It’s been a minute! After taking a little break, I’m back and, naturally, there is A LOT to talk about.

I started this episode by talking about what I think a championship team actually looks and feels like, and what separates a team that can compete from a team that can actually win it all.

From there, we’ve got plenty of hot topics: DeWanna Bonner joining the Atlanta Dream, Kate Martin being waived and where I’d like to see her go next, Nneka Ogwumike’s retirement and what’s going on with the Sparks, plus a quick conversation about the Mercury and some of their struggles this season.

I also talked about A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum not joining Team USA for the World Cup, shared some pre-World Cup thoughts, and then went team-by-team through the playoff field. What do I love about each team? What could get them in trouble? And what am I most excited to see once the playoffs start?

And because apparently that wasn’t enough, there’s a hot take, a little Portland Fire conversation (because yes, I already think they could be a playoff team next season), and some love for Bridget Carleton after her performance against the Lynx and why I thought she stepped into an All-Star mindset.

Basically… I took a break, the WNBA kept moving, and now we have some catching up to do.

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Follow me on social media:

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Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:17 Topics for the episode & Housekeeping

02:23 Feeling a championship in the air

03:30 Hot Topics | DeWanna Bonner to the Dream

06:38 Kate Martin | Nneka Ogwumike & Thoughts on the Sparks

10:40 The Mercury?

12:41 Circling back on the Sparks & Kate

18:00 A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum | Choosing Health

21:24 Pre-World Cup Thoughts

23:29 Checklist to Winning a Chip

28:18 Lynx

36:18 Valkyries

40:47 Aces

45:47 Fever

51:17 Dream

56:35 Liberty

1:04:06 Mystics

1:08:27 Wings

1:12:48 MY HOTTEST TAKE

01:13:17 Portland Fire (I Love Y’all for real)

1:16:24 Bridget Carleton’s Defense is Missed

This week we're starting with a conversation that's bigger than basketball.

The WNBA continues to grow at an incredible pace, but growth also comes with responsibility. I share why I'm becoming increasingly concerned about the league's leadership, Cathy Engelbert's role, and how inconsistent responses to major incidents are creating space for assumptions and distracting from the game itself. We also discuss the racial dynamics surrounding some of the biggest conversations in the league and why those discussions deserve to be handled with more care.

From there, we get into everything that happened on the court. We talk about why the Valkyries continue to impress, whether the Tempo have officially won me over, the evolution of the Sparks under Lynne Roberts, the Liberty and Lynx matchup, Atlanta's frustrating inconsistency, where the Mercury go from here, and whether Olivia Miles has entered the MVP conversation. I also share my thoughts on standout performances by players like Frieda Bühner, Nia Coffey, Jessica Shepard, Justine Pissott, and more, while breaking down the biggest games and trends across the league.

As always, this is a basketball-first conversation focused on habits, team building, decision-making, and the bigger picture of where the WNBA is headed.

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Follow me on social media:

https://linktr.ee/toriphillips5

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Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:17 Housekeeping | The best excuse ever

03:54 The racial element of the big conversations happening surrounding the W

09:26 Is the WNBA headed in the right direction? | The Cathy Problem

18:10 Player of the Week: Ola Kosu

20:07 Who Won the Week: Valkyries

22:22 The Basketball

23:14 Valkyries vs Sun

27:11 UCLA Player Ranking

28:20 Wings vs Tempo | The Tempo are moving me

30:16 Arike — A Wing for Life?

32:15 Game Stats continued

33:57 Sky vs Sparks

36:31 Lynne Roberts & The Sparks Evolution

43:49 Liberty vs Lynx

44:22 Liberty Bigs …. Chris DeMarco has to put his foot down

48:39 Sabrina & Stewie | Betnijah Laney Hamilton & Rebekah Gardner

52:07 Lynx Habits

52:50 Olivia Miles MVP | Lynx Championship Odds

56:11 Game Notes

59:02 Dream vs Fire

1:00:19 I can give Portland a 10 | Frieda Buhner you moved me

1:04:22 ATL you’re disappointing me once a week

1:07:18 Rhyne Howard | Are the expectations too high?

1:09:17 Mercury vs Aces | I don’t even know man

1:18:16 Where do the Mercury go from here? | Build around Kah

1:12:50 Justine Pissott

1:14:19 Liberty vs Tempo

1:18:45 Storm vs Mystics

1:21:08 Lauren Betts | Brief Storm thoughts

1:22:51 Sky vs Wings

1:25:53 Fever vs Aces

1:26:45 Sparks vs Dream

1:28:48 Mercury vs Lynx | Nia Coffey DPOY

1:32:48 Fire vs Sun

1:33:35 ONO & Jessica Shepard MIP Convo | Game thoughts

1:37:58 Mystics vs Tempo

1:39:16 Storm vs Sky

1:41:10 Lynx vs Sparks

1:42:47 How Miles is affecting her teammates

1:43:47 Lynx Culture & Sylvia Fowles Speech

1:46:00 Game Stats

1:46:46 Valkyries vs Fever

1:48:54 Fire vs Mystics | How the Fire won & Why the Mystics struggled

1:54:20 Outro

This week's episode is a little different. Instead of breaking down every game, I'm sharing the biggest thoughts I've had while watching the league over the past week.

From the Chicago Sky, Sparks, and Storm to the Liberty, Aces, Lynx, Valkyries, and more, I discuss what's impressed me, what's been frustrating, and a few trends that have me asking... why are we doing that?

I also touch on Chennedy Carter, Cathy Engelbert and the recent congressional discussion, Alex Sarama and CLA, All-Star selections, officiating, Olivia Nelson-Ododa's case for Most Improved Player, and where several teams stand as we move deeper into the season.

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Follow me on social media:

https://linktr.ee/toriphillips5

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Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:17 Housekeeping | Episode Format

01:14 Addendum | Chennedy Carter, Cathy Engelbert & Congress

11:37 Tough Conversations | Shake It Up or Bust

12:46 Skylar Diggins, Sloot, and the Chicago Sky

24:37 The Sparks are running out of time

34:49 The Storm | Flashes of excellence

39:29 The Sun | Olivia Nelson Ododa for MIP

45:20 Alex Sarama & CLA | I’m Over It

1:01:38 Tempo

1:04:40 Mystics

1:05:51 Dream | Valkyries BELT

1:13:26 Brief thoughts on All-Star Selection

1:15:29 The Fever & Mercury| I will rarely have things to say about them

1:17:00 Liberty, Aces, & Officiating

1:24:11 Wings

1:27:49 New York Liberty

1:29:02 GS Valkyries | Flop City

1:32:55 Aces

1:35:15 Lynx | I’m not personally concerned