I remember, I remember.
00:47:46
Speaker
So Lawrence, you know, Lawrence said, hey, man, i don't I don't know if you could stop that train, so to speak. No, no, no. i say and i can't I can't disagree with you. And right now, the trajectorctor trajectory of the finals is exactly what the finals was last year.
00:48:00
Speaker
I mean, it's just the Lynx versus the Liberty. I'm not saying... I'm looking the numbers. One and two. One and two, right? So if you take the same matchup. I got a different finals prediction.
00:48:15
Speaker
Okay, listen. I'm just saying, looking at it right now. But if you were to take those two that's on top right now, I would say that Minnesota is going to win this year over New York. They got a chip on their shoulder the size of Frito-Lay.
00:48:26
Speaker
I mean, Cheryl specifically. Cheryl specifically. They're not playing, but I mean, I call and my finals, and I think it could happen. It could be Fever against the Lynx.
00:48:39
Speaker
Fever links. And by the way, DJ, it's seven games this year. I know, I know. I'm glad it's seven games this year. We didn't need the five. We need the seven.
Potential WNBA Finals Matchups
00:48:50
Speaker
who Who's going to watch seven games if a certain person ain't playing?
00:48:54
Speaker
Just saying. Oh, you said, okay, listen. Nick, you heard it here first. That's the script. The WNBA didn't already release the script. No, ain't no script. No, no, no, no. no um No, ain't no script. No, no, ain't no script.
00:49:07
Speaker
I'm just simply saying, for market value, for eyeball watching. I'm with you. If I'm going to watch seven games, I want to see Kaelin Clark. Shooting from the logo like Steph.
00:49:17
Speaker
I love Nafisa Kauri. She's my MVP yeah so far. MVP is what I call her. She's my MVP. But I'm saying if I'm not if i'm the average hit and miss type fan,
00:49:33
Speaker
If I'm going to sit there and watch seven games of a potential series, I want to see Kaylin Clark in that series. And it's going to be on ABC, ESPN. I agree. I mean, it's there's no script. I mean, i mean anything can happen. and There's no guarantee that Kaylin Clark and the Fever are goingnna make it. though that team is loaded, there's no guarantee she's going to make it. Hell, there's no guarantee that New York Liberty will make it. um Facts. Because if with the WNBA, what if somebody get hurt? You fall so fast in this damn league. Hey, man.
00:49:55
Speaker
What if Phoenix? What if we get Phoenix and the Lynx? What if we get Phoenix and the Lynx? That would be crazy. That would be great for the game, but overall, ratings-wise, that's what would like. Okay, so let me play devil's advocate a little bit. foot a For the same reason that you're saying, the only reason you said Lynx is because they West. Okay.
00:50:17
Speaker
Because I'm like, damn, Fever versus... Lynx really West, though. I know they ain't really West, but you know how the WNBA is. But um what I'm saying is if they get Sabrina Inescu versus Kaylin, couldn't happen because they had two different they on two different sides of the bracket. No, you can't.
00:50:32
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, it could now because there's no like there's really no real definitive East-West thing. like it Yeah, but it's lot it's not it's a low likelihood that it'll happen. Yeah, Yeah, for sure. um For sure. I think, like I said, anything can happen.
00:50:46
Speaker
But if... I'm the watcher. Like, who wouldn't want to see Kaitlin Clark for seven games? No, i agree. I think you're right. i And I think you're most right. we talk And we talking about it like the mainstream media is talking about it.
00:51:02
Speaker
yo that's giving eyeballs to the game. Yeah. You much more money they could get now for next year? This will rival the seven games and that just happened in the NBA.
00:51:14
Speaker
the the The viewership will probably be the same. Yeah, but here's the thing. We're talking about a star who is on the rise to becoming a superstar.
00:51:28
Speaker
Yep. Right? And again, Nafisa Collier, she is absolute, flat out good as advertised. Yep. And I would love to see her win a ring.
00:51:40
Speaker
I would love to see Nafisa Collier win a ring. Yeah. I think she's she's played hard. She's earned it. She's put in the work. She's gotten better year after year. I agree. My only concern is how long are we going to have Nafisa Kari with that back injury?
00:51:56
Speaker
I think she got had to remind it. is here If she don't win this year, it's going to be hard for her to battle back again next year. And that's what I'm saying. It reminds me the Larry Bird situation. When Larry started having real back issues, he wasn't the same Larry Bird. He battled through it. I give him a lot of credit.
00:52:11
Speaker
but he battled through it. And i'm I'm concerned. That's the only thing that concerns me That's why I'm like, the the clock is ticking for Nafisa. She got at least get one because she's too good not to get one. Not to get one. Should had one already. But anyway, that's another story from another day.
00:52:28
Speaker
They got an opportunity yeah to to to go after it again. And she's got a great squad around her. She's got a great coach and Cheryl Reeve, as I said, great organization.
00:52:40
Speaker
And I think they can do it. But I mean, again, there's some teams out there that's going to be, as that listen, they're going to try to get a stripe off of her like Adidas. Yeah. and The Indiana Fever is... Oh, they right there. i out They I'm glad you brought this up, and I'm so glad you took some time to to chat here today. So thanks so much, Nick Hamilton, um for just talking WNBA, but also, you know, giving us a little bit of your finals predictions and bringing up a possible Game 7 with a Kaitlin Clark the Indiana Fever is like the icing on the cake to finish the episode.
00:53:12
Speaker
So before we get out, Nick, let the fans know one more time where they can find you on the internet. Well, you can find me, first of all, i love the W. I've been loving the W for 16 years and counting. So I'm always advocating for the W, no matter what.
00:53:27
Speaker
ah You can find me at the Hardwood 94, which is our show with myself and Lauren Jones, Lojo. ah We do this, we get together once a week, Thursdays, 4 p.m. Eastern, 1 p.m. Pacific, exclusively on YouTube at youtube.com slash at Nightcast Media TV. You can also find me at the NH Experience,
00:53:46
Speaker
on instagram as well as on the twitter x y z whatever you call it in now at nick hamilton 213 and also follow follow us at nightcast media on tick tock instagram twitter as n-i-t-e-c-a-s-t-m-e-d-i-a All right, y'all. If you are listening in audio, that is going to be in the description. you're on video, same thing, but going to put it on the screen as well. Thank you so much, Nick.
00:54:13
Speaker
I've had a good time here running my mouth about the W with you. And for everybody who's listening, I go by the name of DJ Treacy Trees. You already know me and I say post it up right here, running my mouth about sports.
00:54:25
Speaker
Thanks for tuning in today's episode and I will check you out on the next one.
00:54:31
Speaker
All right, that's a wrap on the post up. I ran my mouth, said what I said, and now it's your turn. Drop a comment, share it, and come back tomorrow because I'm not done talking. And make sure you follow me on social media at DJTriceyTrice. That's at DJTriceyTricey.