Liz and Karen's WNBA Playoff breakdown is coming in fast and hot this week. They take a look at stats (believe it or not!) and discuss how the matches are stacking up. Players are racking double-doubles and triple-doubles during these playoffs, but there are tweaks Liz and Karen would like to see some of the teams make. Both are excited about A'Ja Wilson's unanimous MVP distinction. They highlight her 2024 accomplishments, and recount the impressive way she received the MVP news. Liz wants us to keep an eye on Raj Sports, who, in addition to owning the Sacramento Kings, now own two professional women’s sports teams in Portland (the yet-to-be-named WNBA Portland franchise, and the NSWL Portland Thorns). Karen breaks down Kelsey Plum’s style, as well as the lack of style in the newly rumored NBA City Edition Jerseys. A farewell to Adrian Wojnarowski, who dropped his final Woj Bomb via social media, and reflections on his legacy. And, finally, podcast listener Don, takes his hoops off with Liz and Karen!

MENTIONS:

WNBA Announces Portland Franchise:

https://www.wnba.com/news/portland-15th-franchise-announcement

RAJ Sports now owns two Sports Franchises in Portland:

https://rajcapital.co/rajsports#raj-sports

More reporting on that from the Oregonian's Sports Columnist Bill Oram:

https://www.instagram.com/oregoniansports/reel/DAJ-GaGBNQr/

WNBA Playoffs:

https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2024

Kelsey Plum talks to Complex Sports:

https://www.complex.com/sports/a/caidin-ferrigno/kelsey-plum-las-vegas-aces-wnba-interview-smartwater

NBA City Edition Jerseys:

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2024/9/19/24248969/nba-city-edition-jersey-2025-season-ranked-best-worst

With Retirement from ESPN, 'Woj' Leaves a Changes Sports Media World:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/19/sports/basketball/adrian-wojnarowski-retires-espn.html

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Playoffs are on the horizon, fashion week is popping, and Playa Society's Esther Wallace is in the Hoops Off house. Celebrating guest host Mya's last week, she and Karen discuss the Minnesota Lynx as the sleeper team to watch, and they each lay down their Aces predictions and more playoff thoughts. The duo then dives into the amazing, magical, delicious collision that is sports and New York Fashion Week, and compare notes on which WNBA player's closet they'd like to raid. Plus, Playa Society founder, the athlete and designer Esther Wallace joins the group chat to share her Candace Parker fan girl moment, and to unpack what the ideation process is like for the WNBA's most creative statement maker.

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Mya's IG: https://www.instagram.com/themyapeterson

WSLAM IG: https://www.instagram.com/wslam

Playa Society: https://www.playasociety.com

Karen and guest host Mya Peterson switch it up by kicking off the show with their Hoops Off segment--coming in strong with a defense of W legend Sheryl Swoopes, who, let's be clear, has nothing to apologize for. The duo then dig into the phenom A'ja Wilson's statement 'fit, the white tee, and what it signals. Plus, Karen and Mya serve up predictions for Rookie of the Year, and Most Valuable Player of the W, along with a side dish of very hot takes. Then, sights set on the horizon, they spotlight some of the NCAA women hoopers to watch, and close it out by celebrating Virgo birthday girl Mya.

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https://www.instagram.com/wslam?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Guest host Mya Peterson, of the iconic hoops media brand WSLAM, joins Karen for an episode jam packed with WNBA analysis, playoff predictions, and more. Plus, fresh off her Paris podium appearance, 2024 USA 3x3 Basketball Olympian Cierra Burdick is this week's guest. Cierra breaks down the distinct features that make 3x3 such a fun game to play, and to watch. She also shares what it was like being seen as the most wanted/unwanted player in the league, and what she wants for the future of women's basketball. This episode is serving Hoops Off versatility--from Draymond to whatever's "demure."

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https://www.instagram.com/themyapeterson?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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https://www.instagram.com/wslam?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Follow Cierra Burdick on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/c_burdick11?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Learn more about Cierra:

https://www.ccburdick.com/

Learn more about FIBA 3x3 Womens:

https://fiba3x3.com/2024/olympics/news/2024-usa-basketball-3x3-women-s-national-team-announced

The Paris Olympics keep on giving! Liz and Karen have got the recaps you need (from romance rumors to unforgettable wins) in order to memorialize this year's epic Games. In addition to this Olympics being one of record-setting medal numbers for women, we saw baller A'ja Wilson getting her MVP, Steph Curry finally getting a gold medal, and other moments that had us happily exhausted. Liz and Karen also lay out and pump up key dates around the WNBA and NBA this year, and even stake some bets around NBA Christmas Day schedules. On the other side of Olympic glory comes more lawsuits, many that put women in sports up against the WNBA, the IOC and the cyberbullies. We'll keep our eyes on those. Plus: this week's Hoops Off gives us the breakdown of Australia breakdancing that is very much needed.

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Another piping-hot Olympian-sized episode with Liz and Karen is fresh out of the oven, bringing stories and highlights about week two of the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. In her Money Mama segment, Karen looks at viewership data for the Games, and investigates what Olympians get paid per country, leading to the bigger conversation of '"what does IOC use their funding for? Money Mama would like to know!" Liz and Karen also unpack some Olympic controversies, including those around equestrian sports, spy drones, and gender misinformation in the boxing event. Closing out the episode on a high note, this week's Rings Off segment showcases the best of the best across the Paris Games, including a jaw-dropping--and bar-dropping--French baguette incident.

MENTIONS

Olympic Viewership via Front Office Sports:

https://frontofficesports.com/five-reasons-2024-olympics-ratings-are-way-up/

Paris Olympians Pay:

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/31/heres-how-much-athletes-at-the-paris-olympics-earn-for-winning-medals.html

IOC Funding:

https://olympics.com/ioc/funding

Olympic Controversies: Equestrian -

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5668956/2024/08/03/dujardin-equestrian-olympic-sport-future/

Canada Women's Soccer Spy Scandal:

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5657110/2024/07/31/canada-soccer-olympic-spying-scandal-explained/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1723133021951573&usg=AOvVaw1eM_nZA8n3CZlEWbMB42uY

Olympic Boxing Gender Controversy:

https://www.npr.org/2024/08/02/nx-s1-5061280/olympic-womens-boxing-gender-imane-khelif-lin-yuting

Misleading Olympic Boxing Gender Controversy Explained:

https://www.vox.com/sports/364856/olympics-boxing-imane-khelif-angela-carini

Adult Film Company Offers French Vaulter $250K:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/french-vaulter-anthony-ammirati-offered-dollar250k-to-flaunt-his-infamous-olympic-bulge

In honor of the Paris Olympic Games, Liz and Karen are here with their first Rings Off! segment. Highlights include: celebrating a number of firsts for the US Women's Rugby team and individual athletes in Judo and Fencing; a look at the medal-contending US Women's Soccer and Basketball teams; and real talk about the squad they consider to be one of the most unlikeable USA Men's Basketball Teams in a long time. Other hot topics in this episode: the domination of the Paris Olympics on social media, the ongoing fight of the NBA rights distribution deal, and rumors of romance between two elite basketball players in the NBA & WNBA. Plus, the Hoops come Off!

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MENTIONS:

Warner Bros. Discovery Sues NBA:

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40647935/warner-bros-discovery-sues-nba-losing-rights-amazon

Love & Basketball Rumors:

https://nypost.com/2024/07/24/sports/angel-reese-sits-courtside-with-steph-curry-kevin-durant/

Ilona Maher Rugby Star:

https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/40675435/who-ilona-maher-us-olympic-women-rugby-star

Joel Embiid NYT Interview:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/20/magazine/joel-embiid-interview.html

Steph & KD respond to Joel Embiid:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5657755/2024/07/25/curry-durant-embiid-usa-olympics/

Jason Tatum finally plays:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5665454/2024/07/29/jayson-tatum-olympics-basketball/

TogethXr Social:

https://www.instagram.com/togethxr/

Marysol Castro Social:

https://www.instagram.com/marysolcastrotv

Coach Jackie J:

https://www.tiktok.com/@jcubedhax