Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where for the first time in our lives, we're actually glad that one specific bracket challenge doesn't include a women's bracket, probably because anyone smart enough to fill out a women's bracket knows better than to be interested in a trip to Mars on a piece of SpaceX debris. It's Thursday, March twentieth, and on today's show, we'll be talking to legendary Yukon hoops coach Gino Oriama about why being delusional is a good thing at least of your pagebackers, the changes that he wants to see in the NCAA tourney format, how his coaching approach differs when it's NCAA tournament time, and the moment he officially retired from playing basketball, Plus a comedy we can't wait to watch, a warning to all who apply, and the wait for Unrivaled begins again. That's all coming up right after this welcome back slices. Here's what you need to know today. Let's start with Unrivaled, where the inaugural season wrapped up on Monday with Rose BC taking the chachampionship with a sixty two to fifty four win over Vinyl BC, one day after scoring thirty nine points in the semi finals against the Laces.

Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where for the first time in our lives, we're actually glad that one specific bracket challenge doesn't include a women's bracket, probably because anyone smart enough to fill out a women's bracket knows better than to be interested in a trip to Mars on a piece of SpaceX debris. It's Thursday, March twentieth, and on today's show, we'll be talking to legendary Yukon hoops coach Gino Oriama about why being delusional is a good thing at least of your pagebackers, the changes that he wants to see in the NCAA tourney format, how his coaching approach differs when it's NCAA tournament time, and the moment he officially retired from playing basketball, Plus a comedy we can't wait to watch, a warning to all who apply, and the wait for Unrivaled begins again. That's all coming up right after this welcome back slices. Here's what you need to know today. Let's start with Unrivaled, where the inaugural season wrapped up on Monday with Rose BC taking the chachampionship with a sixty two to fifty four win over Vinyl BC, one day after scoring thirty nine points in the semi finals against the Laces.

Chelsea Gray recorded.

Chelsea Gray recorded.

Eighteen in the final, including a half court buzzer beater to give her Rose team a two point lead heading into the fourth quarter. It was Britney Sykes who scored the championship winning shot, a free throw to finish the game with her season high twenty one points. Each Rose player took home fifty K in prize money, and Gray was named Finals MVP. By the Way, shout out to Rose coach Nola Henry and Vinyl coach Teresa Weatherspoon, the two teams with women at the helm ended up in the championship coincidence, we think not.

Eighteen in the final, including a half court buzzer beater to give her Rose team a two point lead heading into the fourth quarter. It was Britney Sykes who scored the championship winning shot, a free throw to finish the game with her season high twenty one points. Each Rose player took home fifty K in prize money, and Gray was named Finals MVP. By the Way, shout out to Rose coach Nola Henry and Vinyl coach Teresa Weatherspoon, the two teams with women at the helm ended up in the championship coincidence, we think not.

One last piece of unrivaled news.

One last piece of unrivaled news.

To wrap up a spectacular inaugural season, the league also announced the remainder of its end of season award winners, with Nafisa Collier earning MVP honors, Angel Reese, who missed the championship game with a hand injury, taking home Defensive Player of the Year, and DJ Sackman, whose Lunar Owls posted a thirteen to one regular season record, named Coach of the Year to College Oops while Tomorrow is the official start of the sixty four team NCAA Women's college basketball bracket. We've got two more first four games today, including Niches alma mater, William and Mary taking on High Point tonight at nine pm Eastern.

To wrap up a spectacular inaugural season, the league also announced the remainder of its end of season award winners, with Nafisa Collier earning MVP honors, Angel Reese, who missed the championship game with a hand injury, taking home Defensive Player of the Year, and DJ Sackman, whose Lunar Owls posted a thirteen to one regular season record, named Coach of the Year to College Oops while Tomorrow is the official start of the sixty four team NCAA Women's college basketball bracket. We've got two more first four games today, including Niches alma mater, William and Mary taking on High Point tonight at nine pm Eastern.

And while we're.

And while we're.

Talking March madness, don't forget to fill out a bracket. To be part of our good game pool. You got to get it in before eleven thirty am Eastern on Friday. Link is in the show notes. More Women Soups. There's a scripted comedy show about the WNBA in the works called The w It'll be executive produced by Cheneo Gumackay, who played in the WNBA till twenty twenty three and is now an analyst for ESPN, and her longtime agent, Allison Gaylor, with the show loosely based on their relationship. The show will be developed by Peacock, with Carly Mensch and Liz Flahive, the creators of Netflix hit Glow, serving as showrunners.

Talking March madness, don't forget to fill out a bracket. To be part of our good game pool. You got to get it in before eleven thirty am Eastern on Friday. Link is in the show notes. More Women Soups. There's a scripted comedy show about the WNBA in the works called The w It'll be executive produced by Cheneo Gumackay, who played in the WNBA till twenty twenty three and is now an analyst for ESPN, and her longtime agent, Allison Gaylor, with the show loosely based on their relationship. The show will be developed by Peacock, with Carly Mensch and Liz Flahive, the creators of Netflix hit Glow, serving as showrunners.

Even More Women Soups.

Even More Women Soups.

The ESPN original series Full Court Press has been renewed for a second season. The series gives viewers unmatched access insight into the journeys of select hoopers at schools across the country through exclusive interviews.

The ESPN original series Full Court Press has been renewed for a second season. The series gives viewers unmatched access insight into the journeys of select hoopers at schools across the country through exclusive interviews.

Game footage, and more.

Game footage, and more.

This upcoming season will feature Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo, USC forward Kiki Eriefen, and LSU guard Flaje Johnson. The first season, produced by Omaha Productions and Words and Pictures in partnership with the.

This upcoming season will feature Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo, USC forward Kiki Eriefen, and LSU guard Flaje Johnson. The first season, produced by Omaha Productions and Words and Pictures in partnership with the.

Worldwide Leader, premiered in May of last year.

Worldwide Leader, premiered in May of last year.

That one featured iOS Kaitlin Clark, South Carolina's Camilla Cardoso and UCLA's Kiki Rice. It was a really good watch. I'm super excited for this edition. First two episodes of this Full Court Press Season two will premiere May third at one pm Eastern on ESPN. To the NWSL, where the owners of Expansion Side Denver announced plans this week to build a fourteen thoy five hundred seat stadium. The brand new facility will be located at Santa Fe Yards, a spot just inside the city limits that has access to public transportation. While the team, which doesn't yet have an official name, will begin play in twenty twenty six, they'll have to wait a little longer to play in the stadium, which is expected to open into twenty eight per ESPN. Details on a training facility and temporary stadium are expected to be announced later this month.

That one featured iOS Kaitlin Clark, South Carolina's Camilla Cardoso and UCLA's Kiki Rice. It was a really good watch. I'm super excited for this edition. First two episodes of this Full Court Press Season two will premiere May third at one pm Eastern on ESPN. To the NWSL, where the owners of Expansion Side Denver announced plans this week to build a fourteen thoy five hundred seat stadium. The brand new facility will be located at Santa Fe Yards, a spot just inside the city limits that has access to public transportation. While the team, which doesn't yet have an official name, will begin play in twenty twenty six, they'll have to wait a little longer to play in the stadium, which is expected to open into twenty eight per ESPN. Details on a training facility and temporary stadium are expected to be announced later this month.

More NWSL news.

More NWSL news.

Racing Louisville's Bethany Balser, one of the league's most prolific scorers and a former NWSL Rookie of the Year, announced on social media that she's taking some time away from soccer to focus on her mental health.

Racing Louisville's Bethany Balser, one of the league's most prolific scorers and a former NWSL Rookie of the Year, announced on social media that she's taking some time away from soccer to focus on her mental health.

Quote.

Quote.

I've always preached that when soccer is no longer fun and you don't find joy in doing it, something needs to change, and it seems I haven't been listening to myself for a while. The last year and a half, I've found my identity slowly slipping away. Being consumed with soccer and being a professional athlete, I've been chasing things that are material. I've become bitter and have lost my love and joy for the game. End quote, per ESPN's Jeffcasoof, a Racing Louisville spokesperson, confirmed that Balser has not officially decided on taking leave, and she remains on the team's active roster as an excused absence. Last August, Balser was traded to Louisville by the Seattle Rain. At the time, her thirty three goals over the previous five years were tied for third in the NWSL. She's long but a strong advocate for mental health, and last year she launched a brand called BB eight Bring Your Best. In her Instagram post, Balser went on to say that she's excited to explore her identity outside of the sport and that she's confident she'll return to the field again. We're sending Bethany our best and we're happy she's taking care of herself.

I've always preached that when soccer is no longer fun and you don't find joy in doing it, something needs to change, and it seems I haven't been listening to myself for a while. The last year and a half, I've found my identity slowly slipping away. Being consumed with soccer and being a professional athlete, I've been chasing things that are material. I've become bitter and have lost my love and joy for the game. End quote, per ESPN's Jeffcasoof, a Racing Louisville spokesperson, confirmed that Balser has not officially decided on taking leave, and she remains on the team's active roster as an excused absence. Last August, Balser was traded to Louisville by the Seattle Rain. At the time, her thirty three goals over the previous five years were tied for third in the NWSL. She's long but a strong advocate for mental health, and last year she launched a brand called BB eight Bring Your Best. In her Instagram post, Balser went on to say that she's excited to explore her identity outside of the sport and that she's confident she'll return to the field again. We're sending Bethany our best and we're happy she's taking care of herself.

We got to take a quick break.

We got to take a quick break.

When we come back, we get d Lulu with coach Gino Oriema stick around.

When we come back, we get d Lulu with coach Gino Oriema stick around.

Joining us now.

Joining us now.

He's the head coach of the Yukon women's basketball team. He holds the record for most wins and highest winning percentage among college coaches men's or women's. Since becoming head coach at nineteen eighty five, he's led Yukon to nineteen undefeated conference seasons, including six that were part of undefeated overall seasons. He's led the Huskies to eleven national championships, the most in women's college basketball history, and has won eight National Naysmith College Coach of the Year awards in his time as coach to the US national basketball team. The team won two World championships and two Olympic gold medals. He's in the Naysmith Oral Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. He's got his own restaurants, wines and sauces, And contrary to popular belief, he was not the inspiration for the Carl Fredrickson character in Up.

He's the head coach of the Yukon women's basketball team. He holds the record for most wins and highest winning percentage among college coaches men's or women's. Since becoming head coach at nineteen eighty five, he's led Yukon to nineteen undefeated conference seasons, including six that were part of undefeated overall seasons. He's led the Huskies to eleven national championships, the most in women's college basketball history, and has won eight National Naysmith College Coach of the Year awards in his time as coach to the US national basketball team. The team won two World championships and two Olympic gold medals. He's in the Naysmith Oral Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. He's got his own restaurants, wines and sauces, And contrary to popular belief, he was not the inspiration for the Carl Fredrickson character in Up.

It's gino Oriema. What's up? Coach?

It's gino Oriema. What's up? Coach?

It's always a long bio no matter how much you try to trim it. Coach, just an unbelievable career and here we are again, getting ready for another NCAA tournament. I have to say we have mostly talked about parody in the women's game this year. In fact, just the second time in nineteen years that there is no zero or one loss team in the field. So I have to start by asking you when exactly would you say Yukon stopped being bad for women's basketball.

It's always a long bio no matter how much you try to trim it. Coach, just an unbelievable career and here we are again, getting ready for another NCAA tournament. I have to say we have mostly talked about parody in the women's game this year. In fact, just the second time in nineteen years that there is no zero or one loss team in the field. So I have to start by asking you when exactly would you say Yukon stopped being bad for women's basketball.

Uh, yeah, it's a good way to put it. I think there was a drop off right after FISA Katie Lou when that group graduated. I think there was a drop off in the level of talent that we had at Connecticut, and that coincided with more players going to more diverse schools, and so as people were getting better, we came down a little bit, and so that had we been able to maintain that. But it's hard to go to the Final four every year, you know, and we went, well, we've gone fifteen out of the last sixteen year or something.

Uh, yeah, it's a good way to put it. I think there was a drop off right after FISA Katie Lou when that group graduated. I think there was a drop off in the level of talent that we had at Connecticut, and that coincided with more players going to more diverse schools, and so as people were getting better, we came down a little bit, and so that had we been able to maintain that. But it's hard to go to the Final four every year, you know, and we went, well, we've gone fifteen out of the last sixteen year or something.

Not bad. Not bad. Yeah, I mean in a lot of ways, it.

Not bad. Not bad. Yeah, I mean in a lot of ways, it.

Was I think, and I used to argue this on ESPN all the time. It was good for the game to have this team that everyone was trying to knock off. And now it's good for the game that there are many teams that people want to watch and get behind. It's all about the cycles and the different times. I want to actually go back to the very beginning. I don't know if I really know the story of why you ended up in women's basketball. You emigrated with your family from Italy when you were seven, You taught yourself English, Your parents were working factory jobs in Pennsylvania. How do you end up a hoops fan and end up coaching women?

Was I think, and I used to argue this on ESPN all the time. It was good for the game to have this team that everyone was trying to knock off. And now it's good for the game that there are many teams that people want to watch and get behind. It's all about the cycles and the different times. I want to actually go back to the very beginning. I don't know if I really know the story of why you ended up in women's basketball. You emigrated with your family from Italy when you were seven, You taught yourself English, Your parents were working factory jobs in Pennsylvania. How do you end up a hoops fan and end up coaching women?

Well, when we came over here, we moved in with my uncle and my aunt, and they happened to live right across the street from an elementary school. Dad had a playground and I happened a good fortune of living next door to a guy that was older than me. He was probably twelve, I was seven eight. So he took me under his wing. We would get a catch every day, and baseball became my first love. I wanted to play baseball every single day, winter, summer, spring fall. I didn't care. So I grew up just doing that. And then you know, I met some guys. You know, they played basketball, you know, blah blah blah, and I got cut from my freshman team in high school, and then you know, I said, forget it anyway, I don't care. I just want to play baseball anymore. And then sophomore year, a couple guys say, hey, coach saw you playing in this pickup league, you know whatever. He wants you to try out for the team. So I did. I made the team. I ended up starting my senior year.

Well, when we came over here, we moved in with my uncle and my aunt, and they happened to live right across the street from an elementary school. Dad had a playground and I happened a good fortune of living next door to a guy that was older than me. He was probably twelve, I was seven eight. So he took me under his wing. We would get a catch every day, and baseball became my first love. I wanted to play baseball every single day, winter, summer, spring fall. I didn't care. So I grew up just doing that. And then you know, I met some guys. You know, they played basketball, you know, blah blah blah, and I got cut from my freshman team in high school, and then you know, I said, forget it anyway, I don't care. I just want to play baseball anymore. And then sophomore year, a couple guys say, hey, coach saw you playing in this pickup league, you know whatever. He wants you to try out for the team. So I did. I made the team. I ended up starting my senior year.

Just like Michael Jordan.

Just like Michael Jordan.

Yeah yeah. And so you know, I went to college and I played, and Jim Foster, coach at Saint Joe's Vanderbilt, Ohio State all those years, just came back from Vietnam. So he is in school and somehow we strike up a friendship and one day he comes in and he goes, hey, I just got a job coaching girls basketball at Bishop mcdavidd High School. I go, yeah, that's great, congratulations. He goes, can, I, you know, can you come and help me? I said no. And this was like ten times he kept asking me. I kept saying no. If I wanted to coach, I would coach boys. Why would I ever want to coach girls basketball? All they did was take up court time when we were in high school. That's how you thought back in the early seventies, right, So no, no, no. Finally I went went to practice. I'm twenty one, kids are seventeen, and I'm like, yeah, okay. So we go over a couple of things. He's run some drills and they look at me like I know what I'm talking about, and they're like so happy. I go back the next day and the next day and the next day and the next day. Next thing you know, I end up helping them for the whole year. Next thing, you know, he calls me and he goes, hey, I just got the job at Saint Joe's. I go, what you He goes, yeah, a Saint Joe's and they want, you know, I want you to be my assistant. Oh Jesus Christ, I know, well, they're going to pay you a thousand dollars. I'm in for the year, right, I'm in.

Yeah yeah. And so you know, I went to college and I played, and Jim Foster, coach at Saint Joe's Vanderbilt, Ohio State all those years, just came back from Vietnam. So he is in school and somehow we strike up a friendship and one day he comes in and he goes, hey, I just got a job coaching girls basketball at Bishop mcdavidd High School. I go, yeah, that's great, congratulations. He goes, can, I, you know, can you come and help me? I said no. And this was like ten times he kept asking me. I kept saying no. If I wanted to coach, I would coach boys. Why would I ever want to coach girls basketball? All they did was take up court time when we were in high school. That's how you thought back in the early seventies, right, So no, no, no. Finally I went went to practice. I'm twenty one, kids are seventeen, and I'm like, yeah, okay. So we go over a couple of things. He's run some drills and they look at me like I know what I'm talking about, and they're like so happy. I go back the next day and the next day and the next day and the next day. Next thing you know, I end up helping them for the whole year. Next thing, you know, he calls me and he goes, hey, I just got the job at Saint Joe's. I go, what you He goes, yeah, a Saint Joe's and they want, you know, I want you to be my assistant. Oh Jesus Christ, I know, well, they're going to pay you a thousand dollars. I'm in for the year, right, I'm in.

For the year.

For the year.

For the year. So I had to have a construction job. I worked in a steel mill. I did anything I had to do just so I could coach. And it was And now Phil Martelli's running the Kathy Rush basketball camp, the number one basketball camp in the country. And I go to work at that camp. And next thing you know, Phil goes, Listen, I'm the head coach at year Old High School and I need an assistant. And I went, of course, I'm going to coach. That's what I'm gonna do, coach high school boys, teach English. I'm in and I hold there and I do it, and out of nowhere, he gets a phone call from Debbie Ryan at Virginia. Hey, Phil, I need assistant. You interested. Phil goes, no, but I got a guy who might be who used to do that stuff. I go down there. I'm like, what this is what colleges look like. I thought they all looked like Saint Joseph, Penn and Temple. I go down there and the rest here. I am so not something I set out to do, and I'm stuck.

For the year. So I had to have a construction job. I worked in a steel mill. I did anything I had to do just so I could coach. And it was And now Phil Martelli's running the Kathy Rush basketball camp, the number one basketball camp in the country. And I go to work at that camp. And next thing you know, Phil goes, Listen, I'm the head coach at year Old High School and I need an assistant. And I went, of course, I'm going to coach. That's what I'm gonna do, coach high school boys, teach English. I'm in and I hold there and I do it, and out of nowhere, he gets a phone call from Debbie Ryan at Virginia. Hey, Phil, I need assistant. You interested. Phil goes, no, but I got a guy who might be who used to do that stuff. I go down there. I'm like, what this is what colleges look like. I thought they all looked like Saint Joseph, Penn and Temple. I go down there and the rest here. I am so not something I set out to do, and I'm stuck.

When do you think, at what point do you think it was your first choice and not. I guess I'll do it because but eventually I'll get back to the boys and men.

When do you think, at what point do you think it was your first choice and not. I guess I'll do it because but eventually I'll get back to the boys and men.

Yeah, I think when I when I was coaching high school boys, I thought that's it, That's where I'm going to be. Then I realized high school coaches that were teaching English and history, I would be teaching history. We're making like thirteen thousand dollars a year, yea, And they had to teach just so they could coach. So when I found it, I can have a full time job doing this and that's all I have to do is coach, recruit, blah blah blah. That's when I went down there to the UVA spent four years there, and that's when I realized, Okay, this is what I'm going to be doing, and I want to make sure that I'm really, really.

Yeah, I think when I when I was coaching high school boys, I thought that's it, That's where I'm going to be. Then I realized high school coaches that were teaching English and history, I would be teaching history. We're making like thirteen thousand dollars a year, yea, And they had to teach just so they could coach. So when I found it, I can have a full time job doing this and that's all I have to do is coach, recruit, blah blah blah. That's when I went down there to the UVA spent four years there, and that's when I realized, Okay, this is what I'm going to be doing, and I want to make sure that I'm really, really.

Good at Yeah. I want to talk about Page Beckers.

Good at Yeah. I want to talk about Page Beckers.

Just an incredible talent on the court, but so special off of it too, and you have such a fun, quirky relationship together.

Just an incredible talent on the court, but so special off of it too, and you have such a fun, quirky relationship together.

I wonder what it's like coaching Page.

I wonder what it's like coaching Page.

Frustrating as hell, would be one way to describe it. Another would be very much enjoyable because you get to see on a daily basis what other people maybe just see on game day. Right, you get to experience the lows that people don't see. Right, You see her as something other than you know, Page Beckers, So you get a three sixty view of who she is and what she's all about. And like anything else, there's always a sides to what you see on the basketball court. You know, thirty sometimes a year.

Frustrating as hell, would be one way to describe it. Another would be very much enjoyable because you get to see on a daily basis what other people maybe just see on game day. Right, you get to experience the lows that people don't see. Right, You see her as something other than you know, Page Beckers, So you get a three sixty view of who she is and what she's all about. And like anything else, there's always a sides to what you see on the basketball court. You know, thirty sometimes a year.

Yeah, fans sort of when she gets injured, she disappears and then we wait till she's back. But for you, those moments, those stretches, are you trying to keep her spirits up, keep her motivated, keep her enthusiastic about when she comes back.

Yeah, fans sort of when she gets injured, she disappears and then we wait till she's back. But for you, those moments, those stretches, are you trying to keep her spirits up, keep her motivated, keep her enthusiastic about when she comes back.

What it's going to look like.

What it's going to look like.

And that's a big part of the job that we never see. I wonder how you've seen her as a person as she's gotten older, deal with setbacks differently.

And that's a big part of the job that we never see. I wonder how you've seen her as a person as she's gotten older, deal with setbacks differently.

I think one of one of Page's biggest strengths is the fact that she's delusional. Okay, yeah, that just helps her so much and it carries her through all those things you're talking about that when she's hurt she acts like it doesn't bother me. I'm fine, everything's good. I'm just here for my teammates. I'm here, you know, blah blah blah blah blah. But meanwhile, that's not even close to the truth, because when she goes home every night back in those days, from not being able to play, not be able to do the one thing she loves, you know, in life more than almost anything. So the fact that she, you know, doesn't allow anything ever to get in the way of I'm great. I'm the best. No one's ever been as good as me. I can be better than anybody that ever lived. Every time I miss a shot, it's an act of God, not my fault, right, not my fault. So that I think more than anything, and I think all the great ones have a you know, a little Delulu a fair amount of that, right.

I think one of one of Page's biggest strengths is the fact that she's delusional. Okay, yeah, that just helps her so much and it carries her through all those things you're talking about that when she's hurt she acts like it doesn't bother me. I'm fine, everything's good. I'm just here for my teammates. I'm here, you know, blah blah blah blah blah. But meanwhile, that's not even close to the truth, because when she goes home every night back in those days, from not being able to play, not be able to do the one thing she loves, you know, in life more than almost anything. So the fact that she, you know, doesn't allow anything ever to get in the way of I'm great. I'm the best. No one's ever been as good as me. I can be better than anybody that ever lived. Every time I miss a shot, it's an act of God, not my fault, right, not my fault. So that I think more than anything, and I think all the great ones have a you know, a little Delulu a fair amount of that, right.

Yeah, yeah, not just the play, but the attitude, the confidence, the on court presence she is. I believe she would be on the Yukon All Time smart Alec team. I've got her and Dinah Tarassi Art who's the next name?

Yeah, yeah, not just the play, but the attitude, the confidence, the on court presence she is. I believe she would be on the Yukon All Time smart Alec team. I've got her and Dinah Tarassi Art who's the next name?

Uh? They certainly would be one, two, three and four with them. A lot of people give Sue Bird a pass because she did it silently. But uh no, she would not get a pass of being a smart ass, not even close.

Uh? They certainly would be one, two, three and four with them. A lot of people give Sue Bird a pass because she did it silently. But uh no, she would not get a pass of being a smart ass, not even close.

No, she's full of it too.

No, she's full of it too.

She's full of it one hundred percent. She's another one those three people we just mentioned, and I've said this one hundred times, the only words you will never hear come out of their mouth. You're right, it's the best you're going to get from Sue. I don't disagree.

She's full of it one hundred percent. She's another one those three people we just mentioned, and I've said this one hundred times, the only words you will never hear come out of their mouth. You're right, it's the best you're going to get from Sue. I don't disagree.

Amazing, right, I love that. I love it.

Amazing, right, I love that. I love it.

Speaking of great player Sarah Strong, so dominant already in her freshman season, your face just lit up, like, oh God, I get this girl for another couple of years. What's the ceiling for Sarah Strong?

Speaking of great player Sarah Strong, so dominant already in her freshman season, your face just lit up, like, oh God, I get this girl for another couple of years. What's the ceiling for Sarah Strong?

Yeah? When you when you bring in a player that you think watching play in high school, you go, wow, this kid has generational type stuff, you know, And somebody will say, well, what do you mean? Well, you know, kids her size are not supposed to be able to handle the ball the way for him. They're not supposed to be able to pass the ball the way she passed. They're not supposed to be able to shoot it the way she shoots it. Be as smart as she is, see things developed before they develop, and not at that age, right, So then when she gets here, I'm thinking, okay, a little bit of a learning curve, maybe none zero. You know, we talked about recently, she had one really bad game at Tennessee. She played like a freshman. She had five turnovers, had eighteen points and nine rebounds. When that's considered a bad game, right. So again, and her personality I think allows her to be in the big moments. You know, she doesn't say a lot when I talk to the team. Her eyes are burning a hole in mind that like they come out the back. She wants to know everything about everything, and she doesn't miss a thing.

Yeah? When you when you bring in a player that you think watching play in high school, you go, wow, this kid has generational type stuff, you know, And somebody will say, well, what do you mean? Well, you know, kids her size are not supposed to be able to handle the ball the way for him. They're not supposed to be able to pass the ball the way she passed. They're not supposed to be able to shoot it the way she shoots it. Be as smart as she is, see things developed before they develop, and not at that age, right, So then when she gets here, I'm thinking, okay, a little bit of a learning curve, maybe none zero. You know, we talked about recently, she had one really bad game at Tennessee. She played like a freshman. She had five turnovers, had eighteen points and nine rebounds. When that's considered a bad game, right. So again, and her personality I think allows her to be in the big moments. You know, she doesn't say a lot when I talk to the team. Her eyes are burning a hole in mind that like they come out the back. She wants to know everything about everything, and she doesn't miss a thing.

I bet she says you're right a lot.

I bet she says you're right a lot.

Well, she doesn't speak, so she just goes.

Well, she doesn't speak, so she just goes.

You can feel it go through the eyes.

You can feel it go through the eyes.

She actually chose Yukon despite her mom, Alison Feaster, being roommates with Carolina coach South Carolina coach John Staley back in their w NBA days. Does it feel a little extra good when you land a big recruit like her over a great coach and a great program like South Carolina. You got done in the media being like, I don't know what what happened there.

She actually chose Yukon despite her mom, Alison Feaster, being roommates with Carolina coach South Carolina coach John Staley back in their w NBA days. Does it feel a little extra good when you land a big recruit like her over a great coach and a great program like South Carolina. You got done in the media being like, I don't know what what happened there.

Yeah, I think you get some that you're supposed to get. You don't get some that you're supposed to get you think you should get sometimes, you know. You know, one of the things that I think helped us was we saw Sarah when no one else knew who she was. So I remember calling USA Basketball when she was going to be a sophomore, and I say, hey, you know, you guys have this thing with fifteen and unders or sixteen under whatever. Uh, you're missing a kid on the list. And they're like, oh, yeah, she's one of those on the list of keep an eye on. I go, good, you just keep an eye on her, okay, because the less people know about her, the better call them.

Yeah, I think you get some that you're supposed to get. You don't get some that you're supposed to get you think you should get sometimes, you know. You know, one of the things that I think helped us was we saw Sarah when no one else knew who she was. So I remember calling USA Basketball when she was going to be a sophomore, and I say, hey, you know, you guys have this thing with fifteen and unders or sixteen under whatever. Uh, you're missing a kid on the list. And they're like, oh, yeah, she's one of those on the list of keep an eye on. I go, good, you just keep an eye on her, okay, because the less people know about her, the better call them.

You really called them to tell them that they were missing one.

You really called them to tell them that they were missing one.

I said, you know, I obviously I have a soft spot for USA basketball because and I thought, this kid's better than the kids you have out there. Well, yeah, we're going to keep an eye on her see if she develops.

I said, you know, I obviously I have a soft spot for USA basketball because and I thought, this kid's better than the kids you have out there. Well, yeah, we're going to keep an eye on her see if she develops.

Okay, who was the head coach at the time there, I.

Okay, who was the head coach at the time there, I.

Don't think it wasn't about the head coach. It was about just whoever was running.

Don't think it wasn't about the head coach. It was about just whoever was running.

The committee right committee at the time. Yeah, good, good Dodge there.

The committee right committee at the time. Yeah, good, good Dodge there.

Speaking of Don Staley, she and Lindsay Gottlieb were miffed about their team's bracket seedings. When did you turn into the peaceful zen coach of the bunch that just says, oh, you play who they put in front of you.

Speaking of Don Staley, she and Lindsay Gottlieb were miffed about their team's bracket seedings. When did you turn into the peaceful zen coach of the bunch that just says, oh, you play who they put in front of you.

That's how it's always been.

That's how it's always been.

You know. First things first, there's a lot of there's a lot of problems with the way the NCAA Women's Basketball Committee does things all right, a lot of times there is there's not enough basketball people on that committee that actually know this is how we do it. Okay, So you're gonna get screw ups all the time. And I've had my thing to say in the past, and people with bitch and moan all the time whenever go, well, you play in Albany a lot or you playing Bridgeport a lot? Yeah, And we also played in Lincoln, Nebraska, and we played in Dayton, Ohio. And we played in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and we played in Trenton, New Jersey, and we you know, so, yeah, we've played a lot of places. The reason we play close to home is because we're the number one, number one seed yea ninety percent of the time. Yeah, back then, So if you're that, you deserve to go a certain place that's been taken away now because there's only two regionals, So that's stupid. They need to get away from that. Second. This is one of those few years when everybody in those top four they all beat each other, right, So is there really a big gap between number one and number two in the seeds versus number three and number four number one seeds? So if you're the number one, number one, is there really a big gap between you and number two in the seeding or number three or number four because you all beat each other, right, I think what screw what screws it up is for the two seeds because now maybe you're getting the wrong matchup, right, you know.

You know. First things first, there's a lot of there's a lot of problems with the way the NCAA Women's Basketball Committee does things all right, a lot of times there is there's not enough basketball people on that committee that actually know this is how we do it. Okay, So you're gonna get screw ups all the time. And I've had my thing to say in the past, and people with bitch and moan all the time whenever go, well, you play in Albany a lot or you playing Bridgeport a lot? Yeah, And we also played in Lincoln, Nebraska, and we played in Dayton, Ohio. And we played in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and we played in Trenton, New Jersey, and we you know, so, yeah, we've played a lot of places. The reason we play close to home is because we're the number one, number one seed yea ninety percent of the time. Yeah, back then, So if you're that, you deserve to go a certain place that's been taken away now because there's only two regionals, So that's stupid. They need to get away from that. Second. This is one of those few years when everybody in those top four they all beat each other, right, So is there really a big gap between number one and number two in the seeds versus number three and number four number one seeds? So if you're the number one, number one, is there really a big gap between you and number two in the seeding or number three or number four because you all beat each other, right, I think what screw what screws it up is for the two seeds because now maybe you're getting the wrong matchup, right, you know.

Well, and that's that's part of it. I think.

Well, and that's that's part of it. I think.

I think it was clear that Don was a little mad, but then looked at her path and was like it's okay, though Lise was like Lindsay was like, well, we're kind of mad because.

I think it was clear that Don was a little mad, but then looked at her path and was like it's okay, though Lise was like Lindsay was like, well, we're kind of mad because.

We got Yukon in our region. I mean, it's we even get to the final four.

We got Yukon in our region. I mean, it's we even get to the final four.

Yeah, yeah. And I've always said that it's be careful what you wish for, because you just might, you might, you might you might exactly you know, through the day that you said.

Yeah, yeah. And I've always said that it's be careful what you wish for, because you just might, you might, you might you might exactly you know, through the day that you said.

That you haven't liked that super regional format in the past, and this time again you will go three time zones. If you make the Sweet sixteen, you would like to go back to the previous format.

That you haven't liked that super regional format in the past, and this time again you will go three time zones. If you make the Sweet sixteen, you would like to go back to the previous format.

That's what you think worked at best.

That's what you think worked at best.

Well, I think it works best for a lot of reasons, one being the fans. Okay, you're a fan of women's basketball and you live anywhere near Connecticut. Are you going to get on a plane and fly to Seattle to or put Spokane to watch US flight? No? Right now, we have sold no tickets to go to Spokane. Now, if that was somewhere east of of Mississippi, if there was an option to do that, then obviously more people will be able to go. So you picked two places that are so far away from each other that you're you're you're doing this for the benefit of TV. You're not doing it for the benefit of the fans.

Well, I think it works best for a lot of reasons, one being the fans. Okay, you're a fan of women's basketball and you live anywhere near Connecticut. Are you going to get on a plane and fly to Seattle to or put Spokane to watch US flight? No? Right now, we have sold no tickets to go to Spokane. Now, if that was somewhere east of of Mississippi, if there was an option to do that, then obviously more people will be able to go. So you picked two places that are so far away from each other that you're you're you're doing this for the benefit of TV. You're not doing it for the benefit of the fans.

Right, So so Chicago put them both in. Put everyone in Chicago's what you're saying. My thing would be, that's what I would like, coach.

Right, So so Chicago put them both in. Put everyone in Chicago's what you're saying. My thing would be, that's what I would like, coach.

I agree with. If you're only going to do two, put them both in the middle of the country. Yeah, that way, no one has to go three time zones and there's going to be a three time zones every year. Yeah, it seems like until they do away with this. Plus, not to mention, there's eight teams going to be in Spokane, no disrespect because I've been there a bunch of times and I really love that city. Are there really eight comparable hotels to host all eight teams? M Chances are probably not.

I agree with. If you're only going to do two, put them both in the middle of the country. Yeah, that way, no one has to go three time zones and there's going to be a three time zones every year. Yeah, it seems like until they do away with this. Plus, not to mention, there's eight teams going to be in Spokane, no disrespect because I've been there a bunch of times and I really love that city. Are there really eight comparable hotels to host all eight teams? M Chances are probably not.

And the NCAAs signs those right.

And the NCAAs signs those right.

The NCAA signs those correct. If you're in the one seed, you get this hotel. If you're the two seed, get that hotel. Blah blah blah blah.

The NCAA signs those correct. If you're in the one seed, you get this hotel. If you're the two seed, get that hotel. Blah blah blah blah.

There's a lot of pressure every year, especially for you. It's kind of almost always win or bust year. You've got asy Fudd potentially making a decision on her draft status based on the team's success in the tournament. You've got Pagebeckers, who many would argue would be the best Yukon player ever to graduate without a title. If you don't win, do the stakes feel even somehow a little bit higher this year?

There's a lot of pressure every year, especially for you. It's kind of almost always win or bust year. You've got asy Fudd potentially making a decision on her draft status based on the team's success in the tournament. You've got Pagebeckers, who many would argue would be the best Yukon player ever to graduate without a title. If you don't win, do the stakes feel even somehow a little bit higher this year?

Well, not for me necessarily, but certainly you can make a case step for them, it may mean more. You know, I've seen freshmen play at Yukon that think that every single year they're going to be in the National Championship game because they were in the National CHAMPIONSI Game their freshman year. And then they realize, no, you're not. And as you get older and you see it start to slip away. Now you can go one of two ways. And it's the same for you know you're going to graduate. You can either tang because you're scared to death what's next for me and I'm not ready? Or you just you know, blow up because this this is the moment I've been waiting for my whole life to go out with a bang, win the National Championship my senior year, right off into the sunset, which is what I should have done with Stewie. When Stewie left, I got on that train that she was on.

Well, not for me necessarily, but certainly you can make a case step for them, it may mean more. You know, I've seen freshmen play at Yukon that think that every single year they're going to be in the National Championship game because they were in the National CHAMPIONSI Game their freshman year. And then they realize, no, you're not. And as you get older and you see it start to slip away. Now you can go one of two ways. And it's the same for you know you're going to graduate. You can either tang because you're scared to death what's next for me and I'm not ready? Or you just you know, blow up because this this is the moment I've been waiting for my whole life to go out with a bang, win the National Championship my senior year, right off into the sunset, which is what I should have done with Stewie. When Stewie left, I got on that train that she was on.

A pretty long time ago.

A pretty long time ago.

Coach Happy trails to everybody.

Coach Happy trails to everybody.

Yes, four in a row, and I'm out, I'm out, I'm out. We'll get back to that. We'll get back to that decision. I want to ask if you have a specific practice or.

Yes, four in a row, and I'm out, I'm out, I'm out. We'll get back to that. We'll get back to that decision. I want to ask if you have a specific practice or.

Habit for trying to get your players centered and grounded as you head into this stressful, most important part of the season.

Habit for trying to get your players centered and grounded as you head into this stressful, most important part of the season.

What I have found works the best at this time of the year is less, less practice, less angst, less harping on things less because and I'm guilty of that this year a little bit up to this point, because we're such a young team. We have Page who's played here for four years, asy hardly played it. All the rest are freshmen and South Forest, so we're like a goofy team. We got this, and then most of our guys are down here and you come to realize whatever is wrong with our team, whatever our issues are, are not getting fixed, not at this point in the season. So all you can do is keep harping or accentuating what our strengths are. This is what we're good at, this is what we have to keep doing. Boom ba boom ba, boom ba boom And if we keep doing this, we're gonna win. If we keep doing this, we're gonna win. Instead of what you do during the regular season is we suck because we do these things wrong all the time and if we don't fix these we're not gonna win. Well, that's what get you through five months. But this time of the year can't be like that. And be like that now with Diana and Sue and Swim and Asia Stewie and those guys, it didn't matter what I did. They were so good and so talented. Just point them in the right direction. But today's world that we live in, you gotta be it's okay, sweetheart, everything's fine, You're great, right, You're perfect? And then you got to text them when they get home. Did I tell you you're perfect? Did I tell you how great you are?

What I have found works the best at this time of the year is less, less practice, less angst, less harping on things less because and I'm guilty of that this year a little bit up to this point, because we're such a young team. We have Page who's played here for four years, asy hardly played it. All the rest are freshmen and South Forest, so we're like a goofy team. We got this, and then most of our guys are down here and you come to realize whatever is wrong with our team, whatever our issues are, are not getting fixed, not at this point in the season. So all you can do is keep harping or accentuating what our strengths are. This is what we're good at, this is what we have to keep doing. Boom ba boom ba, boom ba boom And if we keep doing this, we're gonna win. If we keep doing this, we're gonna win. Instead of what you do during the regular season is we suck because we do these things wrong all the time and if we don't fix these we're not gonna win. Well, that's what get you through five months. But this time of the year can't be like that. And be like that now with Diana and Sue and Swim and Asia Stewie and those guys, it didn't matter what I did. They were so good and so talented. Just point them in the right direction. But today's world that we live in, you gotta be it's okay, sweetheart, everything's fine, You're great, right, You're perfect? And then you got to text them when they get home. Did I tell you you're perfect? Did I tell you how great you are?

Wow?

Wow?

Just to remind everybody, Hey, it's all about my self esteem, you know.

Just to remind everybody, Hey, it's all about my self esteem, you know.

I can compliment sandwiches coach.

I can compliment sandwiches coach.

Absolutely absolutely.

Absolutely absolutely.

It's a different style now.

It's a different style now.

Different style, different style. I can say back in the day, I can say that's the worst goddamn past I've ever seen in my life, and they would look at me and go, no, it's not yeah, and then it was just play on these guys. They would go, Coach thinks I'm the worst pastor in the history of the world.

Different style, different style. I can say back in the day, I can say that's the worst goddamn past I've ever seen in my life, and they would look at me and go, no, it's not yeah, and then it was just play on these guys. They would go, Coach thinks I'm the worst pastor in the history of the world.

I guess I should quit.

I guess I should quit.

I didn't say that. I said that's the worst past I've ever seen. I didn't say you're the worst past I've ever seen in my life. But that's how things get interpreted sometimes today.

I didn't say that. I said that's the worst past I've ever seen. I didn't say you're the worst past I've ever seen in my life. But that's how things get interpreted sometimes today.

Yeah, it's a very tough thing for coaches to adjust to, that's for sure. And the whole game is there's been a lot of adjustments. And you know, even just a couple of years ago, Sodona Prince and a couple others were posting about the inequities and the march madness treatment of the.

Yeah, it's a very tough thing for coaches to adjust to, that's for sure. And the whole game is there's been a lot of adjustments. And you know, even just a couple of years ago, Sodona Prince and a couple others were posting about the inequities and the march madness treatment of the.

Men and the women.

Men and the women.

And I wonder, even in natural time, if you've seen specific improvements to the infrastructure and everything else. Obviously the players are changing, but what about what they're playing in and what's still lacking ever since those changes started taking place.

And I wonder, even in natural time, if you've seen specific improvements to the infrastructure and everything else. Obviously the players are changing, but what about what they're playing in and what's still lacking ever since those changes started taking place.

You know, the most interesting thing ever, when I saw that post about what the weight room looked like, I thought, there's a weight room at the Final four. I didn't know that been the Final four twenty three times. Now one of my kids is lifted a weight, Like, how would you even know that there's not a weight room or there is a weight room, or that the weight sucked or whatever? And who cares? Now? If you want to say, listen the time between Monday when you finish in the regionals and now you got to play Friday night. That needs to be fixed. So if you're going to look at what needs to be fixed, look at the big picture and fix the big things that really matter. That go into winning and losing. What kind of weight room you have doesn't go into winning and losing. That's just a but as.

You know, the most interesting thing ever, when I saw that post about what the weight room looked like, I thought, there's a weight room at the Final four. I didn't know that been the Final four twenty three times. Now one of my kids is lifted a weight, Like, how would you even know that there's not a weight room or there is a weight room, or that the weight sucked or whatever? And who cares? Now? If you want to say, listen the time between Monday when you finish in the regionals and now you got to play Friday night. That needs to be fixed. So if you're going to look at what needs to be fixed, look at the big picture and fix the big things that really matter. That go into winning and losing. What kind of weight room you have doesn't go into winning and losing. That's just a but as.

You know, the tangible nature of that and the fact that it was visibly so different is ultimately what inspired and independent review, a massive new TV contract, all of the things, even getting to use the name March Madness.

You know, the tangible nature of that and the fact that it was visibly so different is ultimately what inspired and independent review, a massive new TV contract, all of the things, even getting to use the name March Madness.

It all stemmed from for a lot.

It all stemmed from for a lot.

Of people needing to see visually just how disparate the resources are, whether or not they really matter to your success. Right.

Of people needing to see visually just how disparate the resources are, whether or not they really matter to your success. Right.

But you know what's funny, Sarah, The people who decided they didn't want to use March Madness were the women's basketball committee when it was first offered to them twenty years ago.

But you know what's funny, Sarah, The people who decided they didn't want to use March Madness were the women's basketball committee when it was first offered to them twenty years ago.

I don't know this.

I don't know this.

Tell me this, coach, Well, listen, we want to use my No, we don't want to be associated with the men, so we're going to do it different. And then all of a sudden, when it benefits you to be associated with the men, now you want it and you pretend like you never had an opportunity to get it, And that's not true.

Tell me this, coach, Well, listen, we want to use my No, we don't want to be associated with the men, so we're going to do it different. And then all of a sudden, when it benefits you to be associated with the men, now you want it and you pretend like you never had an opportunity to get it, And that's not true.

So I imagine you were not part of that committee.

So I imagine you were not part of that committee.

No, I wasn't on that committee. No, okay, I mean I think the things that we should be talking about are competition wise, Yes, we all want to stay in the best hotels. Well there isn't enough for them to go around for everybody, so great, so just suck it up. And you think every every men's team stays in the four seasons, No they don't. So you're the top seeds, you're going to stay in certain places you're not. Okay, great, I get that. Then why are we having Why are we having these things where there's eight eight teams and one location. So we say what we want, but then we do things that don't give us an opportunity to have those things. So for me, it's why are we playing Friday night? So the team that plays Monday is at a huge disadvantage. The guys finished playing on Sunday and they don't play it on Saturday. So they have Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Monday Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. We finished Monday, you have Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday to get ready to and one of those days of the travel day to get ready for the biggest game of the year and biggest game of these kids' lives. That's the stuff they should be looking at. To me the other stuff. You know, it's like you're going down the shore, right, You're going down the shore to visit your friends. They don't have a bed. What are you going to do? There's twelve people staying here. Throw a blanket on the floor and sleep on the floor. Why Because you went down there for the ocean. The party is the fun. So now you're going to the final four? Do you really care about anything other than we're here to play, man, So let's give everybody a chance to play their best. Yeah, it would be my.

No, I wasn't on that committee. No, okay, I mean I think the things that we should be talking about are competition wise, Yes, we all want to stay in the best hotels. Well there isn't enough for them to go around for everybody, so great, so just suck it up. And you think every every men's team stays in the four seasons, No they don't. So you're the top seeds, you're going to stay in certain places you're not. Okay, great, I get that. Then why are we having Why are we having these things where there's eight eight teams and one location. So we say what we want, but then we do things that don't give us an opportunity to have those things. So for me, it's why are we playing Friday night? So the team that plays Monday is at a huge disadvantage. The guys finished playing on Sunday and they don't play it on Saturday. So they have Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Monday Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. We finished Monday, you have Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday to get ready to and one of those days of the travel day to get ready for the biggest game of the year and biggest game of these kids' lives. That's the stuff they should be looking at. To me the other stuff. You know, it's like you're going down the shore, right, You're going down the shore to visit your friends. They don't have a bed. What are you going to do? There's twelve people staying here. Throw a blanket on the floor and sleep on the floor. Why Because you went down there for the ocean. The party is the fun. So now you're going to the final four? Do you really care about anything other than we're here to play, man, So let's give everybody a chance to play their best. Yeah, it would be my.

Argument focus on that.

Argument focus on that.

You know, as these changes happen, we've seen a lot of coaches, particularly on the men's side, sort of walk away. They're like, I don't want to deal with nil and transfer, portal and other elements of this changing landscape. How have those changes affected you and why do you think it's less of a big name departure on the women's side as results of the changes.

You know, as these changes happen, we've seen a lot of coaches, particularly on the men's side, sort of walk away. They're like, I don't want to deal with nil and transfer, portal and other elements of this changing landscape. How have those changes affected you and why do you think it's less of a big name departure on the women's side as results of the changes.

Well, most of the older coaches in women's bast I've already left, so you're left with a bunch of young coaches who don't know any better. So that's number one. NIL. I'm big proponent of in IL. I love it. Transfer portal that's ruined the game. Okay, not that they can transfer and not sit out, but they can't do it every year. How were we supposed to put together a team when every year you have to put together a new team potentially, how are you supposed to operate when every kid is a free agent at the end of every year. So in the NBA, the NFL, you know who the free agents are. Here, every kid on every roster is a potential free agent who can operate in that kind of circumstance. And then you have they all have agents and they'll say to you, this is what this kid's worth. I'm like says who says, who, Well, this is the market that this kid's worth. Okay, show me where that kid has an offer that's worth that. So you've got the agents that now are running these families and these kids, and what are you going to have. You're going to have tremendous inequity where only a certain number of schools. It's going to become like football, it's going to become like college fobal that if you're not one of those ten schools, you will have no chance to ever play in the National Championship Game.

Well, most of the older coaches in women's bast I've already left, so you're left with a bunch of young coaches who don't know any better. So that's number one. NIL. I'm big proponent of in IL. I love it. Transfer portal that's ruined the game. Okay, not that they can transfer and not sit out, but they can't do it every year. How were we supposed to put together a team when every year you have to put together a new team potentially, how are you supposed to operate when every kid is a free agent at the end of every year. So in the NBA, the NFL, you know who the free agents are. Here, every kid on every roster is a potential free agent who can operate in that kind of circumstance. And then you have they all have agents and they'll say to you, this is what this kid's worth. I'm like says who says, who, Well, this is the market that this kid's worth. Okay, show me where that kid has an offer that's worth that. So you've got the agents that now are running these families and these kids, and what are you going to have. You're going to have tremendous inequity where only a certain number of schools. It's going to become like football, it's going to become like college fobal that if you're not one of those ten schools, you will have no chance to ever play in the National Championship Game.

And I feel like there's a lot of benefits to player mobility. You only have four years to play, so yes, go somewhere where you get to play and where you're happy. And also the ability to leave and do it so quickly and keep doing it means that every time you come up against adversity or challenge, you might just decide I'll be happier somewhere else, and then you never learn how to work through the thing that's holding you back where you are.

And I feel like there's a lot of benefits to player mobility. You only have four years to play, so yes, go somewhere where you get to play and where you're happy. And also the ability to leave and do it so quickly and keep doing it means that every time you come up against adversity or challenge, you might just decide I'll be happier somewhere else, and then you never learn how to work through the thing that's holding you back where you are.

And it starts in high school. I don't like my high school team, I just go to a different high school. I don't like my AAU travel team. I just go start a new team. So when you go watch high school kids play, now, it's horrendous why there's only one good player on every team, right because all the other good players left because they weren't the best player.

And it starts in high school. I don't like my high school team, I just go to a different high school. I don't like my AAU travel team. I just go start a new team. So when you go watch high school kids play, now, it's horrendous why there's only one good player on every team, right because all the other good players left because they weren't the best player.

Right, So inconsistency and every rhythm and everything. Yeah, I understand coaches argument on that side. I do think it's right that players don't get stuck somewhere for their whole career and sit out. But I do think, yeah, there's there's probably some limits on movement that would make the game better.

Right, So inconsistency and every rhythm and everything. Yeah, I understand coaches argument on that side. I do think it's right that players don't get stuck somewhere for their whole career and sit out. But I do think, yeah, there's there's probably some limits on movement that would make the game better.

Yeah, because that imagine if you were an NBA owner and you didn't have any contracts.

Yeah, because that imagine if you were an NBA owner and you didn't have any contracts.

Yeah, it's like James Harden. Every year, am I supposed to build a team? You're on a seven year contract and every year you're like, no, I'm out.

Yeah, it's like James Harden. Every year, am I supposed to build a team? You're on a seven year contract and every year you're like, no, I'm out.

Yes, yeah, imagine if we had to do that, I mean, if they had to.

Yes, yeah, imagine if we had to do that, I mean, if they had to.

Do Yeah, it's not fair in terms of building.

Do Yeah, it's not fair in terms of building.

You're also going to have players going I'm not playing because they see it in the pros. Hey trade me or I'm out. I'm not playing, So now what are you gonna do it? Hey, I'm not playing in that Bowl game?

You're also going to have players going I'm not playing because they see it in the pros. Hey trade me or I'm out. I'm not playing, So now what are you gonna do it? Hey, I'm not playing in that Bowl game?

Yeah?

Yeah?

What's going to happen in basketball when somebody goes, listen, I'm not playing in a conference tournament because I don't want to get hurt and jump down my future.

What's going to happen in basketball when somebody goes, listen, I'm not playing in a conference tournament because I don't want to get hurt and jump down my future.

Yeah.

Yeah.

There are so many benefits to the influx of investment, attention, everything in the women's game, and then it also means that we will be plagued by some of the issues that are plagues in the men's side. No question, I want to talk about Diana Trossi's retirement.

There are so many benefits to the influx of investment, attention, everything in the women's game, and then it also means that we will be plagued by some of the issues that are plagues in the men's side. No question, I want to talk about Diana Trossi's retirement.

How did you find out?

How did you find out?

Did she offer you at least a text or a phone call or was it the way we all found out.

Did she offer you at least a text or a phone call or was it the way we all found out.

I did get a heads up, and you know when I went out there last year for her last regular season home game, you kind of knew that. I mean, she's at an age where and this is this happened with her, it happened with a lot of the other players. Sue mentioned this a lot, staying in shape the entire year when you're forty forty one, forty two.

I did get a heads up, and you know when I went out there last year for her last regular season home game, you kind of knew that. I mean, she's at an age where and this is this happened with her, it happened with a lot of the other players. Sue mentioned this a lot, staying in shape the entire year when you're forty forty one, forty two.

Not.

Not.

I don't mean just stay in great shape because you want to live long to get ready to play high level basketball. They can't do it anymore now. If you could just say, hey, d you just have to come for the playoffs, she wouldn't have retired.

I don't mean just stay in great shape because you want to live long to get ready to play high level basketball. They can't do it anymore now. If you could just say, hey, d you just have to come for the playoffs, she wouldn't have retired.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I heard Candace Parker too, tell Sue and Megan on their show that one moment she had was playing against younger players and thinking, man, I don't want them to be like, oh that's Kandace Parker.

I heard Candace Parker too, tell Sue and Megan on their show that one moment she had was playing against younger players and thinking, man, I don't want them to be like, oh that's Kandace Parker.

That's it, right, because you're.

That's it, right, because you're.

You know, when you're older and playing, you're not peak. You the idea of like, oh that's Diana Tarassi. I don't know, she's not all that.

You know, when you're older and playing, you're not peak. You the idea of like, oh that's Diana Tarassi. I don't know, she's not all that.

No, but you're forty No, that's what I'm saying. I used to play one on. I used to play one on one with my son who ended up playing in college. He's six to two, and we would play and all of a sudden when he was like sixteen fifteen fourteen, and he beat me and I never played him again. I said, I'm retiring, and my record against you was one thousand, six hundred and one. Because you're right, you don't want to keep putting yourself in that situation. But at the same time, it was bittersweet. It was sad, you know it's coming, but at the same time, like I'm never going to have a chance to hear play anymore. Like the game is not going to be the same without her out there. But at the same time, if that's not the real her out there, and it's better that she's.

No, but you're forty No, that's what I'm saying. I used to play one on. I used to play one on one with my son who ended up playing in college. He's six to two, and we would play and all of a sudden when he was like sixteen fifteen fourteen, and he beat me and I never played him again. I said, I'm retiring, and my record against you was one thousand, six hundred and one. Because you're right, you don't want to keep putting yourself in that situation. But at the same time, it was bittersweet. It was sad, you know it's coming, but at the same time, like I'm never going to have a chance to hear play anymore. Like the game is not going to be the same without her out there. But at the same time, if that's not the real her out there, and it's better that she's.

Not out there, what was your relationship with her like during her pro years.

Not out there, what was your relationship with her like during her pro years.

One of the reasons that I took the Olympic job was I knew i'd be coaching her, yeah, And I thought, who gets an opportunity to do that. Who gets an opportunity to coach a kid from when they're eighteen to twenty two and then coaching when they're thirty two. I thought this would be the greatest thing in the world that I get an opportunity to spend eight years with arguably the greatest player I've ever coached, and to me those eight years to go back there, I had an opportunity. I remember one of our first meetings to sit down with her, watch some film and go deep. Where's the fun, loving kid who played the joy of the game, loving life? I said, where did that person go? Because you are an angry player? You play angry? And I realized, you go to Europe for all that time, you're bounced around from this place to that place just to make money, and all of a sudden you become an angry basketball.

One of the reasons that I took the Olympic job was I knew i'd be coaching her, yeah, And I thought, who gets an opportunity to do that. Who gets an opportunity to coach a kid from when they're eighteen to twenty two and then coaching when they're thirty two. I thought this would be the greatest thing in the world that I get an opportunity to spend eight years with arguably the greatest player I've ever coached, and to me those eight years to go back there, I had an opportunity. I remember one of our first meetings to sit down with her, watch some film and go deep. Where's the fun, loving kid who played the joy of the game, loving life? I said, where did that person go? Because you are an angry player? You play angry? And I realized, you go to Europe for all that time, you're bounced around from this place to that place just to make money, and all of a sudden you become an angry basketball.

Player mercenary exactly.

Player mercenary exactly.

And so I tried to bring some joy back into it. And we had a lot of great moments, a lot of fun times, and I could say probably as one of the highlights, if not the greatest highlight of my life, was winning an Olympic gold medal with her.

And so I tried to bring some joy back into it. And we had a lot of great moments, a lot of fun times, and I could say probably as one of the highlights, if not the greatest highlight of my life, was winning an Olympic gold medal with her.

You have a lot of lure behind you, and for a long time, I think back in the old days, when you could tell players it was the worst past you've ever seen in your life.

You have a lot of lure behind you, and for a long time, I think back in the old days, when you could tell players it was the worst past you've ever seen in your life.

You've got a reputation sometimes.

You've got a reputation sometimes.

For being tough, for being hard, for breaking people down at times, but also you have such a sweet relationship with so many of your players, and like you just said, you worked to bring the joy out of her game. Again, what do you think the most common misconception about you is as a coach.

For being tough, for being hard, for breaking people down at times, but also you have such a sweet relationship with so many of your players, and like you just said, you worked to bring the joy out of her game. Again, what do you think the most common misconception about you is as a coach.

Well, when people come to our practices, they're shocked that hew little I yell like they think, you know, I'm a yeller and a screamer, and I actually I actually do not. Now. I said this to people all the time. I said, how many of you have kids? They raise their hand. I said, tell me, if you said the same thing to your kid three times in the last fifteen seconds, tell me your disposition doesn't change, right, right. So here's the thing. I make it personal, like I want them to think that I'm doing it for them because I am. I want them to believe that I believe in them because I do, and that I want more for them than they think they have. So I didn't. I didn't live that life. I took shortcuts all everywhere I went, like, you know, go to school, get great grades in the subjects I liked, not the ones I didn't like. You know, go do stuff until when I'm pretty good at it, doing something different. So now my kids. If they don't graduate, they don't go up on that wall. Why because I'm not going to let them make that mistake. If I don't get the most out of them, squeeze every drop out of them, then I feel like the promise that I made them when I was recruiting them, I'm not living up to it. Because at this point in my life, do I really need another national champion? How does that change my life? Not one iota. If Page gets one, it changes her life forever. So I don't want to leave any coach, and I don't know that you can do that by It's okay, sweetheart.