The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Good Follow - Connecticut Sun’s Bria Hartley Talks Sophie Cunningham, This Season’s Sun Team, Motherhood, & More!

Episode Date: September 25, 2025

Ros sits down with Bria Hartley to discuss her season back with the Connecticut Sun. How has the game changed? How has all of the new attention impacted the game? Next, they break down Bria’s resilience to come back from injury, what her biggest hurdle was, and what caused her injury at the end of the season. Then, Bria discusses what happened between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun and the aftermath of the Sophie Cunningham injury. Finally, they talk about Bria’s engagement and what motherhood has meant to her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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most of your getaway wherever that is 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 and save at bestwestern.com. You're listening to Draft Kings Network. Hey, what's up? It's. Hey, what's up? Goodfellow. It's your girl, Rosgoldongued Today, and today's episode is presented by Draft Kings. We are coming to you from our New York City Studios, and we are here with an exclusive sit-down interview

with my girl and Connecticut Sun Star. Brea Hartley is in the building. What's up, Brea? How are you doing, Boo? I'm good, good. Thanks for having me. Yeah. First of all, just, I know you had a couple of stops on your way, but is it nice to be, like, home in New York right now? It's always nice to be home. I mean, especially, I mean, last time I played there was 2019.

Every time I come back, like, post-COVID, I'm like, dang, it's so different. So I feel like everything's, like, new and fresh. So it's nice to get here and kind of just rediscovered New York again. Yeah, yeah. No, and you did three seasons with the Liberty. But the most recent season we're coming off of, Briob was with the Connecticut Sun.

And I'm proud of you. Thank you. Yeah. It means a lot, really. Yeah. You know, like you said before we started the interview, we've come along. Right.

But for real, like it's a testimony. You were out of the league for three years before this season. in, mostly due to injuries. You spent some time in your comeback. You played overseas. You played A.U. But three years later, you make it back in a WNBA uniform, a Connecticut Sun uniform.

Like, how would you describe and evaluate this season back? Honestly, I try to give myself grace, because it's like, once you come in, I was just like, I'm just happy to be here. You know, like, I was just trying to get my foot back in the door. But then, you know, as the season went on, like, there's always a higher standard that you're trying to get to so overall i think i play pretty good considering i'm coming back from injury i would have liked to be a little bit more consistent um but i think i showcase like what i can put out there on the floor still even though i'm older even though i had the injuries like i could still go out there

and make an impact on the game the game was different this time around like physically how so um i think one adjusting to the speed i think also i'm older and not and with injuries i'm not as fast as I used to be. So adjusting to that speed, the physicality was a lot more to me, at least from what I was used to. I feel like they let us play a little bit more, at least on the perimeter. So just adjusting to that at first was just working on my body, getting stronger, not waiting for someone to hit me kind of anticipating the physicality a little bit more and maybe

hitting somebody first. So going out there, just being aggressive and kind of being competitive. You know, another adjustment that people may not even realize, when you left the league, it was 2022, right? And you're coming back in 2025. And I barely played in 22, to be honest. It was only a couple games. Right. And so in that time span, there's also been an explosion of just a tension around the league.

Like, even from that perspective, how much different was it playing in the WNBA now that there's like all of this commotion around it? No, it's crazy. even like you know every little thing you do on the court kind of just goes right to social media I think that was different the fans whether it's haters or positive they're like immediately like commenting on your stuff in your inbox on Twitter anything I tweet that normally no one paid attention to I'm just like all right like I don't know they're going to take it that way but it was definitely adjustment and I was just like yeah I'm not used to some of these fans with the new wave that has come in.

So just having tough skin through some of that, I think, was adjusting. I had to adjust to. And then also just making sure I'm going out there, just kind of staying positive, not letting anyone get to me and just being who I am at the end of the day. Right. And getting back to the buckets, too. One of the tweets that you had that did go viral for a really beautiful reason, and I'll read it.

You said, after five surgeries in four years. Two ACLs, a year and 11 months apart, grateful, and all the glory goes to him. When you think about what it took to get back into the W, did you ever lose belief that it would happen at some point? Yeah, I'll say I definitely lose belief that someone would give me the opportunity. I think a lot of times when you're away, especially from the W for that long, people would just kind of write you off or they're like, I know one of my friends would say, one of the coaches be like, she's always injured.

And I was like, well, she didn't start coaching until 2021. So to her, of course, I was always injured. But prior to that, I played seven seasons, like, pretty healthy. So just that new wave of coaches that don't really know me in the W or seeing me in the W. I just thought it would be hard to get an opportunity. And I just tried to control what I could control. Like, I was in the gym every day, rehabbing every day. Like, even a day after I tore my ACL the second time, like, I was in rehab.

And I had to do all the prehab before surgery and then ultimately get the surgery. just think I just made that my routine like I'm very disciplined in that way where I was just like okay every day like this is what I would do and taking it just one day at a time I know the work you put in to get back here I do have to say boy couldn't catch a break though because after all you had to overcome you know just to come back from those injuries the end of this season your season ended in a meniscus injury yeah that of all places happened in practice so like what exactly happened there, and what was it like to, after all of that, have another injury happen? Yeah, I think that was, we had just came off a three-game road trip, and I think my minutes

were definitely a little bit higher than they had been. I think I probably played, or average like 30 plus in those games. And I think we landed at like 3 a.m. or 4 a.m., so by the time when I got back to my apartment, it's like 5. So I would say probably didn't have the best recovery going into that practice probably could have took an extra day for my body to just relax but you know everything happens and I'm a type of player

like I don't really like to miss practice like I think I maybe sat out of maybe one practice this season but most time I like to practice I like to feel good going into a game so just being competitive in practice I got to steal just wanted to grab the ball

and then kind of felt my knee but ultimately I knew it was my ACL so that was good but I didn't know it was something in my knee but overall not as bad as an injury compared to all the others and just the process is not something I haven't been to before and honestly it's still like the same routine I do anyway like I still always have to maintain my strength and everything

with my knees so it just kind of just adds to it and kind of just back to the regular program really how do you work on your mental health through all of this where does your resilience come from well first God I just thank him for like the abilities that he's blessed me with even to continue to do um as i'm getting older uh so really big like in minneapolis i go to fellowship minneapolis and i've been there going there since 2022 um so since that second acl i think i just i was always faithful but i think i made it a routine to make sure i'm going to church

every sunday and then even um therapy um even sports psych we have the resources with different teams that i've been with um staying on top of that and then just individual therapy just kind of helping me plan for life, deal with different things emotionally, mentally, and just trying to adjust and stay, like, focused on what I can control versus feeling sorry for yourself or whatever, but still take a moment to feel what I feel, but at the end of the day, just know that I can keep pushing, keep going, and that everything happens for a reason. Yeah, I believe in everything does happen for a reason. I choose to abide by that. I also believe it's okay to be with hurt. Sometimes, like, this culture and society tries to make us glaze over things. Everything's great.

I'm doing this. I'm doing that. I'm happy. And, like, I personally subscribe to, like, sometimes it's all right to address the pain, sit with it, to admit that it hurts, that this sucks, maybe that you fell short, this and that. Talk about all the work you put in on the mental and emotional side. What were some of the biggest, like, mental and emotional hurdles you had to get over personally? Man, I think it's just not having basketball. I think that second ACL, when I didn't get signed to a team in 2023, it was just like, that was my first summer, like,

without basketball or not playing in a W. So just figuring out, like, what do I do now, you know? And I ended up coaching at a high school in Minnesota that was really fun. Just building a relationship with those girls and then in the gym, just helping the youth. I think I really enjoy that. I don't know if I want to coach at any other level,

but I like coaching, like, the younger. girls and everything like that. And then really with my son, you know, a lot of times when I'm playing basketball, we're kind of always on the go. A lot of times just focus more on me and my career. So, like, he's really good at soccer. He loves playing soccer. So I'm, like, just being a soccer mom.

I was joking last year my first time out there and I didn't have the chair that they bring. So I was like, I'm a rookie soccer mom. I don't have the chair to sit in. I was just sitting in the grass. So, yeah, just enjoying that time with him that I get to spend, especially because, like, when I go overseas and different things like that, my parents help me with him. So I just want to make sure when I am around him and able to be with him that I'm present and, like, getting the most time with him. And also you were, you know, in an interesting situation as well this season with the sun.

This is a team. You guys finished more towards the bottom of the standings, 11th of 13 this season. But honestly, by the end of the season, yeah, we're really playing with everyone. The team looked very different. Like, there was a lot of growth. playing super tough. What was it like to be on a team with so many young players, a lot of you, a brand new coach, and a lot of turnover from last season's roster? Yeah, I mean, it was difficult to beginning, just kind of, you know, everyone's looking at like wins and losses. But I think just

with my experience throughout the league, I've been on teams that kind of were rebuilding or whatever, I would always say, like, it doesn't have to click right away, you know. I know everyone would like it too but most of the time like that doesn't always happen like we have to be able to learn each other understand each other figure out how to work together so I feel like throughout the season you saw that you saw us building and you know sometimes and sometimes we would have really good practices and we go in the game and it would be terrible and I'm just like dang like I thought these practices are really good this week you know and sometimes that's how the process goes that's how life goes it's just you know you're in there you're putting into work and it doesn't always show up

right away yeah I think as we got to further down the season that's when you saw like okay now it's starting to come together. Now we're starting to understand each other better from the coaches staff to the players even like trying to play with each other again because even like me and Tina played together before but like it's been a few years, you know what I'm saying? So like even still adjusting to that

but I was really proud of like how we grew throughout the season and then they're fun off the court. I mean they're young, they're all on TikTok and stuff like that. Sinai's like got all this personality so that's really cool being with Liv, Tina and Alia like my Yukon people. So we really were.

developing that chemistry off the court as well. And I think we just knew at the end of the day, just kind of stay together. Like, these games are going to go. We're going to have ups and downs, but let's keep building together. Your season, your shot. The NFL is rolling,

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You know, let's address one of the most infamous ones first. And it was one of the earlier times you played the Indiana fever. And it was where Sophie and J.C. and Marina and Caitlin were all getting into it on the court, ended up in kind of a fiasco. What do you recall from that game and the way that emotions were escalating throughout the game? Yeah. I mean, I feel like it was chippy. I think a lot of times, there's a lot of stuff that goes unseen. And then fans sometimes just see the big moment and react to that. But I just feel like the game's been physical. People kind of jarring back and forth or whatever. So I think at that point, I think so. Sophie may have gotten fed up, you know what I'm saying, in that moment,

and she was going to hard foul someone. So then I think everyone, like, JC, I mean, I was proud of JC. Like, she didn't back down or anything like that. So, and then L.A. came over there to kind of help her out. I was on the bench at the time, and I was like, dang. But, yeah, I feel like these games were competitors at the end of the day. Like, all of us out there. And even, like, I said, Sophie, like, we were teammates and we have a really good relationship.

So when we're out there, you know, it's spurred a moment, and emotions run high and stuff like that's going to happen sometimes. Could the reffing have helped in that game? Could there have been more control from the ref side to help avoid that situation? I think sometimes in certain games, even throughout the season, not even just that incident. And even other games I watch, I think sometimes, like, there's a lack of consistency. Or it feels like there's a lack of consistency. So maintaining that so it doesn't escalate.

Right. Right. You mentioned Sophie Cunningham. In another game with The Fever, you were involved with the play. You guys got tangled up where Sophie Cunningham goes down And it actually ends up in an injury that ends the season for her And Sophie actually, you know, there was a lot of commotion on the internet about it in social media And Sophie actually came through and like try to put a stop to it

Had your back was like, hey, Bria, you know, she's not like that She didn't do that intentionally actually Bria is my friend And she wouldn't do that take me through the play on the court and then also just dealing with the aftermath of it Yeah. So yeah, me and Sophie have been playing together. We played two seasons together in Phoenix. So we had that relationship. And on the play, honestly, I didn't even see Sophie. I remember I was driving and Kelsey Mitchell was guarding me. And I see Sinai Rivers in the corner. So I'm kind of driving like underneath the basket. And I want to like kind of hit that corner pocket. So I was looking there and I see Lexi Hull come and she gets to steal. And I'm like, dang. And I'm like falling as I'm passing. And so I kind of get up and run down the court. I didn't even like realize. that I hit Sophie in the moment but I did, then I kind of felt my leg and I was like, dang, like I hit someone or whatever. I was thinking it was Kelsey Mitchell

and then I think when I got back up I saw she was down. But yeah, I think I just kind of had tunnel vision in that moment. Like I didn't know who it was coming over. I know there was help coming. I was like, oh, help is coming. Let me try to get the ball out.

And then unfortunately I landed on her leg and it was MCL so I ended up like reaching out to her like wishing her speedy recovery or whatever. And then yeah, After that, though, yeah, there was a lot of just messages and everything, you know, how fans are just on Twitter. I mean, it was, it was a lot of, like, kind of, like, racist comments, really. Just that I did it intentionally, I think there was also the big thing of, like, oh, I was smiling. I was like, that was a grimace because I just fell to the ground.

But I kind of just got to the point where, like, people are going to have their narrative. People are going to say what they want. But you see it all. Like, it's hard, like, not to see it, to be honest. it's like when it's like flooding all of like all my post like my engagement post like they're commenting under and everything so there was a point where I like turned off my comments on like my first like probably like 15 16 photos to like oh you got to scroll all the way down the comment and some people still scrolled all the way down to comment or whatever but I just

turned it off for a bit and then I think I ended up turning them back on later but then when Sophie did go on our podcast and she said something it actually did like slow down a lot So that was definitely appreciated it. Did you speak to her? Did she speak to you to say like, hey, this is happening and she wanted to like step up to quiet it or that never? No, we never spoke really about it. I feel like our seasons were just like hectic, but I feel like when me and Sophie like we have that understanding when we see each other, we'll talk and catch up. But yeah, we never had a conversation, but she just did that and I reposted it when they tagged me in it.

I feel like this is a real experience that not just you deals with. And I'm not even speaking that this is happening just from one type of fan base or another. I think it happens across multiple lanes in WNBA coverage to players, to teams, to media people, like where the piling on can get really nasty. Like, did it hurt? Yeah, I think it's just more so, like, throughout my career, I think I was never really labeled a dirty player. so then it's like now I was like she's dirty she's this and I'm like I swear I'm not dirty now

don't get me wrong like if someone hits me I'll probably like be aggressive and hit them back but I never felt like I was a player where I'm just go out there like grab somebody like on purpose or do something on purpose so I think that was just more like annoying and I mean I know I did have a lot of flagrers this year but I was just like I think I had maybe one flagrant

throughout my whole career I don't think I had any actually and I had three this year I mean you was I've certainly seen you in a few skirmish clips this season. And I think that's it. I was like, I'm a New Yorker at the end of the day. Like, I think, especially younger too, I was probably a little bit quieter or maybe didn't speak up as much.

But I think as you get older, you find your voice. And I'm just like, I've never been the type person that's going to back down from anyone. So if anyone has a narrative that they want to go with, I'm fine with that. And at the end of the day, I'm going to be who I am. I'm going to be competitive. I'm going to go out there. I'm going to be aggressive.

I'm going to be, you know, direct. I'm going to be a new yorker. I'm going to be a little, like, rough. around the edges or whatever it is but I'm out there to hoop and at the end of the day like that's what I'm trying to do yeah and when you think about all you've had to

do and overcome just to get back to this opportunity in the league to play this season who won't check me right like what scares me nothing scares me right now I should have a chip on my shoulder and I say that all the time as you say that I'm like what am I supposed to be scared of like people do stuff and come out of you I'm supposed to be scared

of what like and that's just my mentality like whether people like it or not at the end of the day I feel like I know how hard I've worked. I know I'm confident in my ability when I'm out there. And that's what I'm out there to showcase. Absolutely. And listen, you know, we love to see that you are a tough player, but you also are a multi-dimensional, full-faceted woman. You know, you talked earlier about your son, Bryson, you're a mother, you're many things, you're a fiancé. I mean, your life is very full right now. Yes, it is. We've been saying it's been a good year for me. 2025 has been

a really good year for me. Really wide. Talk to me. Really, like I said, even this year being able to spend that time of my son, because I was overseas last year, I had that whole year with him. And I'll say, actually, beginning of 2024 is when I met my fiance overseas. Oh, this was quick. Kind of, yeah. How long you've been together? Almost two years. It'll be two years in January.

Yeah, two years in January. Yeah, we were friends, though. We've been friends since 2022 prior. So we've known each other since 2022, but then started dating in 2024. And it's love in basketball. You were playing ball in Turkey. He was playing ball in Turkey. You know, and I saw the Connecticut son also posted your engagement.

He just proposed, like, what will you always remember about the proposal and just both of you saying yes to love right now? Well, really cool. I always said, like, that he wouldn't be able to surprise me because I'm just, like, one of those people who's just, like, notices every little thing. Like, if something's off, I'm going to be like, why is that off? And he actually did it in Cancun. I thought we were going to Cabo. And so my parents got married in Cancun. So he proposed in Cancun.

And then he also surprised me with my best friend, Kea Stokes. He Stokes is involved. Yes. She came and she knew the whole thing. And I was like, yeah, girl, we go on a combo. And she knew the whole time, which I was like. And so I'm literally just sitting like by the pool and she walks in. And she's like, what's up?

What y'all doing? And I was like, oh, my God. And I was genuinely surprised. And then just really excited that we kind of got that moment with like one of my best friends. there too because I mean me and Kia have been through a lot together but he he actually because Kia played overseas in turkey too they were friends before me and him started dating so it was really cool just to have her there in that moment and then for him I think he was just really excited I feel like he got nervous for sure but we've been we've been building for a while so I'm just

really excited for our journey and the next steps oh that is so awesome secured the ring you go girl and and also I mean your life was even full before that that, you know, with Bryson. Look, you were drafted number seven in 2014. Bryson came in 2017. So three years into your WNBA career, you have a son. Like, how did that change your life? How did it change your career?

Having a baby kind of early in your career. It changed a lot. I had to adjust. I think even, like, a lot of my friends at the time when I think it was on, I remember a lot of people found out because it was on the ESPN ticker. Though, like, Breyer Hartley's pregnant. You were like, Briah, who? so I think

I'm like the baby of the family like the youngest girl so I wasn't like always the one I seem like taking care of other kids or anything like that so I think it helped me grow in a lot of ways

it helped me become like more unselfish in a lot of ways but I think it's been the best thing honestly I think my best year's playing in the W and overseas came after I had them and I think it adds

that extra kind of chip on your shoulder motivation and then also like you have someone watching you know you can't just say you're going to do something like you have to like live it so I think the biggest thing for me is like showing him with actions like how to carry yourself how to deal with adversity and he's seen it all you know he's been with me every step of the way every me injury you know I mean traded from this team to that team so um he's just been there with me he's a very empathetic kid I think too because he's um been been through all that

with me, but I'm just excited to continue to just keep getting better, keep being that example for him. And he's, I mean, he's my biggest supporter, so that's amazing too. When I found out my friend got a great deal on a wool coat from winners, I started wondering, is every fabulous item I see from winners? Like that woman over there with the designer jeans. Are those from winners? Ooh, are those beautiful gold earrings? Did she pay full price? Or that leather tote? Or that cashmere sweater? Or those knee-high boots? That dress, that jacket, those shoes. Is anyone paying full price for anything? Stop wondering. Start winning. Winners find fabulous for less. Yeah, y'all got a fun little relationship. Like, even though he's seven? Eight. Eight. He'll be nine in January.

Wow. Yes. So even, I mean, but he is, y'all kind of like poke fun with each other. He gives you feedback. You get an advice from him. Like, what's the little relationship you guys have as friends and mother and son. No, it's really cool because, you know, like, he's been around so many adults at a young age. Like, a lot of times he's around more adults than kids. So sometimes, like, he talks to you, like, he's your age. And you're just like, hold on now, Bryce, and you ate, like, go relax. So it's really funny.

But I love it, too, because he's so personable and he goes and he can talk to any adults. He's a little more, like, outgoing, I think, than I am initially. I'm more, like, outgoing when you get to know me. He's, like, go talk to anybody. a little bit times in our apartment complex we'll just be sitting by the pool and then he'll go and play with everyone and I'm sitting there like I don't feel like talking to anyone

but I'm like all right let me go talk to these like strangers that's just talking to my son I guess I should meet them but I think he helps me like get out of my shell in that way and sometimes I think he does it on purpose he's just like oh yeah I'm gonna make your mom like especially when we move around like he loves like making new friends and he's like all of us are going to make new friends

like let's go yeah but yeah then then he'll critique me for sure I always remember this one story I think I was calling him and he was like, what? And I'd be like, don't say what, say yes. And I think one time he was calling me and I was like, what? And he was like, mom, don't say what, say yes. So like, he's quick with it.

Like, he's just very like, pays attention to everything. But it's super fun. Like, he keeps me in check at the same time. Absolutely. Now, he was, he turned a script on you. Yes, yep. And that's why you got to live it. Right. But it also shows you he's listening. Yep. Right.

Well, girl, I mean, you're doing it all. You've lived a lot of life in just 32 years. You know, you keep saying when I get older, I'm like, you are so young. In the basketball world, they sometimes make you feel old, though. When you hit 30, they make you feel old sometimes. I feel that. I feel that. But also keep that grand perspective, too. Very proud of you.

Thank you. Yeah, no, I really appreciate you making the time for good follow. And, you know, we look forward to you getting healthy. Yep. And seeing what's ahead. Appreciate it. Thank you. I'm going to be able to be.