The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - ALLEY OOP (Ep 14) : The WNBA Trade portal, Dijonai Carrington, and the Liberty w/ Ros Gold-Unwude |

Episode Date: August 6, 2025

Who should take advantage of that trade portal? The bigs on the Liberty are gelling and Collier goes down with an ankle sprain. Juju Gotti and Ros Gold-Unwude keep it real talking hoops and hoopers on ALLEY OOP, which covers all things basketball. #wnba #dallaswings #nyliberty #lynx #basketball #baskeballshorts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is Tierra McCowan? Tierra McCowan. You know, she sometimes will get a technical foul and wave at the referee. That was the funniest meme. She waved from the tunnel, like, mm-hmm. Remember her college days? I think she did something like this. Oh, yeah.

Tell them what podcast you, the host of? Good follow show. This is MetalArx Woman Sports Show. and we cover a whole lot of greatness and excellence in women's sports. And certainly I love a lot of women's basketball. And we often have juju on as a reoccurring guest, so you can catch him there too. Yeah, you can catch me there.

The trade that woke me up out of my sleep yesterday morning. Deja Ney Carrington traded to the lengths. The wings have punted on the year. They're like, we're going to get there when we get there. But how do you feel about Dijanae? Now, is she the third member of the stud-buzz now? Like, what's happening there? How you feel?

I feel excited for it. I think it's a way better fit for Dijanae than, you know, than what she had in Dallas. She definitely came at a good learning period for the links right now, who looked like they're going to be without Nefisa Collier, MVP candidate for at least a couple of games. That ankle injury was tough to look at. her foot about to pop off her damn legs she went in there so hard how do you think they're going to adjust is there enough time for her to get there and adjust to the system as well as integrate

when feeds to get back yes i think actually there's been a number of important players and star players for teams getting injured right now in the season it might have to do with the scheduling who knows but you know the new york liberty or without brianna stewart obviously the indiana a fever are without Caitlin Clark. You know, you've got the Phoenix Mercury who've played without a number of players throughout the season. And now you have fee down for the lengths. And what we found in a lot of these situations, though, is there's a silver lining in that other players get to really define their roles. The team can get better in a different way. Look at the fever right now. They've got to be the hottest team in the league playing without Caitlin. So I think, I think

I think that the links will be solid. I mean, when you lose an MVP candidate, there's going to be a period of struggle and the favorite for the MVP award in Nefisa, but they have a culture and an identity that's strong. They defend. They shoot the three. They pass the ball.

They don't turn it over. That should be able to, you know, maybe get them some wins. And then for Dijunay, I like the fit, man. I think Dijunay can be on a team where she could be a start. star in a role. And I think a team like, you know, the Links has a role for her to come in there, you know, maybe be a player that can score off of the attention of others

and then brings them a lot of toughness and physicality on defense. And I think Cheryl Reeve is the right coach to bring, you know, the best out of her. Yeah. And I definitely agree with that, especially her hard nose on defense. Like, good luck defenders. Because Carly was there. I feel like Carly got a bad deal this year, man. she got their foot injury and she was coming from the mystics who weren't necessarily awesome last

year and then before she got to even you know what I mean go through the playoffs with the links dang now she in Dallas you know what I mean tough pill to swallow sometimes but it's business you feel me but like you said Cheryl I'm gonna give Cheryl a little piece of this apple pie if you will Fizi got hurt they was up a hundred points on the Aces The game was in hand, and I'm not sure if I still have all of my starters out there when the game is in hand, when Asia Wilson and them girls on the other side of the court being embarrassed on their home court, what they lost by like 50? Like, what do you think about that?

Should they have been, do you trust Cheryl and judgment and just always salute Cheryl or could they have pulled her out just a little early? Yeah, I think, you know, Cheryl addressed it and straight on and she said, you know, look, this isn't, it's pretty commonplace where players are still playing within their rotational minutes in the third quarter, even in blowouts. Like Cheryl said, sometimes these things just happen in basketball. It was just, you know, a really tough moment where she rolled her ankle on her teammates' foot. And I think had she been in it deep into the fourth quarter, then, you know, you might raise an eyebrow. But I think this was, for me, it seemed like. like very normal circumstance even in a blowout to still have some of your starters in

the third quarter okay look see look big dogs say it is what it is I'm going to salute her and say it is what it is you're doing me I also salute the calum and bride eight of them things in the road the other day she was so wet from behind the art man they the links are scary whipped feasy but they're all so scary without it man but moving on free agency oh I ain't going to say free agency the WMBA trade deadline is approaching Thursday at like 3 p.m. August the 7th are there any moves or any teams who you think should make moves right now or right before the deadline to make themselves stronger? I like the fact that the Valky picked up Caleb Charles because to me I don't know what she was

doing in the free agent pool anyway what she did with the Dallas Wings this year already she's tough she knocked down jays so i like the fact that she's on the valkyry but right now you got big t out there without a team you got a lea edwards in trade talks you got marina in trade talks what do you think of some moves or can you predict anything or who do you think should make a couple of moves um i'm definitely not the one to ask about predicting on a trade but i've heard some things about could Marina Mabry go? And I think, you know, if the Connecticut Sun, if they're not looking to like right now, which they aren't, Marina Mabry could be a piece that could help a team. And I think she really matured this season with the Connecticut Sun. Yeah. And in the sense that

like she's had to stick in a situation that wasn't her chosen one. She's been mature. She stepped up as a leader for less experienced and younger players as well. Even when she was out nine games with an injury. She really stepped up on the bench and obviously she adds a lot of toughness, someone who's not bashful to shoot experience and someone who's thirsty to help a team contend. So like I've heard her name in rumors and I think she'd be a great addition. But yeah, I think right now is a spicy time for teams like going for it right now or trying to get back into the playoff hunt, you know, and squeak out one of those last spots.

Yeah, people forget. It was Tasha Cloud and Marina Mabry's Connecticut son during the summer. You feel I mean? Phoenix had done trade it. Tasha Cloud to Connecticut when they told her, we would never trade you. And through the grace of God, they let her go and let her join the New York Liberty, which are looking. We're going to get to that in a second. That craziness going on over there.

But, yeah, man, I don't think Big T should be without a home. I know she, you know what I might get a technical file here or there. Is Tara McCowan? Yeah, Tara McCowen. I don't think she should be without a home past Thursday because she can contribute at least a couple of those minutes off the bench where you're starting big either is fatigued, either is in file trouble. I think she's, man, fantastic to add to your organization.

Certainly. Even though she sometimes will get a technical file and wave at the referee. That's the funniest mean. She waved from the tunnel like, mm-hmm. Remember her college days? I think she did something like this. Oh, yeah. How do you feel?

Do you think she should have a home? For sure. I think, look, everybody who was with Dallas this year, I would give a little grace. It was a really tough situation to be in for a lot of players. It's a transition of culture. There were a ton of young players, not a lot of support, not a lot of structure, a new coach. And so I think it's been an awkward ecosystem. them. Like, I, you know, if you look at Dijunae Carrington's stats coming out of Dallas,

I don't think that's indicative of the type of player that she is or can be in a right situation. So I feel the same way for Tierra McCowan. There's certainly teams that are a little undersized or could use some size and extra depth there. I'll be keeping an eye on who picks her up. And I'm, you know, usually when, when these types of situations happen, the player on waivers is super motivated. Like, they want to come in. They're husband. They're hungry. They're disgruntled. They want to prove something. They got a chip on their shoulder and can make some quick impact. Quick impact, you feel me? Key word, quick impact. I'm going to stay on that quick impact phrase. Emma

Misman, one game with the liberty. Already I can see it in their eyes, bro. Like, Sabrina of course went crazy. Of course she's going to do what she do. Of course the team is the team. Of course Brianna is out right now but in my opinion Emma Miserman makes the liberty man kind of invincible especially compared to their early season struggles without

John Quail you put her next to John Quill I'm like what is this I'm like nah who what is this I'm like if I'm another coach put her in the pool let us have a chance of her

how do you feel about your New York Lambert Am I made someone who's joining me. I should have put my liberty jersey on just like you should be pulling up with all your jerseys, Atlanta. I don't know, whoever it is you representing every other day. I'm representing the shootout. Look, Tupac had a problem with the buddy from joining the team. He was like, oh, he went on the team.

That's how I felt about Emma Messerman. What is this? I'm talking about 11 points in her debut, and she ain't even get going. them was a sleepy 11 points she like come on right right tell us about it she i was on the call for the game so um emma actually got better as the game went on she had a big second half and and any trained eye watching the game could be like oh okay i see the vision for sure like this is this is going to work and it's crazy it's crazy that you know, a player of this caliber, this is a high level caliber player, could join the Liberty

midseason. And I actually think it's going to work pretty seamlessly because she fits the culture of the team. She is so smart and cerebral and can facilitate and is finesse and has great footwork and can score at all ranges and is unselfish. You can run your offense through her. Her versatility you can put her in any lineup um you can even have her out there you know with stewie went one healthy with the jonquil jones if you don't have to you don't have to stagger them don't maybe think about that don't maybe it's very possible and you could also have in that lineup like as your guard leone febish suddenly you have a lineup where you got four players six four and over and then a guard of some sort and probably all the liberty guards are about five 10 and up i mean look

how huge. A guard of some sort. A guard of some sort. Sabrina, damn. Sabrina, let's you. Oh, my God. A guard of some sort. Literally, literally the Eastern Conference. I might need a break.

It's actually an embarrassment. It's a lot of riches, right? But the liberty need of Amiseman right now because they are going through a tough spurt of injuries. They are banged up to not only to Brianna Stewart, to a lot of their depth, they've had a tough

part of the schedule and it could be better timing to have Emma come now and you know what I think she's going to fit seamlessly and hopefully with some practices and chemistry it could grow bruh and I'm talking about I ain't never seen Isabel Harrison look this good man

I'm talking about Tasha Cloud behind the back she don't even need to shoot the ball I'm talking about Phoebeish Phoebe should penetrate wide up a layup I'm dishing it bro New York liberty right now are so good man It's there not what their record says.

I'm just as an Atlanta dream fan, man. I'm like, man, it must be nice, huh? Who's that, Life Jennings? Must be nice. Look, on the other side, the links said, okay, y'all playing chess, not checkers. Touche. We're going to bring Desjunet Carrington in, you know? And one thing about Cheryl Reeve is she's going to bring the most.

out of a player that maybe the general public may not think is that sparkly and flashy but she's going to make them in how many of those players over there on the links were players that were disregarded, forgotten about talk about it, you know

were kind of slept on or underestimated where they were before they got to the links and suddenly now are in all-star conversations you know every season all of them that's what you answer are all of them Caleb McBride with the Aces Courtney Williams with the dream

Atlanta Smith with Chicago and other teams And actually Courtney Williams with Chicago too They both came over together So fit It fit health chemistry A great coach All of that really matters

And I think again to come back to the Dijanay thing She fits all of that over there So I think both Both links and Liberty leveled up And found a pick that worked really well With the system that's already in existence Also, I got to throw my hats off to you, my sister. My sister doesn't join me.

Look, she fresh off two planes. She got an airport on her back. She got an airport in her hair still. And she decided to join the alley-out, man. Thank you so much, sis, for pulling up on us today, man. Thank everybody for tuning in. Also, too, the Atlanta Dream game yesterday. I want to shout out DJ Mohawk.

You feel me? My guy and DJ Shalais. I made a song. hype song for the Atlanta Dream, me and my dog, C.M. the DJ. And they've been playing that guy at the Dream Games to hype them up a little bit. So big love out the DJ Mohawk. Right now, it's out there streaming everywhere, do it for the Dream. Juju Got It Featuring C.M. the DJ.

You got to know if you don't. Can you play it? I'll send it to you. Yeah, I'm going to send it to you. Right now, Apple Music, everywhere you can get your music. The same way if you listen to. of this everywhere you get your podcast what can't you do this what can't you do this is crazy man man catch us next week here on the draft king's network same bad time same bad channel channel the crown is

yours.