Next, they get into the actual process. Unsurprisingly, they both felt it could've been handled better. A lack of communication from the top down made them get to the third eleventh hour when they had since October 2024 to start working on a deal. Now there's going to be a speedrun offseason in just over a month, and we're all going to have to buckle up for the ride.

Finally, they get into the rest of the news from the past few weeks. The expansion draft happened with little fanfare, and some players have already made their intentions clear before free agency has even officially begun (note:this episode was recorded before the beginning of the free agency period). The Chicago Sky made some confusing moves that annoyed both Grace and Thomas. Also, the Connecticut Sun was officially sold, and they have some thoughts and notes.

You can follow the podcast on Twitter/X @totkpod, on Bluesky at topofthekey.bsky.social and email us at totkpodcast@gmail.com. 

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Next, they get into the latest news around the sale of the Connecticut Sun. The owner of the Houston Rockets is trying to buy the team and move it to Houston. The news has created some conflicting feelings with how the whole situation has happened.

Finally they end with some women's basketball odds and ends. The W put out its season schedule (which feels hopeful), some injury news, and the Hall of Fame class highlights. They also discuss this year's college superstar, Audi Crooks.You can follow the podcast on Twitter/X @totkpod, on Bluesky at topofthekey.bsky.social and email us at totkpodcast@gmail.com.

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Next, they get into the other WNBA news (non-CBA genre) of the past two weeks. The New York LIberty finally have a coach, the Phoenix Mercury did a brand refresh, and Team USA is getting an infusion of more top-tier young talent. Plus, Unrivaled starts in less than a month, so they go over the new players and the few who didn't return.

Finally, they dive into the recent CBA developments. Another extension of the deadline provided a glimmer of hope of an agreement on the horizon. But The Athletic published an article going over the latest league proposal, and that optimism was extinguished quickly. Will they come to an agreement by the beginning of January, or is a work stoppage on the horizon?

You can follow the podcast on Twitter/X @totkpod, on Bluesky at topofthekey.bsky.social and email us at totkpodcast@gmail.com.

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Next, they begin talking about the currently-underway semifinals. Both series are tied at one game apiece, and there's room for any of the four teams to find their way to the finals. Also, in the midst of the semifinals, a seismic coaching change hit the league and Grace and Thomas have thoughts.

Finally, they get into the individual league awards. Some surprises, some good choices, and another moment of Grace knowing ball (despite saying she was surprised). They also discuss the way the league handles these awards and the winners (hint: poorly).

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Next, they get into all the drama surrounding the sale of the Connecticut Sun. There's two promising buyers in the Northeast, but the league has their sights set on a different locale for the Sun. But now they've drawn the ire of not just the Mohegan tribe who own the team, but the government as well. Surely this will end well!

Finally, they do a little news clean-up. Caitlin Clark is done for the year, which isn't too surprising. Unrivaled has a new gigantic valuation, and of course you know Grace and Thomas had to do CBA chat. The MVP race might be more of a photo finish than expected, and the vibes in Chicago are absolutely rancid.

You can follow the podcast on Twitter/X @totkpod, on Bluesky at topofthekey.bsky.social and email us at totkpodcast@gmail.com.

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Next year's All-Star Game's location is being decided (and it's somewhere they've already been recently). There's been some player news with waiver claims and a season-ending injury for an All-Star. And Saniya Rivers had an altercation with a fan at the TD Garden.

Finally, they talk about some of the bigger news of the week. Emma Meeseman is heading to the Liberty, which is good news for a Liberty team currently facing some injury issues again. And the Fever have their own crisis in the health of Caitlin Clark.

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Next, the 3-Point Contests and Skills Competition announced their participants. The Athletic is doing their annual player poll in the most confusing way possible. The Portland Fire is officially BACK and A-Rod talked about his plans for the Lynx.

Finally, they discuss the recent developments regarding the previously unknown hat rule and what it says about the league. Why the leagues rules are often ridiculous and the uneven levying of fines. And with the league potentially staring down the barrel of a work stoppage, it could get worse from here.

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They then discuss the coaches, the coaching trade, and the draft of the teams by Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier, who had different team building philosophies, it seemed. Next, they go into some more general news. The Lynx lost the Commissioner's Cup to the Clarkless Fever, the Mystics are trying to trade Aaliyah Edwards, and DeWanna Bonner has shockingly returned to the Mercury. The Mercury who are also currently being sued on the grounds of discrimination.Finally, there's been some CBA news recently, so you know they're going to cover it.

The league has finally made a counter offer to the first WNBPA proposal, and the players are not happy. They discuss where the biggest differences lie, how stupid it is to that the league is set up this way to begin with, and where they go from here.

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Next, they get into the Liberty injury issues plaguing the team, and how Jonquel Jones is incredibly underrated. They have some breaking Aces news, with trades and waivers, and they also discuss the DeWanna Bonner/Indiana Fever drama which came out of nowhere so fast.

Finally, they talk about Sabrina Ionescu's statements about wanting to spend her career in New York, and why that makes perfect sense. They also talk about Caitlin Clark's injury issues this year and why it might be a little concerning if they continue. And why the Sky is such a uniquely terrible organization.

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Next, they discuss the Aces  odd, disappointing season and how the mighty have fallen. Jewell Loyd in particular is looking like last season wasn't an aberration but just the new her. They also discuss the weird Li Yeuru trade situation and how unrealistic certain expectations may have been for her.

Finally, they get into the Storm investigation that wasn't and a missed meme opportunity. There's also even more major injuries, including more ACL injuries, and how that is leading to more discussion about extending the season instead of just cramming more games into the schedule as is. And finally they touch on the Sun-Fever beef and how hilarious it is.

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Next, they talk about the Wings and Sun and the different disappointments they've been thus far. The Sparks are building something, the Mercury feel unsustainable. And the Lynx are every bit as good as they were last season, remaining in the undisputed top-tier of the league.

In the final segments, they start with the Valks who sure are Valking. The Dream are doing as expected but in a fun way. The Storm are a bit better than their offseason vibes would've led one to believe, and the Sky and Fever are once again locked into irritating and (at times) disgusting discourse.

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Next, they discuss the breaking news of a potential sale of the Connecticut Sun. It's been a few years since the last team sale, and team values have skyrocketed since then. There's also the added layer of near-certain relocation should the control sale happen, so Grace and Thomas look at those possibilities too.

Finally, ESPN put out an article about the CBA negotiations and any chance Grace and Thomas get to spend a half hour on the CBA, they take. They break down what the players want, what the owners want, where compromise will be easy and what issues may prove to be sticking points. They also bring up a few issues they'd personally like to see addressed, with Thomas proving very passionate about one in particular.

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Next, the Minnesota Lynx mostly stood pat, but standing pat as the second seed last year means they're still very, very good. And the Liberty made one major addition that may actually make them a better team than last year, at least on paper.In the final sement, they start with the Phoenix Mercury who are somehow more top-heavy than last year.

Then they talk about the Seattle Storm, which have some very good players but a still odd roster construction and noticeably worse vibes than this time last year.

And finally the Washington Mystics, whose youth movement may make them fun and pesky, if not good.

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Next, they begin with their 2025 team previews. The Atlanta Dream have a bunch of good players but the team's overall build does have a pretty clear ceiling, while still probably being better than last year. The Chicago Sky have put together a good roster, and the drafting of Hailey Van Lith is exciting, but they have some notable deficiencies that will keep them from truly ascending. And the Connecticut Sun...well, they can probably look forward to being in the mix for JuJU Watkins in a few years.

The next part of this week's team previews starts with the Dallas WIngs. They obviously had the advantage of drafting first overall, and getting a generational player in Paige Bueckers, but they also put a lot of good work into building a great roster to put around her and will probably be a mid-tier playoff contender. THe Golden State Valkyries have some good young talent but they're shaping up to be like most first-year expansion teams and aiming for the lottery instead of the playoffs. And Grace and Thomas discuss what the real expectations might be of the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston notwithstanding.

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Next, they get into the WNBA Draft this week. There's a clear first overall pick, but the rest is kinda up in the air, both with players and teams. It's not as much of a name brand draft as last year, either. And there's one potential pick who is a scandal (or scandals) waiting to happen for whatever team decides she's worth the risk.

Finally, they cover some general women's basketball news. There's a retirement, some Hall of Fame elections, pregnancy, and a docuseries. Plus, Unrivaled continues to impress with how it treats its players, which of course leads to a bit of CBA discussion, as hardly a week can go by without discussing the CBA.

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Next, they get into the draft drama thus far. Azzi Fudd is taking an extra year, which is not super surprising. Olivia MIles taking one is however, and it's compounded by her transferring out of Notre Dame. LSU could lose some major firepower, too. Paige Bueckers is definitely entering the draft, but the field behind her is much more muddy now.

Finally, there's some WNBA news to get into. The Liberty dominated the WNBA news week once again, first announcing their state of the art $80 million facility to be opened in 2027. They also re-signed Stewie (finally), and lost Betnijah Laney-Hamilton for the lion's share of the season. And the Sparks announced the retirement of Candace Parker's number this June.

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Next, they get into the start of March Madness. Upsets, blowouts, storylines, it's not even into the Sweet 16 and it's already igniting plenty of discussions. They also discuss the latest bit of "will she won't she" surrounding Paige Bueckers (or lack thereof) in the WNBA draft. Does it make sense? Will it happen? 

Lastly, they discuss the end of Unrivaled. Three great playoff games capped off an inaugural season that was, pardon the pun, Unrivaled. How will the new league help players (and potentially pose problems down the line) both generally and in negotiations with the league? Where do they go from here?

You can follow the podcast on Twitter/X @totkpod, on Bluesky at topofthekey.bsky.social and email us at totkpodcast@gmail.com.

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In the second part they delve into more free agency stuff, including whatever the Sun think they're doing, how the Liberty may be forced to do more, and the Mystics trade that seems to get worse and worse for the Sky.

Finally, they get into some miscellaneous WNBA news. There's a new potential expansion team, new shoes, and some very disturbing allegations against a collegiate star that may force fans to confront a truth about the WNBA they weren't aware of.

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Next, they get into other free agency news. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Brittney Griner have both found their ways to Atlanta, Satou Sabally is taking meetings, and Courtney Vandersloot is playing her free agency in a somewhat confusing manner.

Finally, they talk about the past week of Unrivaled. There were two bonkers matches, and the reveal of confusing relief contract rules in the league. They also discuss the upcoming 1v1 tournament and what they're looking forward to.

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Next, they do their second annual free agency preview. From major free agents down to interesting bench pieces they get into the various players and possible fits. They also touch on a few sign-and-trades and the major trade everyone is expecting at some point soon.

Finally, they talk the first week of Unrivaled. Some surprising starts, for teams and players alike. And they preview the next weeks games and potential storylines to keep an eye on.

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Next, they get into some other pre-free agency contract news, with core designations beginning to be handed out and reserved qualifying offers being offered. They also discuss the news that the Sixers and Comcast are teaming up to bid for a WNBA franchise in Philadelphia.

FInally, they get into some Unrivaled news. The broadcast teams have been announced, the prize for the 1v1 tournament has been announced and is sizable, and the rules are different from the WNBA in some interesting ways. And they end by previewing the upcoming weekend slate of Unrivaled games.

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Next, they discuss the windfall of Unrivaled news that has come in the last few weeks. Funding, trades,and some wild card signings, including one that Grace has been manifesting for months.

Finally, they get into some odds and ends. CBA discussions have begun, the Naismith Hall of Fame has announced their nominees, and the rest of the league coaching spots have been filled. Which leads to another discussion about the lack of diversity in the coaching positions across the league, and how and why the league needs to get better with it.

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They come back with the second half of the league. They also discuss some possible trades for teams with too many important players and the possibility of a big fish being picked by the Valkyries.

Finally, they wrap up some odds and ends. There are some new coaches in the league, TCU looks great, Kelsey Plum is taking some time to herself, and the Seattle Storm have ended one chapter in their alleged bullying saga and begun another.

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Next, they break down the draft lottery results. They talk about the suggestions of Bueckers not entering the draft to avoid Dallas and why that feels a bit far-fetched. They also discuss college basketball a bit and how the upcoming expansion draft could change the look of next year's draft a bit.

Finally, they discuss all the reporting that has come out about the allegations of harassment and bullying within the Seattle Storm. They also discuss the somewhat public aspect of it and lament how disheartening it is to see such a storied franchise devolve to this, as well as how this could change the team in the very near future.

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Next, they dig into so much WNBA news. Several head coach and front office vacancies have been filled and even more are open now. The league has apparently 12-15 bidders for the next expansion franchise, with some we've known and other new locations. And Sabrina Ionescu's struggles in the last two games of the Finals are explained by a pretty serious injury.

There's so much WNBA news it's too much for one segment. New Hall of Famers, new potential olympians, a new job for Katie Smith. The Seattle Storm have hired an outside law firm to investigate claims of bullying and harassment by their coaching staff (this was recorded before more information came out about the specifics). Maddie, former Liberty mascot, is the first dog to come back from the farm upstate, Sabrina Ionescu has new shoes on the way. And we've officially entered "comically large college women's basketball point spread szn," as Grace has dubbed it.

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Next, they discuss the WNBPA's official opt-out of the collective bargaining agreement. They have just over a year to get something done before a work stoppage, which the league absolutely shouldn't want and the players are willing to do to meet their (fair) demands.

Finally, there are a few more odds and ends to cover. Yet another coach was fired, along with a GM, so now there are four (as of this recording) head coach vacancies. The Valkyries aren't one, having hired their head coach ahead of the offseason. And Unrivaled has a media partner in a great deal for their league and women's basketball in general.

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Next, they discuss the WNBA awards. By and large the winners were expected, but Grace has a bone to pick with when and how they released the information on winners. They discuss how the split season may have played into voters minds,a nd they both give their thoughts on why forcing every ballot to be public may not be a good or productive idea and may just lead to worse harassment in a league already dealing with too many harassment issues as is.

Finally, they get into some miscellaneous news of the past few weeks. First, Christine Brennan's targeting of DiJonai Carrington over a basketball play in which Caitlin Clark got hit in the eye and how framing like Brennan's leads to worse harassment, specifically of the racial variety (with some homophobia added in). They discuss the recent news of Cheryl Reeve confronting the Connecticut Sun over what she viewed as excessive celebration after a win. And they discuss the retirement of Layshia Clarendon and the trio of coach firings and their varying levels of surprise.

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Next, they break down the playoff picture as it stands heading into the final week of the season. The excitement around the eight seed, the worries surrounding a potential Liberty/Lynx playoff showdown (for these Liberty fans at least), and the important games in regards to general seeding that remain.

Finally, they discuss some miscellaneous notes. An update on the Hamby lawsuit against the Aces and the league, A'ja Wilson's chase of several records in this final week, and the lack of Unrivaled reveals for a week. And Grace has a bone to pick with the insane raise in playoff ticket prices.

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Next, they discuss the playoff field as it stands as of recording. The Liberty are ahead of the pack, and the final seed is a toss-up. They look ahead to how the rounds may play out, who could upset, and a potential blockbuster matchup in the semifinals. They also use that as a way to discuss the latest Finals rematch that was a little too close for anyone's liking.

Finally, they talk about various news across the league. The Rookie of the Year competition is over, with Clark the clear winner, especially in the wake of Angel Reese's season-ending injury. Grace touches on the disturbing amount of casual homophobia and misogyny surrounding Christie Sides' coaching decisions this year. And they discuss the next batch of Unrivaled players, who they're excited to see, what it could mean for Athletes Unlimited, and who else they would like to see.

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Next, they get into the multiple updates on the two different Aces scandals that happened in the days following the end of the Olympics. Dearica Hamby officially filed her federal lawsuit against the Aces and the WNBA, which has a few new details and continues to make the Aces and league look bad. They also have a new Howard Megdal update about the cap circumvention investigation to talk about, and how the Aces seem like the world's dumbest criminals in update after update.

Finally, they cover the last bit of league miscellany right before the second half of the season starts. They talk about the news about the 2025 WNBA All Star Game, and how unsurprising it is (and where they'd like to see future games and where they may end up for promotional reasons). There's a Gabby Williams free agency sweepstakes to pay attention to, and a playoff clinch scenario already.

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Next, they finally get into the new media rights deal that was reported on a couple weeks ago. They first break down all the major pieces of the deal, then get into what it means for the league going forward, what they could've gotten, and what the CBA might look like when it almost certainly gets renegotiated after next season.

Finally, they discuss the newest information from Howard Megdal on the Las Vegas Aces investigation. There's a lot of information that doesn't actually have any information, and that seems a little suspicious. They also talk about why the league might take this very seriously at this important crossroads for the league.

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Then, they talk about the All Star weekend festivities. They begin with Friday night's programming: the Skills Challenge, 3 Point Contest, and the 3x3 showcase. They also get into the pay problems in the league for what feels like the thousandth time in 35 episodes, brought starkly into view again by way of Allisha Gray's winnings. They also touch on the All Star Game itself, which neither of them watched much of.

Finally, they discuss the deluge of information that has been coming out about the new Unrivaled League, founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. They talk about who's already taking part, how it'll work, and who they'd like to see join in the coming weeks.

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Next, they get into the state of the league at the break. The best team, and the top of the league's dominance. The mid-tier teams that will find a way into the playoffs most likely, and the bad teams that seem to have little hope of improving this season but are in a good position to get better soon. At least, most of them.

Finally, they get into the All-Star Game and the surrounding festivities. With less than a week before the weekend there have been no announcements around the 3-Point Contest or the Skills Challenge, which feels like an own goal from a marketing perspective. They also discuss what they may do during the somewhat leaner Olympic period. There will still be basketball to discuss, but not quite as much.

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Next, they break down the All-Star rosters just an hour after they were revealed. Team USA is the roster that was out a few weeks ago, but Team WNBA had some surprises, good and bad. The vote totals demonstrated how much growth the league has seen, but it still wasn't enough to get DiJonai Carrington or Ezi Magbegor in the mix. They also touch on what team might win based on the last time this format was used. And they briefly discuss where the next All-Star Game might occur.

Finally, it's near the halfway point for most teams this season, so they do a heat check on four of the major awards. The MVP race feels locked up statistically at this point, but depending on team results there might be narratives at play. Rookie of the Year is way closer than most anticipated even a few weeks ago, with Angel Reese chasing history. Most Improved Player is a fascinating race because depending on how the voters define "improved" there are multiple different candidates. And Defensive Player of the Year is similar to the MVP race but Grace and Thomas make the case for guard defenders whose contributions aren't easily tracked on the stat sheet.

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Next, they dive into the latest developments in the Las Vegas Aces investigation. Outside law firms, changing stories, and fluid "facts" make this case confusing and shady. And the man at the center of all of it is doing a lot of talking without making a lot of sense.

Finally, they get into some general league notes. The injuries around the league have been somewhat more serious of late, with Cameron Brink notably losing the rest of her season (and her first Olympics trip) to an ACL tear. They also discuss whether the Liberty are the best team in the league, and what's going on with the Aces on the court struggles.

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Next, they get into the good stuff from this week. The Sun are off to a very hot start, in large part due to DiJonai Carrington and Alyssa Thomas. Napheesa Collier and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton both look like early awards contenders, and Sabrina Ionescu looks like she might have finally made the defensive leap she's needed for years. And the rookies are impressing, as well as the entirety of the Chicago Sky.

Finally, they get into the not so good of the first week. The Fever and Mystics are off to tepid starts, and the condensed schedule is clearly having a negative trickle down, with fatigue setting in and injuries mounting and being more impactful. Also, Aaliyah Boston and Skylar Diggins-Smith have been uncharacteristically struggling so far. And the league is growing but it's leading to a lot of disingenuous chatter from people who don't pay attention and has led to a false narrative of a vendetta against Caitlin Clark.

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Next they start getting into the first games for every team. They both watched the entirety of the Liberty/Mystics game, and as such they have a lot of thoughts on it. They discuss some positives and some negatives (that don't seem to be too long lasting, in one case at least). Next the Fever/Sun game, the incredible defense of DiJonai Carrington and the incredible offense of basically everyone on the Sun. And the Lynx Storm game, where they see a lot of similarities to the Liberty's start last year and why superteams built this way need time to gel.

Finally, they get into the other three games. First, the Mercury/Aces game, and what the concerns are for the Mercury (and there are a few), and what the concerns are not for the Aces. Then the games from the second day, starting with a closer than initially thought Sky/Wings game, and how the Sky may not be good but they will be annoying. They end with the Dream/Sparks game and the comeback of a Liberty legend (legitimate) .

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Next, some of the other preseason moves and news gets its spotlight. The Chicago Sky have two major injuries to draft picks. The Wings and Dream made a trade as well as the Mystics and the Sun, both of which make sense for the respective teams. And Marine Johannes is no longer under contract with a French basketball team, which makes her path forward in the WNBA in coming years a little clearer.

Finally, there was some pretty seismic news from beyond the roster limits of the twelve WNBA teams. The new Golden State team announced their GM, Ohemaa Nyanin, who was last in the New York LIberty front office as an assistant GM. And then the surprise of the week was Cathy Engelbert announcing within a week of the season's start that they would be phasing in charter airfare for the entire league with no limits. It happened in pretty typical Cathy fashion so obviously there was a LOT to discuss.

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Next, they begin season previews for each team. They start with the Eastern conference, discussing Atlanta's team make-up post Jordin Canada's injury, the Chicago Sky's highs and lows, and the Connecticut Sun's high return rate. They also get into what the Liberty may be looking for in their 11th (and in the coming months, 12th) roster spot, the backend of the Fever's roster, and the Mystics interesting position within the league this year.

In the final segment they do season previews for the Western Conference. They begin with the Dallas Wings and their continuing flaws, the Aces and their continuing near-flawless construction, and the Sparks' baffling roster that is somehow second in the league in cap allocation. They also get into the Lynx's continuing improvements, the Mercury's odd roster build, and the Storm's quick, impressive rebuild.

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Then, they get into some draft aftermath. First, the Lynx made a statement about their long standing interest in Alissa Pili that makes Chicago Sky's side in their draft pick swap look...less good. Caitlin Clark got a large shoe deal from Nike and Grace and Thomas discuss how good it is for the sport, who should be next (both players and brands), and briefly touch on the definition of marketability in regards to the WNBA.

Finally, they touch on the little college news they've gotten. Hailey Van Lith has not actually committed to TCU or any school, Kiki Iriafen and Raegan Beers seem to be narrowing down their decisions. They also looked ahead at possible players in the 2025 WNBA Draft. It's never too early!

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Next, they discuss the rest of the draft and an overview of various team's selections. They talk about NIka Mühl's fit on the Storm, the great draft the Aces had, the priorities of certain teams and the way some picks have better shots on rosters than others.

Finally, they discuss the record breaking viewership numbers the draft had. They also get into more jersey chat, with the announcement of six new Rebel Edition jerseys, and pitch ideas for new (and old) jerseys to be incorporated. They end by touching on the Hailey Van Lith transfer news, and what it means for her and her new program.

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Next, they get into the WNBA Draft. First they discuss the obvious first overall pick, and discuss some of the discourse surrounding Clark and the WNBA players that some comments from players caused. They talk how she might fare in her first season and how she may adjust. They also discuss the rest of the first round, including a baffling late trade between the Sky and Lynx.

Finally, they go into some other players of note and how the setup of the draft and league leaves a lot of talent on the outside looking in when the season starts. They also discuss some big post-tournament college news, with transfers, retirements, and the dissolution of the PAC 12 conference leading to misfortune for multiple programs.

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The Iowa-LSU rematch was all it was billed to be. Grace and Thomas break down the game, the players, and the storylines. They also discuss the Kim Mulkey Washington Post article, and how, while it was not what was expected (given Mulkey's reaction), it did provide insight and painted her as a deeply unpleasant, vengeful person, not to mention a homophobe.

Finally, they get into some draft news. There are some declarations of major names, including a very high-profile declaration that signals great things for the growth of the sport and coverage. They also discuss the news of Georgia Amoore and Hailey Van Lith's entries into the transfer portal, and what they could be looking for at their new schools.

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Then, they talk about the instant classics of the tournament so far, and how Iowa STate has a very bright future. Whose future isn't looking as bright is Kim Mulkey, and they discuss the LSU struggles in the tournament so far and the news that a big exposé seems to be staring down the barrel at Mulkey.

Finally, they discuss the drama that unfolded this week online about Caitlin Clark's coverage, and why Clark's coverage may rub some the wrong way, however deserved the coverage might be, given the way sports media centers a certain type of person over another.

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Then they go into the recent news of the WNBA potentially negotiating their own media rights deal. The league is at an inflection point, and with Caitlin Clark's arrival, the New York/Las Vegas rivalry, and the exponential growth in fans and viewership recently, the league looks poised to capitalize. They compare their situation to the recent NWSL media deal, and discuss how a bigger media deal will be a net positive for everyone involved.

Finally, they wrap up with some miscellaneous notes. The Liberty hats dropped, and while some are pretty good, others are pretty mid. They discuss Odyssey Sims' performance in Athletes Unlimited and how and when she may end up joining a WNBA team this year. And the recent Maya Moore number retirement news allows them a little more discussion on a topic they began last week.

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Then, they go into the WNBA news of the week. A bunch of announcements that have demonstrated the growth of the league, some salary news, and a trade that Grace and Thomas like for the Liberty, Sky, and Rebekah Gardner herself.

Finally, they cover some miscellaneous topics. The Sue Bird documentary will be available to stream soon (and Grace and Thomas discuss the possibility of reviewing it on the show), more WNBA teams need to retire numbers, and they do several minutes on the failure of the WNBA to capitalize on the new popularity by providing very little in the way of merch.

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Then, they get into the college news of the week, dominated by who else: Caitlin Clark. A record leads to a discussion about why college records are harder to break. they also celebrate Dawn Staley and discuss the upcoming NCAA tournament dates.

Finally, they start with some Athletes Unlimited Chat, which devolves into Grace complaining about website design. Then they chat a bit about the new Las Vegas Aces jerseys, which devolves into general jersey chat.

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Then, they get into some league news. Stewie signed, and now there's more of an idea of where the Liberty stand in regards to roster and cap space. They pour one out to Rebekah Gardner who has suffered another terrible injury. They also discuss an article that went into the Liberty's pursuit of Nneka Ogwumike and their potential plans with regards to Marine Johannès.

Finally, they discuss the upcoming AU Pro Basketball season, and the excitement that comes when there's actual professional basketball to watch. They also discuss the recent PWHL draft and tournament announcement and what it says about the ability for women's sports to innovate in their rules the way more established leagues can't.

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Then, they dive into the league news of the week, There was a Liberty signing, a Chicago trade for another 2024 draft pick, but most importantly: the confirmation from our dear commissioner Cathy Engelbert that there would only be one expansion team in 2025, leading to an odd number of 13 teams. Cathy!

Finally, they cover the biggest news of the week, that Paige Bueckers will be returning to UConn for her COVID eligibility year. THis shakes up this year's draft, gives an early first overall pick prediction for next year, and puts an eye on a title run for a hopefully healthy UConn team in 2025.

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Then, they get into the few odds and ends from WNBA free agency over the last week, including a signing they saw coming, per last week's episode. They discuss, in more depth than expected at the outset, Stef Dolson's signing with Washington and what worked and didn't work in her two year tenure with New York.

Finally, prompted by a recent interview Sue Bird did, they get into identity within the WNBA, both historically and in the present day. The league has grown so much, and is now a leader when it comes to allowing players to express themselves in many different ways. And Grace actually compliments Cathy Engelbert!

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Then, they get into the two trades of the week, which signifying a surging Mercury, and rebuilding Sky. One was normal, but one (and you know which one) was a real shocker. There's a positive short-term outlook for Phoenix, and hopefully a positive future in years to come for Chicago.

Finally, they get into the week in inflammatory podcasts surrounding WNBA narratives and opinions. Michael Porter Jr. was making a point that was made years ago, and poorly. Sheryl Swoopes had one good point that did not deserve it's outsized reaction, and one factually incorrect point that probably deserved some amount of it's reaction (though not what it's blown into. And Lexie Brown spoke about the marketing of certain WNBA players over others due to appearance, and while she has a point, this is also difficult from both sides, and everyone is attempting to fit into a box that the league has only recently begun to get out of.

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Next, they do a podcast episode within the episode, with the actual free agency signings taking up 45 minutes on their own. Every team, every move, Grace and Thomas give their thoughts, some succinct, some long, all there. Some moves made sense, and some (and the lack of some) didn't!

Finally, they go into the questions still remaining for teams and players, with Elena Delle Donne and Nneka Ogwumike still out there and available, and Marine Johannes' availability becoming something less clear with the changes to prioritization.

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Then, they get into the meat of the episode, actual free agency. They talk about Jonquel Jones staying, Kalani Brown's potential landing spots (this episode was recorded before news broke that she was staying), and then they get into the biggest news of the week: Nneka Ogwumike and the LA Sparks moving on from each other. They're excited for both sides' futures as well as see the reason behind a split at this point.

Finally, they discuss the scary moment with Caitlin Clark this week, and try to wrestle with the future of court storming in college sports, and whether this is the beginning of its demise.

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Then, they go into the minor free agency news from this week. Some restricted and reserved offers that came in the last week, and through this Grace voice her disappointment in how the reporting around AD Durr's offer has gone regarding her name usage. Then, they get into the Elena Delle Donne core news, and what this means for the Mystics, Delle Donne, and teams that could've been interested in her services.

Finally, Grace brings up the recent coverage (or lack thereof) of Hailey Van Lith, who over the last few months has gone from major name and talent to afterthought since transferring to LSU. And they get into the viral video of a 5'6" man who claims he would "dogwalk" Caitlin Clark in a basketball game (LOL).

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After discussing the start of free agency, Grace and Thomas switch gears and discuss various league goings on. The Sparks have a new GM (and Grace sneaks in another girl dad joke). More interestingly, though, is the report that Elena Delle Donne is expected to move teams in free agency. Grace and Thomas discuss where she could go to fulfill a wish for winning and what may still be important to her despite leaving home.

Finally, they touch on a bit of college hoops news. They finally cover the LSU drama of last month (hey, they were sick!) with Kateri Poole. They also touch on another bit of unfortunate injury news for UConn. It's been a quiet week, so there's not much to say.

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Then, Grace and Thomas wrap up their free agency previews with a look at rotation players and bench pieces. They bring up that most of the lower tiers of free agents will wait until later in the free agency period, and they touch on potential Liberty moves from this group of players.

Finally, they get into some other college basketball news. They touch on Hannah Hidalgo's freshman dominance, the Grambling State beatdown of the College of Biblical Studies, and the new NCAA deal (which is VERY difficult for Grace to say) and how that will help the WNBA, the NWSL, and the PWHL. They drift a little into general women's sports at the very end, because after Gotham and PWHL New York's week, how could they not?

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Next, they cover the next group of WNBA free agents with free agency lurking right around the corner. Some people put themselves in position for a big contract. Some people may retire. Some people have retired since Grace wrote the outline pre-COVID. Free agency discussions start in less than a month, so there's not much time before these players find their new spots or stay right where they are.

Finally, the WNBA schedule was released (almost a week after it was promised to Grace). There's some key matchups starting right out the gate on Opening Day. A few other notable games and a large gap for the Olympics highlight the regular season schedule.

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Then, they begin a free agency preview. They get into the toppling free agents of the WNBA, with free agency looming a little more than a month away. Some people may move, a lot will probably stay. But there are some interesting names that are wild card, and whose services will be courted by several teams.

Finally, Grace and Thomas look at the other college basketball stories. Aaliyah Gayles has scored for the first time, JuJU Watkins is making a name for herself, UConn is struggling. It's a bit of a down period, but it should pick up soon as the NCAA tournament moves closer.

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Then, they go into UConn's injury woes. Azzi Fudd is out for the season after tearing her medial meniscus and ACL in her right knee, and this is the latest in a long line of UConn women's basketball injuries over the past few years. Is it a string of flukes or is this the manifestation of a larger coaching issue?

Finally, they briefly touch on some other women's college basketball news. Caitlin Clark is breaking records left and right. Hannah Hidalgo is a breakout superstar for NOtre Dame. And Aaliyah Gayles has made her return to the court!

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Then, they talk college hoops, with two major teams suffering losses in the first week that could throw this season for a loop. Caitlin Clark is still great, however, and they then get into the NIL debate happening online this week and what the true nature of NIL athletes transitioning from college to the pros would have to do.

Finally, they discuss the big games from W players overseas, and why it sucks that players have to do this. Grace shouts out the new Candace Parker ESPN documentary for providing player insight into this necessity, and they move into discussing what could possibly be the end of Candace Parker's career, without a retirement tour. Plus a little soccer chat!

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Then, they talk about the relationship between the league and the media, as prompted by a recent Washington Post article. Obviously the two need to work together but there are so many aspects of the relationship that complicate that ability, and there needs to be work done by both sides (and help from the NBA) to heal and grow the fractured relationship.

Finally, they touch on the major storylines going into the start of the college basketball season. Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese and LSU. They also touch on USC's Aaliyah Gates and her inspiring journey back to the court after being shot 9 times.

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Then, they get into the Nate Tibbetts disaster-class on how not to talk at a press conference. They're generally baffled by his main comments about the league, though Grace comes up with the most generous reading of what he said and it makes a tiny bit more sense. Still, you'd think someone as qualified as a "girl dad" could have the right words to say at a press conference he knew was coming.

Finally, Grace and Thomas get into the upcoming 2024 draft class. With Azzi Fudd officially staying at UConn, and Angel Reese hinting at using her bonus COVID year and staying at LSU, the next draft is looking a little weaker. And that helps the WNBPA in the upcoming CBA negotiations, as clearly players would rather make more at college than take a pay cut to not even be guaranteed a spot on a WNBA team for less than $75,000.

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Instead, they get into the mess of the following few days. Sabrina Ionescu is a deeply divided character in the league, Kelsey Plum phrased a point poorly, which led to even more beef between these two rivals. And there's even some critique of how the media covers the WNBA, and how it's up to both the players and the reporters to right these wrongs as the league continues to grow exponentially.

Finally, they look ahead a bit at the futures of the two teams, and what they might try to do in the offseason to improve themselves for 2024. And they also look at their own futures, as it's only five episodes in and they already have to find non-game things to talk about.

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After Finals chat, Grace breaks some Phoenix Mercury news and she and Thomas discuss how coaching hires in the W signal a change in the way the league is viewed from prospective employees. And a discussion on the All-WNBA Teams leads into a chat about how wacky the league can be and how fun that is, as well as a good illustration of the league's relative youth to other (men's) sport leagues.

Finally, Grace and Thomas preview the end of the Finals, and talk about how a Gray injury can change the calculus going forward. And Grace puts to bed any discussion of a Candace Parker return (as well as exposes herself for not watching the Fast and Furious movies).

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Then, they actually have a lot of big league news to discuss! The WNBA is expanding, and Grace and Thomas share their excitement. They also discuss what other cities could make sense, bemoan the bizarre expansion process the league has created, and play a game of Remembering Some Franchises. Then, unfortunately, the Aces and the league may have committed some discrimination crimes, and Grace and Thomas discuss the load of news that came out from Dearica Hamby's EEOC complaint.

Finally, they do a quick overview of Games 2 and 3, and discuss what might be the key factors for each team in this matchup, from players to strategy to location!

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They then move to a discussion of the recent MVP award and its three main contenders. They also showcase some very…interesting voting choices, and discuss the way MVP votes tend to not be focused on pure statistical best, rather the narrative behind the players.

Finally, they preview the upcoming WNBA Finals series, predict who will win in how many games, and who will be the most important players in the series. Plus a little tangent into the weird scheduling of the Finals!

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