Nobody Should Believe Me - You Might Also Like: Levels to This with Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby

Episode Date: January 16, 2025

Introducing High Level Conversations: Megan Perry from Levels to This with Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby.Follow the show: Levels to This with Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-BrasbyOn this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl and Tee talk with Megan Perry, Head of Basketball for Athletes Unlimited, about this upcoming season of AU. Megan details what makes the league so exciting from the unique scoring system to being entirely player-led. The three talk about this year's talent pool, the space AU is creating for current and former players and more broadly how the growth of women's sports is nothing but positive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [e-mail].

Here at LifeKit, NPR's self-help podcast, we love the idea of helping you make meaningful lifestyle changes. Our policy is to never be too punishing on yourself or too grand in your goals, which is why we've got shows on how to make little nudges to your behavior and create habits that stick. Listen to the LifeKit podcast on iHeartRadio. Hey, it's Bobby bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback, Matt castle every Wednesday for our new podcast. Lots to say with Bobby bones and Matt castle between us,

we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York times, bestsellers, and one mirror ball trophy from dancing with a star. So where else are you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to My Legacy. I'm Martin of the Kingdom Third, and together with my wife, Andrea Waters King, and our dear friends, Mark and Craig Kilberger, we explore the personal journeys that shape extraordinary lives. Join us for heartfelt conversations with remarkable guests like David Oyelowo, Mel Robbins, Martin Sheen, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Billy Porter. Listen to My Legacy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is my legacy.

This week on the R&B Money Podcast, Tank and Jay Valentine sit down with the one and only Snoop Dogg. I wanted to be here personally to come give y'all flowers and let y'all know y'all doing an amazing job. I love the outlet. I love how y'all treat the artists that come on here. I love how y'all speak to the realization of R&B music and R&B money. Snoop Dogg on R&B money. Listen to this episode on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Levels to This is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everybody. It's your girl, Tarika Foster-Brasby. What's up, y'all? It's your girl, Cheryl Swoops. And this is the Levels to This podcast. This is the show where we share that it's levels to the shit that women go through. And we certainly have an incredible guest lined up today to really help talk us through and get us up to speed with some great basketball that we're going to witness

over the next few weeks. But first, Cheryl, I feel like we have to take a moment to recognize and acknowledge that we are really going through some devastating times, specifically if you are living in the state of California. The L.A. fires have really ravaged through that area. The Palisades, Calabasas, the Eaton fires. I mean, it's just been very difficult to watch some of the photos and videos of areas that don't even look the same. I've cried and cried and cried, and I'll cry some more. You know, T, even if you're not in L.A. and you're not personally affected, like for me, I'm so, like I'm hurt for the people.

I'm hurt for the people. I'm devastated. I've been praying nonstop. And like, there's just so much to say. And, you know, I think the part for me that, as if the people of LA aren't going through enough, right? Or if California aren't going through enough. The part that just frustrates me is everybody wants to point fingers, right? Like you're to blame, you're to blame, you're to blame, you're to blame. And my thing is,

let's just try and come together as a country, as a people to try and support all of these families who some of them have lost everything, everything. And I know people talk about, oh, well, it's just materialistic things and you can rebuild and you can go. It ain't even about that. I honestly can't, I can't even wrap my mind around like just what's going on and how they feel. I get on social media and then I have to get off because it's a lot. And it, I don't know. I'm just going through so many different waves of emotion for them. And I feel helpless.

I feel so helpless. And it's wild that people want to place blame on anyone or anything because it's like some things can't be helped and some things can't right and part of this situation a large part of this situation has to do with earth and nature climate and nature yeah and it's unfortunate that we have lost lives to my understanding 24 have been killed that's the last number I heard. Yeah, 24 was the last number that I heard. I have a cousin who lives in LA, some friends who lives in LA. I actually opened my home to my cousin this weekend and I thought she was going to try to make it, but I think that she's gone to a safe zone. But I say all that to say, I agree with you

100%. There are so many things that we focus our attention on that really just don't matter. And this is one of those situations where our attention and our focus needs to be on helping those people who have quite literally lost everything. And to the first responders, the firefighters, those who have assisted, no matter what part you've played in trying to make a difference, we thank you and we appreciate you. It's not easy to deal with that situation. So we will most certainly keep LA lifted, keep all the families that have been affected lifted in prayer and in our thoughts. And with that, we certainly want to just kind of talk about how important it is to be in the moment because we never know when that moment may change. I know those people in LA didn't wake up thinking that this was a situation

that was going to escalate to where it's been. So being in the moment is certainly important and not to minimize that scenario with the transition to this one, but we are certainly in a moment in women's basketball that we have to just kind of sit back and think and revel in and say, wow, like we've gotten to a place where we can almost watch women's basketball all year long.

Right? Like who would have ever thunk it? Who would have ever thunk it that we would be in this moment? In this moment, all year long. We've got WNBA. Immediately after WNBA, we got Unrivaled, which is going to be kicking off this week. And we certainly can't wait to talk more about that league. And then after Unrivaled starts only a short couple of weeks later, we are going to get Athletes Unlimited, which is going to be on

its fourth season. And I'm excited because I'm going to be in Nashville and you're going to be in Nashville. Yeah. And our guest today is absolutely- Is going to be in Nashville. Going to be in Nashville. So she better be in Nashville. For real.

Or we got some real problems. But I'm excited about chatting today with Megan Perry. She better be in Nashville. For real. Or we got some real problems. But I'm excited about chatting today with Megan Perry. Megan Perry is someone who is very near and dear to both of us. She's been a leader in the sports industry for many years. But she is currently, I want to say, the executive, operating executive of Head of Basketball for Athletes Unlimited right now. And so we are going to kick it with her on today's show. I'm excited about it. You're excited about it. So let's not waste any more time. Let's go ahead and get into the next level. Friends, we are incredibly excited about our guest today. Cheryl and I try to do our due diligence to talk to people who not only interest and fascinate us, but also who just deserve the recognition.

Right. And this person right here truly deserves the recognition for all that she's been doing for women's basketball. Not only did she lead her Cornell University team to, yes, I'm bringing it back. We're going all the way back because folks don't know Megan Cabal for real. That's an Ivy League champion. Let them know, T. Let them know. She has done so much off the court as well in the boardroom. She worked for NBA. She served in the WNBA. And now she is currently the head of basketball for Athletes Unlimited Professional Basketball League, affectionately known to all of us as AU. Please welcome Megan Perry to the show. Hey, Megan, girl.

Oh my goodness. Thank you. Did you hear all the applause? Did you hear all the applause? That is the kindest introduction. I so appreciate you all. And you took it all the way back to playing days. I did. I did. Megan, we've got to let folks know that not only do you talk basketball, but you do basketball. You do it.

I remember when I first met Megan, she was actually on broadcast for the Ivy League, we would do, LaChina and I would always do every year a Final Four or like a tournament roundup. And we wanted everybody from every league to come in and give us insight. And we knew as it related to the Ivy League, we needed to get Megan on the show because she had all the deets. Oh, my goodness. I so fondly remember those days and times. But yes, we go way back, Tarika, as well. Cheryl and I go way back. But I've been around the game for a minute now.

So yes, I played college basketball, turned that into opportunities to work in the game professionally since 2008. I've been around this game and tried to dip my toes into the media space like you guys and enjoyed it and then said, I think I have more to give and want to be more in the front office space. Joined AU and have been working for the past year and a half to give all I can give to that space and grow the game. So thank you for the kind recognition. Absolutely. So deserving. And we're excited to have you on and let's just hop right into it. T and I, we're very familiar with

Athletes Unlimited or AU, but for those who are listening who may not, I don't know why they wouldn't know about it, but those who may not know about AU, why don't you tell the people about AU? What's it all about? Yeah, I cannot wait to tell you all about AU. So Athletes Unlimited Professional Basketball, we call it AU for short. You'll finally hear it called that. But AU, we're entering our fourth season. Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball was founded by Jonathan Soros and Jonathan Patricoff back in 2020. And they really set out to provide a platform and a space for women to be able to compete here domestically in the United States in the off season of the WNBA.

So we really started out with the opportunity to create more space for women because we deserve that. And since 2020, we have been providing a space for now 40 women in the off season of the WNBA to be able to play domestically here in the United States for four weeks in one city at one time. So we're building community, we're building a sisterhood, and it's the only place where you can still find five-on-five elite women's basketball here in the United States. We're excited about that. Again, Tia and I are very familiar, but what do you say to people who might look at AU or think of AU as like a G League to the W? I would say that's not it. That's not it. We are so excited about

the roster of talent that we put together. So as far as timing and space, right? AU came along and provided that time and space so that if players choose not to go overseas, they do not. They have an option to stay here. We are providing a space for some of the same faces that you know well and have been following across the WNBA landscape that have been playing overseas for quite some time and some players that have you're familiar with across the collegiate landscape and may have gone overseas got an injury or something but are looking for a spot to come back we have embraced the entire women's basketball community and we have top talent we have had names that you will recognize as WNBA all-stars and champions.

And this season we are in the process, I will say, I won't announce anyone new, of sharing our roster. If you go to auprobasketball.com, you can see who we're bringing in this year. And it's an elite talent group of seasoned vets, emerging talents. And it's a quality that you should know and recognize that you're already familiar with across the landscape. So that's what I would tell people.

One thing that I love is you talk about being in one city in one place. And I know that when AU first started in the first season, you were in Vegas, last couple of seasons, Dallas. This year in Nashville, can you talk to us a little bit about the process of selecting Nashville and really what the thought process is in terms of selecting any city in which you, you know, desire to host at AU? I appreciate that question so much, T, because the first season of AU Pro Basketball was played in Las Vegas. Season two and three were in Dallas.

And I will say this is my second year with Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball. And having the opportunity to spend time in Dallas last year, We appreciated that time. We thought it was a great time, but we also recognized the growth and the opportunity that exists around women's basketball and finding out that professional women's basketball has not existed in the state of Tennessee since 1998 when the ABL was there. I felt that that was specifically something that we had the power to change. We wanted to do so. We were looking for a place, a place that wanted to partner with AU Pro Basketball, that wanted to host us.

And Nashville has been more than warm and welcoming to AU Pro Basketball. It is a hotbed of talent for anyone that knows anything about the history of women's basketball across the collegiate landscape. But it is a space that is warm and ripe and wanting professional women's basketball to find a home there. It's also a space that we recognize that the WNBA has named as a potential expansion city. And so we wanted to be the first ones

to bring professional women's basketball back to that space. And we are excited about the response that we've seen thus far. People are excited. I'm very excited and interested about this because I've been one of the people who have been very critical of the state of Tennessee as it relates to professional women's basketball.

And I want to tell you why, because I would love your thoughts. One of the things that scares me the most about Tennessee is when I think about women who play professional basketball, specifically in the WNBA, AU, other places, they have a specific or at least a large quantity of them identify with a specific group. And Tennessee, from a state, local, government kind of place, when you think about players having to live there, having to reside there, you think they would want to feel welcomed.

And Tennessee hasn't always been a state, in my opinion, that has made people of certain groups feel welcome. So I've always known of how important women's basketball has been in Knoxville and how in certain areas, because of Pat Summitt's legacy, that Tennessee has been the epicenter. It's where the Women's National Basketball Hall of Fame is. We understand that. But I've also been very scared about bringing professional

basketball to Tennessee for other reasons. Would you say that this experience could possibly give a little bit more insight into what a larger professional women's basketball presence could look like in Tennessee? I would say one thing that the state of our world, I'll be real about the state of our world, and it's to be someone in a position that has the opportunity to, I'm a woman of color, I'm a black woman, and I have the opportunity to lead a league that has a large population of women of color, for sure. And people that identify as LGBTQ plus. I will say this, the state of the world that we live in right now, there are unfortunate things that could happen anywhere. And it is very volatile. However, in working with

our player executive committee, our PEC, which is part of the governing body, I work with a group of four players. We collectively work together to figure out where we want to be, where we want to play, what we want to do. Thinking about Nashville and spending time there, it is a space that has been nothing but warm and welcoming. And it's something that we do not take lightly, that we spend a lot of time thinking about and a lot of time experiencing. And I will say that within the spaces that we've been in Nashville, we are excited about, and I think people that might have some of those questions and concerns, they may be dismissed because we have met a group of people that are very engaging, very forward-thinking. It's a home to a number of, I will add, universities, HBCUs, and places that

tend to have a more open and very liberal mindset. That's not everyone, but it's most. And it feels like a place where we can grow the game, that we can have impact in a community, and which is something AU is really passionate about. And a space, quite honestly, is a tourist destination. It is a hotspot. It is a space where we've hosted the Final Four. They've hosted the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament. They will have the Men's Basketball Tournament. It is a space that people come to and visit frequently and is continuing, I think, to raise its profile as it relates to not only just women's basketball, but women's sports and the larger sports landscape. So with all those factors that we put together and we reflect on, we still think

that it's a space where we can grow and that's going to receive what we have to offer really well. I would also say to that, come, join us, experience us. Because I guarantee once you come and you get that butt in the seat, right, you're going to want to come back. You're going to say, oh, that was really dope. I would just say, give it a try. Give it a try. First of all, T, great question. But I will vouch for the excitement of the game, right?

Me being able to be a part of AU all three seasons going into the fourth. It's different, right? The scoring system's different. And if you haven't been out, if you haven't come out to a game, you got to come. I agree with you, Megan. I keep saying it's different without taking up a lot of time to go into all of that. It's fun. It's exciting. I don't know if you want to explain a little bit about the scoring system and why it's different from your typical five on five. Yeah, I love that. Let me also say,

what can you expect when you come to see a U pro basketball game, right? We have a unique environment. It's an intimate experience. You are up close, right? Our athletes are accessible. We energize our crowds, our in-game entertainment. It's hot. You have familiar names and faces on the sidelines, right? Not only on the floor, but around the sidelines. It's a family atmosphere. And so when you think about the product on the floor and what makes AU Pro Basketball different,

I always say to people, at its core, we're 5-on-5 basketball. And what you've known and come to love for years and years, competing up and down that floor, that exists. The cool part is that we've layered on an innovative scoring system on top of the game, where in AU, we are competing to crown one individual champion at the top of the AU leaderboard. So we have 40 players across four teams. Each team is headed up by a captain. We are player-led. And so every week, our captains have the opportunity to participate in a draft where they select their teams. And throughout the course of play, the players will have the opportunity to ascend or descend up and down that leaderboard to determine where they land if they are going to be the captain the next week, right over the course of the time that they're there. It creates a really cool environment for

playing because it allows you to be able to follow your favorite athletes or individual performances, but also how their teams perform. We reward individual performances as well as teams. That's unique. I think it's also an opportunity for fans to be able to engage in a different way than they traditionally would because in AU, every moment counts. Our players are playing for the 40 minutes, but they're playing not only to win the game, they're playing to win the quarter. Our players get points and they get bonuses that are tied to that leaderboard. So you're following a game within a game and you're trying to keep up with not only who's on top of the leaderboard, but who has the opportunity to ascend to that position. And it fluctuates from week to week. One week you could be playing with one captain and the next week you could be on defense against

them. We mix it up. And over the course of the time on the ground being together, that creates some really interesting dynamics, I will say, where your teammates one day and the next week you are not, right? So it's fun, but it's 5-1-5 in its core. Come enjoy 5-1-5 basketball. That's what we have professionals playing at a high level, but we also have layers of engagement for our fans that will allow them to follow the game a little bit differently. Yeah. The thing I love about it is everything that Megan said, but from a former player, for me, I love seeing the growth, right? I love seeing the growth of the game.

I love seeing more opportunity. And AU has given these women this opportunity. And not just basketball, right? There's lacrosse. There's volleyball. There's softball. So AU has given so many women opportunities to continue to play professionally. And for a lot of players,

it's their only time playing professional, right? They either tried out for the W and didn't make it or they tried overseas and it didn't work out. But now they get a chance to stay in the state and play professional basketball for four weeks. And to me, it's just a great sign of the growth of the game. You know, my favorite part so far of AU, because I've also had the opportunity to be a part of this league from its inception, covering it from a reporter's perspective, a content creator's perspective. I love the fact that players get to be coaches. And I remember having a conversation with Dejanay Carrington a couple of years ago, and she was a captain for a couple of years. As a matter of fact, there was this little secret tandem that she and Natasha Cloud had

going on, right? I was like, you two are trying to, y'all trying to make something happen here. But it was the conversation of, I get an opportunity to understand what my coaches in the WNBA have to go through when we have to think about strategy, when we have to think about substitutions, when we have to think about selections and not about who may be my friend or who I may like, but who works well with what. And you can see that translate over when they approach the WNBA season. And I credit a lot of growth from certain players in their IQ, not just their physical ability, because I think

they've always had that, but just the growth of your basketball IQ tends to increase when playing in this league because of all of the different things that you're asked to do. So can you speak a little bit about the fact that they don't necessarily have coaches, but they do have like moderators who assist the coaches, the player coaches on each team. Let's nerd out a little bit. Let's talk about how this all works. For AU, our format, one of the differences is we say we're player-led. We literally mean that down to how we play on the court in our format. We have changed the model from the traditional model. It's not top-heavy. It's the other way around. So traditionally, the history of most leagues is where you have your general managers and your head coaches,

right? You have your executives that are the decision makers. With AU, our PEC, our player executive committee, is formed as part of our governing body. It extends onto the court with our captains are the primary decision makers. We have empowered our captains to be able to select their teams to decide how they want to prepare for the games. They're the ones that are influencing game strategy. They have the power to substitute, to call the timeout. They have a larger game management role if they choose to take that on fully. We recognize every player is different. There are some point guards that are like, I want to do all those things, right? I want to sub. I want to be in charge of practice. I want all the control. And then there

are some players that are like, I actually just want to hoop. I love being a captain, but I need some support. And so what we provided is facilitators, which is the AU terminology for what would traditionally be an assistant coach to support all the needs of the captain. So the captains can lean on the facilitators to be able to help them with their game prep strategy, to help them with the substitutions, to manage the dynamics that come with just managing a team, quite frankly.

And so that's the cool part. And our players are supported with facilitators that are top-line professionals. I will not spoil what we have on the dock for this season, but amazing facilitators in the past, names like Pokey Chapman, Simone Augustus, Breon January, Chastity Melvin, Karima Christmas Kelly. We have very high level professionals supporting the game. And I'll say our players love that because it gives them the opportunity, like you said, to be able to play the game with a little bit of a

different mentality. In that captain's position, you're looking for different things on the floor, but knowing that you have a Simone Augustus right next to you on the bench and has your back, that allows a freedom of play that they do not get in other spaces. And they keep coming back for more. They love it. It's not just a place for current players.

It's also a place for former players. And when you talk about growth and you talk about opportunity, the names that she named, right? Like so many players who played in the league and now they're getting an opportunity to, in a way, they are coaching, right? They're the facilitators, but they're also coaching. So what I love about it is it's not just about the current players, but it's about

the former players as well. And so, Megan, that leads me to another question that I'm sure people who are listening to this are probably like, okay, now you got the WNBA, you got AU, you got this other league. So when I look at AU, and AU has been around for four years now on the basketball side, right? This will be our fourth season, yeah. This will be the fourth season. And now you have Unrival coming in, who it's going to be their first season. When you see that, two questions.

One, do you look at Unrivaled as a rival? And what does this say about the growth of the women's game? Yeah, I'm going to step back for a second and just bring you guys into where I'm coming from with this and that I have been, you took it way back to playing days, college basketball, but then after I put my sneakers up and decided I wanted to work in the game still, since 2008, I've been working in professional women's basketball. And I've seen during my time at the WNBA, when there were not so many people paying attention, the difficulties that our athletes had in finding places and spaces and opportunities, a platform. When I think about how even this past season and then the growth of

women's sports and the women's basketball landscape and how that has exploded, there's nothing but pure joy as it relates to the opportunities that are available for players. So AU continues to be an opportunity, a platform, a space for our players to play. The growth of other opportunities like Unrivaled and other leagues that may pop up in the future is that as well. And we welcome that. We think that is great. That is great for women's basketball. But then when people say, is it a rival? Absolutely not. What are we talking about here? It's absolutely not. The rising tide lifts all boats. But also recognize that we have two distinct offerings. And so the format of AU, it's five on five basketball. What Unrivaled is preparing to offer is three on three and one on one. So we're just a different format, right?

The game is the game, but different formats within the game. And I think that's welcome. We look at how women's basketball is growing in the Olympics and the growth of three-on-three, right? It is natural that if something grows and evolves, there are going to be different formats, right, that come along with that. But I think what's different about AU is the sisterhood, this community aspect that we are forming and how we are connecting the veterans of the space, the legends of the space. To be able to say that we have Cheryl Swoops and we have Simone Augustus, right, and Pokey Chapman. These are people that have been longtime contributors to our game.

Yeah. And connect that with the new and the younger and the emerging talent. To spend time together for four weeks on the ground together. We're building a sisterhood. We're building a community that is about basketball, but embraces so much more. And I think that's this like intangible factor that exists within AU that you kind of have to come and show up to know it and to feel it. But that's the difference. I would say we are excited about the growth of the women's basketball landscape, but within the AU family, what we're building is something unlike what we've seen. Yeah. We are talking to Megan Perry. And when we come back, we are going to not only continue to

talk about AU, but also to talk about Megan and how she got to this point and in this place and what she brings to AU as head of basketball. Stay tuned. Here at Life Kit, NPR's self-help podcast, we love the idea of helping you make meaningful lifestyle changes. Our policy is to never be too punishing on yourself or too grand in your goals, which is why we've got shows on how to make little nudges to your behavior and create habits that stick.

Listen to the Life Kit podcast on iHeartRadio. Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with the Stars. So where else are you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show.

We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything because we got lots to say. I texted you and you texted me back. Now, I don't know if you have the update, but like all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff, like it's all colored. They changed it. And the heart's a little pink. It felt like I told you I loved you.

I'm going to be honest. It was a little pink. There was something sentimental when you send it. It was like, do I send the heart now? I don't like the color addition. It's extremely pink. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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I'm so sick of hearing men talk about women's basketball. If only there were a professional WNBA player with her own podcast I could listen to. Hey, this is Lexi Brown, WNBA player and professional yapper. And this is Mariah Rose. You may know me from spilling the tea on Hoops for Hotties on TikTok. And we've got a new podcast, Full Circle. Every Wednesday, we're catching you up on what's going on in women's basketball, and not just in the WNBA, but with athletes, unlimited unrivaled and college basketball.

We've got you with analysis, inside stories, and a little bit of tea. I know you guys have seen a lot of former and current basketball players telling their stories from their point of view. And I just think it's time for the girlies to tap in. We want to share all of the women's basketball stories that you won't see anywhere else.

Tune into full circle and I heart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. All right, friends, welcome back to the Levels to this podcast. Today, we are joined by special guest, Megan Perry, who has given us all the deets on Athletes Unlimited. And I think that this year we are going to see some new faces playing in AU. My girl, Isabel Harrison, who's played in AU for a few years now, a few seasons now,

she is incredibly excited about going back home to Tennessee. We know she's a volunteer, but honey, she has not kept it a secret at all about how excited she is about going back home and playing in front of her home crowd. And I know that's got to be exciting. Her sister also plays in AU, so I know they're going to be real excited about this, but just how is this roster different? How it's forming? What is the process with building the roster? Is it more so executive driven or is it player driven? Like my home girl, I love you. Come play with me in this league. Yeah. I would love to dive into this a little bit. So when you think about AU pro basketball, we get this question, like, how do we come up with our roster? One, I want to say

we're really excited about the roster that we're building. We haven't announced every player yet, so I will be careful in sharing who we do have. But as far as like our process, it is an invitation only process. I work in collaboration with our player executive committee, which I think is really cool because in most spaces, people talk about wanting to have player input and consulting a player core. We work together and our players are actually the ultimate decision makers when it comes to who we bring in. But as a collective process and thinking about who is the best fit and the best available on court and who is going to be the best community member, that is a big part of our process. And when we're evaluating talent and our roster needs. And then I'll say from there and thinking about our arrival

to Nashville, this being our first time in the city, of course, we wanted to make sure we had some players with some Nashville ties. So Isabel Harrison and Dori Harrison, sisters that are born and raised in Nashville. And people know the profile that Isabel Harrison had and probably continues with her legacy at the University of Tennessee. So that was our first announcement. But I will say that we have gone a little bit deeper as it relates to our roster and our Tennessee ties. Fans will be excited to see that we have Alicia Clark of the Las Vegas Aces, who is very familiar with the Nashville and Tennessee landscape, right? Coming from Belmont and Middle Tennessee State University. We're excited about her.

Jordan Horston coming out of the Tennessee University as well. We have, yeah, we have some Tennessee ties. Some other names, new names to AU that we have announced. We'll be welcoming Kia Nurse to the AU family. Bria Hartley to the AU family. Alyssa Peely to our AU family. I don't want to go too deep because I don't want to announce something that has not been announced. But what I can say is we have a healthy roster of players that are currently on a WNBA roster of large majority of players with WNBA experience, meaning that they were either on a W team most recently.

And perhaps because we know about how limited those roster spaces are, it's not about their abilities. It's just about not enough space, right? And so we've welcomed them into our community as well. And so we have a balanced roster of some new names, some young talent, and I will say some returning vets. So Sydney Colson, we're excited to welcome Sydney Colson, Lexi Brown back to the AU family, Kirsten Bell. We have a lot of names that people will know. Maddie Seagrest. But stay tuned for a couple new names that I think you got to get excited about.

The talent is locked and loaded. And we are feeling excited. I think probably one of the best rosters we put together in our four years. Just given the names that you just gave us from top to bottom, I would say this will absolutely be a competitive season in AU. Here's what I love, because I've seen it from season one, two, and three. You have players like season one, when Kalani Brown played season one. Kalani was trying to make a roster, right? Kalani played in AU and she wasn't in the best headspace as far as being confident in herself, but she came, she played well. She then

got a chance to go overseas. She came back home. Now to me, I feel like she has a home in Dallas. Is that all because of AU? No, it's because of the hard work she put in, but AU gave her a home. Like it gave her a place to work on her game and understand what she needed to work on. I even look at a player like Alexi Brown. Alexi Brown was the same way. Alexi Brown now being with the Sparks and getting a guaranteed contract last year. I think that AU did have a lot to do with that. And I only bring that up to say a player like Elisa Peely. I think Athletes Unlimited, AU, is a perfect place for her, right? Playing for Minnesota, didn't get a lot of playing time. Now she can stay home in the States, but get an opportunity for four weeks to work on her game, to get better, and to gain some confidence getting ready to go into the next WNBA season. I absolutely agree. I think that's what's so special about AU and what

we provide is that opportunity. It's that platform to become your best self. That's what I always tell people. And regardless of where you are in your playing career and on that spectrum, this is the opportunity for you to become your best self, wherever that is. Alyssa Paley and others will have the opportunity to play with kind of like a renewed sense of freedom. And we also support the games and the practices and the shoot arounds with skill development. You know,

we bring in professional development coaches and our players are spending dedicated time, right. To grow their game and the ways that they specifically find that they need to. Listen, for the purposes of this conversation, we for sure will credit AU with how it has pushed a number of players into spaces where they continue to grow. And you know what, just to put a cap on that, I think it not only allows younger players to grow, but it allows players who may have played several years in

the league an opportunity to still be active and still increase their viability to make a roster to be on the league as well. I think about the winner of the first season, Tiana Hawkins, right? Tiana Hawkins is a vet, a true vet. And yet she still came to AU and produced and excelled in a way that I think maybe some people didn't realize she was still capable of doing. You look at Melissa Smith, who won season two. And again, you can see her coming in as a number two overall pick. And then now Alicia Gray, right? We know what kind of year she had this past season. She won at every level, right? So I just think it's an opportunity for people to not only grow and learn, but for veteran players to also maintain that fierceness and that standard and to remind folks, like, I still got gas in the tank. No doubt.

Don't count me out. And to your point, T, because this is a player that I talk about all the time, and I've yet to understand why a W team will not sign her to a contract. So I'm going to put it. Odyssey Sims. I was just going to say it's got to be Odyssey, right? Yes. Listen, Odyssey Sims, every year she's played in AU. Like she dominates. She's just the kid.

She ain't a kid, but she's a kid to me. The kid is just good. Like she can flat out play. And I feel like AU gives her that platform for teams to see her. And yes, they'll come get her after AU. They sign her seven day contract. Listen, anybody out there with a W team that's listening, y'all need to go grab Odyssey Sims. The Golden State. Yeah. That's your point guard. That's your PG. Listen, I'm going to add to that. I'm going to say I know O appreciates that for sure.

And I think she is a great example of kind of the visibility and the platform that AU does provide. But I will say, listen, coaches, GMs, they come through. Yes, ma'am. They do. It's a big part of the experience. And we recognize this free agency period is about to come up and how that landscape is going to shift and mold itself. AU is a space where people are watching closely because they recognize that there are going to be some changes and they're looking for some gems that people may not be paying attention to, but need to as well. So there's so many layers to it.

I think that's what makes it so fun and so special. Absolutely. I love that. Megan, you got to tell the people, when can they expect the first game? How can we get tickets? Is there merch? Because really, you got to have a merch, right? downtown Nashville at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, a really cool spot. We are bringing Music City and basketball together to downtown Nashville. If you are looking for tickets, come get them. They are hot. They go to auprobasketball.com or you can check out any of our social handles on IG. Ticket information is available there to any fans that want to come and join us. I would also say as far as merch, AU Pro Shop is where it is. And so we are excited to roll out some special edition Nashville items and overall some cool and different looking AU gear.

So, yes, come get all of that. Let me know if you need my address, Megan. I have some intel. I believe we are already taking care of you for sure. You need a model. She said she has some intel. Yes. I have some intel.

I think we're taking care of you, but you know, that's coming your way. Honestly, I think what's so cool about AU is not only with our merch, yes, like we will have some basketball tees, but a lot of the stuff that we put out and our team works really hard on connecting with our player group on what do they want to see? What's cool? What can we amplify that's about them, right? It's about AU, but it's also about our players and putting that on the forefront. So we can expect to see some things that are player-centric as well this season when that stuff drops. Listen, I'm excited about the season. I'm looking forward to it. Can't wait. Megan, listen, you know how I feel about you. The love goes deep. We go deep.

We just truly appreciate you for stopping by and talking up. Athletes Unlimited, looking forward to the season. I'm going to bring half of Tennessee State out to my sisters, a sophomore. And so I've been to Nashville more in the last year than I have in like forever. So I'm excited about the season for sure. And thank you for coming by the show to share with us. Congratulations on everything that you're doing. You speak with so much passion about this league and you can tell that you are not only the perfect person, but just have utilized all of the things you've learned over the many years that you're

bringing to this position and we can feel it and we can see it. We can see it, sis. So kudos to you. Thank you. You guys are so kind. I really appreciate that. And stick with us. Stick with us.

We are building something good. Girl, we ain't going nowhere. Nowhere. We love it. We love it. Come on out. And can I say a shout out to Candice Dupree at TSU? Yes!

We were very much so. We'll be making sure that we're supporting Candice and all that she and her program is doing. Let shout out to Candice Dupree at TSU? Yes! We were very much so. We'll be making sure that we're supporting Candice. Yes. Let's go, Candice. I tried to get my sister to play on the team. Now, she can't play basketball for real. But I was just like, listen, just go try out so you can meet Candice Dupree. That's a legend.

Yes, yes. So good stuff, Bruin. I can't wait to see you guys in Nashville. Thanks for having me on. And listen, let's continue this conversation. There might be more fun stuff to talk about. Absolutely. For sure.

Absolutely. Love you guys. Here at Life Kit, NPR's self-help podcast, we love the idea of helping you make meaningful lifestyle changes. Our policy is to never be too punishing on yourself or too grand in your goals, which is why we've got shows on how to make little nudges to your behavior and create habits that stick. Listen to the Life Kit podcast on iHeartRadio. Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle.

Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with the Stars. So where else are you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything because we got lots to say. I texted you and you texted me back.

Now, I don't know if you have the update, but like all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff, like it's all colored. They changed it. And the heart's a little pink. It felt like I told you I loved you. I'm going to be honest. It was a little pink. There was something sentimental when you sent it. And the heart's a little pink. It felt like I told you I loved you. I'm going to be honest. It was a little pink. There was something sentimental when you send it.

It was like, do I send the heart now? I don't like the color addition. It's extremely pink. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Everyone's forgotten who runs this valley. Time to remind them. Yellowstone fans, step into the Yellowstone universe.

Our family legacy is this ranch. When I'm protected, I live my life. Hosted by Bobby Bones, the official Yellowstone podcast takes you deeper into the franchise that's captivated millions worldwide. Action! Explore untold behind-the-scenes stories, exclusive cast interviews, and in-depth discussions about the themes and legacy of Yellowstone.

You know, the first stunts to settle this valley fighting was all they knew. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the ranch, Welcome to the Yellowstone. Bobby Bones has everything you need to stay connected to the Yellowstone phenomenon. I look forward to it. Listen to the official Yellowstone podcast now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Let's go to work. I'm so sick of hearing men talk about women's basketball. If only there were a professional WNBA player with her own podcast I could listen to.

Hey, this is Lexi Brown, WNBA player and professional yapper. And this is Mariah Rose. You may know me from spilling the tea on Hoops for Hotties on TikTok. And we've got a new podcast, Full Circle. Every Wednesday, we're catching you up on what's going on in women's basketball. And not just in the WNBA, but with Athletes Un up on what's going on in women's basketball. And not just in the WNBA, but with Athletes Unlimited, Unrivaled, and college basketball. We've got you with analysis, inside stories, and a little bit of tea. I know you guys have seen a lot of former and current basketball players telling their stories from their point of view. And I just think it's time for the girlies to tap in.

We want to share all of the women's basketball stories that you won't see anywhere else. Tune into Full Circle, an iHeart Women's Sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. in sports.

All right, Cheryl. So we have basically given our fans all the rundown on Athletes Unlimited, why they need to be there, when they need to tune in. Four weeks of this. We're going strong

until the end of March. You're going strong until the end of March. You're going to be there on the call. I'm going to be there as the digital reporter. We're going to have a lot of fun with Athletes Unlimited. What's the one thing that you can't wait and that you're looking forward to when you get to Nashville? Besides kicking it and hanging with you and having a few drinks. Of course. We won't tell nobody about that. Of course. Listen, Megan laid it all out. She told the people what they need to hear, what AU is all about. I'm excited about this talent, right? I know they're still adding pieces, but of the players she has mentioned and named, I'm excited about this talent

level. I think from top to bottom, it's going to be probably more balanced than we've seen in the previous years. And from what I hear, Nashville is a good place to be. And I'm just excited. I'm excited to be a part of some more women's professional basketball. I know that's right. I'm excited for those same exact things, especially the kicking it with you part, the kicking it with Cindy Brunson part. I'm also really excited to see my baby sister. She's a student at Tennessee State University who has a job at AU working with their merchandising department. And I have nothing to do with this, by the way. So no nepotism involved here. So I'm excited to see my baby sister once I get there. But with that, Cheryl, go ahead and close us out and level us up for next week. Listen, I am going to give y'all some good words today. And yeah, let me just read this to y'all.

For anybody that may be going through something and you're feeling a little down, not really sure what's going on, what's next for you, people talking about you behind your back, more than likely not to your face. This is for you and for me. And it says, dirty water doesn't stop plants from growing. So don't let negative words stop your progress. I definitely needed to hear that. How about that? I definitely needed to hear that. Because I don't care how dirty the water is.

If you put it on the plants, it's still going to grow. It's still going to grow. That's a big fact. Yeah. Yeah. I love that. I love that. So hopefully that helps somebody and lifts somebody up today.

I needed that to lift me up today for sure. Because, girl, I'll be the villain in some people's stories, y'all. But it's all good. We're going to make it work because we do what it do. Okay? We be the villain in some people's stories, y'all, but it's all good. We gonna make it work. Okay. We be the villain in folks' story. But with that, as always, we absolutely love kicking it with you guys here. And thank you all so much, so very much for listening. We will be back next week with more next level conversations. And we have an incredible guest next week, too. So you really don't want to miss out. But we're all just talking about the real shit that women go through. And remember, this is not just our show. It's our show. So we want to hear from you. Please leave us a review in Apple Podcasts, or you can email us at levels to this podcast at gmail.com and tell us what you thought of this week's show, or maybe what you want to talk about in a future show. You can also follow us on Instagram at LCT pod, but until next time,

keep your mentals ground level and we'll be back next week. Peace. Peace. Listen to levels to this on America's number one podcast network. I heart open your free I heart app and search levels to this with Cheryl swoops and Tarika Foster-Brasby and start listening. Here at LifeKit, NPR's self-help podcast, we love the idea of helping you make meaningful lifestyle changes. Our policy is to never be too punishing on yourself or too grand in your goals, which is why we've got shows on how to make little nudges to your behavior and

create habits that stick. Listen to the Life Kit podcast on iHeartRadio. Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Cassel every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Cassel. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with the Stars. So where else are you going to find a show with that much athleticism? Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with the Stars. So where else are you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight?

We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to My Legacy. I'm Martin of the Kingdom Third, and together with my wife, Andrea Waters King, and our dear friends, Mark and Craig Kilberger,

we explore the personal journeys that shape extraordinary lives. Join us for heartfelt conversations with remarkable guests like David Oyelowo, Mel Robbins, Martin Sheen, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Billy Porter. Listen to My Legacy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is My Legacy. This week on the R&B Money Podcast, Tank and Jay Valentine sit down with the one and only Snoop Dogg. I wanted to be here personally to come give y'all flowers and let y'all know y'all doing an amazing job. I love the outlet. I love how y'all flowers and let y'all know y'all doing an amazing job. I love the outlet. I love how y'all treat the artists that come on here. I love how y'all speak to the realization of R&B music and R&B money.

Snoop Dogg on R&B money. Listen to this episode on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.