The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - GOOD FOLLOW - Aces Have 8 Days Off, Are The Liberty Running Out Of Time?, US Open Storylines & More

Episode Date: September 2, 2025

Today on Good Follow: Ros flexes her New York Liberty championship ring to Angel McCoughtry, and together they break down what the Las Vegas Aces need to do with their eight-day break before playing the Minnesota Lynx. Is that too long of a break? Will they be rusty? Then, Breanna Stewart is sounding the alarm for the New York Liberty. With only four regular-season games left, is there enough time to right the ship? Then, Ros shares her WNBA pick of the week presented by DraftKings. Finally, Ros and Angel talk US Open and what is going on with Naomi Osaka and Taylor Townsend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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because the only thing better than a great playlist is a great trip. Life's the trip. Make the most of it at Best Western. Book direct and save at bestwestern.com. You're listening to Draft Kings Network. Hey, what's up, everyone, welcome to Goodfellow Show, presented by Draft Kings. I am Rosgold on Wooday, and today, guys, I am bringing out the bell. The bell is back, y'all, because I am here with the great Angel McCartrey. What's up, Angel. How you doing?

What's up, man? Oh, look at this bell, man. I only bring the bell out for special occasions. You know, guys, she's been a friend to the show, and we love her here. She's been on before, but we are making it official, okay? She is going to be a regular on Good Follow show, joining us as a co-host and being here more regularly with us,

and especially with WNBA playoffs coming up. What better than having a future Hall of Famer here to give insights and break it down. Like it couldn't be better timing to have you here. It's the best timing. I'm so happy to be here with you, Roz. We go way, way back.

And you guys can catch new episodes, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please continue to like, subscribe. We love your comments. And thank you for having me here. Oh, you are pro. Oh, we gave Angel like one or two scripted lines. And she was nervous about that.

And she was nervous about that. And you crushed that. Oh, it was natural. Nobody would have. know. We're here, man. Nobody would have known. Okay. Angel, at this point of the show, what I usually do is just take the audience through the menu for the show. So here's, let's do it. Here's what we've got in the lineup for you today. We are previewing the matchup of the week. It's the Lynx Aces matchup and the Aces have eight days between their last game and this one. Is that

a good or a bad thing? We'll discuss. And Brianna Stewart, Stewie rings the alarm. Bring it! She rings the alarm for the New York Liberty. Are they running out of time? Are we concerned? And then, hey, it's the U.S. Open corner. We're in New York. We're going to tap in with the U.S. Open as well. It's a nice show. Let's go. It's a nice show. We're here. So, are you ready to get into the show? Let's get into it. We got some stuff to talk about. What we're talking about? So I saw something on your IG. What's up? I saw some bling, bling, bling, bling, bling, bling. I would have never thought, guys, that Ross would get a Dublin Bay Championship ring before me. I'm not hating

But that ring was huge Look at that blank look at that So Roz what does it feel like Because at the end of the day I did watch you from high school You put a lot of work in So you do deserve a ring What does it feel like to have a ring man?

Oh my gosh First of all I'm so glad my manicure was ready for the moment I'm so glad my nails was ready for the moment Yes No I'm so honored like The Liberty is such a classy organization to honor their broadcast crew with a ring. It makes me think about my mom.

You know, yeah, she's very sick. She is full-blown Alzheimer's dementia. Sorry about that, yeah. Can't talk, can't walk, like, out of it. And she was the one that when the WNBA started, took us to the New York Liberty Games, got us jerseys. As a kid.

We talked in 97. And like, she really just wanted to put a passion for us. And it's crazy, like, we're very regular, de regular people from Queens. like just, you know, that's just something my mom thought would be cool for me to see. And like to think that all of that has turned into this. And I got a chance to be with this team and hold the first ring in the history of this franchise. Like, it means a lot.

As a New Yorker, I think of my mother. And also, you know what? It's my third ring getting as a professional, actually. What's the other two? When I was sideline reporter with the Golden State Warriors. Wow. Okay, Ross got rings, y'all. She got rings.

You got to pull out these rings and bring them in the studio one time. They're in a save. Actually, to give Realty, I actually have four rings. I have a Super Bowl ring, too. Oh, my God, bro. Y'all, Roz is too modest. She's too modest up in here. But actually, it's amazing that you're modest.

I just completely bragged on all the rings that I have. But we didn't even know you had four rings. Yeah, I kept there quiet. I kept their quiet. But the point is, it's showing that you can have a ring not just by playing basketball. So you're giving me. new ideas and hey i still have a chance to get a ring absolutely so and yes yes and that should help you in your next therapy session because i'm sure you're still working through i'm still working

through how many wmva finals you playing four you played in four four so i could three with alanna one with aces so i could have just as many as you so wait and you don't have one not a one but damn i can still get one you sure me i don't have to play basketball to get one another way so absolutely we're here yes and that was the point of this conversation that was yeah i love it these people are going for a ring themselves. Yes. That Aces-Links match-up. So

Vegas is going, the links are going to Vegas. They're going to play the Aces on Thursday. This Thursday, it's a big match-up. And both teams already secured a playoff spot, but this is going to be one to watch. And the reason why

that I think it's interesting is between the last Aces game, which was their 12th straight win, so they are red-hot. They are hot. And this game against the links, they have eight days in between it. Mind you, mind you, the links in that same span

have played three games. Oh, my God. So I think that's so interesting that they got this kind of break in the schedule before seeing the number one team in the league, as they are now the number two team in the league, writing a 12-game win streak. Is the eight-game win streak a good thing or a bad thing, Angel?

First, let me say, I come into Aces. They came out of nowhere to be number two. Did they not just come out of nowhere? How did they get to number two? I don't even know. It just happened so quickly. Out of a can.

But I commend them for that. Eight days, guys, is a long time. From my experience, I know that coach is going to give them two days off. It's the end of the season. You need to rest. Clear your mind. Get ready. But if I'm coach, when they come back, okay, I know you can't practice too hard, but y'all

playing pick up. We're playing games like, it's a real game. I'm getting to practice, boys, 40 minutes on the clock, subbing in like a real game. I'm treating like a real game because if you don't do that, when you come back, your legs are going to feel like you're in mud. It's just something about that long time. that you just feel sluggish and just, your timing is off. I don't know what it is about it.

So, coach, you know what to do. So you actually think you'd be more concerned about Rust versus the rest. Yes. You're not crazy about an eight-day break. It's eight days and the other team is playing three. They're just going to have that off, that timing, that spark. I swear from my experience, that long of a time during the season, you got to play. You have to play.

The Russ will build up. you'll just get sluggish. It's just something about it. Three days, you're sluggish. That's all it takes. Okay, and I appreciate that perspective, right? Because I'm on the other side of it. I'm like, what?

What a luxury in a season like this where you think about this condensed schedule where there's been so many injuries pile up. You have players publicly criticizing the schedule and saying like they're tired, they're fatigued. And also within this, that also means there's very little time for practice. So there's slippage happening. happening through this.

And suddenly the Aces have eight days. And I know some of those might be given off or this and that, but to practice, not only to focus on beating the lengths. Like, sure, for sure, yes, right? But there's four games or so left to playoffs. This is a great period to get ready for playoffs. This is a great period, but you still need to be playing. You need that momentum going into playoffs.

We don't have time for Russ. You lose, you go home. But they get, what I'm saying is, you can have more than eight days going home. A lot of teams are going to head into playoffs. with whatever they got. I cover the liberty. They barely have practiced. They are barely healthy. They're trying to get it together. And they're running out of games. So for them, it's kind of like hopefully their veteran and their IQ and their, you know, versatility can help them put it together in real time. In real time. But you're looking at the Aces with eight days

to practice sets and tighten up on things they've been making mistakes on and all sorts of stuff. And also this schedule actually has made San Francisco. that work out really nicely for, like, Asia to step up, right? So they were on an 11-game winning streak. And then their last game was against the Atlanta Dream, the number two-seat. Number two-seat. And it was really a slug-fest for the two-spot. So not only did they win and slide into the two-seed, Asia plays well, especially in winning time.

And now the MVP case is going. Now look at their next game. Face up with the number one team in the league. And it's a chance, I think, I'm a, I'm a post-season award voter. Yeah. And back streets, back. All right. Game on.

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Restrictions apply. Additional NFL Sunday ticket terms at YouTube.com slash go slash NFL Sunday Tickets slash terms. Limited time offer. this race I do think is tightening and here's a nice head-to-head matchup of the one and two teams, the two favorites

for MVP, I think it's a stage where like if Asia and the aces get their 13th straight win and Asia has an outerworldly dominant performance it makes it hard. It makes it hard and I haven't seen a team do something like that ever, I don't even think, 13 game win this week and go from, what were they like

number 6, 7? Or maybe lower than that? Yeah, I mean, they were definitely outside the top four. Outside the top four. And to get to number two, like, especially in the right timing,

who mesh is well right before the playoffs, that's when you know, like, they're coming. I would be scared to play the Aces right now. And it's eight days. Yeah.

You get your reward. You get your two days off. But be ready to come back and work. Now, check this out. They also are, this is a litmus test in many ways. The last time

that they saw the links was when they got beat by 53 points. To the lynx. It was horrible. Becky Hammond was questioning their heart and their effort. And, like, everybody, I mean, all of us were just kind of like, okay, the Aces Dynasty is done. And then from that loss to the lynx, they have now won 12 straight.

Oh. And now they see the links again as the number two seed in the league and have a chance to face off and see what it is. I mean, there's so much drama to this game. And from being an older links player, that's not links basketball, we don't lose by 50. You get what I'm saying? But no, in Asia. Oh, she didn't forget that game. That is the game that is marked.

We have games we mark on the board. Like, we want that game. Yes. I also think on the other side that Nefisa Collier and the links have an opportunity to shut this whole conversation down, snap their win streak at 12. And Fee could come out and be brilliant. And we could just say, okay, as we all thought, fees the MVP. Yes. My only concern with that is Fee with injury.

How is she feeling? She's feeling 100%. Is it still lingering? She looks good. good. She's been putting some good games together. She has missed 10 games, but that is a matchup we will see. Let's move along. Let's move along. There's more to talk about. There's so much more.

How about the New York Liberty? How about the Liberty? Is it time to be worried about them? This past weekend, the New York Liberty lost on the roads of the Mercury by damn near 20. 17 point loss, 80 to 63. After the game, Brianna Stewart had this to say about their performance. It's not going to get us where we want to be. This is not championship level

basketball at this point, and everybody needs to recognize and understand that. Bam! Stui is ringing the alarm with four games left in the regular season. Is there enough time for the Liberty to mesh? I'm actually not worried about the Liberty. Honestly, if she didn't say that, I would be worried.

That's what a leader's supposed to do. She's rallying her team. Get your mind right. The playoffs are coming. We know what it feels like. We've won a championship last year. We have a target on our back. Don't forget our identity and who we are. And that's what she's reminding her team right before the playoffs. If I'm playing the championship team from the year before, I want them.

Yeah. I want them back. So you got to know you have a target on your back. Don't forget, guys, remind yourself, you are still the champions as of today. Absolutely. But right now, you guys got to start playing like it and have the swag. Like, we're the champions today. Nobody else is the champions right now, but you guys.

Where's the swag at? Come on, New York. Where's the swag? Yeah. So I'm so glad you said that because my first reaction was, damn, the Liberty have really missed Stewie. What, I thought that was on time leadership from her. Very on time.

She doesn't usually do that, but she picked her spot right there. That was a challenge to her team in the press conference, publicly challenging them to urgency and calling out, you know, non-champian behavior. Yes. And we know that Stuey is a quiet leader. If she's opening her mouth saying that, y'all better get y'all act together. Yeah. And I appreciated that from her. And listen, if Stuey is expressing concern, then I too.

concerned. Who am I not to be concerned if Thui has concerned? No, but seriously, the Liberty or Liberty running out of time. I think in my years of playing basketball and covering basketball at every level, like talent goes a long way but I think so does momentum, so does health and good habits. And that

matters heading into any kind of tournament playoff setting. And right now four games left, I expected to see the Liberty healthier and more complete and they're still banged up with like new injuries coming up. There's new injuries. They are still banged up. But for some reason, I feel that these last four games, they are going to get it together

and they're going to be in. Well, here's the thing about those last four games. There's no clumps in their schedule of days together, either in New York or on the road. So guess what? Still no practice for the Liberty. You still have new players who have had three to four times more games than they've had practice. In Emma Misman, Stephanie Talbot, you know, every other, you get a player back and one leaves. One leaves. And so you can't even figure out rotations. Yeah. So that hurts a little bit because you can't get that momentum and figure out the rotations, but we're pros. You got to go out there and figure it out and find ways to win. That's what makes you great. You figured out through all the mess. Every season's not perfect. And that's why Stewie said,

what she said? What are we going to do? What are we about to do y'all? Yeah. And so I covered the liberty, right? So they had a good win, a gutsy win against the mystics where they had eight players available. And role players stepped up and you felt like, all right, cool. Then they go and play the Mercury. Yeah. And it was a big game. Everybody knew what was on the line. It was seating on the line. It was tiebreaker implications on the line. And the Liberty put a flop out there. And it was the whole season, especially this end part, there have been a lot of like deflating bad losses.

And even some of the wins have been kind of not great. Not great. And actually, Stewie called this out. We didn't put that in the quote. But like she called out that this has been going on a while. And so throughout this season, the Liberty have had effort and urgency issues throughout. where they've had slow starts, where they're playing from behind. Even their rebounding issues, the rebounding is abysmal girl.

And so much of that is, are they willing to commit? It really just sounds like effort. And that's one thing. As a coach, as a play, we don't teach. We don't teach effort. That comes from right here, this heart. I got to teach that, and I'm a reigning champion. So have you guys got a little lax because you got the championship before?

We don't do that. I want five rings. If I can, that is the way you're supposed to think. but it seems like there's some relaxation like oh you know you won the championship before and oh we're a little banged up no go get another one yeah ross i want you get your second round do it for ross could you imagine you know what i'm saying do for your organization you have people that work so hard for you guys don't we should never talk about effort that's one thing we don't talk about we might have to teach the kids that but pros willing teach an effort yeah come on

i think there's enough time for them to turn that effort turn it up you can change that You can control that. You can't. It's here. Y'all, turn it up. Turn it up. Turn it up. We'll see if they can do it with these remaining games.

They play the Valkyries tonight as of taping. All right, we got to take a break. Coming up, we make our Draft Kings pick of the week. We'll be right back. Welcome back to GoodFollow, y'all. Good Follow is presented by Draft Kings. Draft Kings, the crown is yours. It is now time for the Draft Kings pick of the week

presented by Draft Kings. I'm looking at this Thursday's upcoming matchup between the Minnesota Links and the Las Vegas Aces. The Aces come into the game on a 12-game winning streak. They are red, red, red, red, red, hot. The links are the top team in the league and have been all season. It is a battle of the very best in the world.

Fisa Collier and Asia Wilson headlined their respective teams, and as always, are competing for League MVP. They are currently tied for first in the league and points per game at 23.4. Asia's number one in the league in blocks and number two in rebounds. Fee is number three in steals. Fee has missed 10 games this season, opening the door to Asia Wilson's growing MVP case, as during this 12-game winning streak,

she's averaging a near 30-point double-double and has led her team up the standings to second place and has clinched a playoff spot. Ultimately, I think the links are an incredible team, and that's been with or without fee on the court. They are incredibly well-coached. And I think the links will come out and get this W and snap the Aces win streak at 12.

I just hope that we are treated to a heavyweight battle between two of the best players in the world and Fee and Asia. So grab your popcorn, y'all. This segment is presented by Draft Kings. Draft Kings, the crowd is yours. The crowd is yours. All right. So we're almost at a time here.

And we are in New York where the U.S. Open is happening. I saw you. How was that experience, by the way? Oh, my God. It is such a good time in Queens. Just all the activations, the tennis, the honey deuses. I put a little fit together. I was giving tennis girly.

Oh, okay. But the experience was just Autrash Stadium, right? Yeah, Arthur Ashe Stadium. I actually saw Taylor Townsend play. I saw Joachovic play. It was awesome. But, you know, that mounted into a lot of energy around the U.S. Open, probably the biggest match for many people just happened between Naomi Osaka. I was going to actually about that.

And so, look, Naomi won in two sets in dominant fashion and moves on to the quarterfinals. Her first quarterfinals in a grand slam since 2021. Right. So would you watch in the game, like, just tell me your perspective on the game and how you felt about just the atmosphere and everything and, like, Just this rival. It's been a lot going on with women's tennis. Like, Yeah.

Let's talk about that. Like, yeah, no. I mean, first of all, just looking at the Naomi and Coco matchup. Yeah.

I'm happy for Naomi. Yeah. I feel like it's cool to see her smiling and happy and confident and healthy. Because she's dealt with some mental health. She's dealt with a lot. She's actually dealt with, um, like I felt like there's been a lot of like,

you see her distressed a lot. Yeah. Whether it's mental health or. her physical health or taking time away from the game. It's been a lot. Or coming back from maternity leave or changing her coach. And it's just been sticky. It's a lot to juggle.

Yeah. And so it's really nice to see her, you know, back in some ways. And for me, I take a lot out of her win. Like, I think in life, we go through seasons. Yep. And you just got to keep pushing through. And sometimes, like, you've got to let go of old versions of yourself in order to get through in this new breakout.

Because in life, I say this all the time. I think there are multiple glow-ups in a career and in a life. So Naomi won four grand slams between 2018 and 2021. She's not that same girl. Right, right, right. She's actually a very different woman. She's a different girl. She's had a baby.

She's going through a lot. Absolutely. And so for me, it was just motivational that, like, you water the grass that's right here in front of you. You keep pushing and the breakthrough comes. And so, like, I think that's something a lot of people could take away from that. absolutely you can take away from that you just put one foot in front of the other and you just keep going you just got to walk through the fire and a lot of people see the fire and they get scared but you have to walk through it to get to the other side of the promised land yes and Naomi is a great example of that like she's gone through so much take example of that story guys and see how she just kept going through all the adversity being pregnant into health just all the pressure I mean look at what she's doing you know you can even see it in her expression of self the lobooboos and all of the different like she's out there being joyful yeah and we love to see it another I want to also shout out other players and tennis you know stories that have come out yeah how about that Taylor

Townsend so just to take you through all that happened she's been an absolute force yeah she upset number 25 Yelena Oste Panko in the second round they had a confrontation after the match we saw all of this she told her had no class no education there was finger wagging and then later so the recent update is Astopenko took to social media to apologize and this is the apology. Hi, all, I wanted to apologize for some of the things I said during the second round singles match. English is not my native language. So when I said education, I was speaking only about what I believe as tennis etiquette. That sound like perfect English to me. Right. Right. That sounds like better English than some people I know who speak English first language. I mean,

I think you understand what you were saying. When you say etiquette, that's good English. Yeah. Like, you know, just first of all, before you, I want to shout out, there's been a so many great just black women have been shining at the u.s open whether it's venus at 45 doing her big one the comeback you know or naomi you know getting her groove back or now taylor who this is what stands out to me in that moment of adversity publicly it's her moment she won the match she won the match and us the panco was sitting there wagging the finger and downgrading her talking about in her face And the face. And talking about her education.

And like, in that moment, I'm so glad for the fan perspective because it allowed us to, we could hear what she said. Absolutely. She said, great job, great play. Thank you. And, like, hit her with a smile. And so in real time, the amount of grace and discipline, I guess she was able to show because it would have been easy to curse or be demonstrative and have them both looking crazy. but it's often the case where like I feel like

black women are having in her own moment having to show grace and taking the high road because Ross if it was flipped the rolls were flipped you know Taylor would have got so much more backlash then Elena does I say her name correctly Elena I feel like Yelena didn't get enough backlash

no and this apology that she released is barely an apology It's lacking, it's lacking in accountability. It hides behind a language barrier. And then she actually doubles down on, I was talking about etiquette. Babe, etiquette, you are the loser of the match. You are the one that showed poor etiquette and sore loser behaviors and tendencies by harassing the winner. There you go.

And you're starting to apologize off with, I want to apologize to Taylor and her team. Don't apologize to us. That's what it sounds like. You're doing it for us. And that ain't it. And I hope we don't see that kind of behavior anymore. Congratulate people when they win. That shows that you are the ultimate competitor.

And people respect you and look up to you for that. You know what? You beat me. Congratulations. I'm happy for Taylor Townsend to get this spotlight on her. And not only just for the controversy, but to shine, to beat a top 25 player. Then she beats the number five player after that in Driva. Let's go.

An 18-year-old. It was a big stage, did that. Big one. She's out now, but she continues in the doubles on the U.S. open stage. She's the number one doubles player. And the more we find out about her, the more we love her. Her grace, she's a mother.

She's a mother? I didn't even know that. Yeah, she's pretty incredible. And so we'll be rooting for her. But dang, we'd be running out of time on the show. We got so much more to talk about. But first episode down. In this capacity, welcome, Angels.

Show her some love in the comments and whatever. She'll be joining us regularly as a co-host here. Angel, you did great. Thank you. So good to see you. And for all of you, subscribe, share, comment, engage, all the things,

because Good Follow is presented by Draft Kings. We drop two times a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and we'd love to see you there. All right. Angel, whoo, I'm out. Yeah, I've got to go and join New York now.