Roz Gold-Onwude

She had this awesome outfit on. It almost makes you feel like, oh, how vulnerable and public these players are as they pursue their dreams and that you could fall flat and not get drafted on this very public night. And, you know, Oregon didn't have a great season. I did think she had a nice finish to the season and a great first round performance in the tournament.

Hopefully she'll get a chance in training camp to show what she can do. And the biggest outcry came for Diamond Johnson out of Norfolk State. So, you know, we're talking to HBCU. This is the MEAC Conference Player of the Year. She averaged like 19 points per game, also was doing it on defense, led the conference in steals. 3.6 steals, was an all defensive selection.

Hopefully she'll get a chance in training camp to show what she can do. And the biggest outcry came for Diamond Johnson out of Norfolk State. So, you know, we're talking to HBCU. This is the MEAC Conference Player of the Year. She averaged like 19 points per game, also was doing it on defense, led the conference in steals. 3.6 steals, was an all defensive selection.

And if critics were like, oh, well, is the MEAC Conference tough enough? But she also played at Rutgers and NC State. You know, this is ACC. This is Big Ten. And she did well there. She was highly regarded there. So I think the critique and the outcry was why suddenly was she not good enough to be drafted here? Given the numbers and the pedigree speaks, the body of work was speaking for itself.

And if critics were like, oh, well, is the MEAC Conference tough enough? But she also played at Rutgers and NC State. You know, this is ACC. This is Big Ten. And she did well there. She was highly regarded there. So I think the critique and the outcry was why suddenly was she not good enough to be drafted here? Given the numbers and the pedigree speaks, the body of work was speaking for itself.

Perhaps it's a lack of attention or respect for MEAC basketball, HBCU basketball and attention to what's going on there.

Perhaps it's a lack of attention or respect for MEAC basketball, HBCU basketball and attention to what's going on there.

First of all, Logan, like bigger picture here.

First of all, Logan, like bigger picture here.

the effort of the league to try and create some urgency storylines that fans can follow this is called stickiness um it's an opportunity also to monetize the partner ally on this is a huge get for the for the wnba so you know look some of these games do make sense right like new york liberty versus lynx that run it back championship and wnba finals it went five games it was controversial

the effort of the league to try and create some urgency storylines that fans can follow this is called stickiness um it's an opportunity also to monetize the partner ally on this is a huge get for the for the wnba so you know look some of these games do make sense right like new york liberty versus lynx that run it back championship and wnba finals it went five games it was controversial

Liberty versus aces. That was the year before his finals commissioners cup star power, although the aces do look different, but, um, the star power, you've got your reigning MVP. You got to have Asia there. It makes sense, right? Sky versus fever. So Logan, do you like that one?

Liberty versus aces. That was the year before his finals commissioners cup star power, although the aces do look different, but, um, the star power, you've got your reigning MVP. You got to have Asia there. It makes sense, right? Sky versus fever. So Logan, do you like that one?

OK, I'll go devil's advocate the other way. Like, let's not be dense about this. This is in Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. You have the two most followed, most visible new young faces in the WNBA that people are talking about. And they do have a history that goes back to college. The rivalry is certainly more familial. fan-created than it is player-created, to your point.

OK, I'll go devil's advocate the other way. Like, let's not be dense about this. This is in Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. You have the two most followed, most visible new young faces in the WNBA that people are talking about. And they do have a history that goes back to college. The rivalry is certainly more familial. fan-created than it is player-created, to your point.

They don't play the same position. They largely seem like, at minimum, there's a respect there between the two of them. So I just think this is like, we're going to put our two hottest names on TV, and boom. I just hope we can do this without inviting the obnoxious and sometimes toxic conversations that came around this matchup.

They don't play the same position. They largely seem like, at minimum, there's a respect there between the two of them. So I just think this is like, we're going to put our two hottest names on TV, and boom. I just hope we can do this without inviting the obnoxious and sometimes toxic conversations that came around this matchup.

So fever versus Dallas, there's no rivalry, but it is the top two number one picks for the last two years. Right. So like, that's interesting. I'd sign up for that. Like the one, the one, the one, the two places where I'm like, okay, the Valkyries and having a rivalry week is kind of funny. Right. Like they don't even have history. They just started. It's their first year.

So fever versus Dallas, there's no rivalry, but it is the top two number one picks for the last two years. Right. So like, that's interesting. I'd sign up for that. Like the one, the one, the one, the two places where I'm like, okay, the Valkyries and having a rivalry week is kind of funny. Right. Like they don't even have history. They just started. It's their first year.

Look, Kathy had to showcase her brand new Sparkly franchise somehow, some way. And you mentioned Atlanta. There is Atlanta Dream versus the Phoenix Mercury. So that's Brittany Griner versus her former team. I'm on that one. I'm like, I'm less into that storyline as much as I'm into. Those are two new look rosters on two teams that are very talented.