Transcript of GOOD FOLLOW - All Things Athletes Unlimited, Friendship & More with Sydney Colson & Theresa Plaisance

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Hey, everyone. Welcome to Good Follow Show, presented by DraftKings. I'm Roz Goldon-Witde, and in today's show, we have two exclusive interviews for you. I had the opportunity to go travel to Nashville, Tennessee, to attend Athletes Unlimited's Welcome Weekend, a whole tray of events. It was really exciting, and the energy was amazing as they gear up for Season 5, which will tip off in February of 2026. And while I was there, I had the chance to have some exclusive sit-downs and catch-ups with the players there. So we will be talking to and giving you access to these conversations every Thursday in this month of November. So make make sure you're staying locked in. And it starts today. In today's episode, I talk with Sydney Colson and Theresa Plaisantz. So buckle up because you know with Sid and TP, it is always a crazy fun time. I'm always so happy when I get to see you because I know it's going to be great vibes. I know it's going to be positivity, potential shenanigans and laughs. No, no.

Maturity, professionalism. That's the name of my guy.

Absolutely. I think you do walk with maturity professionalism.

Every now and then.

And shenanigans. And shenanigans. But we are in Nashville, Tennessee. Yes, we are. Au Season 5 is coming up. What do you love so much about Nashville? You're running it back here.

Last year was really exciting. We went from Dallas in year three to Nashville last season, and it was a decision that we had to collectively make with AU staff. There were a lot of changes in a business stance going on, but But even though we wanted to be back in Dallas, they did present such a good case for Nashville that it was like, We really can't pass on this opportunity. As you know, they have the desire to have a WMBA team here. We were like, The city is primed for professional women's basketball right now. And so I think it would have been a real miss for us to not take that chance last year. And it didn't even end up being a chance. People, they showed up. They were super supportive. The city was I'm excited about it, and the players loved it. So it's really good that we're going to come back because I think the reception won't be even greater.

Yeah, it's fertile grounds here. I was at a couple of the games and matchups last season, and it was a great crowd, great energy, all the things. But before we came- I know, we love when you pull up. Oh, it was so nice. I think we cried. You gave out roses. I gave out roses. And then you gave one back to me.

I did. No thorns or anything. I was like, Are you real?

I do feel like every time I see you, there's a moment to cry because we be having hard time. But be dead serious. No small talk.

Let's get right to it. You changed my life. It's deep immediately. Every Every time.

Every time. Hey, what's up? How are you doing? Thank you. Oh, thank you.

No, seriously, I mean that.

Why is she so... I'm not even this silly normally. You bring it out of me.

When you came, though, I think because of what What you've done for women in your profession and being a former player, your presence at AU, really anything that you go to is a very good sign. It means that... Because you don't just show up anywhere. So it's going to be thriving if Raza showing up. So it's always good to see you, and it's good to see you advocating it and doing so much for AU, honestly.

Yeah, I appreciate that. And when I came, it became very evident immediately that the players really care about the league, which is sometimes not always the emotion that's shared. Sometimes it's contentious or disappointed or angry or wanting more, this and that. But instead, it feels like you guys are fighting for the growth of this league and the opportunity to have this option when a WNBA season isn't there. And a lot of that also happens, too. There's a player executive committee here. That's actually something I was not aware I'm aware of before I pulled up to AU, that this is player-led as well. How so?

I mean, since season one, I've been a part since season one. And John Patrickoff and Jonathan Soros, our cofounders, they started AU with softball, volleyball, and lacrosse. So we were the fourth sport. So before that 2021 inaugural season, we were having conversations because they wanted to figure out how interested might W players be and professional players be. So for a lot of us, you would love to have an option to not have to go overseas. You just weren't sure how viable this option really was and how it could have been a scam. It could have just been somebody... But the fact that you had three other sports to see, Okay, this is real because I have a product that I can look at. They're serious about this. They're paying good money. The things that have happened since season one, I'm glad to have been a part of the PEC since then. But it's just there by hand. I think we make sure to make sure that the rest of our player core is grateful for this opportunity because just in year five, there's been so much growth, but also these men didn't have to start the basketball league.

We could have still been having to go overseas. People would have been waiting a couple more years for Unrival to come about. But AU has been here doing this for for almost five years now, and it has literally changed some people's basketball trajectory and their careers. I was out of the league after the bubble season, and AU was in Las Vegas. It was a great first season. We had a lot of WNBA players, so it was very competitive. And because we were right there in Vegas, Becky and the staff, they were able to come watch I wasn't the only one. A lot of people got training camp contracts. But for me, specifically, being on that Ace's team that year, we won a Championship, and then we won another one. So it changed a lot for me just being able to still be competitive in a league.

Having the option can change not only the trajectory of a career, but of a life. Being a part of that team, the chemistry of it, you guys were just irresistible in some ways. People People wanted more. The branding, the storytelling, your business, the business of Cid, explodes out of that, too. It puts you on a trajectory where the rest of your life looks different than it did before playing AU.

W 100 %. That's why I always credit it with giving me a chance to show what I can do. But yes, jumpstarting everything that's happened for me thus far. Even meeting TP and us having a show after that season and everything that's come since then. It's the God's time in. I never question it. Yeah.

Tp is here. Theresa Plaaisant. She's actually also in the room.

Like, for what reason? I don't know.

Making this incredibly awkward for me. I thought you held up very well during this, given that she is there. But you guys have this chance to play together in Vegas, and now you've got this thriving podcast that's now unsupervised with Sid and TP. What was it where the two of you were like, you? And you were like, We are a fit. We're a dynamic duo, and I want to do this with you. Why did it work?

It just worked. We hit it off immediately in Vegas in training camp. It was just one of those things when people say somebody's a kindred spirit, you see things the same along moral lines, foundationally, the way you were raised. I like having good people in my life, people I can trust, people who add to my life and I add to theirs. And that was what our friendship was. On top of the fact, I was like, This girl's hilarious. So I always jokingly say, I can make money off of this woman. That's exactly what's happening. But she's a force and a talent in her own right. So it was just, like I said, it was God's time for us to meet at that time, and I'm grateful for it.

Yeah. It actually makes me think, too, of your WNBA team. You played with the Indiana Fever this year. You all had to be the most talkative podcasty team in the W. There were three different podcasts. Just three or were there more? It was you.

I don't think so.

It is Alia Boston. Sophie Cunningham. We all had podcasts. How did you all navigate that?

Why did it really came to the locker room where Jim talking about it, you just did your own thing off the court? Okay. I don't know. This is an interesting time in women's sports where typically people weren't getting this many opportunities. There were rarely players Because especially if you're not a superstar player, you're not having a podcast or doing anything. So the landscape of things have changed since NIL, since just more eyes on the sports, since partnerships and sponsorships that people have. And so people are just trying to take advantage and maximize the opportunities that you have.

Yeah. And there's plenty of captivating human beings who also happen to be good at basketball. I didn't even get to ask you, how was your knee? How was your ACL? How was your rehab?

It's going well. Tomorrow will be 11 weeks. I forgot how much of a mental journey it is as well as physical. But I always try to look at stuff from a glass at full perspective, find the silver lining in things, trust that whatever God's purpose is for me, I don't have to understand it in the moment because every time things have happened in my life, I've been like, But then it makes sense down the line. So the older I've gotten, I'm like, Trust that you got hurt for a reason. It's not the story you wanted to happen. You didn't want it to happen that way. But I can see why I needed to be sidelined. I was able to pour into other people more. I don't think I'm a selfish person, but I became, I think, even more selfless. So, yeah, since I've been there in the offseason, I'm just strengthening it, doing a lot of bending, which was super painful in the beginning, but I'm in a good place now. People are like, Oh, I forgot you were hurt. You're walking around normally. But, yeah, I'm just trusting the timing of it all.

What is your focus this athlete's unlimited season?

You know what? We're figuring out what it's going to look like, but I told them, Under no circumstance do I want to be anywhere else. Hey, you means a lot to me. I still want to support the other players who are there, learn from them, have them learn from me because we have a lot of rookies. But I just want to give whatever I can give, even if I'm not fully healthy.

The roster this season for AU is extra star-studded. I mean, we're literally talking Future Hall of Famers, things like that. There was a really fabulous welcome dinner. That was so cool. You guys have had a tray of events here in Tennessee. You're running it back in Nashville. So would you say this is the most momentum AU basketball has women's basketball has had so far?

Yeah. I think this Welcome Week with our rookies and our vets has made us really excited for the season in February. And so hopefully people will come out and show love February fourth. This is the first game.

You can watch it on TV, too. You can get it with ESPN. Exactly. So all eyes, big opportunity. And I know I'm really excited for it.

Yes, me too. I can't wait to see you there. I know.

All right, great. Thank you so much for your time.

I love you, my girl. I appreciate you.

Is it time to cry now?

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Today, in addition to talking with me, you've been doing photoshoots and media day type things, and I enjoyed watching you through the circuit. How has it been for you?

It's been so much fun. I think AU just does a great job of allowing everyone to have their own self-expression. A lot of times in sport, they try to make you uniform and everyone fit into this mold. Here at AU, they really encourage you to absolutely be yourself. Even when they do, Okay, you're going to wear this AU sweatshirt today, but you get to wear everything else to make it look like it's you. I just love the individuality of AU and just how they celebrate that.

Yeah. I mean, for you with AU, this is now four seasons in a row. Why do you keep coming back to Athletes Unlimited? What are you getting out of playing in this league?

I've always played overseas. I was doing really well overseas. It was good, easy money to make as a post player going overseas. And I was doing it for so long that I'm like, Yeah, you miss a lot going overseas, like birthdays, holidays. It's just hard to see life go on and you are just working really hard. I came to AU and I absolutely fell back in love with the game of basketball. All the external pressures that come with pro sports are taken away and you're surrounded by your peers who are also your teammates and your competitors. So there's a level of understanding and a level of why or understanding people's why. And it just brings a little bit more out of who you are. And you just learn and you grow a lot as an individual on and off the court through AU. And I think that it just provides everyone an opportunity to be themselves. And I was perfect just the way I was showing up. No one told me what I need to do more, or I need to be better at this. I was self-aware and I was able to self-coach and also take criticisms and compliments from my peers around me who I felt truly cared about me.

And this is just the perfect atmosphere for growth. And I couldn't be more grateful for AU in my time here.

This format, right? Because it's five on five. You switch teams throughout the season, and also individuals are scored. You can get a plus or a minus depending on if you're doing good things on the court or bad things. How does that work also in growing your game and the experience?

I love AU because there's games within the game. You wouldn't play some things like you would traditionally play a traditional basketball game. I love whenever you need a foul, when you wouldn't typically foul, but in order for you to win the quarter points, you would foul, put them at the free throw line, and you're playing the long game in terms of all the games. But for you to win that quarter, you need to put them at the free throw line to get another possession so you can get another shot. And it's just the games within the game, the layers to AU, and also the dynamics of when you play on a basketball team, you play with 12 women, and it's the same ladies every day that you're playing with and competing with, you're scoping out who on other teams you feel like you would play best with. If you get to a captain's chair, who are you going to select? And also you're keeping good vibes because you don't to be that team that's like, Oh, I don't want her on my team. It's a really healthy environment. It's so much fun. I think that the games within the game of basketball also make it extremely exciting.

Yeah, it can be really exciting in the group chat to talk about the strategies or what you're seeing, even for Fandam, just following what's going on. Absolutely. I'll take a look also at your time in the WNBA. One of your more recent chapters was with the Las Vegas Aces. You won a Championship with them. It was. First of all, what did you think of their turnaround back to the Championship now cementing you as a part of this dynasty, too?

There are certain teams that will always hold a special place in your heart. And for me, the Aces are definitely going to always have a piece of my heart. And you just want to see teams that have poured into you do well, to see the way that they've been able to just take over the league in the last however many years, four years. It's crazy. And it's also been really awesome. I was able to play with Asia Wilson, one of the greatest players in the world. And you just understand that you hear about these superstars, right? And how superstars carry themselves. And then you meet like an Asia Wilson or you meet like an Elaina Deladonna, and you meet these people that are like beyond humble. And you just see their greatness every day at practice, their work ethic, just how they show up and who they are. And it's just like a really... It was a really special place to be, and I just love to see their success.

Yeah. It's also where you spent quality time with Cid, right? Yeah.

Cid Colson? It is.

So obviously, Cid Colson is here at AU as well. You guys have had an incredible run as co-hosts together, and you're now on unsupervised with Cid and TP. What is it about Sid that you guys are just like, We go together and we're going to smash this podcast game together?

So it's crazy. They say the best things just happen naturally, right? And Cid and I were both in the same boat. They signed us, but we weren't sure if we were going to make the roster. Immediately, I show up to practice, and I show up late. I was playing in Spain. When I showed up, Sid was being herself. We've always known about each other throughout the league, seeing each other on scouting reports. We even have a lot of mutual friends, but we've never held conversation or met before.

But people have always-Until year 2022?

Yes. Training camp 2022 is when we had a conversation, and it was just like, kindred spirits. You just felt like there were some things that ran thicker than blood. Sydney is definitely one of those people in my life. Anybody that knows Sydney who knows to love Sydney. She is one of the most generous, kind-hearted individuals that you'll ever meet in your whole entire life. And on top of the fact that she's uber-successful and hilarious, the way that she shows up for others I think, is what makes Cyd the most special. I love seeing that in somebody, especially someone as outspoken and someone who can really draw a crowd. Sid is an inspiring, influential person, and I just feel like she's the type of person that you want kids to look up to, you want kids to strive to be like. To have a best friend like her is... Honestly, it's hard at times because she's Cyd. Also, people that are around us get tired of our jokes, and we have a really good time all the time. Everyone tries to put us on a word count. It never works. But we have a really great time together.

I'm very grateful for my friendship with Sid and everything that's come of it.

No, she speaks the same way about you. I literally just had to sit down with her. I hope so.

Mostly just about the character and the kindred spirits, but also you guys are a riot together.

Also, individually, when's the first time you recognized in yourself or considered yourself funny?

I've always been a clown my whole life, but I was a clown in small spaces. My family knows I'm funny. My classmates used to think that I was funny. I was voted class clown in high school. Then professionally, I was funny in my pockets, in the locker room and stuff like that, but I didn't really take my humor to television. I showed up to training camp, and Sid starts dropping little tidbits Hey, you could do TV, right? And I was like, Oh, no, no, no. I don't do TV. This company is just for locker room stuff. Close front and you get it. And she was like, Yeah, yeah. A week later, Hey, you could totally do TV. And I'm like, No, no, no, no, definitely never doing TV. She just kept being that little bug in your ear that would just drop these tidbits throughout the season. And eventually she was just like, Hop on a Zoom call. I hopped on a Zoom call, and they were like, All right, so we're going to do a show. It's going to be 10 episodes. I was like, Episodes? I thought we were doing Instagram, some social media.

And they're like, I jokingly said, So how many minutes are these episodes? And they were like, 30. And I was like, Cyd, what are we doing? She was like, Oh, girl, it's a TV show. And I was like, No way. This is crazy. So that's how it all started. And my comfort grew in front of the camera because of how comfortable Cyd is in front of the camera. And I was just going off of her being 100 % myself, but just feeding off of her energy. And she brings this comfort, at least to me, in the space where I was... Outside of second grade, I was humbly married in the nativity scene. But outside of that large role, I haven't done acting since. So I took a large hiatus, and now I'm back. We've been doing some stuff, so it's been a lot of fun. I've also really enjoyed acting and being in front of the camera and being a personality. It's something that I had to get used to, but it's been a lot of fun.

You've been great. Also, what a testimony of friendship. Sometimes a friend will pull you into a great opportunity or see it in you before you see it in yourself.

She absolutely did.

You guys have crushed it so much with all of the podcasting that I know about your talent, how funny you are. What are you trying to establish at AU about your basketball game?

I I've been injured. I got injured in Seattle. I've been going through little bouts of stuff, and I really want to show that I'm going to finish my career strong and on my terms. I'm just going to come and I'm going to do exactly what I've always been doing, and I'm going to enjoy myself. I'm not putting any pressures on what I need to be or what it needs to look like because I don't think that's what makes basketball fun. I think just seeing yourself do what you have been, not necessarily training, but what you've been practicing within yourself. Self-confidence, patience, understanding, all these things, because I feel like I'm a good teammate to others, and I beat myself up on the inside. So this year is going to be a year of I'm coming in, I'm going to be a badass, I'm going to do what I do, and I'm also going to have a lot of fun doing it. And I just can't wait for this season AU with the roster that we have. The women showing up this year is absolutely incredible. Future Hall of Famers, potentially WMBA All-stars, future All-stars, etc.

This is going to be a really fun season for everyone, and I'm really looking forward to stepping back on the court and tapping into the college version of myself and the prime version of myself and really get myself going.

Yeah. I want to run through a wall right now.

Bro, let's do it. Let's go.

I am so excited for you and just so moved by your passion and emotion and everything you're holding on to right now. So I wish you the best in this upcoming season.

And we appreciate you. And we appreciate everything you do to highlight women's basketball. Thank you. And to bring us to the forefront. The way that you cover us, it's just you can tell that the passion for women's sports is deep within you as well, and it radiates through the way that you cover us. So we greatly appreciate you showing up here to AU, but also what you do for the sport just generally. Thank you. Absolutely. And I receive all of it. Thank you. Absolutely.

Yeah, appreciate the time. Thank you. Yeah, appreciate the time.