Transcript of #692 - Sophie Cunningham

She's number 8 for the Indiana Fever and a cornerstone for that locker room. She's one of the most talked about players in the WNBA. And, and she's absolutely hilarious. I'm thankful that I got to sit down with Miss Sophie Cunningham.

Shine on me and I will find a song. I will sing it. Come on, Sophie.

Oh, so are you going to be touring, like, just working with Tacoba the whole time? Yeah. Oh, sweet. Dude, I wish I would have known because, yeah, Tacoba sponsors our podcast too.

Dude, you need to get some shit kickers, man.

I don't know what happened. I have some. I don't know who took them. Sophie Cunningham, what's up?

Nothing.

Let's start there. How about that? There you go.

Okay. It's good. It's nice outside. Good

weather here, right? Oh, I feel honestly, I almost feel bad being in here.

Why?

Just because you just said it's because it's nice.

Well, we should have done this out by the pool.

Yeah, but I don't know, because sometimes there's wind conditions. And we tried one time and they had like a— there was like some nightingales or something, or sparrows or something. And it was like problematic.

Well, yeah, I was kidding, but I could see. Yeah, I wouldn't want a bird to shit on me, so it's fine.

Yeah. I mean, and it's good luck in some countries, I think. Where is that? If an animal— don't even look it up. Never mind. Let's keep it moving, dude. Thanks for hanging out.

Yeah. Thanks for having me.

You're here for the race? Nice.

Yeah.

What are your plans with the race?

Probably watch some cars. Okay. Meet some drivers, meet some teams. I think that'd be fun. I have a couple girlfriends coming down. Really? Yeah. And so we're just going to kick it. This is my first weekend that I can just relax and kind of have some fun. So why not?

Because y'all season ended, what, like 2 or 3 weeks ago?

Ours was kind of like a month ago.

Was it? I watched the final game.

Yeah. Not great. Wasn't our best.

Yeah. What's it like right when it ends? Like, right when the season ends? Because you guys were in a best of 3 with the Aces and you guys lost.

Yeah. So it sucks. I hate to lose. And so I don't know, when you feel like you have the potential, you have the potential of your team, you know what you're made of and you can do it, but we just didn't get it done. And so It sucks. But then, like, after a couple weeks, it's like, dang, it's kind of nice to, like, relax and, I don't know, get back home and get around your people.

So. What did you think y'all were missing? Like, did it come to a point—

Our shots? Duh.

Bro, you're so right, dude.

Like, that's a big problem.

You didn't take that many shots in the last game.

No! It's okay. Maybe next year. Like, what do you want me to say? I don't know.

It's so true, though.

No, I— first game, we got blown out, so not great. Um, had a pretty good game individually, but, mm-hmm, you know, that doesn't matter. Um, second game we won nice at home and then went back out to Vegas. Uh, great environment, I'll give 'em that. But some tough calls. We didn't make our shots. Um, just didn't play great. Yeah.

So it just felt kind of, yeah.

Yeah.

It was kind of a, it wasn't fun to watch. Yeah. You know, that's probably my favorite team. I think so.

Us or Vegas?

Y'all's team.

Oh, Vegas. Like which one?

Yeah. No. Yeah.

Well, no, you did come to a, a regular season game.

Oh yeah, we came. Yeah. I've come, let me see. than the, like, the past 2 seasons I've been to a game. Yeah, we went with, um,

Patrick and Connor.

Yeah, he was in town. Yeah, he's playing in like Poland now or something. Um, but yeah, it was a good time. I love it over there. I love— I mean, I love watching the team. It's a good time. But like, I guess when I'm sitting there as a, as a fan, when I'm watching a game, there's so many other things that I'm wondering if they're going on on the court, right?

Okay.

Like, is there— because a lot of times y'all sport is one of the few sports where you can see, where you know some of the people been dating or been in love or studding around or whatever it's called.

Yeah.

Or being buddies or whatever. You know, so you're always wondering like how much like of that sort of like lesbian espionage is going on out there, you know?

I mean, that's a valid point. And like to each their own. Like I love, our league is fun. It truly is. And like the girls are great. I do feel like sometimes there's like a lot of tea and drama going on, but like for us that kind of makes it better. 'Cause like, you know what's going on. I don't know if the fans do. I think like the hardcore fans do, But at the end of the day, like, when it's time to play, people like forget about that. Like, we're professional basketball players. You show up, you do your job. I'm sure the guys have drama with the same girls that they're messing with. Like, it's the same thing, but ours is just either teammates with the person they're messing with or going against. So I can see where from the outside it could be weird, but like, I don't know. I think I'm just like used to it.

Right. Yeah. I guess as a fan, you just wonder, man, is this like, if they're 2 exes and they're right there, they're playing against each other, or now they're on the same team, or sometimes it seems like they're trading people to other teams that are like now lovers or whatever. You're like, What is even going on?

Oh, there is a web. There's a web, but it's like fascinating. I'm on the outside of that web. Um, so like I just kind of sit back and eat my popcorn and watch it all unfold and it's entertaining. It's fun.

Is there like, is there like a lesbian mafia in the league? Like, is there, is there any like animosity if people are between, if somebody is straight or bi or gay? Is there any animosity between those people?

Dude, honestly, I'm like strictly dickly, so I have no idea. Like, I don't know who the mafia is.

And what does that mean? Wiener only or for wieners or whatever?

No, like guys only. Men. Yeah. Yeah, just men. Yeah, but like, to each their own. Yeah, do it. Go do what you want. Like, I don't—

Oh yeah, who cares? I don't give a dang if somebody's, you know, being like whatever they're doing or whatever. I don't care at all. I could— in fact, if I did care, it'd be crazy. Like, if I went home and I was like angry

about it,

like, why?

Who gives a flying fuck? Like, I don't—

could you even imagine if I was just drawing pictures? If I was ordering like lesbian voodoo doodolls or something. Like, that would be the most obscene thing I could ever even fathom. Um, but yeah, I guess I just wonder how much— like, as somebody watching the game, you just wonder, oh, how much extra lore is going on out there? And are people using that? Like, like, is somebody ever posting you up and they're just like, they're flirting at the same time, you

know? No. Like, I— no, no.

Okay. That's what I wonder. I think is so— is going on sometimes. It feels like somebody's like, you know—

But I, again, I don't know. Like, I'm not— Oh, right. I'm not in it. But you know your teammates and people that they've kind of been with or have not been with. You know the tea, what's going on, right? So when you're playing those people, it's not like you're focused on that. You're literally trying to fucking win a game. That's just like, not even it.

And somebody's like, hey, pass a note to that other girl or whatever.

No. Okay. You've been to a game. When would we have time to do that?

I don't know. Exactly. Okay, that's a good point.

Yeah.

Yeah, I don't know, it just seems like there's so— you guys' league always, it seems like, has the wildest shit. Like when people were throwing those wieners on the court and all that.

Well, yeah, I got hit by one of them. No way. Yeah, in LA. Yeah, yeah, hit me in the left foot.

Did it? Did anybody take one home, or was that like taboo or whatever? Do you know about it?

No, no one's taking that home. I low-key kind of wanted to take it home though, just to be like, I was probably the first person to get hit by a dildo while playing a in a WNBA game.

Yeah. Or in a sport at all. Look that up.

It's actually a valid point. Okay, so I was on the free throw line here.

I bet somebody's hummed one at—

And it scared me.

At a ball boy. Wait, hold on. Let me see. Go ahead. Let's— yeah, let's play out that when that wiener hit her. All right. Whatever. You know what I'm saying? But let's play it out. And where was this? Was in L.A.?

So this is in L.A. And like, I think the clip kind of cut before, but like, we were on the free throw line. She shot it and I went to go like, Box her out.

Okay.

And all of a sudden something like hit my foot and I looked down and that's when I jumped. 'Cause I like, you're in a game, like you're trying to compete and win. Like we're down. I'm, I'm focused on—

And slow it down so we can see that.

Like, right. You kind of get in the way, but right there.

Oh, there you go. That's a wiener.

I actually got made fun of in the locker room 'cause they're like, have you never seen a dildo before? And I was like, dude, I'm, I'm playing a basketball game. I wasn't expecting one to be thrown at me. Yeah. So. It was fun.

And did they find out who threw it even?

Because— Oh yeah, they have cameras like everywhere in those arenas, so they like narrow it down to the person. They get like banned for life.

Damn.

But if you really think about this, yeah, if you got hit by one and like it didn't hit your foot and legit like hit your face or something, that could hurt from that far.

And if it had batteries in it or whatever, or if it was weighted or whatever.

Like, I'm saying, yeah, could have broke my schnoz.

Oh, if somebody would have fucking homed it. I mean, dude, think about that though. I've already thought about it.

Because I was like, that year, that was last year. I was like, someone's going to get hit. Like, someone's legit going to get hit in the face by a dildo. And then, you know, that's going to be all over the internet.

Yeah.

So I was just hoping it wasn't me. I don't know.

Yeah. Anyway, Sophie Cunningham, good to see you.

Nice seeing you.

So you're from Missouri, right? That's where you grew up. And were your parents athletes or what was their—

Yeah, our whole family played sports, actually, at the University of Missouri. Grandpa, aunts, uncles, mom, dad, cousin, sister. Like, it was in the bloodline to go there. So

was it just one sport? Was it all hoops or was it

like our whole family? Yeah, the men were pretty much football and then like all the women were basketball and track and field. More the field portion than the track, but still successful.

What does the field mean? Like shot put?

Yeah, like shot put, javelin throwing, those events.

Oh yeah.

Yeah.

I don't know if I ever really even seen that that much. You don't see, like, I don't know.

Did you play sports?

I played basketball. Bring it up.

Oh, God. Why'd I ask?

I know it's not even worth talking to me, but we'll keep this going for another few years. Uh, we got one good pic. That's me right there, bottom left. We had a couple.

I don't know why I was looking at top right. I was like, that is not you.

But, uh, also some of these pictures, I mean, some of these people look like they, like, this looks like it's from like the 1800s, bro. What filter is this?

Uh-uh.

Whoever uploaded that is a messed up person.

Did they not have like pic— like colored pictures back then?

Yeah, well, obviously they did.

Where?

Look at 6 of my teammates, bro.

No, no. Like. Like colored pictures. Like when you take a picture.

But we had color photography.

Yeah, that's what I was getting at.

Yeah, but we just didn't— I think they didn't pay for it in our town. And so this is what we got. But yeah, I was pretty good, actually. But I don't know. I like to smoke and stuff. I was enjoying— I liked— I was a childhood smoker or whatever. And that was something that I also enjoyed.

Like cigs or blunts?

Cigarettes. And so the coaches kind of frowned on that.

Well, were you like 13? Yeah. Like, how old are you? Yeah.

But they didn't want you smoking after practice or whatever it is. Like, it gives the team a bad name. It gives the town a bad name. So we had differences of opinion on that. Are there any—

So did you quit the team or quit the cigs?

I quit the team, but I'm fine. Okay. Yeah. Dude. Yeah. Did you? Yeah. That's— I don't know. I would— I think I always see those people that have like that whole— that the trach

thing freaks me out, like on the commercials and stuff.

And they'll still smoke, some of them.

I know.

They'll just put that— they'll put like, um, bring up that people who still smoke with the tracheotomy. And that's probably— and you could put Indiana after it if you want because we know where it happens. No, this is diagrams, bro. Do not take me to 8th grade. Put me in the real— I want to see boots on the ground, okay? I want to see boots on the ground. There we go. And is she—

Oh, oh, the, the trach has a hole for the cigarette.

Yeah, there's people that will smoke right through that trach hole.

Oh, I have never seen that.

Yeah, that was a big thing when people were trach smoking for a while. Um,

I don't think that was a thing.

Yeah. All right.

Got a weird kink going on over there. What's going

on? You guys are the ones fucking throwing wieners at each other.

No, we were not. The random fans, they weren't even our fans, you know? What is this?

Oh, this is just somebody trying to— Oh, he does?

Ew, that just grosses me out.

What?

That like is— You like that? I can't even look at that again.

What do you mean like it?

Like you have a hole in your throat for a reason and that's what you're doing?

No, look, I'm not saying I support it.

Oh no, I can't watch it again.

I think it's very— I'll say this, it's culturally appropriative of Native Americans. Play it again.

Yeah, these are white folks.

I know, but that guy's using smoke signals to order.

Oh! Oh! What else can you put in there? Not in a weird way, like, uh, can people eat through that?

Yeah, you could probably use berries or something, I would bet. Maybe pecans or something.

If you put a blueberry and it got stuck into the— are you choked? That's horrible.

Dude, the most horrible thing is when you freaking— you just take a sip of water and it goes down— people are like, it goes down the wrong pipe, like suddenly they're a plumber or whatever. And then you're just like—

And you can't breathe. Everyone thinks it's funny, but like, you're dying.

But you try to pretend like you're fine, like, and you know you have to like— do you know what I'm talking about or not?

Yeah, because you're like trying to not cough or like do it politely.

Yeah. Is there a term for that? There's got to be a term for that because people suffer from it all the time. Anyway, let's get into this episode. Sophie Cunningham. Uh, this is just how it is today, Sophie. Did your, um, Was there a lot of expectations on you to play sports when you were a kid, or is this something you wanted to do? No. Like, if your family does it that much, would it be weird if you were like a gamer, or if you were like, um, you know, if you were doing something that wasn't— like, if you weren't an athlete?

There you go. Um, no, like, we have— I mean, I feel like everyone in our family actually did play sports, at least.

Like, look, have some support, okay? If I can— if every time you guys went up for a layup and I just smoked it, and we

smoked it at our little pipe hole,

Yeah, just support me when I can't get through a sentence. Okay. Sorry. Yeah, you're right. Every time you guys went for a layup and it didn't, I still sat there.

You're right.

Okay. How many layups were missed in the W last year? Let's bring that up.

A lot. Oh my God. I will say, I mean, our, our, my family and friend group say the same thing. They're like, how the hell does a league that is like the pro, you know, like, and we have some phenomenal athletes, like we're, We could kill people, right? Like, we're good at it.

Yeah.

But we do smoke a lot of layups.

Yeah. Yeah. I don't know what it is. Sometimes it just happens. It could be nerves. It could be—

No, not my teammates.

The WNBA does not officially track or publish an aggregate league-wide total for missed layups. Official league statistics track overall missed field goals. That's not really fair.

No, field goals doesn't count because, like, Kel, she shoots the shit out of the 3-point line. 3-ball, same as Caitlin.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So that doesn't really track then.

Looks like we make all our layups.

Yeah.

No stat doesn't count.

Did you— were you one of those kids that got into basketball early because they got tall?

Great question, actually.

Thanks.

No. Yeah, because that's a valid question. A lot of kids do that, right? Like, oh, you're tall, go play basketball. Or, you

know, do anything. Yeah. Once somebody gets tall, they have to be the model or play basketball.

Facts. No, just go be a normal human. But, um, no, I can't. I'm tall. No, no. Yeah, I was about to say something. Glad I didn't. Um,

no, really, that doesn't seem like you.

Yeah, I know. Look at me having restraint. So, um, we grew up playing everything. And when I say we, it's like me and my sister. We best friends. And so we did every sport together. And I knew from like a young age, you know how like kids who are doctors, they like were naturally really good at school from a really young age. Like, same with like a lot of musicians and singers. Like, you just have a natural talent.

Yeah.

That's how I was with sports. And so I knew from a young age, like, I was gonna be a pro athlete one way or another. I didn't know if it was gonna be basketball, volleyball, or soccer. Like, those were my 3. And like, I just naturally loved basketball more. So I knew, like, and when I say young, I'm talking about like 3, 4, 5 years old.

What?

Like, I just knew that like—

That's so young.

Well, I wasn't like—

How'd you even know? Did you have a diary or something?

No, no, I just like, that's always been my mindset. Like, I was just good at it and like, I had so much fun doing it. I loved it. So I was just like, this is where I belong.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And that's your sister right there?

Yeah, that's Lindsay. She's the best. Like, she's the, the best sister out of all of us.

Is she a better person than you, you think?

Probably 100%.

Yeah.

And anyone who, like, knows us would say the same thing.

That's fair.

Yeah.

Yeah. My brother's the same way.

Older or younger?

He's older than me. He's just better than me, but I'll catch up. Um, oh, that's nice. And does Lindsay hoop still?

We played at Mizzou together.

Y'all did?

Yeah, it was fun.

No way.

We had 2 years together. So much fun. Ooh, our glory days. Do you guys really have to bring that up?

We can sub it in with a different picture.

Yeah, that'd be great.

But we won't. Look, I'll tell you this, a lot of dudes would throw a wiener at that one. Okay.

Honestly, I don't even care because like nowadays people in college are like doing Pilates and drinking green juice and like, and like back then Mizzou was making us eat and lift like football players.

Really?

So when I like look back, I'm like, honestly, not mad about it because I was doing what I was supposed to.

Oh, it sounds like you have some aggression towards them.

No, no, I'm just kidding. No, I just feel like that's like— what was the—

Were any— did y'all have any smokers on the team?

No, like cigs? Yeah, like maybe a drunk cig here and there. Yeah, that was me.

Yeah.

But, you know, everyone else, no. Like, everyone—

You're like, I don't think we had any smokers on the team. You're the smoker?

No, I— no, I'm not actually a smoker, but I will have a good drunk cig. I love 'em.

Did you smoke a lot of weed growing up or not?

No. Like, I'm really not— I don't know why. I think my family just beat it in. Like, drugs are bad. And I know weed, people are like, it's not a drug. Like, whatever. Growing up, we considered it a drug.

Mmhmm.

But I mean, we drink, but that was kind of hard. We did alcohol. That's what I was just about to say. We drank alcohol, but we didn't get into drugs, which I'm not mad about. I'm so glad they beat that into us to not do drugs.

Yeah. Don't feel bad about yourself because you didn't do drugs. Sophie, that's crazy.

No, I don't feel bad. I'm proud that I'm not a druggie.

Okay, good.

I think that's a good thing.

It is kind of weird, though. You'll meet people now and they're like, yeah, man, I'm sorry I never did any drugs or whatever. But that's kind of sad.

Isn't it?

It's so sad.

Like, it— that's a good thing.

Yeah,

yeah,

yeah,

yeah,

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Mm-hmm.

Yeah?

Yeah.

I saw y'all at the airport one time.

Really?

Yeah.

Ooh, isn't that weird that we weren't traveling, like, we were traveling with kind of like fans in the public. We didn't have private flights.

Y'all didn't have any fans either, to be honest. I

mean, that one really just bit me in the ass.

Sorry. Sorry.

Yep.

And maybe that was kind of rude.

No, it's not. No, I do not. I literally don't care.

Well, was there a fan? Was there more? I mean, there's more fans now.

Well, yeah, like there's definitely no way we could do it now, but I think you have a good point.

I mean, that was, that was rude actually. I'm joking. That was just me joking,

dude. I don't like, I,

I care though.

Okay. But I don't. Okay. And like, here's my thing is—

hold on, I need you to care a little bit.

Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry. Sorry.

Um, somebody has to apologize and it's gonna be me. I'm sorry.

Thanks. But I will say from like your point of view on that, we weren't on TV. Like, how were people gonna know who we were?

Okay. Nobody knew.

Like, that's not anyone's fault. It's not your fault. It's not our fault.

Yeah. People, some people—

how did you know who we were then?

Because I saw some of y'all's gear and I, I know that, um, Tarassi was playing with you guys. Yeah. So I saw her. Yeah, that was a, that was the main one that I saw. And I saw, um, and I saw you, I remember. And I saw, um—

Well, we had, we had, uh, you'd probably know BG, Brittany Griner.

And y'all had Brittany Griner too?

Yeah, and Diana. Those are like the 2 stars, right?

And so I kind of was like milling around. It was like baggage claim and I was like milling around. Anyway, I actually almost came up to get a photo, uh, but I think I was like, what am I doing now? I'm just standing around. And somebody had children. One of the women had children that were their wife and children with them. I think

it was probably Diana. Yeah,

it might have been. But how much has the league changed from whenever you got into where it's at now?

Dude, night and day. Is it really? Yeah. You can't even compare the two.

So it's incomparable.

I mean, I think the talent you can, because the talent has always been there. There has been some phenomenal, phenomenal people go through the WNBA, but we just didn't have the platform that we do now. Like, we didn't have the TV deals. We didn't have, we just weren't exposed. Like, people couldn't watch games. I remember like my first 3 or 4 years, like my parents had to like download some weird app. And like, even then it was like a black screen the entire time. Like, it was just, you could not watch games.

Yeah.

And so I definitely think like the last, I don't know, 3, 4, 3 years pretty much that, you know, that class of Caitlin, Cameron Brink, Kaylee Van Lith, Angel, like, That class, they just had the platform, they had the eyes, they had the audience from college. And they brought it into the W and now it's just exploded. Like, and, and people love us. Like if you put it on, if you put really any women's sports on TV, people are gonna fall in love with it. And my biggest thing that I love about it is like little girls, they can find someone. Our, our league is so diverse that they can find someone on TV that like looks like them or comes from where they come from. And then we're inspiring them to be the next us someday. Yeah. And so I think, That's the coolest part about having this platform is like it's accessible and people can watch it and you inspire the youth. So I love that.

Yeah. Oh, it's crazy to think that your parents had to do that. Like, how do we watch it? Like, we have to go under a bridge. Like, we have to meet somebody or something. Like, we have to— like, that's unbelievable.

I mean, I'm like, not— I'm happy of where we're at now, but I also like love those times too, because I am like in the perfect spot of I saw where the W was at. But I'm also reaping the benefits of the people who came before me, even of leading us to where we're at now. And so I didn't get all this right away. And so I saw kind of the bad parts of it, if that makes sense. But now I'm reaping the good parts of being in the WNBA. Does that make any sense?

Yeah, I think it makes sense in the way that it feels like you were there. It almost feels a little bit more like you at least were there in some of the years where it was tougher.

Yes, exactly. Because some of these— and it's not their fault, it's just how old they are. They come in and they They, they

just think it's hype.

Yes. And they like, they don't, they own, all they know is private flights. All they know is the nicest hotels. All they know is like, you have security. My first 5 years we had zero security.

Yeah.

And like, there's an—

Oh, I was loitering around y'all at the airport.

Yeah. Stalker. Like, where's our security? And so, no, like, so there's—

The first thing a stalker says when he gets busted is like, actually, I was just here doing security. How do you know that? Huh? I just, I don't know. There's different I've interviewed some of these people, um, at home by myself. So yeah. Um, anyway, what are we talking about, dude? Somebody help me out. God, what is wrong with me today? Uh, so here's some information right here. It says regular season, same method for both leagues, play-by-play. Um,

oh wait, that's damn near the same thing.

Wow. So this says missed layups per team per game. The NBA.

Don't mind how many games they play compared to us.

Okay, hold on.

I just called us out. Sorry, girls.

So per team in the NBA, the men miss 7.6 layups per 40 minutes and the women miss 9.7.

Okay, I'm just going to talk a little shit because I understand that we miss a lot of layups. We also can't really— majority of us can't dunk the ball. And if I was a man and I was able to dunk, I'd be dunking that thing every single time.

Yeah. What are you even doing, dude?

Like, you're that high up there. Like, just fucking, fucking dunk it.

Yeah. What are you doing, guy? Mister, here's what you— that should have an asterisk by it that's like, also, these dudes are fucking pussies for not dunking the ball.

I'm just making myself feel better. Okay?

No, but you did a really good job of actually reframing that. And I'll say this, I think that's one thing that I can relate to about the WNBA is Can't dunk, right? Sometimes miss layups. And, um, yeah, and some— and you're like, I can't remember what the third one is. But anyway, Tacovas, guys. When you're stuck in a shitty conversation,

just switch the subject altogether.

These nice boots will get you on your way. Uh, you were saying that, um, there was an incident when you guys didn't have security and it was like So, yeah, tell me about a time when it was more hectic.

When we weren't secure?

Yeah.

When I was a little insecure?

Yeah. When you didn't have a firewall.

Yeah, literally. No, we were going through the airport and stuff had happened that year and whatnot. But Brittany Griner gets the worst rap. She is the coolest person you will ever meet. Swear to God. Yes. You and her would be best friends. She's down to earth. She's country. Like, just chill. Super chill. And so I want to shout that out before I even tell the story.

Okay. Yeah, she does get a— or the energy you feel for some reason is different about her.

Yeah. No, she's the best. And so something happened at the airport, and we literally had zero security, and we got swarmed, and they were all kind of going after her a little bit. And so we all kind of, like, us as players, put a circle around her and like there was one guy who I guess he was kind of our security. I, I don't, I don't know. And like he was carrying, um, her actually Louis Vuitton bags.

Okay.

That's— No, listen to this. No, listen to this. This is funny. Hold on. And I, I was like, I was the caboose and like he saw what was happening, so he ran in to like push those people away. But when he did it, he threw the bags and it came back and cracked me right in the nose. And I was like, Damn. I was like, I was trying to help, but I just get cracked by like a $5,000 bag right in my schnoz. Black eye the next day. It was great.

People were like, all I'm saying is the WNBA is crazy. And we tried to talk to Brittney Griner and some gay guy hit one of their own players.

No, he wasn't gay.

I know he wasn't, but he was also carrying a Louis Vuitton bag for a WNBA player. So I'm just saying it comes across unique. But anyway, so, but yeah, that's dangerous. And you're the one that got Oh, yeah. You were the victim.

I was the victim.

You end up in a lot of kind of spaces like that.

I'm the victim?

Or you just end up in the scuffles.

I don't mean to. I literally don't mean to.

Really?

I don't. I mean, you're really telling me that I planned for someone to come? I was trying to get the caboose over so they didn't come behind, and all of a sudden someone comes and throws a bag, and I'm the one who has a broken nose.

It's your friend.

No, but I'm saying, The guy came up and just threw the bag. Like, how was I gonna know that was gonna hit me in the face?

You're right.

You know,

you're right about that. I mean, like, smoke to my neck.

Can you see my napkins? No.

Is napkins a euphemism for something? That's all.

No, no.

Oh, okay. I didn't know what you're talking about.

He gave me napkins.

My bad. I don't know if there's like— I just didn't know if there's like— I, I just, I didn't know. Yeah, I just didn't know if there's like a lot of like—

Wait, that's actually hilarious.

A lot. Yeah, I don't know if there's like a lot of sexual euphemisms out there or whatever.

Never heard that one.

And some lady's like, hey, yeah, anyway, moving on. Uh, I can't see your napkins. I haven't looked either. I'm a gentleman.

Thank you. Thank you.

Okay. Um, how much did things change kind of when that class came in with like, um, Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, uh, Cameron Brink? Um, Bueckers was the year after her, I think. Um, but how much— when this new energy's come in, like, how much did things change and how, and how quickly did you notice it as a player?

Yeah, I think like night and day. And immediately, like, you just have— now I will say, like, being drafted out to Phoenix, because I had Diana Taurasi, who's the GOAT of our game.

Yeah.

Because of BG, like, I— our games were always sold out. So like, the sold-out crowds were nothing new to me. Now, like, being in Indiana—

Oh, you guys were always sold out?

Yeah. Like, we are— I've been very blessed with where I've played, truly, because you would go— like, when I got drafted, Indiana, I think they only had like 200 fans. Like, it was, I mean, it was nap town. Like, people went there to catch up on sleep. You play a game and you wanted to get out. But like, now it's like the place you wanna play. People, that's like people's Super Bowl coming into Gainbridge Arena. Like, it's, I mean, you've been in it, the energy. Pretty great crowd. Yeah, like, it's fun. And so now every arena's like that. And so I think since that new class, you truly do, you have the private flights, you have security. I know some teams are still kind of working on making sure everyone gets to a certain level, but I know that the Fever are there. Like, we're, we're at the highest level you can get at, right? And so—

Like operationally?

Yeah, operationally. Our security, and I know like we keep saying that, but like, it's a huge, it's a big deal. Like, the more that people, the more you're visible on TV, you're gonna get more fans. Like, people are gonna know who you are, and that's a really great thing. But there's also a lot of like kind of crazy people too that, Like, we do have a lot of stalkers. I know I do. And like, that's the negative side of things that people don't think about. Um, and so you, you do want to feel secure, but—

Have you received, like, have you had stalkers? Like—

Oh my gosh. Yeah. Like, I will have to check if I'm even allowed to say this, but like, I like have, I think, 20, I think, people kind of that the FBI are watching for me. Me alone.

Really? What are some of those names?

I mean, I don't know. I know. Yeah, I'm definitely not allowed to say that. I know one of them. You do? Yeah. I mean, he's locked away now.

What? They locked him up because he was talking?

Actually, this is public knowledge. Yeah, his name's Kevin. And the worst part about that is like my— I have a miniature donkey named Kevin, and now I'm like, well, shit, do I need to rename Kevin?

Oh, sometimes when he looks at you too.

And

I wonder if he's in— if he's working for that guy somehow, if he could be channeling visual—

Ew.

You don't think that's possible?

I mean, I don't know, shit, I don't know, but no.

Yeah, you're right. Yeah, you're right, stupid.

This was, uh, 2 hours ago. Um,

judge denies bail reduction for Sophie Cunningham's alleged stalker. The man accused of stalking Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham— that's you— was denied a bail reduction at Marion County Superior Court hearing October 23rd.

Nice, good work, judge.

Good job.

Thanks for clapping, everybody. That made me feel good.

So that's got to be crazy then. Did you have stalkers before?

No. Why would I?

Well, I mean, just if you're still playing.

Well, yeah, but—

But since it's gotten different.

Yeah, but I will say, even just the skill level of our game is always getting better. The athleticism of these young bucks are— I mean, so many people in our league can dunk now. That's insane.

Really?

Yeah. And the younger classes even who are in high school and college, People are just getting more and more athletic.

So I'm

just

like, rattle off some. You guys have the one— I know you have one girl on your team that can dunk.

Yeah, KK definitely can. She hasn't done it in a game. We have another girl named Shelly. She's like a player development player. She can dunk.

Yeah, but like, I went up to KK one time. I just saw her walking in the casino.

She's the best.

I was like, you play for the NIP, don't you? She's like, yeah,

she is the best. Just chill. It's cool.

Yeah, I was kind of excited. Aaliyah Boston is probably my favorite player.

Really?

Yeah, I think so.

That's ballsy of me sitting right here.

But you're also a good player.

Thanks. Okay, thanks. No, I mean, I'm literally—

I mean, yeah, I'm, I've, uh, I'm a Fever fan, dude.

I'm kidding, right?

I love being a Fever fan, dude. It's been good. No, but Aaliyah Boston's got— just watching her get better so much, it's like amazing.

Oh, I was mean. I thought it was like 200. It's only— it was actually 6,000.

Yeah, actually, you know what, here's a stat right here. It says here the, uh, here are the Fever's regular season home game averages. Average per home game. Uh, oh, in 2018 the average was 6,300, and then in 2026 the average is 16,000.

Look at 2022 though. Like, that's the one I remember.

In 2022, the average was 1,700 fans.

We were also in like a coliseum that they do the state fair at. But even

then, still, that was COVID times though.

Was it still COVID?

I mean, it was like coming back from COVID Either way, it's— yeah, that was a rough year.

I love how people just use that term. Like, people today also like, well, COVID. I'm like,

yeah, they're like, my husband left or whatever. Like, yeah, he— I got COVID and he—

I've never heard that one.

But people were using it for everything. Yeah, I got busted for pedophilia, but it was COVID times, you know? And you're like, that's— that doesn't matter. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's still a crime. Okay. Still a bad deal, buddy. Oh, have, uh, have the halftime shows gotten better, like, as well with success? Like, what were some of the early halftime shows?

Uh, well, I mean, I was in the locker room, so I don't necessarily know. Hey, can you wait? I'm gonna go check out what the halftime shows are like. I don't know. Like,

well, I mean, what I really want to know is how did you end up with a miniature pony? That's what I want to know.

I don't know. Where was that?

Was it in Indy? No, you said you had a small horse. That's all I'm saying.

Oh, I mean, we, I mean, we have like horses, donkeys, mules, and like, we just thought a miniature one would be kind of fun.

Oh, I see what you're saying. It's not something you have in the house.

No, that'd be gross.

Would it? I have no idea.

I mean, do you want horse shit stepping out of the shower?

No, I didn't know if people have those. I don't know if they put diapers on them. I don't know what that's like.

I mean, you do see that like on, I guess, social media of like the pigs and like the, I guess there are like goats and stuff that are, I don't know.

Oh dude, some fricking lady had a kangaroo on an airplane and I—

Shut up.

Had a diaper on it. Bring it up. Bring up that roo they found on that plane.

Oh, you weren't on it?

No, that— it was diapered though.

Wait, but if you were on it, then what?

Then I would've like, I don't know, I probably would've rung that buzzer, you know? Dude, when they hear that buzzer, they get so pissed. Here you go. Look at this.

What?

Yeah.

An emotional support kangaroo. I think they did ban them though. I mean, it's kind of cute.

No, I know it's cute, but look at him. First of all, he's Mick. But second of all, look at this, bro. I mean, it's just like, what world are we living in?

Is it strapped in?

Huh?

Like, is it belted in?

He's carrying his own ticket.

How

are you missing the obvious things? You can't even—

I just can't. I just—

just give him some credit, Sophie.

Dude, I, I didn't even notice he was holding his own ticket.

And he knows CPR. The craziest thing is those animals know CPR. CPR. Actually, a kangaroo would be good at CPR. They're very powerful, uh, hind end. Or they— if they use their— if they were able to use their legs and stuff to push forward.

I think kangaroos get their power from their tail.

Well, dude, if that thing beat the fucking air back into my lungs, that'd be sick. You're just— and then you're like, I'm back. Drewski and I were talking about getting a WMB— oh, there he is right there in that

one. Oh my God.

All I'm gonna say is that one's from Sacramento. If you know, you know.

What were you about to say? You and Drewski were about to what?

Oh, me and Drewski thought about starting a— we talked about starting a WNBA team or trying to—

In Nashville?

Yeah. Or try to get one somewhere.

Do it.

Does Austin have a team?

Probably not. No.

We thought about doing it, but we couldn't. We were trying to think of a good team name, one that's real.

This should be good.

Yeah. We didn't know what to do. The Studs, maybe we were thinking. Or the Nashville Licks, maybe like a guitar lick. You think that'd be viable or not? Or is that too— you think it's too crazy or whatever? Or do you think— I think it would be good.

I mean,

but me, yeah, we were talking about trying to maybe be a part of a team somehow. It'd be pretty cool, I think.

I think you guys would thrive.

You do?

Yeah. I mean, already the team name, I think that is like a marketing genius idea.

Do you think people would come and play for it?

I mean, yeah, I mean, if the shoe fits.

Yeah.

Right.

You're right about that. If the Timberland fits, you know, God, it is what it is. But yeah, I'll have to see if he's still interested in that. You know, the best business ideas come from people who are passionate about what they're creating. People who had an idea and a drive to make something happen. You know, we're always waiting for the right time to do something. Like start a business. The truth is, the best time is now, and Shopify can help. Shopify is hands down the best place to start and grow a business. It's the platform where you really own everything— your store, your community. It's easier than ever to start a business today with Shopify because you can start from anywhere. Anytime, anyplace. We use Shopify for our merch store. They've been great as we've added new products over the years and scaled up, or taken products off and scaled down. They take care of the logistics so we can stay focused on the creative side. There's no better feeling than having something that is truly yours. Find out what it feels like to say, that's my business. At shopify.com/theo. That's shopify.com/theo. You've kind of been outspoken about things, the way that the league is kind of run and you guys as chairman or whatever, or chairwoman.

What's her name?

The commissioner.

The commissioner.

Yeah. Kathy.

Kathy. Yeah. Are there things that you would do or things that you think would be better that you can talk about that you think would be better to help the league?

I mean, I think, first of all, that is a very hard position to be in. And like, give her a little bit of credit. When she started, the league is not what it was now. And so we're in the process of getting a new commissioner. I don't know if you know that.

Oh, I didn't know that.

Yeah. So she, this is her last, I guess, kind of like couple weeks or I don't, I don't know when, when she's stepping down. So we'll see here. Honestly, I have no idea. Oh, December.

She's retiring.

I mean, that's one way to put it. Um, I would say—

Retiring by force, they call it sometimes as well.

Yeah, I think that's more like it. Um, I think Adam Silver does a phenomenal job of having a relationship with his NBA players. Um, and so I just think that's what we need on the W side. Like, yeah, where we're at as a league, like, we need someone to come in here who has a backbone, um, who's gonna stick to, you know, what they do. and hold the standard. But also, like, we do have a lot of people who come from a lot of different backgrounds. It's a very diverse, diverse league, which I think is awesome. But you also need someone who has a common goal, like a goal, and bringing everyone together to like try to get that goal. And so I think it needs to be a player and owners league first. And so like, that's like having a relationship. Like, you don't have a boss, you are the boss. But say you had a boss.

God is my real boss.

There you go. I like that. Well, it's like, honestly, him walking in here and him not even saying hi to you. And so like, it's like, no,

like,

yeah, we're in the— yeah, like, say hi, be human, be nice. And I think that's all we're really asking for is a little bit of respect and just like, be a normal human. Like, we're all trying to work for the same goal. We all wanna make the WNBA the best it can be.

Right.

So I think in order to do that, you need great communication. You need to be open. You need to have our backs. You need to have the owners' backs. We're not always gonna get along. We're not always gonna agree. The majority of the time we're not gonna get what we want as players.

Mm-hmm.

But just having that open line of communication and respect, I think is huge. And I think we deserve that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So you think that there's more potential for that forthcoming?

100%. Like there has to be, there has to be. And I think she, she did a lot of good things. But again, like you've got to be willing to have a growth mindset. You have to be willing to, to grow and want to grow our league, want this to be the best league and have this be the, the standard of all female sports leagues. Right. Mm-hmm. And so in order to do that, you have to have someone who's willing to stick to their guns a little bit, push the limits a little bit, but also, I don't know, be normal at the same time. I don't think that's really that hard to do.

Do you think she was just too business focused or just like—

dude, I don't know. I don't know her. She doesn't talk to any of us. So how would we know?

Right. Here's Dan Patrick right here on WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert canceling her appearance on the show. If you want to be treated as a serious league, this is what happens. These are tough questions, but this is a fair— should we just play it? Yeah. Okay.

This was a couple weeks after this is when she stepped down. It was like when there was a lot of

pressure on her. But this is really funny.

Yesterday we were hoping to do an interview with Cathy Engelbert. She's the WNBA commissioner. Todd spoke to her a couple of nights ago and we had a pairings party. Todd went up to her. She's Been very friendly to the show. Last year at this event was friendly to us. And Todd said, hey, we'd love to have you on. There's a lot of questions people have not heard answers from the commissioner. And she said yes. So yesterday after the show, we waited almost 2 hours for her. This was scheduled. And she's 50 yards away. She's hitting practice shots out of the bunker. So that's what's disappointing. We deserve more respect than what she gave us yesterday. We want to cover the WNBA. The PR staff, somebody did a disservice to this.

Well, I love how they picked somebody.

She kind of seems— she gives some Biden energy too there. Just, just like this little Biden energy for me in that. But he's saying they felt disrespected. Why?

She bailed on the last— at the last second. for the, the meeting. So

I see. And they were looking forward to it.

Well, like, here's our thing.

You need, you need us. You need a spokesperson.

Well, and also, like, we have been screaming from the rooftops since this league started that, like, we want respect. We want, uh, to be on mainstream TV. We don't want people to have to go to weird websites to watch us. Like, yeah, we have been asking for equality. And now that we have it, like, pressure's a privilege. Like, you gotta step up to the plate. And that doesn't mean it's always gonna be easy. Like, that is a very tough job. You're gonna have to answer really tough questions. You're gonna have to maybe not always know the answer, but it's okay to admit when you don't know.

Yeah.

And, and say that. That's why you have a whole staff around you so you can be your best self and, and lean on them. Like, no one's great by themselves. That's why everyone has a village. And so I just think we need someone representing the WNBA who's, who's willing to do the hard, who's embracing the hard. And also like, that's a really cool fricking job too. It's pretty cool. Like, I mean, that's a badass job. And so like, be proud of that. Want, want to be interviewed. want to promote your product. Like, I just don't understand that point of you're denying an interview, but people are wanting to talk to us finally. So why are we denying it?

Right.

I don't get that.

Yeah, maybe she's shy.

You know what? Maybe she is. We'll give her that. We'll give her a little bit of grace. She's shy.

The shy commissioner, they'll call her.

Yeah,

some people are shy, but sometimes you can't wait forever for them to figure it out.

Also, that's not the job. If you're shy, then

Yeah.

Why did— why was she picked in the first place?

Yeah, do something different. Just work indoors or something, um, or do something calmer. Work at, uh, like a— trying to think of somewhere I would work if I was real shy. I guess maybe, um, library or movie— work in the movie projector at a theater. Um, toll booth. But now people get chatty with those people. My buddy was trying to flirt with this toll booth lady for like 2 years because every time he'd go by, he'd get like one word into her, you know. And so finally he got her number, but it took like— he would— she would yell the number like each time he came through, dude. He communicated with her for like 2 years and finally he kind of got her number and shit. And they went out one time.

No way.

Yeah, swear to God. But it didn't— it didn't work out.

But— Because they only know how to say one word when they were on the date.

Well, he'd be going, no, he'd be going, yeah. Oh yeah, they're on the date. They're

like, what?

Yeah, that'd be so stupid, dude. I got to get some help for myself, but I'm going to be fine.

Were you the friend?

No, I don't know if I've ever been like somebody like that. Oh, dude, I'll tell you one time I left. I was at the bank and I'd been trying to flirt with this teller, right? And so I finally get up the courage and I'm like, oh, I'm going to write her a note. But then I'm at the bank writing a note on a thing, and then as I'm slipping it through the thing, you can see her face like,

uh-oh.

Yeah, I think she thought it was going to be a crime.

Oh.

Because I was like putting a note through the thing and, um, and she just kind of went like this. So she might have been married or she might have just like been like, the alarms are gonna go off, you know?

Feel that. Weirdly, I don't— when's the last time you've been to a bank to do that?

Um, this was probably 3 years ago.

Really?

Yeah.

Oh wow. Well,

I was living in LA and it's— I just like— it was more fun to go on errands there because the weather's always nice. So it's just like you get out and it's so great.

I feel that actually. You

know, it's like, okay, I'm gonna go to the bank.

Yeah, like get outside and actually do something.

Yeah, you're like, hey, I'm at the bank. Who works at the bank? Dude, when I was a kid, if you went to the bank, bro, they had like candy. It was good.

Suckers.

Yeah, and they had that, uh, you remember that, that thing that would go up?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you could watch it. You could watch your— yeah, yeah, I like that.

And you'd be like, oh, that's our money. Yeah. You know, and then, um, in high school we would get those things and we would like fill them with— we'd like turn them into like for smoking dope or whatever.

So you stole it?

Well, no, we would use it in the car and then we would send it back into the people and they wouldn't have

smoke in

it.

Yeah. Oh, you shitheads. Or did they like it? One or the other.

I mean, they never complained about it. I don't even know what we're talking about, dude. How do you think— how many points do you think— oh God, how many points do you think I could score in a WNBA game?

Dude, all I've seen is a picture of you in— when was that? How old were you? All I know is you were ripping cigs and you chose cigs over basketball. So honestly, I'd say you wouldn't score a point.

Whoa, Sophie, that's not even that fair.

Is that too harsh?

I think I would score 8 points if you let me play for 3 quarters. I'm going to need a little bit of rest.

Like, what did you eat? What did you do? Like, when you— wait, when you took a break from cigs and you came back to the game, were you like a point guard? Were you a shooter? Were you smoking Lay's?

I was— yeah, I was a power forward, probably. I was a slight forward, something slight. Uh, yeah, nothing— I was good for left bench. I was good. I was good for 6 points, I think,

back then.

Yeah, but that's because they didn't give me a lot of playing time, dude.

Dude, if you're not getting playing time, then

they had racial— they had a big racial—

you're not even—

That's all I'll say. There was a big racial barrier in our league, okay? And we were not getting a lot of playing time. And that's when the— yeah, so I've had a different W that kept me on the bench. Okay.

Dude, you're an idiot.

I know, but I'm good at it.

You are.

Thank you.

You're a pro at it.

Um, oh, how much, um, how, how much of, uh, because for some reason you guys' league creates a lot, like, for some reason there's like so much energy coming out of it. Do you feel like that?

Yeah, I do.

And maybe it's because it's women and that's where like the world, like the, the, that's like the creation of like life, you know? So it's like that creates like a lot of like like different energy. But do you feel like the media makes way more bullshit than—

Dude, yes. Like, that is actually part of our problem, is like the media around the W.

And it's gross.

It really is. Because like, you are stirring stuff up that doesn't even exist. Yeah. And then like, we all see it and it's like, wait, is there— like, no, there's not. And like, a lot of the beef in between players on social media, like, they don't even talk. They've never even really had a real relationship. So like, it's strictly media and Honestly, I just started a podcast myself.

You did?

Yeah, it's called No Hezzy, and I— me and Drew Hanlon do it, and it's like strictly basketball. And it's like where you can— like, all we do is actually talk about what real and good basketball looks like. And it's just an outlet for WNBA, NBA, because there's not— on the WNBA side, like, all these people covering us— I wouldn't say all because I don't want to discredit the people who do do a good job, but like the majority, they just want the clickbait. Like, they just want the drama because that's where the attention pulls. But like, there's so much, like so many great things going on in our league that like, that needs to be highlighted. The people playing at an elite, elite level, like why are we not highlighting, highlighting and breaking down those people's film? Like that makes no sense to me. And so that's kind of why we started this because I personally have seen the awesome things that, you know, social media can give you. But I've also seen the real negative, like bad stuff that it also brings. And it's like, okay, it's never as good as it seems. It's never as bad as it seems.

So like, why can't we just have like real basketball journalism? So that's what I'm here for.

Nice. Well, yeah, I don't, I just don't know if real journalism even exists anymore. I don't know.

Well, I would say like the NBA and like, I would say like NBA, NFL, MLB, they don't have the, the drama and like their people are actually covering stats in sports and good stories where ours, it's barely any of the real basketball. It's all about— and I think it's cool that people are wanting to know who we are and yes, write stories on how we were raised and X, Y, and Z, but also cover what we do for a living. We have this platform for a reason. That's the only reason why you know us is because of basketball. So that should be the majority of it and it's not.

Yeah, I agree. And it's I mean, I do think the media creates— they— that, that's part of it, right? It is. They want to create—

they're doing their job,

right? Right.

But that doesn't always mean, like, you can, you can do your job. It depends actually what your end goal is. Like, what's your intent? Are you just trying to be drama and be a diva and stir up shit? Or are you actually going to be, like, someone who is respectable and who does a great job and people learn from you, but also have fun while doing it? Like, what's your end goal?

Yeah,

I don't know. That was actually a really good answer by me.

That was good.

Yeah, thanks,

dude. Isn't it cool when you have a good answer?

Yeah, it makes me feel good about myself,

dude. When you get to the end of a cool couple of sentences in a row—

Nailed it.

Yeah, you're like, yeah, it's like that lady that lands like after the flips, whatever, in the Olympics or whatever.

Gymnast?

Yes.

Yeah,

thanks. Yeah, you're like, yeah, I told you, Mom, look at me now. It's just a fucking 3-sentence thought. Yeah. Dude, that is pretty good though. I like that. Yeah. What's one of the bigger things you feel like that the media stirred up that maybe it wasn't even a thing?

I mean, I would say 90% of the drama that you hear about in the WNBA is made up drama. It's not— I don't know. And another thing is you go from I get this a lot and I, and I've learned to be a pro to like not judge people when you're competing against 'em all the time.

Mm-hmm.

Where it's like, if they were on my team, I'd probably absolutely love them. And so I, I don't know, it's, it's us as the women in the league to like, you know, you're gonna compete, you know, you're not always gonna get along. Like, why would you be best friends with, I don't know, people you're, you're trying to not like, I don't know, try to win against.

Win against.

Yeah. And so if you're always competing and like, never on their side, then you're probably gonna create some rivalries. You're gonna create some tension. And I think that's natural. That's what happens when you're a competitor, when you're at the highest level. But also I think, I don't know, just like, I don't know, people just run with shit that is just not, I just don't get it. Like, I'm like, now I'm not gonna give you details, details, but like, I'm telling you, 90% of WNBA drama is made up shit.

Mm. Okay.

Yeah, I think we really do have like a solid, cool league. Like, I think when people get to know the women in our league, like, people are like, oh, y'all are, y'all are great, you guys are awesome. It's like, yeah, like, actually have a conversation with us.

Do, which is what we're trying to do here.

Yeah.

Um, okay, sorry, I don't know why I sounded kind of gruff, but I was just practicing a new voice. But sometimes it feels like the teams in the W actually don't like each other as much, which I kind of think is better because sometimes the NBA just feels like it almost— like a lot of the NBA just feels like everybody's just buddies now. Yeah, it's just a bunch their millionaire buddies. So I think sometimes the thing that's interesting about the W is that, like, you know, like, some of these women probably have a second job, right? You know, some of these women out here grinding, and so they gotta beat the other team. Whereas a lot of, like, I think some pro levels of sports, it starts to feel like, oh, these guys are all just rich friends who are just, like, passing around a lot of the same women or whatever and knocking them.

Yeah.

and just like getting a lot of the same wombs filled up type of energy, baby mama shit or whatever type shit. But it's like, uh, y'all stuff feels like— I don't know, it just feels like, okay, let's see what's popping out here.

No, I think there's some like real truth to this. I mean, there's definitely players that—

And here's a clip of you right now hugging a woman, which first of all, just trying

to show love.

You're

right.

But that's a little So you did not like that girl?

Um, no, I don't have a problem with her.

Really? Let's watch this one more time.

Why are you guys laughing? I, I really don't.

No, I'm not saying you do.

You want me to break it down?

Yeah, break it down.

I know you want me to break it down, so I will

break it down.

So how many— how— that was 15 seconds. So the other like 38 minutes in that whole game I'm a queen for blaming who I'm about to blame. The refs. Our refs are horrible. And so—

Are they real refs? Like, are they licensed or whatever?

I mean, yeah.

Okay. No one knows.

You know what, actually, I've never seen any of their license. So, I don't know. They keep showing up. They have some type of credential. I've never seen it.

They should have to wear it around their neck or at least have a QR code on their chest or whatever.

Yeah, I mean, I think that's a great idea. Maybe we'll add that in. Um, this game was just crazy. Like, they were just getting away with stuff that should not— like, if that was any of us, they would have called it tech. People would have been already ejected by this game if they called it correctly, right? And it was just too much,

right?

Like, it— like, this game was just too much. It was just like petty shit.

Shit had gone way overboard.

And like, I can deal with that for a little bit, but then like, this is at the end of the game. I'm a little tired. I'm hungry. Horrible combination. And honestly, when she stole this ball, I was like, or I was back there, so I was like, okay. I literally in my head was like, you know, you don't have to foul her. Like, you don't. Like, you're, you're up by 15. There's X amount of minutes or seconds left. Who cares?

You kind of wrapped your arms around it almost like you were trying to get just a little bit of rest, like a little second of rest.

Well, this is where no one really believes me, but actually, I guess you can't really tell on that. I would look like a liar if I was about to say what I was gonna say.

What were you gonna say then?

Well, What I was gonna say is I was, I was literally just gonna go straight up. Yeah, but at the last second, I really was like, I was like, fuck it. And so I did that.

Let me hug a bitch.

Yeah, well, I didn't mean to like get her there, but I mean, I did get her. But shit, if you're gonna do that, buck up. And I, I mean, I'm not ever gonna— I mean,

and then you guys— yeah, it just didn't—

I mean, but you just get tired of people's shit. I'm sure people in our league—

I'm sure.

Get tired of my shit, and I know that, and that's fine. And like That's part of pro sports. And I think rivalries are fun. I think they are too. I think when teams or players don't like each other, you know it's about to be a good-ass game.

I agree.

And why don't people want that? Right. I get it. You can be cool. And as a pro, you have to— there's a fine line. Still trying to figure that out. The fine line of being a competitor, but you might be teammates with them down the road. But at the end of the day, I'm sometimes gonna be too good at being where my 2 feet are at, where I'm like, this is my team. I'm gonna go to war with them. If they need something, I'm going to be there. Like, that's just who I am as a person, as a player, all that. And so in that instance, like, that game was too much. I was over their shit. And so I was like, why not?

This is what's up.

Yeah.

Yeah. Just going to inject here myself a little bit. One of the many things that stood out for people was your famous point, right? And it was— and how do you take me through it? So how do you actually do it?

Well,

is there a strategy to it?

No. No, I think that I'm— people say pointing is rude.

Um, but how are you gonna give so many directions if you don't— like, if they don't have a, uh, GPS or whatever?

Well, that's what I'm saying. And like, I—

You know what I'm saying?

Yes.

Say if you drove up to somebody, right? You're with your grandpa or whatever, and you drive up and your grandpa's like, how do I get to Johnson's Farm or whatever? And the guy just said, well, you go, and didn't fucking point.

I would be like, I don't know where to go. Like, go that way. Like, we were like I just don't, I don't know. I think everyone's just gotten so soft.

What if you see something in the sky?

I think I maybe have a pointing problem. I don't know. Because growing up, it's like, oh yeah, it's over there. Or like, hey. Or like, what's going on? I use my hands when I talk. That's just who I am.

You don't have a pointing problem, dude. Pointing, it's just saying, hey, there. It makes sense.

And it's not like I walked out there like—

And God gave us 10 abilities to point.

Yeah. So maybe I should have pointed with this finger.

Oh yeah, I point with that middle one a lot, boy.

Yeah, see, and I don't. So anyway, what happened was I, you know, I need to stop sticking up for my teammates. I think that's what it is. That's where I get— that's where I get caught.

Really? But that's fun though. And it seems like it gives you a role too, more— even more of a role than just, um, smoking Lay's. Than just—

yeah,

just shooting 3s and being a boss.

Yeah, I mean,

dude, the game I was at, I think he had 6 3s.

Yeah, I mean, that's what I get paid to do. I should be able to do that

type shit. Look at this again. Okay. And bro, this point was up and what were you actually doing and what were you

thinking?

The point was up for 22 seconds. Were you just making sure they knew who did it?

Yeah.

Okay.

No, really was. I just got in her head like, look, like, here's the thing. Something happened and I was talking to the ref, 41.

Yeah,

I'm blanking on his name.

It's like the Pointer Sisters. Wasn't that an old band or whatever?

But what happened was I was like,

find one of their hit songs. Good one.

But all I was saying, I was like, um, if, if she's gonna get a T, shouldn't she? I literally just went like this. And then she got, she just got mad at me. She's like, don't you fucking point at me. And I was like, oh, shouldn't have said that. Boom.

Yeah.

And that's when like, she was just going, I mean, look at her. Like she was just going crazy. And so I just held, I just held it. I didn't say a word. Didn't say a word. I got my nails done that day. So happy I did that.

Oh, so you definitely had to put them out on the front porch.

I mean, no. But

put them bitches on the front porch.

I did, but not even knowing.

And you pointed for 22 seconds, it said.

Well, she just kept going crazy. Like, the thing is, don't, don't react. Like, don't, like, don't care. Who cares?

Yeah.

Like, why? If someone pointed at me, I'm like, all right, cool. Like, who gives a fuck? Yeah, I don't know. I just— maybe I'm different. I don't know.

That should be the W logo. Did people— there was a bunch of— didn't people sell merch and everything about this?

Dude, yes, it was honestly the Internet's undefeated.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's funny. It was a good moment.

And how did— was there a certain way that you did it? How do you even unleash it?

Dude, I don't know. It was just natural. Okay. Like, my, like, natural sass just kind of got, got me.

Okay.

I don't know.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

But like last year, because the clip you guys played, like last year fans would come up and they're like, can you put me in a headlock? And I'm like, ooh, like, why? That's not— because of the clip before that we just showed. And like now it's like, oh, point. And I'm like, ugh, I'm like, Let's just take a normal photo. Yeah.

I was joking a little bit ago about people having other jobs. Do people in the league have other jobs? Do you know?

Honestly, this is a great point because you were talking about the NBA getting along. It's because they all make a shit ton of money.

Yeah.

So no one— I mean, they care, right? And they love ball, but they're all getting paid millions of dollars.

All of them might not be.

But well, not all. A lot of them are.

And I agree, they all, they all are friends. So it is, it definitely—

But it's because of the money. Think about this. Like, what is the minimum in the NBA salary? I have no idea.

One year of service. First of all, calling it a year of service is an insane statement.

And that is actually

when there are people who are actually

serving.

Yeah. One year of service, dude.

Okay. But look, my point exactly is like, it's

$2.1 million.

Yes.

And a rookie's making $1.3 million. It says the NBA league minimum salary for a rookie for the 2026-27 season is $1.3 million, while a veteran with 10 point— while a veteran with 10 or more years of service earns a minimum of $3.8 million.

So everyone's at least making a million,

right? So that might, that might be a part of why they can get along easier, just because they're all comfortable.

Well, yeah, because everyone— yes, everyone's comfortable. My rookie year, after tax and everything, I think I made like $28,000. So yeah, and I'm not like Back then, I was not a very scholarly person. I went to high school, I went to college because that was the steps to become a professional athlete. And I wish I would've been better in school. I wish I would've done finances or business or something like that. I didn't.

That's okay.

Yeah, it's fine. But what I'm getting at is I was making $28,000 and I was like, I need to get a job. I need to actually do something to make money.

So you were playing in the WNBA. You have another job?

Yes. And there's a girl, she just came out. She plays for Seattle.

Okay.

She actually was working at like a grocery store and playing in the WNBA. So like people actually had 2 jobs. But now because of our new CBA agreement, which is great, it's going to continue to get better. Like we're all making good money now, so we don't need to.

The median salary is $350,000 as a base pay. What does that say? Let me see. The average WNBA base salary in 2026 is about $518,000, but most players earn far less, with the median at $350,000 and 45% making $300,000 or less. Wow, that's a great deal of money. 31 players earned $1 million or more, led by Kelsey Mitchell, A'ja Wilson, and Nafissa Collier. Nafissa?

Nafissa.

Nafissa Collier at $1.4 million each. Caitlin Clark earned $528,000 in 2026 and is set to earn $597,000.

She's still on her, like, rookie contract.

In 2027 with a potential max deal. Wow. So it's gotten a lot better,

dude. Yeah.

So that was the only case. So that's the only case, you know, of a woman that had another job.

I mean, I know a lot of people who are doing, like, side gigs and, like, I— or people

Are people doing OnlyFans? Are any players doing OnlyFans?

I don't think so. I don't know.

I don't know.

I'm asking you. I mean, I don't know. I wouldn't know, I guess.

Have you ever thought about it or not?

No. I'm like, yeah, no, not up my alley.

I keep my privacy to myself.

Well, actually, I guess her.

WNBA-affiliated figures who have OnlyFans include veteran guard Erica Wheeler and former All-Star Liz Cambage.

Wait, what?

Cam Beige, who launched an account after stepping away from the league.

So Erica's is with OnlyFans trying to show that they have other content on there.

I was about to say, I've never heard of it, of training family. You know, this, this doesn't make sense to me because that's like McDonald's trying to serve enchiladas. Like, that's never going to be

right if you— yeah, don't— yeah,

you get what I'm saying? Like, no one, I promise you, no one is going or thinking of that. And thinking, oh, family health content,

right? Let me go to OnlyFans to see, yeah, this cool recipe or someone building a birdhouse with their son.

No. Yeah, that's just not it.

Yeah.

And like, really, if she would have stuck it out a little bit— $1.5 million, I'm sure sounds nice, but she would have been making way more if she would have just stuck in the league. But

if she'd have stayed in— what are some things that take women out of the league that maybe we don't see?

Actually, that's good. I'm going to hit on this point too, that I think a lot of people, we actually used to have to go overseas because that's where we made the majority of our money. So now because of this new CBA and even the last CBA, you saw less and less players going overseas. So people would go to China, Russia, Turkey, Spain. They would make hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars over there. So they had to.

Okay.

But if you have that WNBA, title within like who you are, you're gonna automatically make more money. Like that's, we were the most elite level that you could get at, but back then we were making kind of like the minimum almost. And so now it's like flipping. So now we're starting to get paid for, you know, who we are and what we represent and all of that. And so it, it's good. So you see less and less people going overseas, but there's, a new, offseason league that there's one in Miami and then there's one this year. It's actually called Project B. Oh, cool. And I'm doing it. It's like the first year.

Project B, like the pill or whatever?

That's Plan B.

Oh, my bad.

I mean, I could see how you get it confused. You

know, I don't take them.

I'd be concerned if you did.

Yeah. And would they let me play in the league?

I mean, hey, if you're having to take that after some stuff, maybe you do belong in our league.

I don't know. That's all I'm saying.

We can all find common ground.

That's true.

Yeah, it's all perspective.

We got to get some help. Did— so wait, finish up where you're saying. I think I stepped on you.

No, you're fine. So like, we were, like, some of us too, like, I stopped going and playing overseas because I was making more money in marketing agreements. I was endorsers, partners. I was doing broadcasts for NBA.

So was that before you played in, for the Mercury?

No, that was like during. So like our season is from—

Oh, you would finish your season with the W and then go play?

Yes. Yes. So like, so our season is from like mid-April is when training camp starts. And then we would typically end like beginning of October. And so then from October to like beginning of April, a lot of people will go play in different leagues to like continue to make more money.

Right.

But I, there's a lot of people including myself that like we made more money not doing that. And we made it more off of like doing—

Brand deals, different types of things.

Yes. All that type of stuff. Right. Yeah. Yeah.

So you were able to have those opportunities. You didn't have to.

Exactly.

Right. Yeah. A lot of people's argument with— I mean, you guys are getting paid better now. You guys have television deals and things like that. I do. Just even by watching y'all, I start to get to know other players.

Yes,

dude. There was a freaking dime that played on the Tempo. You know who I'm talking about?

White mixed black.

Mixed, kind of.

Izzy Harrison, post player. She's beautiful. But they have a lot of pretty players, though.

Oh, dude, the point guard that they had. I saw her in the freaking pool at the freaking hotel.

Oh, really? Vegas. Yeah.

Yeah.

She was— I think is her last name.

She was tough.

Yeah, she's a rookie. Yeah, she's good.

Oh, no, this— oh, no, this lady had been in Toronto. The Toronto team. Are they the maroon team?

Yeah, they're new this year.

Is that the Tempo?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Who is that? Can you look up?

Yeah, just look it up.

Sorry, I should probably know that.

No, it's cool. Oh, Mabry.

Oh, yeah. Marina.

Yeah.

Love her. You know what I love is like—

Tough dude. Yeah, she's good.

20 points per game.

Marina Mabry. That's who I saw play. I saw her in the pool, dude. I was, I was like, I saw her in the pool in Las Vegas. It was during Summer League.

Oh yeah,

there was a— you guys had a game, I think, a couple days like towards the end of Summer League, but I was leaving that day. But anyway, um, and I think I saw her in the pool with like her family or something. Yeah, but she's a bucket there. She's good.

She's so good, dude. I think it's so funny though that like normally females are going to like NBA rosters and seeing like like, oh, where's the hot one? And now here you are going to a WNBA roster. Where's the hot one?

No, I didn't say that, bro. I said— I—

You're not saying it, you're literally doing it.

Oh yeah, shit.

And you did say it,

but

I think it's fun. But that's what you're saying is like the attention. Now you know other people.

Well, I get like—

it brings fans to everybody. I know she's a badass, like she's freaking good.

Yeah, she was tough. Yeah. Um, oh, you know where I saw you? I saw you at UFC in Vegas.

That was my first UFC event. Really? It was awesome.

I remember Dana saying right after I was talking to her, we're just like—

I love Dana.

Oh, he loves you. He's like, oh, that's— that's so great.

No, I— well, what happened, I was just kidding. Like, clearly I don't look like a ring girl. And so— wow, you said that a little too fast. Relax.

Well, some of them are professional.

No, like, they're like real ring girls. And so—

Which is a crazy term too. Let's just go.

Well, sorry, I don't know. Like, I don't know anything about— no, about UFC. UFC fighting.

Oh no, some of them are freaking war— I mean, they are number warriors.

What's— what are we talking about?

Ring girls. And there's freaking Paddy right behind you,

dude. I know. Oh, that was the best energy fight, I feel like. Like the McGregor one. Oh my God. Yeah, what's the— what's the song? Yeah, yeah, it's fucking awesome.

Because here's what happened. Usually they just come out and then they start to fight, but this time, since they have a new deal with Paramount, they had—

I thought you were gonna say because they have a new ring girl. All right, whatever, Paramount.

But I love how— I love— I was about— it was about you though. They're like, oh, this ring girl's so good, let's just keep having her do that. Yeah, but they had, um, they went to a— they have to do— they had more commercial breaks, they had to go to commercial. Okay, so they just let him basically have this DJ moment in the middle of the ring.

Yeah, dude, it was awesome. And so, yeah, it was great. But the McGregor, like, yeah, that's me.

At least she's shaved under your arms. Yeah, that's good.

Thanks. But what I was going to say is I—

and you're number one.

I was talking to Dana and I was like, literally kidding. That was the first time I met him.

And you said, let me go love

him. I said, hey, right when he was leaving, I said, hey, if you need another ring girl. And I literally went like that. And he's like, you want to do it? And then I was like, yeah. He's like, no, seriously, you're up in like 5 minutes. I was like, oh, shit.

Wow.

Yeah, I actually got— I don't really get nervous for things, and I don't know why I was going to get nervous to turn left.

Yeah.

Like,

well, could you go left easily, or is that a—

Yeah, I think I did it. I think I can walk left.

Yeah. Well, I would get scared, I think.

No, it's actually way more nerve-wracking than what you give those— well, I, I did not give maybe those girls as much credit as I should, but then once I was over there— well, like, I don't know, like, when you're not— when all you see is like them walking, but then when you have to be the one walking, it's like a whole different deal.

Yeah,

like, give them some damn respect. Shit's hard,

dude. I've been supporting them, dude. I've even freaking— I think I slid into one of them stands.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. You're supporting them for different reasons. UFC though, as a whole, amazing experience.

Had you been before?

No.

Oh, you'd never been?

Ever.

It's the best.

But I will say I am definitely a newbie because on one of the fights, someone like kicked the shit out of someone, and I, I heard the skin on skin, and I went, oh, And everyone else is silent. And I had got, like, no joke, like, 25 people were like— and I was like, sorry, it's my first fight. And they were like, oh, it's okay. I'm like, are you not allowed to scream here? They can beat the shit out of each other, but you can't be like, oh,

it is

kind of crazy.

There is, like, this odd silence. It's same thing happens, I feel like, at a lot of sporting events. At boxing, I noticed sometimes people will be very silent while the beating is going on.

And here's my thing, too, is, like, I'm fine. Yeah, you can get a hit in, but once they're knocked out, I can't watch anymore. Like, I, I don't know, like, call the fight faster.

Oh, sometimes they let them punch them one more time after he's knocked out, and sometimes 2 more times.

Yeah. And just like, I guess if they've

been really bad,

but like choking people out scares the shit out of me.

I'd rather get choked out because then at least you're gonna go— you're gonna—

No, that's like a slower— that's a slower like death. I'd rather just get knocked out because then you're just knocked out. You don't have to like, oh, it's happening, you know? It's like, oh shit, it Hmm.

I haven't thought about— actually, I have thought about it. Yeah, I'd rather just get choked out and then come back and be like, where was I?

Yeah.

Who am I? Or whatever.

Yeah.

And they had the teams that were walking out on the anthem the other night.

Yeah.

How do you feel about that? Or do you have any thoughts on it? Or is it even—

I mean, you know who you're talking to. Of course I have thoughts on it.

Yeah, that's a good— obviously, I wasn't even asking you. Of course I knew.

And I think the majority of people know my thoughts. But I will say, like, this is like, this has been happening throughout the whole season.

Oh, it has?

Yeah. So this isn't like anything new. People are just kind of like getting mad about it now, but it's happened the whole season. So, um, I don't know. Like, I, I don't know. I just feel like personally I have, um, a lot of, I'm grateful and I support the people who serve. Um, we have family members who have served and And, you know, they're over there doing things that are imaginable for us to be out here living our dreams and having the freedoms that we live. And so anytime that I can shout out our veterans and the people who are currently, you know, fighting for us to live in the best country.

Yeah.

You know, I'm going to show that support and I'm going to give them love. And so that's where I stand. That doesn't mean that's where everyone stands. And if it's right, wrong, whatever. But no, I take a lot of pride of where I come from and I'm, I'm proud to be an American citizen.

Yeah, that's how I feel. It's like, what do you mean? The least I can do is somebody's over there doing something, I can have a moment of peace or respect or prayer or a moment to think about them and not to think about myself. It's not even about what I need or any of my feelings or whatever. For me, I totally— it's like the one time where you had to be good or have a moment where you're like, okay, this isn't about me.

I know. 20 seconds of your best behavior. Do it.

Yeah,

yeah,

yeah. That's how I mean, I definitely feel that. Is there a lot of pressure in the league to do that, to like, for those kind of wall, like that kind of stuff, to take stands? Or do you guys do that kind of stuff or talk about it as a team?

I mean, yeah, I think that's like something that the WNBA is kind of known for, is like we, um, we stand for, uh, a lot of things. Um, and again, we have a lot of women in this league, and that doesn't mean we're all gonna agree, and we're— it's not like we're all aligned on some of those things.

Oh, you guys have The diversity in there is insane when you think about it. Y'all got mothers. Yeah. Y'all got stepmothers in there. Yeah. Nobody even thinks about the stepmothers union in the W, right? Y'all got studs. Y'all got ballers. Yeah. Y'all got women that can dunk, which also should be a special group of women that should meet every now and then just to discuss what's going on amongst them, because that's a rare group, right?

Yeah. I think we need more unifying than more groups.

Oh, I see what you're saying.

But I get where you're coming from. Right. I think we need more unifying.

Yeah, but then there is also this thing that makes it like you— like it does feel something like you're saying, this team probably don't like this team.

Yeah,

you know,

but I think that's healthy.

I agree too.

That is what sports is. I agree. Like, tell me, tell me.

I agree. When you see all the players are best friends, it definitely is kind of like, uh,

okay. But like in college, SEC, that's where I went to school. Like, not— do you think that Missouri loved every team and every player that we played against? against?

No.

Okay, now take it to the men. Do you think all the men— like, no, like, we don't. Like, why are we such— why do we have to be an outlier? Like, it's okay to be a female and compete and, yeah, have rivalries, and it's like, it's okay. That's what sports is. Like, yeah, that's what we signed up for.

Yeah.

So I just— I don't get that.

Dude, I kind of wish that every— every team was their own state team and then the states all played each other.

That'd be badass.

It'd be so badass. I feel like that there's new possibility for maybe like a— like, I know they've tried with like the UFL for football, or— but I feel like, I don't know, you would just have so much more pride. I mean, there is a lot of pride with certain areas and their teams.

Yeah.

Um,

and I do think like when you're good, like the state, regardless of where you're at, rallies around that good team. Yeah. And like on any sport, like that's just natural. But I think in order to— I don't know, when there, when there's rivalry and there's stuff on the line, you just get like The fans are rowdier, we're rowdier. Like, I just think that's fun entertainment. At the end of the day, we're in an entertainment business. Like, I don't know, I think it's part of it.

When you're out on the court, is there a lot of studs out there hollering at you or what?

Like, like in the fans? Yeah, like, are fans—

Is there like a lot of lesbian women trying to flirt or anything like that? Does that happen?

I mean, I don't— I don't— here we go again.

Oh, sorry, I keep going down this road.

I just feel for some reason,

I

feel like it's like playing a game. I I don't know who's yelling at me.

I feel like it's like a lot of girls would be like, hey, let me get you a number after the game or something like that. Is there energy like that ever?

I mean, yeah, but it's also—

So that happens in the game sometimes?

Oh, I'm talking about before and after and stuff like that.

Okay.

But in the game, I promise you, you don't hear people yelling. You're that locked in. I don't hear the crowd.

Yeah.

You know what I mean?

Yeah.

You can tell the volume if it's loud or if it's quiet, but you can't hear individual people.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. But yeah, I'm thinking if there's like a girl flirting with you on the court, like, let me cross you up and then uncross you, you know, or something. Is that crazy to say? I gotta get some—

Great pickup line, honestly. Like, yeah, it is. But, uh, no, no one's ever used that on me, so.

Okay, well,

what'd you say? Let me— I'm gonna cross you up and then uncross you?

Yeah, yeah. Is that good?

I like that.

I should have been a freaking lesbian, dude. They said I had the fucking heart of a lesbian when I was a child. Bring up that clip. Can you bring that up? This is true. There's a clip about it. Our doctor said it.

You know, I was born with a rare body style. You know, the doctors— when I said when I was born, some of the doctors said I had the rib cage of a large cat, and some of the doctors said I had the heart of a lesbian.

Praise God.

That, you know, I had that real— that ticker that wants to You know, just be naughty and sometimes do something deviant.

I didn't know it said all that at the end, but you know what it is. Um, anyway, rough transition here, but, uh, let's talk about, uh, your faith. You got baptized as a— as an adult, right?

I want to bring you to church with me.

What church do you go— what church do you go to?

I, because of my lifestyle, I don't—

It's hard. It's hard to go sometimes.

Well, I just don't have like a home, home church. Yeah, but like, I'm just like, I was raised Catholic, but now I'm just like more Christian. So I can never say this word. Nondenominational. Just said it. And so, yeah, I love Jesus. And I've actually listened to you a little bit that you're starting to kind of maybe get into it or intrigued by it a little bit.

Oh, yeah.

Or maybe that was just you not actually. I don't know, but it's okay. But all I'm saying is I rely a lot on my faith because of what I do for a living. You get a lot of hate, you get a lot of praise. And I think that just Morally, in my head, everything. Like, it just keeps me stable and it keeps me to be who I am. Like, I don't care what people's opinions are about me. Yeah, because I'm not living for their praise. So, yeah.

Yeah. The part that I like the most, or sometimes right now in my life, is just like prayer connection with God. But then sometimes it's like I'll get too busy and it gets like disconnected, and then I feel scared, almost get a little bit like, ah,

well, don't be scared.

Why would you be scared? But I don't know why I said scared, but I get like I wish I had— I wish my connection was stronger right now. That's what I get. Like, like, you know, it's like, it's like if you charge your phone, but then you see it getting low, but you feel like, dang, dude.

I feel you. Like, you need someone to feel, but there's nothing— I'm just going to say this, and this is for other people listening too, but there's nothing that you can or can't do that's going to separate you from God's love and grace and forgiveness. Like, that's why Jesus came and died on the cross, because he already knew everything you were going to do. So, I mean, that's up to you now to kind of educate yourself and read the Bible of good, bad, how are you going to represent? But you're already forgiven.

No, I think I understand that.

You know what I'm saying?

Yes.

You probably feel better when you are praying and you are— oh, yeah. I mean, yeah.

Yeah, but I just feel more of a personal connection when it's like, I'm prayed up. My buddy says, stay prayed up. I like that. He say that all the time. Stay prayed up. It's almost like if you talk to somebody every now and then, then you don't have to catch up with them.

Well, that's 1,000% what it is. That's what I'm saying. Yeah. No, 100%.

So it's like, but sometimes I'll get like, yeah, I'll just— yeah, I'll just get honestly busy.

I mean, but that's natural. That's what it is to be human. You just got to prioritize the good.

Yeah. Yeah. Do you feel like— I feel like sometimes the media doesn't— it feels like the media is unfair to Christians. Do you ever feel like that?

I mean, it's all how you perceive it and your perspective on things. But I do love that there's more and more people coming out that they are Christians and that they are believers. And I feel like there's a revival happening. And I love when people have the confidence to be their true selves and to represent something bigger than them. And sometimes it can be scary of, you know, you never know how people are gonna take that because people have, you know, bad experiences with the church, or really with the church or religious people, and that's not really what it is. And so when you see people coming out, athletes, you know, it's kind of my realm, and you see more and more people who have a huge platform, have a lot of eyes and ears looking at 'em, it's cool to see them be able to be bold and courageous and come out about Jesus.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it is. I think a lot of you, you know what I do notice? You see a lot of it amongst athletes. There's a lot of faith in the athlete community. Do you think that that's real, or do you think that that's posturing sometimes? And I guess maybe does it even matter? But I just thought about it. It's like the more athletes that I've gotten to know, probably in the past 4 years, I've known more than ever in my whole life. And it does seem like there's a lot more faith-based energy in their world.

Really?

Yeah.

Do you think coming from— is this like a comedian, like the comedian world, you don't see it as much? Or you're just like— because you're kind of in a different—

Yeah. Comedians, I think you don't see it as much because comedians are just questioning everything. And they're like, a lot of them probably—

Which I don't think that's a bad thing. Like, I don't think questioning and asking the why is bad either.

Yeah.

But no, I don't know. I think this is all I know. Like, I've only ever been an athlete, so like, I've— there are athletes who aren't, and that's totally okay. And, you know, it is what it is. That's their walk. But I know the majority of people that I'm around and who I know, they are faith-based.

Oh yeah. I mean, I find more and more of my friends are these days or trying to. And that's really the biggest thing is just trying to have a relationship, trying to learn about it. But we want to have some more, uh, religious figures on to talk about stuff on here. It's pretty fun.

You should. And like, people who love history, love science, like, talk to these people who are like, I don't know, they're just, um, experts when it comes to, uh, the Bible, and that's what they do for a living. And so people are like, oh, well, history and science, it doesn't mix well. Actually, all pretty much top scientists, they figured out that Jesus did live and he is real. And so you should have them on. Because I think it'd be a fascinating conversation and I think you would ask some great questions.

Yeah. Yeah, we want to have that. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks. And yeah, we want to have the Pope on, but he won't. I don't even know if he has a phone.

I mean, someone has a phone around there. They're not the Amish. And even the Amish have phones.

There is a kid that does Amish Timothy's coming back on.

Really? Yeah. Did you know that people in prison have phones now? I didn't know this. Yeah, I just found this out last week.

Yeah, I think they're Druisky fans, but yeah, a lot of them are. But dude, maybe the Pope, we'd send him some of those smoke signals and he would hit us back, dude.

Oh, maybe you should start with that if you get him on.

That'd be good. Gosh. Oh, what about off the court? So what's your life like off the court? Are you engaged? Are you— what's going on? Are you going on Love Island?

No, why would I go on Love Island?

I heard a rumor that you were.

No. I literally, like, I am someone who actually, like, am trying to— I was not always like this. Like, I feel like I was one foot in, one foot out with my faith. And now that I'm, like, 2 feet in, I'm trying to not live that life.

What is that life? Being in a relationship, you mean?

No, the Love Island.

Oh, yeah. It's kind of— yeah.

A little reckless.

Well, also, the island doesn't seem like it has any love on it. You know what I'm saying?

Yeah. But some people— but people love, love watching that. I've literally never— I've seen one episode and I felt like my brain cells were dying, so I stopped.

Yeah.

Like, I need all the brain cells I can get, you know?

Yeah.

Gotta protect them.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Um, is it ever a common thing in the W where women will like kind of— where they want to have a family? Does that become a tough thing that some women start to balance? Do you hear about that?

Oh yeah. And I think that's like a more and more thing and Typically, it's doable. You can be pregnant, go have your baby and come back. Now it's hard on your body. There are people have done it. A lot of people that were my teammates, this is strictly my experience and teach their own on this, but their wives are typically the carriers. And so they—

So the wife had to—

Yeah. Has the baby.

Okay.

Yeah. So they're not the ones. Having the baby.

Okay, so they don't have the baby, the wife has the baby.

Yes. Yeah.

Okay. And hold on a second. They don't have the baby, the wife has the baby. So the wife carries the baby.

Yeah.

So this— and the semen or whatever, they buy it from somewhere?

Yeah. But I think like now, this could be totally wrong, but I think now like you can— I mean, no, I know I'm right on this. You can have your partner carry your egg.

Oh, like the assist or whatever?

Yeah.

Like the greatest—

I mean, if we're talking basketball terms, yeah, the assist. Yeah, they go and dunk it.

Like the greatest assist or whatever.

Yeah. Or surrogate. But if you don't know balls, you don't know balls.

The Surrogates could be a good WNBA name.

Fuck. Yeah.

If there were like an expansion team.

Yeah, you're on a roll. So we got the Licks and the Surrogates.

Well, I'm just brainstorming something.

No, I like this. I don't think any idea is a bad idea.

Yeah. Oh, I could see it. I could see it a little bit. Yeah. Because I just wonder, like, yeah, just something that I like— expansion. You got to freshen the league up, you know? I mean, how many times can you have Young M.A. play at the halftime show? You know what I'm saying? Like, you got to freshen the league up.

You got to. You got to.

We got to try.

The tides are changing, you know? So you got to continue to grow with it.

We got to try new stuff. Is there any women that you know of that have ever played pregnant in the league? And are they allowed to play pregnant in the league?

Uh, yes, actually. Um, I, I think one of my teammates was. Like, if I'm— I know she was. I just don't know how far along, because I think that's like— is it a— I don't know. I don't know. I've never had a kid in my life, but I feel like you'd have to tell your doctors you're pregnant, right? And like,

you could hide it. You could wear like a cummerbund or whatever.

Well, I know, but I feel like once, once the player tells like the team doc or like the team trainers that you're pregnant, Yeah. Then like, it's there. They have to be like, okay, at this time you should probably not play. You know what I mean? But I feel like you could play up to like 3, 4 months. I don't know. Do you guys know?

I don't know. 'Cause I don't know.

But, but people have definitely played pregnant. Like, yeah, she's not the only one. There's like, there's been multiple people who, but then you kind of see them taking, like, once they find out, I guess, um,

just shooting 3-pointers or whatever.

No, they, they don't play that season. Like they, they sit out.

Oh, they take a season off.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

So is that a part of, this is their baby. baby season or whatever?

Um, I mean,

there's like a term for that.

I don't know. I literally don't know. I should probably know more. But I will say, like, back when I first started, like 5-ish years ago, like, it didn't— you could not be pregnant and play. Like, they— you kind of get— I don't want to say in trouble, but yes, you want to get your salary. But now in our new CBA, now you receive 100% of our base salary.

Wow. So, but, but before you couldn't, you had to— it was like pay or— it was like player pay.

Well, you actually looked that up because I'm pretty sure It was like a bad thing where we weren't allowed to be pregnant and play. You kind of had to pick and choose what you wanted to do.

WNBA players now receive 100% of their base salary while on maternity leave. That's currently.

Yeah.

Let me see before that.

Yeah.

Under older WNBA collective bargaining agreements and historical team practices, pregnancy was frequently treated similar to an injury, illness, or contractual impairment.

Yeah. Like, you could get cut. Which, that's like actually insane, right?

Yeah. I mean, yes, it is. Looking at it through the eyes of now.

Right.

But even then, it's like, yeah, you would think they would keep you on, but I think who knows if there was enough money, you know what I'm saying? In the end, it's unfortunate. It's about money. So many things come down to money when you're involved in a business.

Right.

If it's just a group of women traveling around playing basketball completely for the love of the game and been gestating together or having a child, or someone has a child.

Yeah,

then yeah, you don't cut them. They're there.

But you would, you would think of though, like, as an idiot, if you're like trying— no, but like if you're trying to like promote women and like, right, everyone's like, oh, we support you, equality, like all that, then—

And then the second Keisha's knocked up, we're fucking letting her hit this.

Psych! You're cut, bitch. Like, what? Like, so you're, you're You— yeah, that makes no sense to me. So I'm glad we fixed that. Good job. Yeah, that was good.

The, the one thing we're learning today, it's one step at a time. Sophie Cunningham.

Yeah, I like it.

That's one thing we're learning. Um, where— like, if, say, if, say, a man in the world— where does a man meet Sophie Cunningham these days? Because there's a lot of young men out there that are, you know, not even loiterers, good men probably, you know. Do guys feel like— do you like— do guys hit on you in your DMs, or is it just something like you meet a man in just regular life to like Like, could you meet a man at like a gas station or like a Petco or anywhere? Or like anywhere? I'm just thinking of places out loud.

Yeah. Is Petco a thing still?

Are they? Yeah, they have one of the largest hamsters. They own one of the largest hamster reserves in America.

You kind of remind me of a hamster.

Oh, really?

Yeah.

My first job was selling hamsters.

Really?

Yeah.

Well, I'm sure you did a really good job with that. I don't really know. Like, I

It was okay.

Oh, you didn't do a great job?

I sold— we sold them outside of raves. I did all right. But do basketball players mostly date other basketball players? Is that the biggest thing amongst the straight players in y'all's league?

Um, I think— I don't know about basketball players, but like typically athletes, like, yeah, I'm— we're tall, like we're—

Right, you have to— yeah, you can't hug somebody and have them not show up for it.

Yeah, yeah, I mean, I guess, but like you I don't know.

Yeah,

I don't know about other— I just don't care enough to know about other people's dating life. And I know, like, athletes are hard though. Like, we're hard. Like, our schedule sucks. Um, you're always on the road. But, like, male athletes are scary. Like, they just— they're scary.

Are they?

I mean, they, they have so much money. They have— they're— anything's accessible. And, like, you know what I mean? Like, that's kind of scary.

Yeah, it could be dangerous.

Dangerous. There you go. Like, if you're not mature enough to handle all of that, It could be scary.

It could be fun. It could be dangerous.

I mean, I'm sure it is fun

until it's not.

Exactly. But honestly, that's in any industry. Think about it. Doctors, comedians.

Yeah. An NBA athlete is a very insider industry right there. Is that what you're saying?

I don't know. I don't know what I'm saying.

I don't know what we're talking about anymore. Your podcast is No Hezzy, and that's out now. You can find it on everywhere. And it's with Sophie Cunningham and Drew Hanlon. And, uh, congratulations.

Thanks, man. It's new. I think we're on like week 5 or 6, and it's been fun. We're trying to figure it out. So

nice.

Yeah.

Do you have big plans for the offseason? Is there something specific you're gonna do or learn a skill? I know that, um, one of your players— I know that Kelsey Mitchell just finished school.

Yeah, she's like getting her PhD. I know she was doing it during season. She's the best. She's simply the best.

She's so great.

Um, no, I'm not going back to school. Um, I don't know what I'm doing this offseason. I'm kind of just like having fun doing Project B, which like we're going to different countries, gonna explore that. And—

Oh, you are? So you're gonna be traveling with that?

Yeah. So like, it's like you play 10 days and then you're off the rest of the month. So that's kind of awesome.

Doing that league?

Yeah.

Oh, I didn't even realize that.

Yeah, Project B. So like—

Where are you guys going to be playing?

We'll be, um, over in China, Singapore, Spain, Germany. I think that's it. I think it's only 4 countries.

Poland too. Are you going to Poland?

No, not Poland.

To hang.

But yeah, so I'll be doing that. But otherwise just kicking it, hanging out.

Excellent. Uh, all right, Sophie Cunningham, thank you so much.

Thank you. This was a blast.

Was it?

It was fun. I really enjoyed this.

Oh, good.

Yeah, it's my speed, my brain speed.

Okay, good.

Leaves, I must be cornerstone. Oh, but when I reach that ground, I'll share this peace of mind I found. I can feel it in my bones, but it's gonna take a little—