A'ja Wilson

Hmm.

[sighs] I mean, I think it's, in a lot of respects, it's finding that identity because not only do you have all of those younger players that are playing for the senior national team in a major tour- tournament for the first time, but then, you know, I know you and Jackie talked a lot about, on the last podcast, um, the ripple effects of not having an A'ja Wilson on the floor.

Mm-hmm.

So the team did have to shift its identity when, you know, you can't just throw the ball into A'ja and she can get you, you know, a third of the team's points-

All right, United States, you have something else that you would like to learn?

I was just going to say, I think that's where the absence of AJ Wilson really kills a bit of the lineup versatility of the USA.

I'll add zero doubts that if with AJ available, we will see lineups with Herb, Brianna and Fi all sharing the floor at once.

Yeah, and that would, yeah, that would be, yeah, that

The basketball is chock-full of talent across the league.

Towering talents like A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, young dynamic rim runners like Angel Reese and Kiki Irafen, steely veterans like Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Mitchell, to fan favorites like Olivia Miles and Sophie Cunningham.

The difficult degree of shot-making, the acrobatics, the extended range, night to night the game has never flowed better or been more competitive.

And yet, as WBUR reporter Kari Thompson writes, "The collision of what the WNBA has always been, a lifeline to the LGBTQ+ community, and what it's becoming as a result of this newfound attention following Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark's arrival in twenty twenty-four has turned the league into a target." According to Media Matters, since June twenty-fifth, Fox News has dedicated at least two hundred and six segments to the WNBA, largely aimed at stoking culture war tensions related to race, trans athletes, and more.

But yeah, to your point, um, it's not as simple as some people like to argue in the abstract for places to be interested simply because of the attendance of, of one or two players.

There was news breaking that A'ja Wilson would be missing the World Cup, and producer Alex from our show did some research and discovered that the players don't get paid anything to play.

They don't even get paid if they win or, or, or medal.

And so with the new salaries in the WNBA, with the amount of money teams are investing into these players, there is an increased risk when you choose to leave your W squad, especially this year just ahead of the playoffs, to participate in the World Cup.

Usually the World Cup is right after the finals.

Like, literally a day or two after the WNBA finals are over, they fly to wherever the World Cup is and play there.

I remember in 2022 the Aces won the title in, two days later you had Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, and A'ja Wilson flying to Australia, which is even less convenient than-

Mm-hmm

I know that everybody, everybody had something to say about the start of FIBA because I was one of them.

Because we didn't have Asia and we didn't have Kelsey Plum.

And then, Lord, the game against Italy had me looking like, what in the world is going on with Team America? It's a lot going on in FIBA, but...

Team USA is doing well.

After the very first game that Team USA played where Kaitlyn Clark had an amazing game, Linda Cohn decides to go on her show.

She has a show, The Linda Cohn Show, and basically says...

But she basically says, maybe the reason that Asia Wilson pulled out is because she was intimidated by the tournament becoming the Caitlyn Clark show.

Yeah.

Becky Hammon, very similar thing.

A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum.

Hell, even Candace Parker.

Like, these are notable players who when we w- when we talk about their careers, they'll probably be Hall of Famers, and that's what Becky Hammon has had.

Their stocks are in the pooper.

Tanya has worked very closely with WNBA players like A'ja Wilson, designing shoes that most people have absolutely no interest in buying.

Maybe she was instrumental in getting Caitlin Clark's shoe delayed by 12, 18 months, whatever it was, so A'ja Wilson could feel extra special.

Nneka Ogwumike, she is still playing pretend basketball, and she was instrumental in getting WNBA players multimillion dollar contracts.

Jess Smith, current president of the Golden State Vikings.

And look, it's not just the players.

The WNBA also has problems in the league office.

Who do you think is designing the promotional materials that exclude Caitlin Clark? Who do you think is trying to make A'ja Wilson the face of the league? This league needs a commissioner who is strong enough and willing to address the problems, most of which are caused by veteran WNBA players.