1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:17,643 --> 00:00:21,855 (crowd cheering) (hands clapping) 4 00:00:25,234 --> 00:00:28,237 (people chattering) 5 00:00:29,613 --> 00:00:32,324 (crowd chanting) 6 00:00:33,909 --> 00:00:36,620 (buzzer buzzing) 7 00:00:38,372 --> 00:00:40,540 - [Teresa] This league has always been able to stand 8 00:00:40,540 --> 00:00:42,876 on what we thought was right. 9 00:00:43,877 --> 00:00:47,256 We had to stand, first of all, to be able to play. 10 00:00:47,256 --> 00:00:50,717 As women, in America, to have a league, we had to stand 11 00:00:51,969 --> 00:00:53,720 so people know that we belong. 12 00:00:54,972 --> 00:00:56,306 - Don't waste the day. 13 00:00:56,306 --> 00:00:57,766 Play it like this was our last game, 14 00:00:57,766 --> 00:00:59,393 how hard will we play, y'all? 15 00:00:59,393 --> 00:01:01,561 So let's go out there, let's play our ass off 16 00:01:01,561 --> 00:01:03,730 and let's go win this fucking game for each other. 17 00:01:03,730 --> 00:01:06,066 We're all we got, right here, y'all. 18 00:01:06,066 --> 00:01:07,150 Liberty 3 on three. 19 00:01:07,150 --> 00:01:08,485 - 1, 2, 3. - Liberty! 20 00:01:08,485 --> 00:01:12,489 (players cheering) (hands clapping) 21 00:01:12,489 --> 00:01:14,157 - This is where we belong. 22 00:01:14,157 --> 00:01:15,909 (crowd cheering) 23 00:01:15,909 --> 00:01:19,037 (upbeat rap music) 24 00:01:19,037 --> 00:01:21,248 ♪ All I really know is that there's nothing to lose ♪ 25 00:01:21,248 --> 00:01:24,167 ♪ Come 5th five times in a bottle of booze ♪ 26 00:01:24,167 --> 00:01:26,586 ♪ I bet my goose if I bet a deuce ♪ 27 00:01:26,586 --> 00:01:29,089 ♪ Still made it through life, can't be helped ♪ 28 00:01:29,089 --> 00:01:31,675 ♪ So keepin' all the Ritalin that's in my mail ♪ 29 00:01:31,675 --> 00:01:34,511 ♪ I'm waitin' on permission so said to fail ♪ 30 00:01:34,511 --> 00:01:36,972 - The top 144 athletes in the world 31 00:01:36,972 --> 00:01:40,100 are playing in the most elite country of basketball. 32 00:01:40,100 --> 00:01:42,227 That's undeniably an excellent product. 33 00:01:42,227 --> 00:01:45,063 ♪ When I fall I get back up again ♪ 34 00:01:45,063 --> 00:01:46,773 ♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪ 35 00:01:46,773 --> 00:01:48,358 - These women have a lot to lose, 36 00:01:48,358 --> 00:01:50,360 and they're standing up for what is right. 37 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:51,903 ♪ All I really know ♪ 38 00:01:51,903 --> 00:01:55,657 ♪ All I really know ♪ 39 00:01:55,657 --> 00:01:58,869 - But you have to have a respect for women's sports. 40 00:01:58,869 --> 00:02:01,872 They don't know that that respect as equals, 41 00:02:02,789 --> 00:02:04,291 it's never been there. 42 00:02:04,291 --> 00:02:06,001 ♪ I'm living proof I don't fit in your shoes ♪ 43 00:02:06,001 --> 00:02:07,461 - [Teresa] Why do you think you should have a league? 44 00:02:07,461 --> 00:02:09,296 - [Sandy] Why would anyone invest in the WNBA? 45 00:02:09,296 --> 00:02:11,381 - [Sabrina] How are we going to promote this team? 46 00:02:11,381 --> 00:02:14,217 Who's gonna buy the corn flakes that we're trying to sell? 47 00:02:14,217 --> 00:02:15,677 ♪ All I really know ♪ 48 00:02:15,886 --> 00:02:18,430 ♪ All I really know ♪ 49 00:02:18,638 --> 00:02:20,140 ♪ All I really know ♪ 50 00:02:20,140 --> 00:02:24,311 - I am an athlete, male or female, I am an athlete, 51 00:02:24,311 --> 00:02:27,522 elite athlete, and you're gonna ask me that question? 52 00:02:27,522 --> 00:02:29,983 If you don't believe in us, why are you here? 53 00:02:29,983 --> 00:02:32,152 That might be the question. 54 00:02:32,152 --> 00:02:33,987 ♪ All I really know ♪ 55 00:02:34,821 --> 00:02:36,239 ♪ All I really know ♪ 56 00:02:36,239 --> 00:02:37,908 - We're not out here to sell the body, 57 00:02:37,908 --> 00:02:39,826 I'm not out here to sell my beauty, 58 00:02:39,826 --> 00:02:42,579 I'm out here to freaking sell my talent. 59 00:02:42,579 --> 00:02:45,499 ♪ When I fall I get back up again ♪ 60 00:02:45,499 --> 00:02:48,001 ♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪ 61 00:02:48,001 --> 00:02:51,963 ♪ That's all, I'm on top of it ♪ 62 00:02:55,258 --> 00:02:59,721 - When I was a girl, there was no women to be seen 63 00:02:59,721 --> 00:03:02,599 on television playing sports, except tennis, 64 00:03:02,599 --> 00:03:04,851 and I remember roller derby. 65 00:03:04,851 --> 00:03:08,105 And I couldn't get my hands on a tennis racket, 66 00:03:08,105 --> 00:03:11,191 roller derby just seemed like it was out of reach, 67 00:03:11,191 --> 00:03:14,194 so then I got fixated on the New York Knicks. 68 00:03:14,194 --> 00:03:15,529 And I watched them and I was like, 69 00:03:15,529 --> 00:03:17,864 if maybe I could play for the Knicks someday, 70 00:03:17,864 --> 00:03:19,032 I could be the first woman. 71 00:03:19,032 --> 00:03:20,784 Like, that was the opportunity 72 00:03:20,784 --> 00:03:23,787 to do what I loved, was that small. 73 00:03:23,787 --> 00:03:25,539 - The only aspiration you could have 74 00:03:25,539 --> 00:03:27,374 was to want to play in the NBA. 75 00:03:27,374 --> 00:03:29,209 You wanna be like Michael Jordan, 76 00:03:29,209 --> 00:03:31,378 or you wanna be like Larry Bird. 77 00:03:31,378 --> 00:03:34,714 Playing professionally, it was not even in my mind. 78 00:03:34,714 --> 00:03:38,427 - I got an opportunity to be an Olympian in 1988. 79 00:03:38,427 --> 00:03:41,430 Putting on a USA uniform was the ultimate, 80 00:03:41,430 --> 00:03:45,392 the most precious moment that I could ever imagine. 81 00:03:45,392 --> 00:03:47,436 And now your thoughts, after that, 82 00:03:47,436 --> 00:03:49,479 have to be, what's next? 83 00:03:49,479 --> 00:03:52,190 And it was to go overseas, playing in Italy. 84 00:03:52,190 --> 00:03:54,734 - I had a team from Japan come and visit me 85 00:03:54,734 --> 00:03:59,739 and a contract offer, written on a napkin, to go to Italy. 86 00:04:00,907 --> 00:04:03,660 - I played my first six years in Spain. 87 00:04:03,660 --> 00:04:05,036 If I told someone that I was 88 00:04:05,036 --> 00:04:06,621 playing professional basketball, 89 00:04:06,621 --> 00:04:08,582 it was just kinda, it was like, "Oh really, 90 00:04:08,582 --> 00:04:09,499 and you play where?" 91 00:04:09,499 --> 00:04:12,002 Like, "Oh, you, you, you, wow, 92 00:04:12,002 --> 00:04:13,628 I didn't even know that that was possible." 93 00:04:13,628 --> 00:04:16,465 - If I said I was a professional basketball player back 94 00:04:16,465 --> 00:04:18,675 in 88, 89, 90, they were like, 95 00:04:18,675 --> 00:04:21,011 "What are you talking about, it does not exist?" 96 00:04:21,011 --> 00:04:25,098 - The absolute peak was to play for an Olympic team, 97 00:04:25,098 --> 00:04:26,766 and that was that. 98 00:04:26,766 --> 00:04:28,268 - [Players] USA all the way! 99 00:04:28,268 --> 00:04:31,104 (elated music) 100 00:04:31,104 --> 00:04:33,106 - [Commentator] It's official, the United States 101 00:04:33,106 --> 00:04:36,067 has the best women's basketball team in the world. 102 00:04:36,067 --> 00:04:38,445 - [Crystal] Then, 1996, was the year of the female 103 00:04:38,445 --> 00:04:39,946 at those Olympic games. 104 00:04:39,946 --> 00:04:42,782 Softball, soccer, basketball, 105 00:04:42,782 --> 00:04:46,328 women were just capturing people's imaginations. 106 00:04:47,412 --> 00:04:49,623 - [Crystal] Our '96 Olympic team, they showed the world 107 00:04:49,623 --> 00:04:52,209 that we're capable of playing the game of basketball 108 00:04:53,543 --> 00:04:56,796 at a tremendously high level, and exciting basketball. 109 00:04:56,796 --> 00:04:58,048 - Yeah! 110 00:04:58,048 --> 00:05:00,217 - There's a possibility that we don't 111 00:05:00,217 --> 00:05:01,843 have to go overseas to play. 112 00:05:01,843 --> 00:05:05,222 - [Val] We started hearing some rumblings, 113 00:05:05,222 --> 00:05:07,641 maybe they were thinking about starting 114 00:05:07,641 --> 00:05:09,726 a professional league. 115 00:05:09,726 --> 00:05:12,145 - They win the gold medal in Atlanta, 116 00:05:12,145 --> 00:05:14,481 and then we start revealing our plans. 117 00:05:14,481 --> 00:05:16,608 We started announcing network deals. 118 00:05:16,608 --> 00:05:19,903 NBC, Lifetime, ESPN were our three launch partners. 119 00:05:19,903 --> 00:05:22,739 We started making sponsor announcements. 120 00:05:22,739 --> 00:05:24,908 And I remember being at an NBA owners meeting 121 00:05:24,908 --> 00:05:27,244 in October of '96, terrified, 122 00:05:27,244 --> 00:05:30,580 it was just so dramatic and so exciting. 123 00:05:32,457 --> 00:05:35,085 - And I am pleased to announce that 124 00:05:35,085 --> 00:05:37,587 the Board of Governors approved the concept 125 00:05:37,587 --> 00:05:40,423 of the NBA establishing 126 00:05:40,423 --> 00:05:43,426 the Women's National Basketball Association. 127 00:05:45,303 --> 00:05:47,681 - The league at the highest levels understood 128 00:05:47,681 --> 00:05:49,432 that there was a lane 129 00:05:49,432 --> 00:05:52,185 for a professional women's basketball league. 130 00:05:52,185 --> 00:05:55,564 - It's the NBA, anything that they put their hands on, 131 00:05:55,564 --> 00:05:56,940 they weren't gonna allow it to fail. 132 00:05:56,940 --> 00:05:58,692 (dramatic rock music) 133 00:05:58,692 --> 00:05:59,693 - [Rebecca] Ball, ball, ball. 134 00:05:59,693 --> 00:06:00,694 Double it. 135 00:06:00,694 --> 00:06:02,279 Now that's your shot. 136 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:03,530 Yeah. 137 00:06:03,530 --> 00:06:05,031 Good job, way the go, I like that. 138 00:06:05,031 --> 00:06:07,033 - Rebecca Lobo and Sheryl Swoopes have become 139 00:06:07,033 --> 00:06:11,121 the first players to sign contracts to play in the WNBA. 140 00:06:11,121 --> 00:06:12,205 - [Rebecca] Nice, yeah, nice. 141 00:06:12,205 --> 00:06:13,873 In those early days, 142 00:06:13,873 --> 00:06:16,501 it was me and Cheryl and Lisa everywhere. 143 00:06:16,501 --> 00:06:18,545 ♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪ 144 00:06:18,545 --> 00:06:20,964 - You see us and wearing these like blue shorts 145 00:06:20,964 --> 00:06:23,800 and blue pinnies that say WNBA, 146 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:25,885 because we hadn't been assigned to a team yet. 147 00:06:25,885 --> 00:06:29,055 (gentle upbeat music) 148 00:06:30,390 --> 00:06:32,684 - When NBA Entertainment brought to us 149 00:06:32,684 --> 00:06:34,060 that first spot, launch spot, 150 00:06:34,060 --> 00:06:35,562 with Lisa and Cheryl and Rebecca 151 00:06:35,562 --> 00:06:38,356 were coming out of that smoke-filled tunnel, 152 00:06:39,524 --> 00:06:41,651 and strategic camera shots of the names 153 00:06:41,651 --> 00:06:44,070 that were embroidered on their duffle bags, 154 00:06:44,070 --> 00:06:45,155 made sure that the viewer knew 155 00:06:45,155 --> 00:06:46,656 who we were talking about here. 156 00:06:48,074 --> 00:06:49,326 - We were the faces of the league, 157 00:06:49,326 --> 00:06:50,660 because we're the only three players 158 00:06:50,660 --> 00:06:53,079 who had signed to play for the league. 159 00:06:53,079 --> 00:06:54,831 - We started to announce our plans 160 00:06:54,831 --> 00:06:56,291 with respect to our teams. 161 00:06:56,291 --> 00:06:57,667 Welcome to the player selection 162 00:06:57,667 --> 00:06:59,794 for the WNBA's inaugural season. 163 00:06:59,794 --> 00:07:01,796 We announced our first eight locations, 164 00:07:01,796 --> 00:07:03,465 of course including the Liberty. 165 00:07:03,465 --> 00:07:06,301 - Now it's important for us to continue to carry that torch 166 00:07:06,301 --> 00:07:09,095 and light other people's imagination about the game. 167 00:07:09,095 --> 00:07:10,930 - It's great for the younger girls 168 00:07:10,930 --> 00:07:13,099 who can dream and know that they have a vehicle 169 00:07:13,099 --> 00:07:15,685 to make those dreams come true now with the women's NBA, 170 00:07:15,685 --> 00:07:19,189 and that they can one day play professional here. 171 00:07:21,608 --> 00:07:25,528 - I was in France and I get a phone call 172 00:07:25,528 --> 00:07:27,697 and said that I had been allocated to play 173 00:07:27,697 --> 00:07:28,948 with the New York Liberty. 174 00:07:28,948 --> 00:07:30,784 It took me about two, three seconds 175 00:07:30,784 --> 00:07:33,870 and then changed, New York City. 176 00:07:33,870 --> 00:07:35,955 - Holy heck. 177 00:07:35,955 --> 00:07:37,791 I come from a town of 400 people 178 00:07:37,791 --> 00:07:39,542 and now I'm going to New York City. 179 00:07:39,542 --> 00:07:41,961 - I'd already played 10 years, my dream is to play 180 00:07:41,961 --> 00:07:44,547 in New York City, my dream is to play 181 00:07:44,547 --> 00:07:46,132 for the New York Liberty. 182 00:07:46,132 --> 00:07:49,552 Either I'm gonna play in New York, or I'm not gonna play. 183 00:07:49,552 --> 00:07:51,638 - The first thing I'd learned when I came to Liberty 184 00:07:51,638 --> 00:07:54,641 is that you better be tough and you better have thick skin. 185 00:07:54,641 --> 00:07:56,309 - You know what you gotta bring, 186 00:07:56,309 --> 00:07:58,645 you know the excitement that you better play with, 187 00:07:58,645 --> 00:08:01,147 because if not, if you don't have thick skin, 188 00:08:01,147 --> 00:08:03,858 strong shoulders, you can't play here. 189 00:08:04,693 --> 00:08:07,529 - Our identity was pretty quickly following one 190 00:08:07,529 --> 00:08:10,573 of our biggest leaders, and that was Teresa Weatherspoon. 191 00:08:10,573 --> 00:08:12,701 She was perfect for New York. 192 00:08:12,701 --> 00:08:15,161 - I was a captain alongside Rebecca Lobo. 193 00:08:15,161 --> 00:08:17,831 She said, "I want you to know, 194 00:08:17,831 --> 00:08:21,376 everyone always talking about it's Rebecca Lobo's team, 195 00:08:22,502 --> 00:08:23,336 it's your team." 196 00:08:24,629 --> 00:08:26,131 No, B, it's our team! 197 00:08:27,090 --> 00:08:28,675 (tense music) 198 00:08:28,675 --> 00:08:30,135 - [Commentator] Welcome to the Great Western Forum 199 00:08:30,135 --> 00:08:33,263 in Los Angeles, the debut of the Woman's NBA, 200 00:08:33,263 --> 00:08:36,683 between the New York Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks. 201 00:08:37,267 --> 00:08:40,603 So we are moments away and from this historic occasion. 202 00:08:40,603 --> 00:08:43,189 (anxious music) 203 00:08:43,189 --> 00:08:45,442 - [Teresa] It's time to now compete. 204 00:08:45,442 --> 00:08:48,611 Us and LA, you couldn't have had it any other way. 205 00:08:48,611 --> 00:08:50,530 East Coast versus West Coast. 206 00:08:50,530 --> 00:08:51,698 - [Commentator] There is so much excitement, 207 00:08:51,698 --> 00:08:52,949 you almost feel like you're playing. 208 00:08:52,949 --> 00:08:55,452 Everybody is so fired up about this game. 209 00:08:59,831 --> 00:09:01,041 - Do or die moment. 210 00:09:01,041 --> 00:09:02,500 Let's show 'em what we're made of. 211 00:09:04,043 --> 00:09:06,713 - It's time to step in that jumper circle 212 00:09:06,713 --> 00:09:09,799 and I was like, "(sighs) Here we go, 213 00:09:09,799 --> 00:09:10,967 we're get ready to make history, 214 00:09:10,967 --> 00:09:13,762 we're getting ready to make history." And then... 215 00:09:13,762 --> 00:09:14,554 (upbeat music) 216 00:09:14,554 --> 00:09:16,222 - [Commentator] Here's the tip. 217 00:09:16,222 --> 00:09:17,390 And the Sparks control. 218 00:09:17,390 --> 00:09:19,267 Opportunity's inside. 219 00:09:19,267 --> 00:09:21,102 - So they made these shots, but Penny Toler 220 00:09:21,102 --> 00:09:22,228 doesn't get one at the other end 221 00:09:22,228 --> 00:09:24,481 and now it's back to the Liberty. 222 00:09:24,481 --> 00:09:26,649 Teresa Weatherspoon. 223 00:09:26,649 --> 00:09:29,319 Blocked by Lisa Leslie. 224 00:09:29,319 --> 00:09:31,654 And that woke up the crowd here at the Forum. 225 00:09:31,654 --> 00:09:33,990 (crowd cheering) (upbeat music continues) 226 00:09:33,990 --> 00:09:35,992 Lisa Leslie has been promoting 227 00:09:35,992 --> 00:09:37,744 the Sparks getting ready for the season. 228 00:09:37,744 --> 00:09:40,330 Teresa Weatherspoon just turned the jets on. 229 00:09:42,332 --> 00:09:44,459 And Lobo, from the corner. 230 00:09:44,459 --> 00:09:46,961 It's good. A three-pointer for Rebecca Lobo. 231 00:09:51,841 --> 00:09:54,052 Lisa Leslie bank's one in. 232 00:09:54,052 --> 00:09:57,430 (crowd cheering) (upbeat music continues) 233 00:09:57,430 --> 00:09:58,765 Weatherspoon pushes it ahead. 234 00:09:58,765 --> 00:10:00,433 To Johnson. 235 00:10:00,433 --> 00:10:02,435 Vickie Johnson lays it in. 236 00:10:02,435 --> 00:10:05,772 (upbeat music continues) 237 00:10:05,772 --> 00:10:06,856 - [Interviewer] And who won? 238 00:10:06,856 --> 00:10:08,942 - We did. East Coast. 239 00:10:08,942 --> 00:10:10,193 It wasn't an easy game. 240 00:10:10,193 --> 00:10:11,361 - [Commentator] And that would do it, 241 00:10:11,361 --> 00:10:12,862 here at the Great Western Forum. 242 00:10:12,862 --> 00:10:15,782 It's the New York Liberty over the LA Sparks, 243 00:10:15,782 --> 00:10:19,202 and the first game for the Woman's NBA. 244 00:10:19,202 --> 00:10:23,623 (crowd cheering) (upbeat music continues) 245 00:10:25,959 --> 00:10:28,002 - This game had great meaning, 246 00:10:28,002 --> 00:10:30,797 not just the Liberty or the sparks, but for our league. 247 00:10:31,965 --> 00:10:34,801 - All of us, because we lived most 248 00:10:34,801 --> 00:10:37,637 of our lives without a WNBA. 249 00:10:37,637 --> 00:10:39,889 Really, it took great responsibility, 250 00:10:39,889 --> 00:10:42,976 that we needed to do everything we could 251 00:10:42,976 --> 00:10:46,646 to make sure it wasn't gonna be one year and done, 252 00:10:46,646 --> 00:10:48,565 or two years and done, or five years and done, 253 00:10:48,565 --> 00:10:51,651 like we have to ensure that this league is around 254 00:10:51,651 --> 00:10:52,944 for the long haul. 255 00:10:53,987 --> 00:10:56,739 (train clacking) 256 00:11:07,917 --> 00:11:09,419 - It's just 26%. 257 00:11:09,419 --> 00:11:11,838 Does anybody have any idea what that number? 258 00:11:11,838 --> 00:11:16,134 26% is what 538 gave us chances 259 00:11:16,134 --> 00:11:18,177 to even make the playoffs. 260 00:11:18,177 --> 00:11:21,931 26%, and we have a less than 1% chance 261 00:11:21,931 --> 00:11:24,350 of going to the finals and winning. 262 00:11:24,350 --> 00:11:26,102 And this is what people think of us. 263 00:11:27,270 --> 00:11:30,523 (Betnijah sighs) (Betnijah chuckles) 264 00:11:30,523 --> 00:11:31,941 Everyone's probably looking at the Liberty. 265 00:11:31,941 --> 00:11:35,945 You know, last year, New York Liberty was in last place, 266 00:11:35,945 --> 00:11:38,865 having only won two games out of 22. 267 00:11:40,033 --> 00:11:42,368 But this isn't the same New York Liberty team. 268 00:11:43,620 --> 00:11:45,121 - When we first got here it was like... 269 00:11:45,121 --> 00:11:48,041 I dunno how to explain it, it was definitely weird. 270 00:11:48,041 --> 00:11:50,168 The team was new. 271 00:11:50,168 --> 00:11:52,211 Most teams, they bring in everybody 272 00:11:52,211 --> 00:11:53,755 and just bring in one rookie, 273 00:11:53,755 --> 00:11:55,882 but with us, everybody was new. 274 00:11:55,882 --> 00:11:58,801 - It's particularly tough if you have a really new team, 275 00:11:58,801 --> 00:12:00,803 a team that's still young, a team that's coming off 276 00:12:00,803 --> 00:12:02,472 of a not great season. 277 00:12:02,472 --> 00:12:04,557 There's lots of expectations that we have, 278 00:12:04,557 --> 00:12:06,601 there's lots of anticipation for it. 279 00:12:06,601 --> 00:12:09,979 - We know what we look like, nobody else does. 280 00:12:09,979 --> 00:12:12,815 - And we were all trying to figure out who each other were, 281 00:12:12,815 --> 00:12:15,568 what they did, who was the leader. 282 00:12:15,568 --> 00:12:17,987 B walked in, and she made it known 283 00:12:17,987 --> 00:12:19,113 that she was the leader, though. 284 00:12:19,113 --> 00:12:20,323 I just wanna make that clear. 285 00:12:20,323 --> 00:12:22,825 It was never a question if B was the leader, 286 00:12:22,825 --> 00:12:25,995 it was a question of who else was goin' lead with her? 287 00:12:25,995 --> 00:12:28,581 (upbeat music) 288 00:12:29,666 --> 00:12:32,335 - The last year, I went from being waived, 289 00:12:32,335 --> 00:12:35,964 right before the season, to actually becoming 290 00:12:35,964 --> 00:12:38,049 the most improved player in the WNBA. 291 00:12:38,049 --> 00:12:39,258 - [Commentator] Pursenal gives it back 292 00:12:39,258 --> 00:12:40,510 to Laney and the Dream. 293 00:12:42,095 --> 00:12:45,807 And inside the arc, nails another jumper. 294 00:12:48,810 --> 00:12:51,688 Laney powers it in. 295 00:12:52,355 --> 00:12:55,024 - Before the season started, I was in different interviews 296 00:12:55,024 --> 00:12:57,443 and one of the things that continuously came up 297 00:12:57,443 --> 00:12:59,612 was, "Was last year a fluke? 298 00:12:59,612 --> 00:13:02,448 The year before and above, was it just luck? 299 00:13:03,825 --> 00:13:05,952 It was a little insulting. 300 00:13:05,952 --> 00:13:09,664 No, this is who I am, this is what I'm capable of. 301 00:13:09,664 --> 00:13:11,874 - Her talent can speak for itself. 302 00:13:11,874 --> 00:13:14,836 She's just getting started and she's coming to her own. 303 00:13:14,836 --> 00:13:16,379 Betnijah is New York gospel. 304 00:13:16,379 --> 00:13:17,463 - This is something. 305 00:13:17,463 --> 00:13:18,965 Lift your chin up, slight bend down. 306 00:13:18,965 --> 00:13:20,425 Hold on. 307 00:13:20,425 --> 00:13:22,385 Perfect. - I do bring that better 308 00:13:22,385 --> 00:13:25,221 in experience, so to just continue 309 00:13:25,221 --> 00:13:27,640 to push myself, push everyone else, 310 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,226 just be a voice, lead by example, 311 00:13:30,226 --> 00:13:33,646 and just be whatever it is that the team needs me to be. 312 00:13:37,817 --> 00:13:40,153 (people chattering) 313 00:13:40,153 --> 00:13:41,404 - I know I'm happy. 314 00:13:41,404 --> 00:13:44,073 - For the first time in franchise history, 315 00:13:44,073 --> 00:13:46,034 we had the number one draft pick. 316 00:13:46,034 --> 00:13:50,163 Everyone knew who the, supposed, number one pick 317 00:13:50,163 --> 00:13:51,497 was going to be. 318 00:13:52,623 --> 00:13:54,584 Oh, you got her in it. 319 00:13:54,584 --> 00:13:57,587 Sabrina Ionescu, she was so anticipated. 320 00:13:57,587 --> 00:13:58,963 (upbeat music) 321 00:13:58,963 --> 00:13:59,922 - [Commentator] Number one play of the week, 322 00:13:59,922 --> 00:14:02,675 who else, Sabrina Ionescu. 323 00:14:02,675 --> 00:14:05,344 - [Commentator] Ionescu with four, step-back three. 324 00:14:05,344 --> 00:14:06,804 Swishes the throw! 325 00:14:06,804 --> 00:14:09,515 - [Announcer] Sabrina Ionescu, NCAA 326 00:14:09,515 --> 00:14:12,060 all-time leader in points, assist 327 00:14:12,060 --> 00:14:13,853 and three-point field goals. 328 00:14:15,229 --> 00:14:16,522 - [Commentator] 26 triple-doubles' the record 329 00:14:16,522 --> 00:14:19,942 for female or male in NCAA history. 330 00:14:19,942 --> 00:14:24,197 - The New York Liberty select Sabrina Ionescu. 331 00:14:24,197 --> 00:14:26,115 (people cheering) (hands clapping) 332 00:14:26,115 --> 00:14:27,617 - You played for the New York Liberty. 333 00:14:27,617 --> 00:14:29,118 You're playing in New York City, 334 00:14:29,118 --> 00:14:31,329 do you feel a lotta pressure coming to New York, 335 00:14:31,329 --> 00:14:32,789 especially being a number one pick? 336 00:14:32,789 --> 00:14:35,917 - I get asked it in absolutely every single interview. 337 00:14:36,667 --> 00:14:38,628 The more people are talking about how we're playing 338 00:14:38,628 --> 00:14:42,381 in games, it's just bringing awareness to our sport. 339 00:14:42,381 --> 00:14:45,093 - Last year, in her second game ever as a WNBA player, 340 00:14:45,093 --> 00:14:46,928 she kinda flipped a switch. 341 00:14:46,928 --> 00:14:49,388 And I think she had 33 points, 342 00:14:49,388 --> 00:14:51,140 seven rebounds, seven assists. 343 00:14:52,308 --> 00:14:53,810 Whoa, she just took over the game. 344 00:14:53,810 --> 00:14:55,394 - [Commentator] Wan back in it. 345 00:14:57,313 --> 00:14:59,023 - [Howard] And she got hurt in the very next game. 346 00:14:59,023 --> 00:15:00,942 - [Commentator] Ionescu has gone down. 347 00:15:00,942 --> 00:15:02,693 - I think it was Betnijah that hurt her. 348 00:15:02,693 --> 00:15:03,986 - [Reporter] Sabrina Ionescu suffered 349 00:15:03,986 --> 00:15:06,739 a brutal-looking ankle injury. 350 00:15:06,739 --> 00:15:10,660 LeBron James tweeted, "Get healthy as soon as possible." 351 00:15:10,660 --> 00:15:13,746 (determined music) 352 00:15:13,746 --> 00:15:16,916 - A lot of people talk about, "Oh, she's struggling, 353 00:15:16,916 --> 00:15:18,751 she's not living up to the expectation.", 354 00:15:18,751 --> 00:15:21,170 or, "She's a bust." 355 00:15:21,170 --> 00:15:23,589 No one really talks about what athletes actually 356 00:15:23,589 --> 00:15:26,259 have to go through coming back from injury 357 00:15:26,259 --> 00:15:28,302 and playing in the best league in the world. 358 00:15:28,302 --> 00:15:29,804 - Oh, big shot! 359 00:15:29,804 --> 00:15:31,055 - That's all I needed, 360 00:15:31,055 --> 00:15:33,850 I need the garbage push down. (laughs) 361 00:15:35,935 --> 00:15:38,229 It's really exciting to be a part of a team 362 00:15:38,229 --> 00:15:41,023 that's really gonna change New York basketball. 363 00:15:42,441 --> 00:15:45,403 - Once the Liberty made the selection of Sabrina Ionescu, 364 00:15:45,403 --> 00:15:48,030 it was clear this was a franchise building 365 00:15:48,030 --> 00:15:49,949 around Sabrina, and rightly so. 366 00:15:49,949 --> 00:15:52,785 But the question comes as you head into 2021, 367 00:15:52,785 --> 00:15:56,497 who is the right player to pick to build around her? 368 00:15:56,497 --> 00:16:00,459 - Scene Michaela Onyenwere, take one, mark. 369 00:16:03,004 --> 00:16:04,297 - That was pretty good. 370 00:16:04,297 --> 00:16:05,548 You hear her say the last name? (chuckles) 371 00:16:05,548 --> 00:16:08,134 This is how you say my last name; Onyenwere. 372 00:16:08,968 --> 00:16:10,386 These people were at me with stuff like, 373 00:16:10,386 --> 00:16:11,888 "They said your name wrong the whole time." 374 00:16:11,888 --> 00:16:15,558 And I'm like, it's okay, it happens. (laughs) 375 00:16:15,558 --> 00:16:19,270 (dramatic upbeat music) 376 00:16:19,270 --> 00:16:20,479 I am Nigerian. 377 00:16:22,064 --> 00:16:25,151 My dad was an athlete, he competed in the Olympics. 378 00:16:26,319 --> 00:16:27,361 Education was really important in my house, 379 00:16:27,361 --> 00:16:28,571 but it was also like, 380 00:16:28,571 --> 00:16:30,740 "We understand you have this other passion." 381 00:16:30,740 --> 00:16:34,660 - With the six pick, in the 2021 WNBA draft, 382 00:16:34,660 --> 00:16:39,665 the New York Liberty select Michaela Onyenwere from UCLA. 383 00:16:40,583 --> 00:16:43,085 (all cheering) (exalted music) 384 00:16:43,085 --> 00:16:44,754 - There was a moment with my grandma, she went viral. 385 00:16:44,754 --> 00:16:46,005 So that was cool too. 386 00:16:46,005 --> 00:16:49,008 - [Val] Hi grandma. Grandma's got it. 387 00:16:49,008 --> 00:16:50,259 Go grandma. 388 00:16:50,259 --> 00:16:52,220 - Everybody loves her, and everybody's always asking, 389 00:16:52,220 --> 00:16:53,763 "How's your grandma, where's grandma?" 390 00:16:53,763 --> 00:16:55,181 I love that fire of hers. 391 00:16:55,181 --> 00:16:57,767 She' just been somebody who's supported me. 392 00:16:57,767 --> 00:16:59,852 I'm just grateful that she's my grandma. 393 00:16:59,852 --> 00:17:02,772 She everybody grandma at this point. (laughs) 394 00:17:04,357 --> 00:17:07,902 I got drafted, and then three days later I was in New York. 395 00:17:11,364 --> 00:17:13,324 I remember I was so nervous. 396 00:17:13,324 --> 00:17:16,452 We play in Barclays, where the NBA guys play. 397 00:17:16,452 --> 00:17:19,622 (tense music) 398 00:17:19,622 --> 00:17:22,291 - [Commentator] The 25th season of the WNBA, 399 00:17:22,291 --> 00:17:25,378 and one of its cornerstone franchises begins tonight 400 00:17:25,378 --> 00:17:27,713 in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. 401 00:17:27,713 --> 00:17:30,633 It's the Liberty, in their season opener 402 00:17:30,633 --> 00:17:33,261 against the Indiana Fever. 403 00:17:33,261 --> 00:17:35,304 - [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, 404 00:17:35,304 --> 00:17:41,018 please welcome the New York Liberty! 405 00:17:43,312 --> 00:17:44,897 - [Commentator] It's palpable the excitement 406 00:17:44,897 --> 00:17:46,065 here in the arena, Jules. 407 00:17:46,065 --> 00:17:48,150 Not only for the start of the 25th season 408 00:17:48,150 --> 00:17:51,862 of the W, but also the future of this franchise. 409 00:17:51,862 --> 00:17:53,823 - [Players] New York! 410 00:17:53,823 --> 00:17:55,950 - But I didn't really think I was gonna be starting, 411 00:17:55,950 --> 00:17:58,327 and so that was crazy for me. 412 00:17:58,327 --> 00:18:01,580 - [Announcer] And now, let's play ball 413 00:18:01,580 --> 00:18:02,581 (upbeat music) 414 00:18:02,581 --> 00:18:04,750 ♪ Bam, I'm coning in fast ♪ 415 00:18:04,750 --> 00:18:06,002 ♪ First place, you're coming in last ♪ 416 00:18:06,002 --> 00:18:07,420 - [Commentator] Inside, tries to get it inside 417 00:18:07,420 --> 00:18:09,338 to Michaela, but it's broken up. 418 00:18:09,338 --> 00:18:11,424 - [Michaela] Game one, we just need to be in this game, 419 00:18:11,424 --> 00:18:13,050 we need to be battling, we need to be competing. 420 00:18:13,050 --> 00:18:14,927 ♪ First place, you're coming in last ♪ 421 00:18:14,927 --> 00:18:17,305 ♪ I'm hittin' that, hittin' that gas ♪ 422 00:18:17,305 --> 00:18:19,432 - Sami, throw me the ball. 423 00:18:21,058 --> 00:18:23,060 This is the first offensive possession. 424 00:18:23,060 --> 00:18:24,854 - [Commentator] Michaela Onyenwere pulls 425 00:18:24,854 --> 00:18:26,647 from three and connects. 426 00:18:26,647 --> 00:18:29,692 (crowd cheering) 427 00:18:29,692 --> 00:18:32,903 - And it went in, and I was like, okay. (chuckles) 428 00:18:32,903 --> 00:18:34,989 ♪ We causing a commotion ♪ 429 00:18:34,989 --> 00:18:37,700 ♪ Iciest bitch in the whole damm land ♪ 430 00:18:37,700 --> 00:18:38,617 - [Commentator] Oh, great look inside 431 00:18:38,617 --> 00:18:41,495 to Onyenwere, from Whitcomb. 432 00:18:41,495 --> 00:18:43,581 ♪ You don't like me, but you on my 'Gram ♪ 433 00:18:43,581 --> 00:18:44,040 ♪ How you look? How you look? ♪ 434 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,208 - We started off really strong. 435 00:18:46,208 --> 00:18:48,794 - [Commentator] Nijah Laney, from downtown. 436 00:18:48,794 --> 00:18:49,712 Hey, Laney! 437 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:52,381 - [Michaela] The game was back and forth. 438 00:18:52,381 --> 00:18:54,216 It was actually a really good first game. 439 00:18:54,216 --> 00:18:56,552 - [Narrator] That's going to Laney, she's goes baseline 440 00:18:56,552 --> 00:18:58,721 three lane and lays it in. 441 00:18:58,721 --> 00:19:00,139 ♪ I'm hittin' that, hittin' that ass ♪ 442 00:19:00,139 --> 00:19:02,641 ♪ I'm fine, I'm coming in fast ♪ 443 00:19:02,641 --> 00:19:04,810 ♪ First place, coming in last ♪ 444 00:19:04,810 --> 00:19:05,978 ♪ I'm hittin' that, hittin' that gas ♪ 445 00:19:05,978 --> 00:19:08,731 - [Howard] They made big play after big play. 446 00:19:08,731 --> 00:19:10,983 - [Commentator] Ionescu connects on her first game 447 00:19:10,983 --> 00:19:12,193 of the season. 448 00:19:12,193 --> 00:19:13,653 She's back from her ankle injury. 449 00:19:13,653 --> 00:19:14,820 - [Commentator] She is back. 450 00:19:14,820 --> 00:19:15,905 - And a lotta people didn't think 451 00:19:15,905 --> 00:19:17,573 that we'd be able to do that. 452 00:19:17,573 --> 00:19:19,658 They thought that we looked the same way 453 00:19:19,658 --> 00:19:21,911 that we did last year, with the two wins. 454 00:19:21,911 --> 00:19:24,246 - [Commentator] As Betnijah Laney connects. 455 00:19:24,246 --> 00:19:26,832 - We're not the same team, we're not the same group. 456 00:19:28,292 --> 00:19:30,836 We're going back and forth and we're taking their best hit 457 00:19:30,836 --> 00:19:32,963 and we're coming back and we're giving them our best. 458 00:19:32,963 --> 00:19:35,424 - [Commentator] Nice hook inside by Windy to Shook. 459 00:19:35,424 --> 00:19:37,760 The Liberty seesaw back in front by two. 460 00:19:38,094 --> 00:19:41,680 ♪ Locomotion We causing a commotion ♪ 461 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,600 (Betnijah shrieks) 462 00:19:48,854 --> 00:19:51,899 - [Commentator] 21 Points, 11 assists for Sabrina right now. 463 00:19:51,899 --> 00:19:55,694 (crowd cheering) (whistle blows) 464 00:19:55,694 --> 00:19:58,447 - And I remember looking up and it being tied, 465 00:19:58,447 --> 00:20:03,452 and I'm like, I do not feel like going into overtime. 466 00:20:04,203 --> 00:20:06,622 - [Commentator] 87-87. 467 00:20:06,622 --> 00:20:09,542 Who will blink first, Jaz Jones to Robinson. 468 00:20:09,542 --> 00:20:10,793 Kelsey Mitchell. 469 00:20:10,793 --> 00:20:13,838 It's a wide, it's a walk on Mitchell. 470 00:20:13,838 --> 00:20:16,465 The liberty will have a chance to win this game. 471 00:20:20,553 --> 00:20:22,388 - Dustin was drawing up a play and was like, 472 00:20:22,388 --> 00:20:23,472 "Do you wanna shoot?", and I was like, 473 00:20:23,472 --> 00:20:24,932 yeah, I wanna shoot it. 474 00:20:24,932 --> 00:20:27,309 (horn blows) 475 00:20:29,311 --> 00:20:30,771 - [Commentator] Ball inbound to Kylee Shook. 476 00:20:30,771 --> 00:20:32,022 Four seconds left. 477 00:20:32,022 --> 00:20:33,983 Ionescu, a long three for the win, 478 00:20:33,983 --> 00:20:35,734 and she gets it! 479 00:20:35,734 --> 00:20:38,571 Sabrina Ionescu at the buzzer. 480 00:20:38,571 --> 00:20:40,573 (upbeat music) 481 00:20:40,573 --> 00:20:42,241 With four seconds left. 482 00:20:42,241 --> 00:20:44,243 (crowd cheering) 483 00:20:44,243 --> 00:20:47,246 Sabrina Ionescu from downtown, 484 00:20:47,246 --> 00:20:50,750 and the Liberty have a three-point lead. 485 00:20:50,750 --> 00:20:52,460 My goodness. 486 00:20:54,420 --> 00:20:57,339 - [Sabrina] She came up and I just threw it. 487 00:20:57,339 --> 00:21:01,177 - I was like, (gasps) oh my God. 488 00:21:01,177 --> 00:21:03,179 - I'm literally on the bench like this. 489 00:21:06,265 --> 00:21:08,058 So when it went in like literally out. 490 00:21:08,058 --> 00:21:09,768 We all went to run out on the court 491 00:21:09,768 --> 00:21:11,520 but there was still time left. 492 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:13,272 - (indistinct) you have to run back to defense, 493 00:21:13,272 --> 00:21:15,357 I was cheering but I was running back. 494 00:21:15,357 --> 00:21:18,068 We are so good. (laughs) 495 00:21:18,068 --> 00:21:20,112 - [Commentator] Tiffany Mitchell for three for the tie. 496 00:21:20,112 --> 00:21:20,946 No good. 497 00:21:22,198 --> 00:21:23,324 - We couldn't have scripted that better, 498 00:21:23,324 --> 00:21:24,700 that was perfect. 499 00:21:24,700 --> 00:21:26,202 It's an epic way to start a season, 500 00:21:26,202 --> 00:21:28,871 to set the tone for what we're trying to do. 501 00:21:28,871 --> 00:21:30,539 It worked out perfectly. 502 00:21:30,539 --> 00:21:33,375 That won us the game, and won me our first WNBA game. 503 00:21:33,375 --> 00:21:35,503 - [Interviewer] What's going through your mind 504 00:21:35,503 --> 00:21:37,630 when you take that last shot there? 505 00:21:37,630 --> 00:21:38,464 - I wanted it. 506 00:21:39,924 --> 00:21:41,884 I haven't played in a while, I wanted it for this team, 507 00:21:41,884 --> 00:21:43,135 we grinded out a huge win here. 508 00:21:43,135 --> 00:21:44,762 And just so happy to have fans, 509 00:21:44,762 --> 00:21:46,055 family here in attendance. 510 00:21:46,055 --> 00:21:48,265 And it's just the beginning for us. 511 00:21:48,265 --> 00:21:51,435 (gentle bright music) 512 00:21:54,813 --> 00:21:57,566 (crowd cheering) 513 00:21:58,567 --> 00:22:00,236 - Let's go, Liberty! 514 00:22:01,487 --> 00:22:02,905 - Bang, bang, bang, bang. 515 00:22:02,905 --> 00:22:04,490 (woman cheering) 516 00:22:04,490 --> 00:22:05,908 - [Michaela] That was a great game. 517 00:22:05,908 --> 00:22:09,411 - I'm the grandma that danced on the ESPN. (laughs) 518 00:22:09,411 --> 00:22:11,956 (gentle music) 519 00:22:13,666 --> 00:22:15,417 - We're an original team. 520 00:22:15,417 --> 00:22:17,503 If you look at our roster, a good majority 521 00:22:17,503 --> 00:22:19,630 of our players weren't even born 522 00:22:19,630 --> 00:22:23,133 when the WNBA was incepted in 1997. 523 00:22:23,133 --> 00:22:26,762 - I was born in 1997, I think, did it start in 19... 524 00:22:26,762 --> 00:22:27,680 I don't know. 525 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:29,181 Either, I wasn't born yet, 526 00:22:29,181 --> 00:22:32,101 or it was the exact year that I was born. (chuckles) 527 00:22:32,101 --> 00:22:33,852 - I was not aware of the WNBA 528 00:22:33,852 --> 00:22:35,354 when I first started playing basketball. 529 00:22:35,354 --> 00:22:38,274 And then when I did start playing basketball, 530 00:22:38,274 --> 00:22:41,110 when I actually tried to take it a little seriously, 531 00:22:41,110 --> 00:22:43,779 or you start going to camp, then it's like, 532 00:22:43,779 --> 00:22:45,614 "This is a professional woman's basketball player." 533 00:22:45,614 --> 00:22:47,533 And I'm like, oh, they have those. 534 00:22:47,533 --> 00:22:49,451 Good, so I can do this. 535 00:22:49,451 --> 00:22:52,288 (crowd cheering) 536 00:22:52,288 --> 00:22:55,374 - [Reporter] The WNBA debuted in New York City today, 537 00:22:55,374 --> 00:22:58,877 and it was a box office smash. 538 00:22:58,877 --> 00:23:03,799 - [Commentator] A record breaking crowd of 17,780, 539 00:23:03,799 --> 00:23:07,803 the largest to ever witness a women's professional game. 540 00:23:07,803 --> 00:23:09,722 - I love it. I love it. 541 00:23:09,722 --> 00:23:11,890 They were gonna mask half the seats, 542 00:23:11,890 --> 00:23:14,727 but they're gonna sell it out, they said. 543 00:23:14,727 --> 00:23:15,894 - You go big! 544 00:23:15,894 --> 00:23:17,479 Everybody gonna be what? 545 00:23:17,479 --> 00:23:18,564 - [Players] All right! 546 00:23:18,564 --> 00:23:20,065 - Come on, baby! 547 00:23:20,065 --> 00:23:23,485 - The first game at MSG was incredible. 548 00:23:25,529 --> 00:23:28,324 - Now we walking into our own arena. 549 00:23:28,324 --> 00:23:31,452 Now we walking into our place, our home, where we play, 550 00:23:31,452 --> 00:23:32,703 MSG. 551 00:23:32,703 --> 00:23:35,164 (crowd cheering) 552 00:23:35,164 --> 00:23:37,916 This is where everyone wants to play, the mecca. 553 00:23:37,916 --> 00:23:40,252 - [Announcer] Game, halftime. 554 00:23:40,252 --> 00:23:41,170 (upbeat music) 555 00:23:41,170 --> 00:23:43,589 - I mean, we were instant rock stars. 556 00:23:43,589 --> 00:23:45,007 - That's it, baby. 557 00:23:45,007 --> 00:23:46,467 Give it everything you have, leave it all right here. 558 00:23:46,467 --> 00:23:47,676 All right here, this time. 559 00:23:47,676 --> 00:23:48,927 On three. 560 00:23:48,927 --> 00:23:50,971 Liberty, 1, 2, 3. - Liberty! 561 00:23:50,971 --> 00:23:53,390 - [Commentator] Weatherspoon to Lobo! 562 00:23:53,390 --> 00:23:55,559 And Lobo with the left hand. 563 00:23:55,559 --> 00:23:58,354 And a great pass by Teresa Weatherspoon. 564 00:23:58,354 --> 00:24:00,189 - My strongest memory of that game 565 00:24:00,189 --> 00:24:02,941 was how loud it was. 566 00:24:02,941 --> 00:24:04,276 - [Commentator] And the crowd on its feet. 567 00:24:04,276 --> 00:24:05,527 - [Commentator] It's a give and go. 568 00:24:05,527 --> 00:24:07,946 From hip through to Lobo. 569 00:24:07,946 --> 00:24:10,949 - It was so loud we could not hear each other, 570 00:24:10,949 --> 00:24:13,035 we could not hear our names being announced. 571 00:24:13,035 --> 00:24:15,329 - [Commentator] Teresa Weatherspoon drives. 572 00:24:15,329 --> 00:24:18,290 Is she a crowd favorite here or what? 573 00:24:18,290 --> 00:24:20,209 - This is about us. 574 00:24:20,209 --> 00:24:23,003 These people are out here about us. 575 00:24:23,003 --> 00:24:25,589 You guys, this is us. 576 00:24:26,757 --> 00:24:30,260 - All these fans, from 50 and 60-years-olds 577 00:24:30,260 --> 00:24:33,389 down to little kids, screaming at the top of their lungs. 578 00:24:33,389 --> 00:24:36,308 - I love you, Lobo! Win us gold! 579 00:24:36,308 --> 00:24:39,561 - [Sabrina] We had this pent inside for the last 40 years, 580 00:24:39,561 --> 00:24:41,480 and then finally getting a chance to let it out 581 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,733 and cheer for professional women playing basketball. 582 00:24:45,818 --> 00:24:48,487 - It was the first time I felt that people 583 00:24:48,487 --> 00:24:52,658 actually saw me for who I was, as an athlete. 584 00:24:52,658 --> 00:24:55,411 For the first time they could actually see 585 00:24:55,411 --> 00:24:56,578 what it is that I do. 586 00:24:57,830 --> 00:24:59,915 - That was the greatest crowd that I've played 587 00:24:59,915 --> 00:25:01,917 before in my whole life. 588 00:25:01,917 --> 00:25:02,710 - [Interviewer] So you'll remember this 589 00:25:02,710 --> 00:25:03,460 one for a long time? 590 00:25:03,460 --> 00:25:05,254 - I'll remember this forever. 591 00:25:05,254 --> 00:25:06,672 I'll cherish this moment forever. 592 00:25:06,672 --> 00:25:08,465 - [Commentator] And they're loving it in the Garden. 593 00:25:08,465 --> 00:25:11,927 (upbeat music continues) 594 00:25:13,178 --> 00:25:15,097 - When I first heard about the WNBA, 595 00:25:15,097 --> 00:25:17,224 it was one of those things where 596 00:25:17,224 --> 00:25:18,851 if you're thinking about going to college 597 00:25:18,851 --> 00:25:22,104 and possibly going overseas, or what kinda career you were 598 00:25:22,104 --> 00:25:24,398 gonna have after college. 599 00:25:24,398 --> 00:25:27,443 And then it just switched, whenever the WNBA 600 00:25:27,443 --> 00:25:29,027 was gonna be there, because now you have something 601 00:25:29,027 --> 00:25:30,028 to aspire to. 602 00:25:31,405 --> 00:25:33,699 - [Kym] I wanted to get there. 603 00:25:33,699 --> 00:25:36,952 Those teams with Spoon and Child, 604 00:25:36,952 --> 00:25:38,537 they had the Garden rocking 605 00:25:38,537 --> 00:25:41,123 in how engaged they were with the fans. 606 00:25:41,123 --> 00:25:42,708 - Teresa, you're so fab, oh my God, I love you. 607 00:25:42,708 --> 00:25:45,127 - It was just so dope back then. 608 00:25:45,127 --> 00:25:46,837 (upbeat rock music) 609 00:25:46,837 --> 00:25:50,382 - [Commentator] And the school is out. 610 00:25:50,382 --> 00:25:52,217 - [Teresa] Tyra Banks would be there. 611 00:25:52,217 --> 00:25:53,302 - Go, Liberty! 612 00:25:53,302 --> 00:25:54,720 - [Teresa] Gregory Hines would be there. 613 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:55,721 The Baldwin brothers. 614 00:25:55,721 --> 00:25:58,223 It was just an unbelievable celebrity role. 615 00:25:59,725 --> 00:26:02,436 - [Crystal] Spike Lee used to come for a lotta games. 616 00:26:02,436 --> 00:26:03,270 Joan Jett. 617 00:26:04,396 --> 00:26:07,316 - Joan Jett is my baby, she was the league. 618 00:26:07,316 --> 00:26:08,150 ♪ Love is all around ♪ 619 00:26:08,150 --> 00:26:09,318 ♪ No need to fake it ♪ 620 00:26:09,318 --> 00:26:11,653 - I was a very loud, passionate fan. 621 00:26:13,071 --> 00:26:16,825 But I wasn't yelling fuck off, I just yelling, miss it. 622 00:26:16,825 --> 00:26:18,911 (crowd chanting) 623 00:26:18,911 --> 00:26:21,163 - Every game she came to she had a voodoo doll 624 00:26:21,163 --> 00:26:23,081 with the other team Jersey on it, 625 00:26:23,081 --> 00:26:25,959 and she sat right courtside. 626 00:26:25,959 --> 00:26:28,337 - I had been given a voodoo doll. 627 00:26:28,337 --> 00:26:29,630 That's serious shit. 628 00:26:29,630 --> 00:26:31,423 - She doesn't stop pokin' that thing. 629 00:26:31,423 --> 00:26:32,424 ♪ Love is all around ♪ 630 00:26:32,424 --> 00:26:33,967 ♪ No need to fake it ♪ 631 00:26:33,967 --> 00:26:34,927 ♪ You can have the town ♪ 632 00:26:34,927 --> 00:26:36,512 ♪ Why don't you take it ♪ 633 00:26:36,512 --> 00:26:40,432 ♪ You're gonna make it after all ♪ 634 00:26:40,432 --> 00:26:41,600 ♪ You're gonna make it after all ♪ 635 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:43,435 - I couldn't ask for a better job, 636 00:26:43,435 --> 00:26:45,521 I get to play a game for a living 637 00:26:45,521 --> 00:26:48,565 and I get to meet people like you everyday. 638 00:26:48,565 --> 00:26:51,026 We had crazy fans, some of the Lib fans, 639 00:26:51,026 --> 00:26:54,530 they got Lib tattoos, they got numbers tattooed on 'em. 640 00:26:54,530 --> 00:26:58,367 (upbeat rock music continues) 641 00:26:59,785 --> 00:27:03,288 - It was almost like a dream state, is this for real? 642 00:27:03,288 --> 00:27:04,957 And it was real. 643 00:27:04,957 --> 00:27:08,377 ♪ You're gonna make it after all ♪ 644 00:27:08,377 --> 00:27:11,797 ♪ You're gonna make it after all ♪ 645 00:27:11,797 --> 00:27:12,965 ♪ Ow ♪ 646 00:27:12,965 --> 00:27:16,385 (crowd cheering) 647 00:27:16,385 --> 00:27:18,387 - To come to Madison Square Garden, 648 00:27:18,387 --> 00:27:21,056 and the number of fans who had come up, 649 00:27:21,056 --> 00:27:23,141 women who may have been in their 50s or 60s, 650 00:27:23,141 --> 00:27:26,061 and they would often grab your hand or grab you by the arm 651 00:27:26,061 --> 00:27:29,314 and just say, "I've been waiting for this moment, 652 00:27:29,314 --> 00:27:32,526 my whole life, I am so happy to be here to support you. 653 00:27:32,526 --> 00:27:34,069 You women have an opportunity 654 00:27:34,069 --> 00:27:36,488 that I wish I had when I was a young girl." 655 00:27:37,906 --> 00:27:40,033 So many of these women, of a different generation, 656 00:27:40,033 --> 00:27:42,494 in some ways were living their dreams 657 00:27:42,494 --> 00:27:44,830 through the opportunities that we were given, 658 00:27:44,830 --> 00:27:47,916 and it was really, really powerful. 659 00:27:47,916 --> 00:27:49,751 - It was a cross section, 660 00:27:49,751 --> 00:27:51,587 there was a lot of dads and daughters 661 00:27:51,587 --> 00:27:53,505 and there was a lotta LGBT. 662 00:27:54,673 --> 00:27:56,675 When you go somewhere and you're accepted 663 00:27:56,675 --> 00:28:00,846 and you're loved and you don't have to always worry about 664 00:28:00,846 --> 00:28:02,347 are they gonna like me for who I am, 665 00:28:02,347 --> 00:28:05,267 are they gonna talk about me, you feel accepted. 666 00:28:05,267 --> 00:28:06,602 And we're all in this league 667 00:28:06,602 --> 00:28:09,271 because we found acceptance in a place. 668 00:28:09,271 --> 00:28:11,899 (somber music) 669 00:28:13,025 --> 00:28:15,444 - Lesbian women, feminist women, 670 00:28:16,278 --> 00:28:18,947 frustrated old sports women, 671 00:28:18,947 --> 00:28:23,035 Liberty fans, just being themselves at the games, 672 00:28:23,035 --> 00:28:27,039 and they loved us, supported us, bought the tickets, 673 00:28:27,039 --> 00:28:30,876 bought the jerseys and talked about Liberty basketball 674 00:28:30,876 --> 00:28:32,961 as if it was their firstborn child. 675 00:28:35,881 --> 00:28:37,966 And the thanks they got was the camera 676 00:28:37,966 --> 00:28:39,927 would quickly pan away from them 677 00:28:39,927 --> 00:28:43,972 that they would never show this is our fan. 678 00:28:45,390 --> 00:28:49,144 The way that they looked, cut their hair, lack of makeup. 679 00:28:49,144 --> 00:28:52,814 The camera was like, "Ooh, that's not what we wanna see." 680 00:28:52,814 --> 00:28:54,316 - There were a number of teams at the beginning 681 00:28:54,316 --> 00:28:56,193 who were concerned that they had 682 00:28:56,193 --> 00:28:59,029 so many gay fans coming in to watch games. 683 00:28:59,029 --> 00:29:02,908 There was a fear that it was gonna drive off the families, 684 00:29:02,908 --> 00:29:06,244 and that was what they were banking on going forward, 685 00:29:06,244 --> 00:29:09,998 was that families were gonna come watch these games. 686 00:29:09,998 --> 00:29:11,249 - [Interviewer] And families meant? 687 00:29:11,249 --> 00:29:13,001 - The heteronormative families, 688 00:29:13,001 --> 00:29:15,754 as opposed to just families. 689 00:29:15,754 --> 00:29:18,840 - If your aim, from the start, if your input is 690 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:21,843 to pursue the NBA kind of fan, 691 00:29:21,843 --> 00:29:25,180 and to be thinking in terms of the male gays, 692 00:29:25,180 --> 00:29:28,350 the outcomes are exactly what you would expect 693 00:29:28,350 --> 00:29:31,436 in terms of style, in terms of who is pushed to the front. 694 00:29:31,436 --> 00:29:34,272 - Welcome to the ball, Cinderella. 695 00:29:34,272 --> 00:29:37,109 - The league didn't know how to market these women. 696 00:29:37,109 --> 00:29:39,361 The league is predominantly black women, 697 00:29:39,361 --> 00:29:41,905 and then looking at gay people. 698 00:29:41,905 --> 00:29:44,032 (solemn music) 699 00:29:44,032 --> 00:29:45,784 They didn't know how to market 700 00:29:45,784 --> 00:29:48,787 these players, authentically, as they are. 701 00:29:49,997 --> 00:29:51,540 - Let's sell this to Middle America. 702 00:29:51,540 --> 00:29:54,126 What's palatable, what's acceptable, 703 00:29:54,126 --> 00:29:57,379 and that, historically, has been putting on 704 00:29:57,379 --> 00:30:02,384 the lipstick and the dress, putting forth our most feminine, 705 00:30:02,884 --> 00:30:08,098 our most, "family value" players. 706 00:30:11,226 --> 00:30:13,478 - [Teresa] The bravest person I know, 707 00:30:13,478 --> 00:30:16,189 during that time, is Sue Wicks. 708 00:30:17,733 --> 00:30:19,693 - No reporter, no beat reporter 709 00:30:19,693 --> 00:30:22,487 has ever asked me if I am a lesbian. 710 00:30:22,487 --> 00:30:23,864 The question has never come up. 711 00:30:23,864 --> 00:30:26,825 So I'm doing an interview and he's like, 712 00:30:28,326 --> 00:30:31,079 "My editors is really pushing me to ask this question, 713 00:30:31,079 --> 00:30:32,998 I'm so sorry. 714 00:30:32,998 --> 00:30:34,666 Are you a lesbian?" 715 00:30:34,666 --> 00:30:36,668 And I was like, yes. 716 00:30:38,295 --> 00:30:41,048 - She said it. This is who I am. 717 00:30:42,174 --> 00:30:45,844 You love me, or you don't, no in between. 718 00:30:46,678 --> 00:30:48,346 - There was a backlash from that. 719 00:30:48,346 --> 00:30:51,600 And being so used to people loving you 720 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:55,771 and being so proud of you, to they don't talk to you 721 00:30:55,771 --> 00:31:00,275 or walk away, it was sad, very sad. 722 00:31:02,277 --> 00:31:06,031 - It was a tightly structured script 723 00:31:06,031 --> 00:31:09,868 that those women had to walk that first couple of years. 724 00:31:11,495 --> 00:31:12,370 It changed. 725 00:31:13,622 --> 00:31:17,209 - The first pick in the 2013 WNBA draft, 726 00:31:17,209 --> 00:31:19,795 the Phoenix Mercury select Brittney Griner. 727 00:31:21,004 --> 00:31:22,798 - When Britney Griner came into the league, 728 00:31:22,798 --> 00:31:26,051 her very existence, at 6'9", 729 00:31:26,051 --> 00:31:28,303 she came out during her draft week, 730 00:31:28,303 --> 00:31:29,971 before she'd even signed her contract, 731 00:31:29,971 --> 00:31:31,640 and that was considered huge. 732 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:33,558 Because, in the past, people would be afraid 733 00:31:33,558 --> 00:31:35,727 that, "Oh, I'm gonna ruin my chance." 734 00:31:35,727 --> 00:31:38,730 - With sports I have a lot of media attention 735 00:31:38,730 --> 00:31:41,733 and a lot of spotlight on me, 736 00:31:41,733 --> 00:31:43,735 and I'm able to use that for something 737 00:31:43,735 --> 00:31:46,321 that's close to my heart, that's close to me. 738 00:31:47,405 --> 00:31:49,574 Just recently, I came out to the public, 739 00:31:49,574 --> 00:31:51,493 I've been out since about the 9th grade. 740 00:31:51,493 --> 00:31:52,911 Came out to my mom first. 741 00:31:52,911 --> 00:31:54,246 (audience cheering) (hands clapping) 742 00:31:54,246 --> 00:31:57,415 - When she came out, my father called me 743 00:31:57,415 --> 00:32:00,335 'cause basketball's our thing and he loves her. 744 00:32:00,335 --> 00:32:05,841 And he said, "She didn't ask to be born how she's born, 745 00:32:06,133 --> 00:32:07,634 she was just born." 746 00:32:07,634 --> 00:32:10,762 And, in my mind, I was like, if he can love her, 747 00:32:10,762 --> 00:32:13,265 maybe he can love his actual daughter, you know? 748 00:32:13,265 --> 00:32:15,517 And so, tattooed on my arm is the date 749 00:32:15,517 --> 00:32:17,102 that I came out to my family. 750 00:32:18,603 --> 00:32:21,106 - That's beautiful, they're able to just be who they are. 751 00:32:21,106 --> 00:32:23,275 Be who you are, that's that's all you know how to do, 752 00:32:23,275 --> 00:32:24,901 is to just be who you are. 753 00:32:24,901 --> 00:32:27,529 - And so it took a little bit of time to get there 754 00:32:27,529 --> 00:32:29,114 It took time for the league to, 755 00:32:29,114 --> 00:32:31,867 instead of being afraid of what that might mean 756 00:32:31,867 --> 00:32:34,661 for marketing or for ticket sales, 757 00:32:34,661 --> 00:32:36,538 to embrace that community. 758 00:32:36,538 --> 00:32:39,332 But I think the WNBA got there a lot sooner 759 00:32:39,332 --> 00:32:40,876 than a lot of other people did. 760 00:32:46,798 --> 00:32:48,091 - [Sami] Hey, Jordan. 761 00:32:50,385 --> 00:32:53,722 - Oh my God, you have gotta look at this onesie. 762 00:32:53,722 --> 00:32:55,974 Baby Jordan. (giggles) 763 00:32:55,974 --> 00:32:58,894 - Kate, my wife, and I, decided to want to have a baby. 764 00:32:58,894 --> 00:33:02,397 Hey, Nashie. Hey, baba. (laughs) 765 00:33:02,397 --> 00:33:03,899 Everyone's been really great, honestly, 766 00:33:03,899 --> 00:33:06,318 and I think part of that is I have a really cute baby, 767 00:33:06,318 --> 00:33:08,737 so that's the icebreaker, you know? 768 00:33:10,155 --> 00:33:12,574 Nothing else, we just talk about Nash and I just show Nash. 769 00:33:13,909 --> 00:33:16,203 Oh yes. Oh, don't be shy. 770 00:33:17,704 --> 00:33:20,332 - [Kate] Let's go get our little Liberty onesie on. 771 00:33:20,332 --> 00:33:23,293 - Being a mom, it gives you new perspective on life, 772 00:33:23,293 --> 00:33:25,795 on everything, why you do things. 773 00:33:27,255 --> 00:33:30,008 Nash is my why, in terms of I wanna be a role model for him, 774 00:33:30,008 --> 00:33:32,177 I want to be someone that he can look up to, 775 00:33:32,177 --> 00:33:34,763 someone that he can draw inspiration from. 776 00:33:34,763 --> 00:33:36,848 Let him play with his little DJ deck. 777 00:33:36,848 --> 00:33:38,350 There you go. All right. 778 00:33:38,350 --> 00:33:40,101 (suspenseful music) 779 00:33:40,101 --> 00:33:42,229 Liberty fans, please bring your attention 780 00:33:42,229 --> 00:33:43,772 to the end wall video boards, 781 00:33:43,772 --> 00:33:46,024 to wish the following fans a happy birthday. 782 00:33:47,359 --> 00:33:50,528 I've never been the most talented at anything, 783 00:33:50,528 --> 00:33:52,530 but I've always sought to be the hardest worker 784 00:33:52,530 --> 00:33:53,823 in the room, though, because I think 785 00:33:53,823 --> 00:33:55,617 that a team always needs that person, 786 00:33:55,617 --> 00:33:57,035 there's always a spot for someone 787 00:33:57,035 --> 00:33:58,870 that's willing to outwork someone, 788 00:33:58,870 --> 00:34:00,705 put in the work, put in the time. 789 00:34:00,705 --> 00:34:01,873 - [Commentator] Whitcomb saves it. 790 00:34:01,873 --> 00:34:03,166 - [Sami] I don't think I'm good enough, 791 00:34:03,166 --> 00:34:04,459 I've never thought I was good enough, 792 00:34:04,459 --> 00:34:05,710 so I'm always trying to prove that I am. 793 00:34:05,710 --> 00:34:07,796 - [Commentator] Eyes up, finds Whitcomb. 794 00:34:07,796 --> 00:34:09,923 You bet! Down on three. 795 00:34:09,923 --> 00:34:12,092 - And part of that means, show up every day 796 00:34:12,092 --> 00:34:14,386 and you work harder than everybody else. 797 00:34:22,269 --> 00:34:24,562 - You guys see the blue in my hair? 798 00:34:24,562 --> 00:34:25,772 Y'all see that? 799 00:34:25,772 --> 00:34:27,232 Ooh, they weren't ready for that. 800 00:34:28,525 --> 00:34:30,819 This is the part none of them understand, though. 801 00:34:30,819 --> 00:34:34,155 Why do you have to do your face for a game? 802 00:34:34,155 --> 00:34:35,031 Don't question me. 803 00:34:38,243 --> 00:34:40,495 This is the biggest decision, you guys, 804 00:34:40,495 --> 00:34:42,998 This one's are longer and thicker. 805 00:34:42,998 --> 00:34:46,793 These, I feel like are too thin at the end. 806 00:34:46,793 --> 00:34:48,753 It's okay, we're gonna just pick these. 807 00:34:50,463 --> 00:34:52,257 Go big or go home. 808 00:34:52,257 --> 00:34:53,925 (chuckles) This makes me laugh, 809 00:34:53,925 --> 00:34:55,802 'cause this is not something you think 810 00:34:55,802 --> 00:34:58,388 you would see getting ready for a game. 811 00:34:59,681 --> 00:35:00,849 I'm gonna start wearing my lashes like this, 812 00:35:00,849 --> 00:35:03,268 just one on one eye. (laughs) 813 00:35:03,268 --> 00:35:05,020 The difference between the people 814 00:35:05,020 --> 00:35:06,438 that have been in the league, 815 00:35:06,438 --> 00:35:08,732 and the newer ones coming in, 816 00:35:08,732 --> 00:35:13,361 is that, I think, they're not focused, 817 00:35:13,361 --> 00:35:16,448 they're just worried about social media, they're on TikTok. 818 00:35:16,448 --> 00:35:19,701 But at the same time, how do you think people are seeing us? 819 00:35:19,701 --> 00:35:21,703 And it's like, we're females out there, 820 00:35:21,703 --> 00:35:24,372 so use your, and I'm sorry, sex appeal. 821 00:35:24,372 --> 00:35:25,665 You have to use that, 822 00:35:25,665 --> 00:35:27,876 it's bringing people to the TV screen, 823 00:35:27,876 --> 00:35:30,545 it's paying tickets, it's doing all the stuff. 824 00:35:30,545 --> 00:35:34,215 I also wanna put out there the shoes on sale for $12, 825 00:35:34,215 --> 00:35:36,134 Who would put these on sale, ever? 826 00:35:36,134 --> 00:35:39,095 - [Player] Nobody. 827 00:35:39,095 --> 00:35:42,474 - Yeah! (vocalizing upbeat music) 828 00:35:42,474 --> 00:35:43,892 Take a picture. 829 00:35:43,892 --> 00:35:46,144 I'm a huge fan of social media, clearly, 830 00:35:46,144 --> 00:35:48,813 but not because I was just taking pictures, 831 00:35:48,813 --> 00:35:53,860 but because it does bring a different kind of audience. 832 00:35:54,235 --> 00:35:55,904 It'll be people under my pictures like, 833 00:35:55,904 --> 00:35:57,405 "Oh, they're play in WNBA.", or, 834 00:35:57,405 --> 00:36:00,700 "Oh, they play basketball.", but they saw you first. 835 00:36:00,700 --> 00:36:02,869 And I feel like you have to be able to sell yourself 836 00:36:02,869 --> 00:36:05,830 before someone can just sit and watch your games. 837 00:36:07,749 --> 00:36:10,502 - It's so different now, we didn't have social media, 838 00:36:10,502 --> 00:36:12,337 we didn't have the things that these young players 839 00:36:12,337 --> 00:36:14,381 have now to grow their brand. 840 00:36:14,381 --> 00:36:15,590 (Ari laughing) 841 00:36:15,590 --> 00:36:18,259 - The beauty of social media is that 842 00:36:18,259 --> 00:36:20,929 all of these women have a direct voice 843 00:36:20,929 --> 00:36:24,099 and a direct platform to their fans. 844 00:36:24,099 --> 00:36:25,600 - Hey! 845 00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:27,185 - [Rebecca] You've got a ton of WNBA players who 846 00:36:27,185 --> 00:36:28,853 have a huge platform now, 847 00:36:28,853 --> 00:36:31,523 when they can put out whatever they want. 848 00:36:32,857 --> 00:36:34,943 - Now you can have a generation that's like... 849 00:36:34,943 --> 00:36:37,862 I see Sabrina, who can be the next face of the league, 850 00:36:37,862 --> 00:36:40,198 or Michaela, with her African roots, 851 00:36:40,198 --> 00:36:41,616 I identify with her. 852 00:36:41,616 --> 00:36:44,494 Or Didi, even her hair and her personality, 853 00:36:44,494 --> 00:36:45,787 I can identify with that. 854 00:36:47,205 --> 00:36:49,124 So I can aspire to be them. 855 00:36:49,124 --> 00:36:50,708 - Hey, you guys, it's Didi Richards here, 856 00:36:50,708 --> 00:36:54,129 former Lady Bear, today I'm entering the WNBA draft. 857 00:36:54,129 --> 00:36:56,673 So now I'm eating, trying not to mess up my lipstick, and 858 00:36:56,673 --> 00:37:00,135 after that, I have to be there in 30 minutes, right there. 859 00:37:00,135 --> 00:37:01,636 (upbeat music) 860 00:37:01,636 --> 00:37:05,056 (girls screaming) 861 00:37:05,056 --> 00:37:07,976 - [Announcer] New York Liberty have selected Didi Richards 862 00:37:07,976 --> 00:37:09,144 out of Dallas. 863 00:37:10,728 --> 00:37:12,147 - Didi, Shaq here. 864 00:37:12,147 --> 00:37:13,731 - I had some interview with Shaq. 865 00:37:13,731 --> 00:37:15,233 You can come say hi. 866 00:37:16,151 --> 00:37:18,736 And my mom held the camera. 867 00:37:18,736 --> 00:37:20,738 (cheering) 868 00:37:20,738 --> 00:37:22,073 - What's up? - Hey, mom. 869 00:37:22,073 --> 00:37:23,533 - Shaq went crazy. 870 00:37:23,533 --> 00:37:26,494 - I got a new website called damnyourmamafine.com. 871 00:37:26,494 --> 00:37:28,538 (all laughing) 872 00:37:28,538 --> 00:37:34,169 - It literally stirred up the sports world for a month or so. 873 00:37:35,128 --> 00:37:39,007 It's Shaq, I feel like it's something he does. 874 00:37:39,007 --> 00:37:43,344 It fit him, so I was just like, okay. (chuckles) 875 00:37:43,344 --> 00:37:45,763 Didi Richards, number 2, Baylor University. 876 00:37:46,097 --> 00:37:47,557 - Alright. 877 00:37:47,557 --> 00:37:49,434 - I played basketball at Baylor. 878 00:37:49,434 --> 00:37:52,020 (tense music) 879 00:37:59,736 --> 00:38:01,946 And I was going in to go get an interception, 880 00:38:01,946 --> 00:38:03,031 I was knocked out. 881 00:38:04,824 --> 00:38:08,453 I don't remember anything, until I see the paramedic. 882 00:38:09,704 --> 00:38:12,457 He's just like, "Didi, Didi, can you hear me?" 883 00:38:12,457 --> 00:38:13,291 Can you hear me? 884 00:38:13,291 --> 00:38:14,792 He was like, "Can you respond, can you shake your head?" 885 00:38:14,792 --> 00:38:16,127 I'm shaking my head. 886 00:38:16,127 --> 00:38:17,795 And he was like, "Can you get up?" 887 00:38:18,963 --> 00:38:20,215 And I immediately started crying, 888 00:38:20,215 --> 00:38:22,217 because I really cannot feel my legs. 889 00:38:22,217 --> 00:38:24,761 I'm like, Alex, I can't, I can't feel my legs. 890 00:38:26,221 --> 00:38:28,389 The doctor came in there, asking me, 891 00:38:28,389 --> 00:38:29,390 "Do you feel this?" 892 00:38:29,390 --> 00:38:31,768 It was a safety pin, he was poking me so hard 893 00:38:31,768 --> 00:38:33,061 that I started bleeding. 894 00:38:33,061 --> 00:38:35,647 He was like, "You can't, you can't feel that?" 895 00:38:35,647 --> 00:38:37,899 And I'm like, no, I cannot feel that. 896 00:38:39,067 --> 00:38:41,569 It was a moment of shock for everybody. 897 00:38:41,569 --> 00:38:43,905 You're basically paralyzed with no answers 898 00:38:43,905 --> 00:38:44,906 as to why you are. 899 00:38:44,906 --> 00:38:46,741 - [Doctor] What's your goal? 900 00:38:46,741 --> 00:38:48,409 - To touch the wall and come back. 901 00:38:49,536 --> 00:38:52,330 That feeling scared me. 902 00:38:52,330 --> 00:38:54,749 (tense music continues) 903 00:38:55,083 --> 00:38:56,793 - Move your feet. Move. 904 00:38:56,793 --> 00:38:59,629 It was a lot of anger towards basketball. 905 00:38:59,629 --> 00:39:02,006 - [Jazmine] Yay, she touched the wall! 906 00:39:03,424 --> 00:39:05,093 - But also a lot of regret that I didn't 907 00:39:05,093 --> 00:39:06,511 take advantage of basketball. 908 00:39:09,097 --> 00:39:11,599 So it was like, I'm going get back on the court. 909 00:39:14,561 --> 00:39:17,689 That's four-ply. (chuckles) 910 00:39:18,773 --> 00:39:21,776 It took a huge toll on me mentally. 911 00:39:21,776 --> 00:39:23,278 That time you realize that anything 912 00:39:23,278 --> 00:39:25,280 that you were doing can be taken from you, literally, 913 00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:26,364 in a blink of an eye. 914 00:39:27,824 --> 00:39:29,617 - This is somebody that was paralyzed, 915 00:39:29,617 --> 00:39:32,829 then somebody that comes back from that injury. 916 00:39:32,829 --> 00:39:35,540 So you know that she loves this game. 917 00:39:35,540 --> 00:39:38,001 She's had so many opportunities to just stop, 918 00:39:38,001 --> 00:39:39,043 and she doesn't stop. 919 00:39:42,130 --> 00:39:43,923 - You look nice. 920 00:39:43,923 --> 00:39:46,259 Come on, stop playin'. 921 00:39:46,259 --> 00:39:48,761 No way, she came this hard? 922 00:39:48,761 --> 00:39:50,930 I've never been a part of a team 923 00:39:50,930 --> 00:39:53,600 that all genuinely likes each other. 924 00:39:54,767 --> 00:39:56,561 The whole team, we all gel together. 925 00:39:57,979 --> 00:40:00,648 We click like we sisters, we argue like we sisters too. 926 00:40:03,234 --> 00:40:04,569 Know why you're walking, like you got 927 00:40:04,569 --> 00:40:05,695 monies. 928 00:40:07,071 --> 00:40:08,031 - [Jazmine] Let me get two bacon, egg and cheese 929 00:40:08,031 --> 00:40:09,908 on the bagel with jelly on it. 930 00:40:09,908 --> 00:40:11,993 - Regardless if we were winning or losing, 931 00:40:11,993 --> 00:40:13,661 we just started to figure each other out 932 00:40:13,661 --> 00:40:16,164 a little bit more because we were able to play together. 933 00:40:16,164 --> 00:40:17,332 - [Commentator] And that's the way it ends, 934 00:40:17,332 --> 00:40:20,627 Sabrina Ionescu grabs another board. 935 00:40:20,627 --> 00:40:24,339 - [Commentator] Victory for the now 4 in 1 New York Liberty. 936 00:40:24,339 --> 00:40:28,134 - [Commentator] Liberty win this 88-81. 937 00:40:28,134 --> 00:40:32,013 A 5 in 1 start with their best start since 2007. 938 00:40:34,432 --> 00:40:37,435 - We needed this group to be really, really tight. 939 00:40:37,435 --> 00:40:40,021 Every game is gonna be a battle. 940 00:40:40,021 --> 00:40:41,939 - Whoo-hoo-hoo. 941 00:40:41,939 --> 00:40:44,192 - [Photographer] Wait. 942 00:40:44,192 --> 00:40:46,444 - Garage. Smart crew. 943 00:40:46,444 --> 00:40:49,280 Go ahead and get the princess, the drama queen. 944 00:40:49,280 --> 00:40:50,823 - Okay. 945 00:40:50,823 --> 00:40:53,034 - [Jazmine] Yes! Yes! 946 00:40:53,034 --> 00:40:55,286 In working. Yes! 947 00:40:55,286 --> 00:40:57,705 - Aah, you are a lot, Jazmine. 948 00:40:57,705 --> 00:41:00,124 - And we started off incredibly well, 949 00:41:00,124 --> 00:41:02,460 right out of the gates, there's a lotta success. 950 00:41:02,460 --> 00:41:04,462 And then, as the season went on, 951 00:41:04,462 --> 00:41:07,465 there's a regression to the mean, if you will, 952 00:41:07,465 --> 00:41:10,635 and the season evened out in terms of our record. 953 00:41:10,635 --> 00:41:12,804 - [Didi] This is the picture time. 954 00:41:12,804 --> 00:41:15,640 - We've come down from the high of a win streak, 955 00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:19,560 and now it's like every game is just a real dog fight. 956 00:41:20,436 --> 00:41:24,816 - How you gel, you know, how do you change a young team 957 00:41:24,816 --> 00:41:27,694 into a championship team and have that mentality 958 00:41:27,694 --> 00:41:29,320 to go far in the playoffs. 959 00:41:29,320 --> 00:41:31,906 (upbeat music) 960 00:41:38,913 --> 00:41:43,960 (upbeat music and announcer) 961 00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:47,130 [Announcer] Number 44, Betnijah Laney! 962 00:41:48,673 --> 00:41:52,427 Number 12, Michaela Onyenwere! 963 00:41:53,136 --> 00:41:57,432 Number 32, Sami Whitcomb! 964 00:41:58,015 --> 00:42:04,605 And at guard number 20, Sabrina Ionescu! 965 00:42:06,190 --> 00:42:08,443 - [Commentator] Today it's the Washington Mystics taking 966 00:42:08,443 --> 00:42:09,902 on the New York Liberty. 967 00:42:09,902 --> 00:42:13,531 These teams are only separated by a half a game. 968 00:42:13,531 --> 00:42:16,617 (suspenseful music) 969 00:42:18,453 --> 00:42:19,787 And we are underway. 970 00:42:27,879 --> 00:42:31,382 Ms. Mitchell cans a three, her second bucket of the day. 971 00:42:34,969 --> 00:42:37,221 Corner jumper for three. 972 00:42:39,640 --> 00:42:40,725 Layin by Wiese. 973 00:42:42,059 --> 00:42:45,062 Charles, up top, great ball movement. 974 00:42:45,062 --> 00:42:48,065 That's Zellous, from the corner, she sticks the three. 975 00:42:50,651 --> 00:42:52,361 Can Gray can't get it off. 976 00:42:52,361 --> 00:42:54,155 She does, but it won't fall. 977 00:42:55,323 --> 00:42:57,575 So we have completed one half of play 978 00:42:57,575 --> 00:42:59,535 here at the Barclay Center, 979 00:42:59,535 --> 00:43:03,998 where the Washington Mystics have a 51-33 lead. 980 00:43:05,583 --> 00:43:08,461 - We get in here at halftime, we're losing about 20, 981 00:43:08,461 --> 00:43:09,796 it's like, what? 982 00:43:09,796 --> 00:43:13,257 (suspenseful music) 983 00:43:13,257 --> 00:43:15,676 Walt asks, "What the hell do we need to do 984 00:43:15,676 --> 00:43:17,762 to make y'all play better?" 985 00:43:19,180 --> 00:43:22,517 And I tell you, it was dead silent in this locker room. 986 00:43:22,517 --> 00:43:25,186 - No cameras in the locker room. 987 00:43:26,062 --> 00:43:28,272 So Walt got pissed. 988 00:43:28,272 --> 00:43:30,107 He was like, "All right, good fucking talk.", 989 00:43:30,107 --> 00:43:31,275 and just walked out. 990 00:43:35,071 --> 00:43:37,240 Next thing I know we get out on that court. 991 00:43:43,204 --> 00:43:45,456 - [Commentator] Richards hit the floor hard. 992 00:43:46,958 --> 00:43:48,209 - I'm looking at Didi and thinking, 993 00:43:48,209 --> 00:43:50,169 she's tough, but she's down. 994 00:43:51,504 --> 00:43:53,464 - Knowing her story, her comeback story, 995 00:43:53,464 --> 00:43:55,216 and she wasn't moving at first. 996 00:43:55,216 --> 00:43:58,386 So I was like, fuck, this is scary. 997 00:43:59,595 --> 00:44:01,138 So I'm standing there, and there like, 998 00:44:01,138 --> 00:44:03,057 "All right, you all go, you all go." 999 00:44:03,057 --> 00:44:05,643 I wasn't moving, I was standing next to my dog, 1000 00:44:05,643 --> 00:44:07,311 making sure she was straight. 1001 00:44:11,149 --> 00:44:15,987 (crowd cheering) (hands clapping) 1002 00:44:15,987 --> 00:44:18,406 She got up and then she went back down, 1003 00:44:18,406 --> 00:44:19,657 and I was like, oh, shit. 1004 00:44:20,992 --> 00:44:24,579 (crowd cheering) 1005 00:44:24,579 --> 00:44:26,163 And then she got up again and she was able 1006 00:44:26,163 --> 00:44:28,791 to walk off a little bit on her own. 1007 00:44:31,669 --> 00:44:32,920 - That feeling scared me, 1008 00:44:32,920 --> 00:44:35,590 and I knew I just never wanted to go back 1009 00:44:35,590 --> 00:44:38,092 to where I was in October. 1010 00:44:38,092 --> 00:44:41,345 I'm not going back to that walker or that wheelchair. 1011 00:44:45,016 --> 00:44:46,559 - So knowing she had just went down, 1012 00:44:46,559 --> 00:44:49,353 now I gotta bring the energy that she would bring, 1013 00:44:49,353 --> 00:44:50,438 now I gotta double that. 1014 00:44:50,438 --> 00:44:53,608 (tense upbeat music) 1015 00:44:55,568 --> 00:44:58,404 - [Commentator] Laney for Shook, and she can't convert 1016 00:44:58,404 --> 00:45:01,699 the easy layup, and then straight into the crowd 1017 00:45:01,699 --> 00:45:06,203 is Jazmine Jones as she does a 360 dive into the front row. 1018 00:45:07,705 --> 00:45:10,541 And she's okay, getting a great ovation. 1019 00:45:13,044 --> 00:45:14,378 ♪ It was the best of times ♪ 1020 00:45:14,378 --> 00:45:16,297 ♪ It was the worst of times ♪ 1021 00:45:16,297 --> 00:45:17,548 - That also set the tone. 1022 00:45:17,548 --> 00:45:19,050 It's like, "Okay, if Jaz is gonna do that, 1023 00:45:19,050 --> 00:45:20,718 and you play with that intensity. 1024 00:45:20,718 --> 00:45:22,386 - [Commentator] Jones for three. 1025 00:45:22,386 --> 00:45:24,055 - [Commentator] I knew that was going in. 1026 00:45:24,055 --> 00:45:25,556 - We all have to. 1027 00:45:25,556 --> 00:45:28,309 There's not gonna be a ball that we're not gonna dive on. 1028 00:45:28,309 --> 00:45:30,478 - [Commentator] The deflection by Onyenwere. 1029 00:45:30,478 --> 00:45:32,480 - [Sabrina] There's not gonna be a defensive effort 1030 00:45:32,480 --> 00:45:34,148 that we're not gonna capitalize on. 1031 00:45:34,148 --> 00:45:36,901 ♪ Heart so dark they turn to clean ♪ 1032 00:45:36,901 --> 00:45:39,487 ♪ So clean, so clean ♪ 1033 00:45:39,487 --> 00:45:42,740 - [Commentator] (indistinct) foul. 1034 00:45:42,740 --> 00:45:46,702 That as New York continues to surge back, 1035 00:45:46,702 --> 00:45:49,080 and Jazmine Jones, my goodness, 1036 00:45:49,080 --> 00:45:51,332 has she taken a beating today. 1037 00:45:51,332 --> 00:45:53,334 - We're all in this, we're trying to win this game. 1038 00:45:53,334 --> 00:45:57,129 ♪ You were my bitter rival but I need your full survival ♪ 1039 00:45:57,129 --> 00:45:58,172 - We needed to win that game. 1040 00:45:58,172 --> 00:45:59,590 ♪ It was the best of times ♪ 1041 00:45:59,590 --> 00:46:01,300 - [Commentator] Off the dribble drive. 1042 00:46:01,300 --> 00:46:03,636 Ionescu gets hers. 1043 00:46:03,636 --> 00:46:04,595 She's got 12. 1044 00:46:04,595 --> 00:46:06,347 And it's a two-point game. 1045 00:46:07,848 --> 00:46:11,727 - We're in 4th quarter, and we just turned it up. 1046 00:46:11,727 --> 00:46:14,230 ♪ Somehow, somehow ♪ 1047 00:46:14,230 --> 00:46:15,523 ♪ Lay a hand on me ♪ 1048 00:46:15,523 --> 00:46:16,899 ♪ Lay a hand on you ♪ 1049 00:46:16,899 --> 00:46:19,777 ♪ Lay a hand on me Lay a hand ♪ 1050 00:46:19,777 --> 00:46:21,278 - [Commentator] Ionescu shoots it. 1051 00:46:21,278 --> 00:46:22,613 (crowd cheering) 1052 00:46:22,613 --> 00:46:26,617 (cheering drowns out announcer) 1053 00:46:32,456 --> 00:46:35,167 - We flipped a switch and we finally woke up 1054 00:46:35,167 --> 00:46:35,960 and decide to play basketball. 1055 00:46:35,960 --> 00:46:38,462 ♪ You are my bitter rival ♪ 1056 00:46:38,462 --> 00:46:41,424 ♪ But I need your full survival ♪ 1057 00:46:41,424 --> 00:46:42,425 ♪ You are my bitter rival ♪ 1058 00:46:42,425 --> 00:46:43,884 - [Commentator] Ionescu, needs help, 1059 00:46:43,884 --> 00:46:45,803 gets it to Gray. Down low. And brings it home! 1060 00:46:45,803 --> 00:46:47,221 (cheering) 1061 00:46:47,221 --> 00:46:49,473 The Liberty jump on top by one. 1062 00:46:50,558 --> 00:46:51,600 First of two. 1063 00:46:51,600 --> 00:46:52,435 It's good. 1064 00:46:53,769 --> 00:46:56,647 ♪ But I need your full survival ♪ 1065 00:46:56,647 --> 00:46:58,357 (upbeat music) 1066 00:46:58,357 --> 00:47:01,193 - [Commentator] And Laney makes it a three-point game. 1067 00:47:01,193 --> 00:47:03,988 And the Mystics will use their final time-out. 1068 00:47:03,988 --> 00:47:06,407 - We've gotta guard the three-point line. 1069 00:47:06,407 --> 00:47:07,575 That's the most important part, 1070 00:47:07,575 --> 00:47:09,660 no threes and no fouls. 1071 00:47:09,660 --> 00:47:11,537 If they get to the rim, they get to the rim. 1072 00:47:11,537 --> 00:47:12,747 - Stay with your man. 1073 00:47:12,747 --> 00:47:14,498 - [Player] Oh my God, what's that? 1074 00:47:14,498 --> 00:47:17,626 - Liberty, 1, 2, 3. - Liberty! 1075 00:47:17,626 --> 00:47:19,503 - [Commentator] Looking for help, they have no time-outs, 1076 00:47:19,503 --> 00:47:20,755 they gotta get it in. 1077 00:47:20,755 --> 00:47:22,339 They do, and there's the heat, 1078 00:47:22,339 --> 00:47:25,176 and Mitchell is way off the mark. 1079 00:47:25,176 --> 00:47:27,678 As the Liberty play some terrific defense 1080 00:47:27,678 --> 00:47:30,681 in the closing moments, and they come back 1081 00:47:30,681 --> 00:47:34,727 and rally from being 19 down in the 2nd quarter, 1082 00:47:34,727 --> 00:47:40,024 to knock off the Mystics 82-79. 1083 00:47:40,024 --> 00:47:41,609 - They're the team that we need to beat, 1084 00:47:41,609 --> 00:47:43,694 and when we finish like that we're fighting to the end, 1085 00:47:43,694 --> 00:47:45,362 and we figure that shit out. 1086 00:47:45,362 --> 00:47:46,572 No matter how much we're dealt, 1087 00:47:46,572 --> 00:47:48,449 we're in the perfect spot! 1088 00:47:48,449 --> 00:47:49,283 Here we go! 1089 00:47:49,283 --> 00:47:52,161 (players cheering) 1090 00:47:55,873 --> 00:47:57,833 - And we had a rebounding margin of plus five. 1091 00:47:57,833 --> 00:48:00,377 (players cheering) (hands clapping) 1092 00:48:00,377 --> 00:48:01,545 I don't even know how we did that. 1093 00:48:01,545 --> 00:48:02,963 Do I have to be PG? 1094 00:48:02,963 --> 00:48:04,715 - No, absolutely not. - okay. 1095 00:48:04,715 --> 00:48:06,300 There was some fucking terrible calls. 1096 00:48:06,300 --> 00:48:08,219 (players laugh) 1097 00:48:08,219 --> 00:48:09,386 Jaz Jones. 1098 00:48:09,386 --> 00:48:12,306 (players yelling) 1099 00:48:15,434 --> 00:48:18,437 - Jaz, in 21 minutes, most of them in the 2nd half, 1100 00:48:18,437 --> 00:48:19,772 because we couldn't take you off the floor 1101 00:48:19,772 --> 00:48:21,148 'cause you were playing so damn well. 1102 00:48:21,148 --> 00:48:22,358 Four of nine from the field, 1103 00:48:22,358 --> 00:48:24,568 two of three from three. 1104 00:48:24,568 --> 00:48:28,823 - Why can't y'all play 1st half like we did the 2nd half? 1105 00:48:28,823 --> 00:48:30,157 Then there wouldn't have been a blow out. 1106 00:48:30,157 --> 00:48:33,327 - Certain players really propel us some games, 1107 00:48:33,327 --> 00:48:34,829 tonight, for me, it was Jaz. 1108 00:48:36,497 --> 00:48:38,290 The way you came in, how aggressive you were 1109 00:48:38,290 --> 00:48:40,668 and the energy you brought and everything that you brought, 1110 00:48:40,668 --> 00:48:42,837 I really think that's why we won. 1111 00:48:42,837 --> 00:48:44,088 - [Player] 'Cause you got on your feet! 1112 00:48:44,088 --> 00:48:45,339 - [Walt] 'Cause you got onto your feet. 1113 00:48:45,339 --> 00:48:47,466 - Jazmine Jones was great. 1114 00:48:47,466 --> 00:48:51,262 And Sabrina Ionescu was amazing. 1115 00:48:51,262 --> 00:48:52,763 Yeah, I loved it. 1116 00:48:52,763 --> 00:48:54,598 - Jones is already my favorite player. 1117 00:48:54,598 --> 00:48:55,850 - [Wyatt] Yeah. 1118 00:48:56,934 --> 00:48:58,102 - I'm Jones, until I die now. 1119 00:48:58,102 --> 00:48:59,353 - Yeah? - Number 4. 1120 00:48:59,353 --> 00:49:02,022 I'm gonna get a number 4 tattoo on my back. 1121 00:49:04,150 --> 00:49:05,276 - Nice meeting ya'll. You want to sign the jersey? 1122 00:49:05,276 --> 00:49:06,652 - You want me to sigh the jersey? 1123 00:49:06,652 --> 00:49:08,112 - Thank you. 1124 00:49:09,363 --> 00:49:11,073 He's so cute. 1125 00:49:11,073 --> 00:49:13,367 - [Mother] Say thank you. 1126 00:49:13,367 --> 00:49:14,618 - [Boy] Give it back now. 1127 00:49:14,618 --> 00:49:17,371 (crowd cheering) 1128 00:49:22,209 --> 00:49:25,963 - The fans in the early years were beyond expectation. 1129 00:49:25,963 --> 00:49:27,464 - My first two or three years 1130 00:49:27,464 --> 00:49:31,594 we were averaging 18,000 and lots of sellouts. 1131 00:49:31,594 --> 00:49:33,095 Then it went to 15. 1132 00:49:33,971 --> 00:49:35,806 - It was like the new shiny toy, 1133 00:49:35,806 --> 00:49:40,811 but pop culture didn't wanna keep holding on, 1134 00:49:41,937 --> 00:49:43,314 and then it wasn't new and shiny anymore. 1135 00:49:44,481 --> 00:49:47,067 - We saw attendance dropping significantly, 1136 00:49:47,067 --> 00:49:50,196 all the way down to its low point in the mid 2010s. 1137 00:49:51,363 --> 00:49:54,241 Every decline is treated as a proof 1138 00:49:54,241 --> 00:49:55,826 that the concept doesn't work. 1139 00:49:55,826 --> 00:49:57,870 - The WNBA attendance, not good. 1140 00:49:57,870 --> 00:49:59,914 The WNBA ratings, not good. 1141 00:49:59,914 --> 00:50:02,666 The WNBA salaries, not good. 1142 00:50:02,666 --> 00:50:05,085 It's not working, because you, the consumer, don't want it. 1143 00:50:05,085 --> 00:50:06,170 - The WNBA is not a thing. 1144 00:50:06,170 --> 00:50:07,338 I'm sorry, it's never going to be a thing, 1145 00:50:07,338 --> 00:50:08,505 you can't make fetch happen, 1146 00:50:08,505 --> 00:50:10,424 it's just never going to be a thing. 1147 00:50:10,424 --> 00:50:12,509 - I think it was an easy thing for misogynists 1148 00:50:12,509 --> 00:50:17,097 to jump on early on, because even before they saw a game 1149 00:50:17,097 --> 00:50:19,767 there were headlines like, "Oh, women's league, 1150 00:50:19,767 --> 00:50:23,103 it's no slam dunk." (vocalizes sting drum roll) 1151 00:50:23,103 --> 00:50:25,940 - And at the top of the 2nd half it's 16-9. 1152 00:50:25,940 --> 00:50:28,192 - These gals sure do make it look difficult. 1153 00:50:28,192 --> 00:50:29,777 - [Commentator] But is having this minor skill 1154 00:50:29,777 --> 00:50:31,612 worth being so unattractive? 1155 00:50:31,612 --> 00:50:33,614 That's for the fan to decide. 1156 00:50:33,614 --> 00:50:34,448 - Yay. 1157 00:50:35,658 --> 00:50:38,786 - The league was seen as failing. 1158 00:50:38,786 --> 00:50:42,373 The owners of the time were not willing to invest 1159 00:50:42,373 --> 00:50:44,208 to keep things going. 1160 00:50:44,208 --> 00:50:49,213 - Maybe the kindest version of how owners 1161 00:50:49,213 --> 00:50:50,673 might have been feeling at that time 1162 00:50:50,673 --> 00:50:53,133 was simply to say that there was no model, 1163 00:50:53,133 --> 00:50:54,635 that we did not have 1164 00:50:54,635 --> 00:50:56,762 a successful professional women's sports league 1165 00:50:56,762 --> 00:50:58,055 in this country. 1166 00:50:58,055 --> 00:50:59,473 But another way of thinking about it is 1167 00:50:59,473 --> 00:51:02,393 that while in men's sports, again and again, 1168 00:51:02,393 --> 00:51:04,895 investment comes with the idea 1169 00:51:04,895 --> 00:51:06,814 that this is a long-term proposition. 1170 00:51:06,814 --> 00:51:10,192 So many owners, especially early owners 1171 00:51:10,192 --> 00:51:14,071 in the WNBA, treated it as dollar in dollar out 1172 00:51:14,071 --> 00:51:15,906 from the get go. 1173 00:51:15,906 --> 00:51:18,492 (solemn music) 1174 00:51:25,082 --> 00:51:27,501 - Mr. Dolan had owned a WNBA team longer 1175 00:51:27,501 --> 00:51:32,840 than any NBA owner had, but after the 2017 season 1176 00:51:32,840 --> 00:51:34,675 it was decided that the team would 1177 00:51:34,675 --> 00:51:37,511 be relocated to a new venue. 1178 00:51:37,511 --> 00:51:38,762 - [Reporter] The Liberty will be coming 1179 00:51:38,762 --> 00:51:40,306 to the Westchester County Center. 1180 00:51:40,306 --> 00:51:41,849 The 2000-seat center is used 1181 00:51:41,849 --> 00:51:44,351 to hosting high school sports competitions, 1182 00:51:44,351 --> 00:51:46,437 but now the New York Liberty will be here. 1183 00:51:47,855 --> 00:51:51,358 - When you take a team that played in Madison Square Garden 1184 00:51:51,358 --> 00:51:53,527 and you put it in the Westchester County Center, 1185 00:51:53,527 --> 00:51:56,613 you are saying to the fan base we don't care. 1186 00:51:57,698 --> 00:51:59,325 It's a huge message. 1187 00:52:00,659 --> 00:52:02,286 - I remember Tina Charles picking up a mop 1188 00:52:02,286 --> 00:52:03,495 and doing the floor. 1189 00:52:03,495 --> 00:52:05,164 It was wild. 1190 00:52:05,164 --> 00:52:07,875 Teams were coming in unimpressed. 1191 00:52:10,044 --> 00:52:12,379 There was a drippy roof whenever it rained, 1192 00:52:12,379 --> 00:52:15,591 it was misty in the court, it was small, 1193 00:52:15,591 --> 00:52:17,384 it was like an auditorium. 1194 00:52:17,384 --> 00:52:19,636 It wasn't acceptable, not for elite athletes. 1195 00:52:19,636 --> 00:52:21,138 These are Olympians stepping on the floor, 1196 00:52:21,138 --> 00:52:23,557 these are the best of the best stepping on the floor. 1197 00:52:23,557 --> 00:52:25,392 - And that venue that wasn't really primed 1198 00:52:25,392 --> 00:52:28,062 for professional sports, quite frankly. 1199 00:52:28,062 --> 00:52:29,438 We lost a significant amount 1200 00:52:29,438 --> 00:52:31,440 of fans due to geography. 1201 00:52:33,400 --> 00:52:36,153 - If you are putting the games in a closet 1202 00:52:36,153 --> 00:52:39,656 that nobody can get to, you're conveying 1203 00:52:39,656 --> 00:52:43,327 to potential fans that this is not a valuable property 1204 00:52:43,327 --> 00:52:45,037 and that you don't care about it. 1205 00:52:45,037 --> 00:52:46,080 And people hear that. 1206 00:52:53,170 --> 00:52:55,506 - [Terri] Up, out, heel up, down. 1207 00:52:56,507 --> 00:52:57,966 How are we feeling? 1208 00:52:57,966 --> 00:52:59,927 - [Natasha] It's just the age catching up to me, 1209 00:52:59,927 --> 00:53:00,552 I came before a girl- 1210 00:53:00,552 --> 00:53:01,345 - Don't say that. Don't say that. 1211 00:53:01,345 --> 00:53:02,846 You're calling the old girl here Michaela. 1212 00:53:02,846 --> 00:53:05,307 - I know, I'm talking about oh you close to retirement. 1213 00:53:05,307 --> 00:53:06,558 (laughs) - Exactly. 1214 00:53:06,558 --> 00:53:10,104 - [Walt] Something we wanted to bring in was young veterans, 1215 00:53:10,104 --> 00:53:11,730 players with winning experience, 1216 00:53:11,730 --> 00:53:13,524 players whose skillsets fit us, 1217 00:53:13,524 --> 00:53:15,067 and then players whose personalities 1218 00:53:15,067 --> 00:53:18,278 would fit our culture and would fit who else we had here. 1219 00:53:18,278 --> 00:53:19,530 - [Natasha] I changed it, this is my logo. 1220 00:53:19,530 --> 00:53:20,739 - [Ari] Oh, is this your logo? 1221 00:53:20,739 --> 00:53:22,616 - [Natasha] Yeah, this. That's my logo now. 1222 00:53:22,616 --> 00:53:24,785 - [Ari] I love the lightning bolt. 1223 00:53:24,785 --> 00:53:26,870 - I know, that's why they call me Flash, 1224 00:53:26,870 --> 00:53:28,122 for a reason, girl. 1225 00:53:29,164 --> 00:53:31,542 - [Walt] So bringing in Tash was essential. 1226 00:53:31,542 --> 00:53:33,710 - I got a camera grew following me, you might see 'em. 1227 00:53:33,710 --> 00:53:34,837 - It's like, okay, now we can be 1228 00:53:34,837 --> 00:53:36,296 in competitive basketball games 1229 00:53:36,296 --> 00:53:39,716 and we can teach our young players how to win those games. 1230 00:53:39,716 --> 00:53:40,968 - It's nice outside, though. 1231 00:53:40,968 --> 00:53:43,637 I might literally sit on the rooftop probably today. 1232 00:53:43,637 --> 00:53:45,472 - [Jonathan] We have a defensive anchor. 1233 00:53:45,472 --> 00:53:48,392 We have somebody that is incredibly switchable. 1234 00:53:48,392 --> 00:53:51,937 She's capable of being a defensive player of the year. 1235 00:53:51,937 --> 00:53:54,481 - [Commentator] Natasha Howard, this time a three. 1236 00:53:55,566 --> 00:53:57,568 - [Jonathan] She's capable of being an MVP. 1237 00:53:57,568 --> 00:53:59,862 - [Commentator] Howard, what a feat! 1238 00:53:59,862 --> 00:54:02,072 - Unfortunately, due to the overseas season, 1239 00:54:02,072 --> 00:54:05,159 she had to report to us late. 1240 00:54:05,159 --> 00:54:08,078 And then when we got her, it was really exciting. 1241 00:54:08,078 --> 00:54:09,329 - [Commentator] Seven minutes to go. 1242 00:54:09,329 --> 00:54:12,499 Uh-oh, and we see Howard on the floor, 1243 00:54:12,499 --> 00:54:14,418 that does not look good. 1244 00:54:14,418 --> 00:54:15,919 - [Jonathan] And we had her for a couple of games, 1245 00:54:15,919 --> 00:54:18,422 and then we lost her to an MCL injury. 1246 00:54:20,174 --> 00:54:22,092 - I feel like it was a sign from God. 1247 00:54:23,135 --> 00:54:24,636 Time for you to actually relax your body 1248 00:54:24,636 --> 00:54:26,847 'cause it was back-to-back. 1249 00:54:26,847 --> 00:54:30,601 Coming on a 16, 12-hour flight and then playing. 1250 00:54:30,601 --> 00:54:32,436 It was just a lot on my body too, 1251 00:54:32,436 --> 00:54:34,229 'cause I played a lot overseas, so. 1252 00:54:36,064 --> 00:54:38,984 - We haven't had Tash, really for any of the season. 1253 00:54:39,818 --> 00:54:42,738 And so, now that she's back, this next 11 games, 1254 00:54:42,738 --> 00:54:45,240 we have a really good chance to make the playoffs. 1255 00:54:46,450 --> 00:54:47,701 - Everybody doubted us, like, 1256 00:54:47,701 --> 00:54:49,536 "Oh, is New York gonna be good this year"? 1257 00:54:50,662 --> 00:54:52,206 Even though I wasn't playin', 1258 00:54:52,206 --> 00:54:56,251 we still did a good job for the 1st half of the season. 1259 00:54:56,251 --> 00:54:58,837 So and I think we're gonna do a great job 1260 00:54:58,837 --> 00:55:00,130 in the 2nd half of the season, 1261 00:55:00,130 --> 00:55:02,049 they include the 11 games that we have. 1262 00:55:02,049 --> 00:55:05,260 (crowd cheering) 1263 00:55:05,260 --> 00:55:08,388 - [Commentator] 82-69, a 13-point win 1264 00:55:08,388 --> 00:55:10,933 for the Fever tonight. 1265 00:55:10,933 --> 00:55:15,938 (downbeat music) (buzzer buzzing) 1266 00:55:16,355 --> 00:55:18,106 - [Commentator] Connecticut getting the victory here, 1267 00:55:18,106 --> 00:55:21,235 71-54, the final. 1268 00:55:21,693 --> 00:55:23,987 - Our nerves, our youth, our inexperience 1269 00:55:23,987 --> 00:55:25,989 really showed up in those moments. 1270 00:55:25,989 --> 00:55:27,241 - [Commentator] As we take a look to 1271 00:55:27,241 --> 00:55:29,034 the Liberty bench there, not happy over there. 1272 00:55:30,035 --> 00:55:32,538 The final score will be 99-83. 1273 00:55:33,997 --> 00:55:35,666 - You do learn a lot more sometimes from your losses. 1274 00:55:35,666 --> 00:55:39,419 You do learn a lot more from the adversity. 1275 00:55:39,419 --> 00:55:41,004 - [Commentator] Liberty are out of timeouts. 1276 00:55:41,004 --> 00:55:42,422 To Sabrina Ionescu. 1277 00:55:42,422 --> 00:55:44,925 - [Commentator] Blocked by Brittney Sykes. 1278 00:55:44,925 --> 00:55:45,926 At the horn. 1279 00:55:47,094 --> 00:55:49,137 - [Sabrina] So for me, it's not for nothing, 1280 00:55:49,137 --> 00:55:50,764 but we have to learn from it. 1281 00:55:52,349 --> 00:55:54,268 Everything's on the line for your season. 1282 00:55:54,268 --> 00:55:55,686 - [Commentator] Liberty caught sleeping, 1283 00:55:55,686 --> 00:55:58,730 and a top from Brittney Griner. 1284 00:56:00,607 --> 00:56:02,776 Taurasi, left hand. 1285 00:56:02,776 --> 00:56:03,610 Yeah. 1286 00:56:04,861 --> 00:56:06,697 Phoenix, certainly been the aggressive team 1287 00:56:06,697 --> 00:56:07,864 in the early going. 1288 00:56:07,864 --> 00:56:09,157 Liberty gotta find their way and dig in. 1289 00:56:09,157 --> 00:56:10,951 Smith not slowing down at all. 1290 00:56:12,703 --> 00:56:17,291 Mercury went on a 17-0 run to end the game. 1291 00:56:17,291 --> 00:56:19,543 (buzzer buzzing) (whistle blows) 1292 00:56:19,543 --> 00:56:24,381 Final score, the Mercury 106, the Liberty 79. 1293 00:56:25,507 --> 00:56:27,467 - [Sabrina] Everything is slipping away, 1294 00:56:27,467 --> 00:56:30,470 and the Liberty has the opportunity 1295 00:56:30,470 --> 00:56:32,431 to control their own destiny. 1296 00:56:32,431 --> 00:56:34,391 So they still have a chance 1297 00:56:34,391 --> 00:56:36,893 to remain in the playoff contention. 1298 00:56:36,893 --> 00:56:39,771 But we're gonna have to win a couple games. 1299 00:56:43,817 --> 00:56:44,818 - I love you guys... 1300 00:56:45,986 --> 00:56:47,154 That was disappointing. 1301 00:56:48,488 --> 00:56:50,324 Our effort was really disappointing. 1302 00:56:52,326 --> 00:56:54,995 - I feel like we just live comfortable. 1303 00:56:54,995 --> 00:56:59,583 Even in practice, shoot around, games. 1304 00:56:59,583 --> 00:57:02,336 It's like, we gotta go take this, play fucking hard, 1305 00:57:02,336 --> 00:57:03,754 play your ass off every game. 1306 00:57:03,754 --> 00:57:05,297 When you leave this locker room, 1307 00:57:05,297 --> 00:57:06,632 you have to look at yourself in the mirror 1308 00:57:06,632 --> 00:57:09,926 and be like, "Did I give everything that I had?" 1309 00:57:09,926 --> 00:57:11,803 - They whooped our ass! 1310 00:57:12,471 --> 00:57:14,848 They made it tough as fuck for us to do anything. 1311 00:57:16,350 --> 00:57:20,270 We can beat that, but we had to make that our identity. 1312 00:57:20,270 --> 00:57:22,606 And everybody has to be there. 1313 00:57:22,606 --> 00:57:25,067 We all gotta come out and say, "You know what, fuck them. 1314 00:57:25,067 --> 00:57:27,569 I'm gonna fight, it's just us." 1315 00:57:27,569 --> 00:57:29,613 - And the thing that's so frustrating 1316 00:57:29,613 --> 00:57:34,034 is we should have learned this lesson games ago. 1317 00:57:34,034 --> 00:57:36,453 But then we just got fucking pumped again by LA. 1318 00:57:37,537 --> 00:57:40,791 Last game, and we didn't learn the lesson. 1319 00:57:40,791 --> 00:57:42,834 At what point do we learn the lesson? 1320 00:57:44,378 --> 00:57:48,465 Individually, and collectively, we have to decide 1321 00:57:48,465 --> 00:57:50,092 how bad do you want it? 1322 00:57:53,053 --> 00:57:54,805 - Guys, I'm sick of talking, just bring it in. 1323 00:57:54,805 --> 00:57:56,640 I'm I'm sick of it. 1324 00:57:56,640 --> 00:57:57,474 I'm sick of it. 1325 00:57:58,392 --> 00:57:59,559 Sick of saying the same shit. 1326 00:57:59,559 --> 00:58:01,645 Liberty, 1, 2, 3. - Liberty. 1327 00:58:05,982 --> 00:58:08,694 - The wear and tear on the body of year-round, 1328 00:58:08,694 --> 00:58:12,906 high elite level women's basketball, it's a grind. 1329 00:58:14,074 --> 00:58:15,742 You're gonna be in a training camp, 1330 00:58:15,742 --> 00:58:18,412 fast forward two weeks, you're in a regular season. 1331 00:58:18,412 --> 00:58:20,914 And then that thing ends and you go overseas 1332 00:58:20,914 --> 00:58:24,584 and you play that cycle forever, 1333 00:58:24,584 --> 00:58:28,171 until you decide that you no longer want 1334 00:58:28,171 --> 00:58:31,758 to go overseas, or what have, you wanna stay stateside. 1335 00:58:31,758 --> 00:58:33,176 But that is the cycle of life 1336 00:58:33,176 --> 00:58:35,762 for a pro basketball player in America. 1337 00:58:35,762 --> 00:58:38,348 (solemn music) 1338 00:58:39,850 --> 00:58:43,353 - [Howard] People don't often know that WNBA players 1339 00:58:43,353 --> 00:58:45,689 made the bulk of their money overseas. 1340 00:58:45,689 --> 00:58:48,108 But, by and large, that has been the case 1341 00:58:48,108 --> 00:58:51,236 for much of the WNBA's history. 1342 00:58:52,946 --> 00:58:55,115 (Commentator speaking in foreign language) 1343 00:58:55,115 --> 00:58:56,992 - To play for Kursk in Russia, 1344 00:58:56,992 --> 00:58:59,119 I'm on my second time playing with them. 1345 00:58:59,119 --> 00:59:00,954 I played in China for three years. 1346 00:59:00,954 --> 00:59:02,706 I played in Israel. 1347 00:59:02,706 --> 00:59:04,166 I played in Turkey. 1348 00:59:04,166 --> 00:59:05,625 - As a women basketball player, 1349 00:59:05,625 --> 00:59:07,002 you're literally playing year-round 1350 00:59:07,002 --> 00:59:09,671 and you're moving everywhere, 1351 00:59:09,671 --> 00:59:12,174 'cause you gotta go kick, you gotta chase the bag. 1352 00:59:13,467 --> 00:59:15,093 - Most players will go overseas, 1353 00:59:15,093 --> 00:59:17,888 and that's where the money is. 1354 00:59:17,888 --> 00:59:20,682 - The WNBA players have to sacrifice 1355 00:59:20,682 --> 00:59:21,808 their bodies year round 1356 00:59:21,808 --> 00:59:24,978 to make a living that's comfortable for them. 1357 00:59:24,978 --> 00:59:26,938 - That's why, women's basketball, 1358 00:59:26,938 --> 00:59:28,815 why we have a lot of the injuries that we do have, 1359 00:59:28,815 --> 00:59:31,318 it's just like the lack of rest, 1360 00:59:31,860 --> 00:59:34,988 the constant pounding from season to season to season. 1361 00:59:34,988 --> 00:59:37,324 Season in the WNBA, season overseas. 1362 00:59:38,742 --> 00:59:40,744 - I played in France for a season, it happened. 1363 00:59:40,744 --> 00:59:42,162 I came, and I got here the day before 1364 00:59:42,162 --> 00:59:43,413 the first game and played. 1365 00:59:43,413 --> 00:59:46,416 - Have the salaries be sustainable enough 1366 00:59:46,416 --> 00:59:48,168 so that they don't have to go overseas 1367 00:59:48,168 --> 00:59:49,836 and sacrifice their body. 1368 00:59:49,836 --> 00:59:52,798 - It's hard, it's sad, it's lonely. 1369 00:59:52,798 --> 00:59:55,842 I'll definitely not go overseas if we get paid more. 1370 00:59:55,842 --> 00:59:58,011 - After the season is over, 1371 00:59:59,346 --> 01:00:01,848 some who didn't get contracts will go overseas. 1372 01:00:01,848 --> 01:00:03,391 You might see 'em working in a McDonald's, 1373 01:00:03,391 --> 01:00:07,020 in the Burger King, but you play in a professional league. 1374 01:00:09,272 --> 01:00:10,732 Some people don't understand 1375 01:00:11,858 --> 01:00:13,860 the humiliation that's behind that. 1376 01:00:14,861 --> 01:00:15,695 We did. 1377 01:00:17,280 --> 01:00:20,325 But we did it for a freaking sacrifice, 1378 01:00:20,325 --> 01:00:24,120 a huge sacrifice for the next woman to come. 1379 01:00:29,960 --> 01:00:32,295 - My mom played basketball. 1380 01:00:32,295 --> 01:00:35,298 She had a great career at Cheyney University, 1381 01:00:35,298 --> 01:00:39,302 they went on to play for the first NCAA Tournament. 1382 01:00:39,302 --> 01:00:41,429 She's played in the final four. 1383 01:00:41,429 --> 01:00:44,391 But, for her, they didn't have the WNBA when she came out, 1384 01:00:44,391 --> 01:00:48,144 so her professional career started overseas. 1385 01:00:48,144 --> 01:00:50,814 That's where her career ended. 1386 01:00:50,814 --> 01:00:53,567 So I think, for her, it's just a proud moment 1387 01:00:53,567 --> 01:00:57,362 to have me be able to do the things that she couldn't do. 1388 01:00:57,362 --> 01:01:00,031 The reason that I wear 44 is because of her. 1389 01:01:00,031 --> 01:01:02,826 This isn't my number, this is hers. 1390 01:01:02,826 --> 01:01:06,079 This is me paying homage to her. 1391 01:01:06,079 --> 01:01:08,331 That's why I do the things that I do, 1392 01:01:08,331 --> 01:01:11,918 is because of my mother, because of what she's done. 1393 01:01:11,918 --> 01:01:13,920 So it's a good feeling to just be able 1394 01:01:13,920 --> 01:01:15,922 to represent her in that way. 1395 01:01:15,922 --> 01:01:18,592 (horn blowing) 1396 01:01:18,592 --> 01:01:22,762 - The players, I feel, have, especially in recent time, 1397 01:01:22,762 --> 01:01:25,682 been outspoken advocates of the changes 1398 01:01:25,682 --> 01:01:27,934 they want to see in the world. 1399 01:01:27,934 --> 01:01:29,185 - Women lead. 1400 01:01:29,185 --> 01:01:30,896 If you look at Civil Rights Movement, 1401 01:01:30,896 --> 01:01:33,023 even back in the day, look at the women's movement, 1402 01:01:33,023 --> 01:01:36,192 we lead, we activate, we engage, 1403 01:01:36,192 --> 01:01:37,861 because we understand what the level 1404 01:01:37,861 --> 01:01:40,572 of suppression means for us. 1405 01:01:40,572 --> 01:01:43,116 (somber music) 1406 01:01:46,620 --> 01:01:48,038 - We really feel like there's still 1407 01:01:48,038 --> 01:01:49,873 an issue here in America, and we wanna be able 1408 01:01:49,873 --> 01:01:52,626 to use our platforms, we wanna be able to use our voices, 1409 01:01:52,626 --> 01:01:54,461 we don't wanna let anybody silence us 1410 01:01:54,461 --> 01:01:55,879 in what we want to talk about, 1411 01:01:55,879 --> 01:01:58,632 so you guys can ask away about anything 1412 01:01:58,632 --> 01:02:00,216 that's happened in the society. 1413 01:02:01,718 --> 01:02:04,763 - 2016 Was a very unique time, I think, 1414 01:02:04,763 --> 01:02:08,099 for the W, I think it was a unique time for our country. 1415 01:02:08,099 --> 01:02:10,477 We were at a point, I think, as a team, 1416 01:02:10,477 --> 01:02:13,104 as a collective that we felt we had 1417 01:02:13,104 --> 01:02:17,192 to use our voices to try to bring awareness 1418 01:02:17,192 --> 01:02:18,902 and to help create change. 1419 01:02:22,238 --> 01:02:23,740 I remember how I felt, 1420 01:02:23,740 --> 01:02:26,076 I remember how multiple players felt 1421 01:02:26,076 --> 01:02:30,830 watching the death of Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, 1422 01:02:30,830 --> 01:02:32,582 and countless others that came. 1423 01:02:32,582 --> 01:02:35,585 - It is time that we take a deep look at our ability 1424 01:02:35,585 --> 01:02:37,754 to become compassionate and empathetic 1425 01:02:37,754 --> 01:02:39,506 to those suffering from the problems 1426 01:02:39,506 --> 01:02:41,174 that are deep within our society. 1427 01:02:41,174 --> 01:02:44,010 - The Lynx started the trend wearing T-shirts 1428 01:02:44,010 --> 01:02:46,346 and demanding that press conferences talk 1429 01:02:46,346 --> 01:02:49,265 about these crucial life or death issues 1430 01:02:49,265 --> 01:02:51,935 facing black people in this society. 1431 01:02:51,935 --> 01:02:54,938 Other teams got on board and did the same thing, 1432 01:02:54,938 --> 01:02:56,773 the Liberty, the Fever. 1433 01:02:56,773 --> 01:02:57,732 - What I've learned, as an athlete, 1434 01:02:57,732 --> 01:02:59,693 of this rising generation is 1435 01:02:59,693 --> 01:03:01,403 that we're no longer comfortable 1436 01:03:01,403 --> 01:03:03,279 simply staying on the sidelines. 1437 01:03:03,279 --> 01:03:08,326 - We had the ability to bring 144 women together 1438 01:03:08,326 --> 01:03:10,787 to basically say, "This is how we're gonna message, 1439 01:03:10,787 --> 01:03:12,622 and this is what we're gonna do." 1440 01:03:12,622 --> 01:03:14,624 - If players are sitting here with these shirts on 1441 01:03:14,624 --> 01:03:16,710 and you're asking them, "How do you feel about missing 1442 01:03:16,710 --> 01:03:18,712 that layup, and you lost the game?" 1443 01:03:18,712 --> 01:03:20,338 And the person's like, "I'm wearing this 1444 01:03:20,338 --> 01:03:22,799 because somebody's dead and their family's grieving, 1445 01:03:22,799 --> 01:03:24,217 and this has to end." 1446 01:03:24,217 --> 01:03:25,969 Who has the guts to ask that? 1447 01:03:25,969 --> 01:03:28,722 And for them to demand that the narrative change, 1448 01:03:28,722 --> 01:03:32,225 and them using their platforms to force it to change. 1449 01:03:32,225 --> 01:03:35,603 - It's unfortunate that the WNBA has fined us 1450 01:03:35,603 --> 01:03:38,064 and not supported its players. 1451 01:03:38,064 --> 01:03:41,234 - The league's reaction was to fine us 1452 01:03:41,234 --> 01:03:44,529 for not listening, I guess, to protocols. 1453 01:03:44,529 --> 01:03:47,532 - The league was afraid of what putting 1454 01:03:47,532 --> 01:03:49,909 a progressive foot forward would mean 1455 01:03:49,909 --> 01:03:53,538 for the existential life of the league. 1456 01:03:53,538 --> 01:03:55,749 - It made us more united. 1457 01:03:55,749 --> 01:03:58,168 We had conversations in our locker room 1458 01:03:58,168 --> 01:04:00,754 because the reality of it is some players were saying, 1459 01:04:00,754 --> 01:04:04,758 "Look, I can't afford a fine, I can't afford a $500 fine." 1460 01:04:04,758 --> 01:04:06,509 They're not getting paid enough. 1461 01:04:06,509 --> 01:04:07,969 But you have veterans sitting in a room, 1462 01:04:07,969 --> 01:04:10,513 like me, like Tanisha Wright, like Tina Charles, 1463 01:04:10,513 --> 01:04:12,599 like Epiphanny Prince, other veterans 1464 01:04:12,599 --> 01:04:13,933 that are in the room saying, 1465 01:04:13,933 --> 01:04:15,894 "I'll pay your fine." 1466 01:04:15,894 --> 01:04:18,021 Because, in order for a movement to happen, 1467 01:04:18,021 --> 01:04:20,607 you have to have everybody 10 toes down, 1468 01:04:20,607 --> 01:04:23,068 facing forward and going as one. 1469 01:04:23,068 --> 01:04:24,611 - The Liberty were front and center, 1470 01:04:24,611 --> 01:04:26,738 and the Minnesota Lynx were front and center. 1471 01:04:26,738 --> 01:04:28,364 Swim is such a great leader. 1472 01:04:28,364 --> 01:04:31,701 She really taught me a lot about how 1473 01:04:31,701 --> 01:04:34,370 the front office could really best support 1474 01:04:34,370 --> 01:04:36,206 what the player initiatives were. 1475 01:04:37,665 --> 01:04:41,544 - It is a lovely idea to think that the league decided 1476 01:04:41,544 --> 01:04:43,463 to be progressive about this on its own, 1477 01:04:43,463 --> 01:04:46,132 but I honestly believe it came down to 1478 01:04:46,132 --> 01:04:49,886 as whatever the leadgue had to fear from Nike or Adidas 1479 01:04:49,886 --> 01:04:52,472 or some other company held in comparison 1480 01:04:52,472 --> 01:04:55,558 to knowing without the buy-in of players 1481 01:04:55,558 --> 01:04:56,893 they did not have a league. 1482 01:04:59,395 --> 01:05:01,564 - In 2016 the league wasn't ready, 1483 01:05:01,564 --> 01:05:04,984 the world wasn't ready, sports viewers were not ready. 1484 01:05:04,984 --> 01:05:07,821 Move on to 2020, things are very different. 1485 01:05:07,821 --> 01:05:09,906 Some of the players said, 1486 01:05:09,906 --> 01:05:12,575 "I'm not gonna play unless you let us dedicate 1487 01:05:12,575 --> 01:05:14,369 the season to social justice." 1488 01:05:14,369 --> 01:05:17,705 We're gonna go into this wobble in COVID-hotspot, Florida, 1489 01:05:17,705 --> 01:05:21,167 but we're also going to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, 1490 01:05:21,167 --> 01:05:26,172 and we're going to advocate for the end to police brutality. 1491 01:05:27,590 --> 01:05:29,425 - You have those oblivious people out there in the world 1492 01:05:29,425 --> 01:05:31,761 who thinks the WNBA is a joke. 1493 01:05:31,761 --> 01:05:35,431 And we have 144 people, women, 1494 01:05:35,431 --> 01:05:37,851 who's gonna tell you to your face 1495 01:05:37,851 --> 01:05:39,727 that we're not a fucking joke. 1496 01:05:39,727 --> 01:05:41,187 We mean everything we say, 1497 01:05:41,187 --> 01:05:43,523 we stand behind everything we believe in, 1498 01:05:43,523 --> 01:05:46,276 and we're gonna keep fighting for what's right. 1499 01:05:46,276 --> 01:05:50,446 - That, for me, is the magic of 25 years later. 1500 01:05:50,446 --> 01:05:53,783 This is a new woman that I'm seeing playing basketball, 1501 01:05:53,783 --> 01:05:56,286 this is a new league, a new platform. 1502 01:05:56,286 --> 01:05:58,204 (gentle bright music) 1503 01:05:58,204 --> 01:05:59,622 - Last month, we announced 1504 01:05:59,622 --> 01:06:01,958 our groundbreaking Collective Bargaining Agreement. 1505 01:06:01,958 --> 01:06:03,293 We can pay our players more, 1506 01:06:03,293 --> 01:06:04,794 give them a better travel experience, 1507 01:06:04,794 --> 01:06:07,172 give them better benefits, whether it's maternity 1508 01:06:07,172 --> 01:06:10,633 or childcare stipend or fertility benefits. 1509 01:06:11,801 --> 01:06:13,887 - The ladies, with this last past CBA, 1510 01:06:13,887 --> 01:06:17,807 they understood the assignment and they got it done. 1511 01:06:17,807 --> 01:06:20,393 - The Collective Bargaining Agreement, or CBA, 1512 01:06:20,393 --> 01:06:21,978 lays out the rules of the road. 1513 01:06:21,978 --> 01:06:25,273 Everything from how players move between teams 1514 01:06:25,273 --> 01:06:26,983 to how much money they're going to make 1515 01:06:26,983 --> 01:06:28,735 to the way in which they're treated, 1516 01:06:28,735 --> 01:06:31,070 day to day, by their teams. 1517 01:06:31,070 --> 01:06:33,573 - That's where onsite childcare 1518 01:06:33,573 --> 01:06:35,700 during game days and practices came in. 1519 01:06:35,700 --> 01:06:38,161 That's where apartments with two bedrooms 1520 01:06:38,161 --> 01:06:39,370 rather than one came in. 1521 01:06:39,370 --> 01:06:41,664 It turns out that the people who play 1522 01:06:41,664 --> 01:06:44,667 in the WNBA understand that when you have a small child 1523 01:06:44,667 --> 01:06:47,170 you might need a separate space for that child. 1524 01:06:47,170 --> 01:06:50,089 - The WNBA wants to make sure 1525 01:06:50,089 --> 01:06:53,009 that its players do not have to play abroad. 1526 01:06:53,009 --> 01:06:55,970 Things like increasing the maximum salary 1527 01:06:55,970 --> 01:07:01,017 from 119,500 to 215,000, overnight, 1528 01:07:01,017 --> 01:07:02,227 helps to get you there. 1529 01:07:02,227 --> 01:07:04,020 - Women have been asked to be grateful 1530 01:07:04,020 --> 01:07:05,521 to be able to play sports. 1531 01:07:05,521 --> 01:07:06,856 Today's generation is like, 1532 01:07:06,856 --> 01:07:08,900 "I'm sorry, we have to be what again?" 1533 01:07:08,900 --> 01:07:11,236 "Why do I have to deal with the legacy of the stuff 1534 01:07:11,236 --> 01:07:13,529 that you guys should have fixed 30 years ago?" 1535 01:07:13,529 --> 01:07:15,448 I am glad they feel that way 1536 01:07:15,448 --> 01:07:17,700 and I hope they're gonna use all of that energy 1537 01:07:17,700 --> 01:07:20,870 to push for the recognition and the respect 1538 01:07:20,870 --> 01:07:23,289 that they deserve as athletes. 1539 01:07:23,289 --> 01:07:24,123 - Are you ready? 1540 01:07:27,502 --> 01:07:30,880 - God wants you to take full access 1541 01:07:30,880 --> 01:07:33,967 of all that he has for you. 1542 01:07:33,967 --> 01:07:37,637 Take advantage of the power he gives you, 1543 01:07:37,637 --> 01:07:40,974 take advantage of the healing he gives you. 1544 01:07:40,974 --> 01:07:44,811 If you don't, you only limit yourself. 1545 01:07:45,478 --> 01:07:48,606 He wants you to be all you can be. 1546 01:07:48,606 --> 01:07:50,191 (woman laughing) 1547 01:07:50,191 --> 01:07:52,527 - [Player] Yes, B. Yes, B. 1548 01:07:52,860 --> 01:07:54,862 (hands clapping) 1549 01:07:54,862 --> 01:07:56,823 - [Yvette] Lord, we pray that they would play 1550 01:07:56,823 --> 01:07:57,740 with excellence, oh God. 1551 01:07:57,740 --> 01:07:59,409 - Even through all the ups and downs, 1552 01:07:59,409 --> 01:08:02,537 all the inconsistencies, all the close losses 1553 01:08:02,537 --> 01:08:04,497 and crazy win, we're still not out. 1554 01:08:04,497 --> 01:08:05,873 - [Yvette] We thank you for them. 1555 01:08:05,873 --> 01:08:07,667 - In order for us to have a chance 1556 01:08:07,667 --> 01:08:09,961 to be in the playoffs we had to win this game. 1557 01:08:09,961 --> 01:08:12,297 - [Yvette] In Jesus name, amen. 1558 01:08:12,297 --> 01:08:13,798 - [All] Amen. Thank you. 1559 01:08:14,424 --> 01:08:16,509 - [Michaela] We need to solidify a playoff spot. 1560 01:08:16,509 --> 01:08:19,470 - So everybody came in with that mindset 1561 01:08:19,470 --> 01:08:21,472 and that focus of we don't want this 1562 01:08:21,472 --> 01:08:23,099 to potentially be our last game. 1563 01:08:24,851 --> 01:08:26,894 - My grandma, she's paying attention to sports now. 1564 01:08:26,894 --> 01:08:28,855 She was like, "You know you have to win the game, right?" 1565 01:08:28,855 --> 01:08:30,273 And I was like, yes, grandma, 1566 01:08:30,273 --> 01:08:31,274 that's what we're trying to do, 1567 01:08:31,274 --> 01:08:32,775 and we wanna make the playoffs. 1568 01:08:32,775 --> 01:08:35,111 [Announcer] New York Liberty! 1569 01:08:35,111 --> 01:08:37,071 - This is not over yet, we still have this game, 1570 01:08:37,071 --> 01:08:39,365 we can still make it to the playoffs. 1571 01:08:41,701 --> 01:08:43,202 - [Commentator] And we're off. 1572 01:08:43,202 --> 01:08:44,329 - This is do or die. 1573 01:08:44,329 --> 01:08:46,956 (upbeat music) 1574 01:08:49,334 --> 01:08:51,294 - [Commentator] Natasha Howard breaks the ice, 1575 01:08:51,294 --> 01:08:53,379 she gets the Liberty on the board. 1576 01:08:53,379 --> 01:08:58,092 ♪ Take 'em back with my enemies ♪ 1577 01:08:58,092 --> 01:09:01,387 - [Commentator] Sabrina hits the three. 1578 01:09:03,097 --> 01:09:05,641 ♪ I can run this whole thing with me eyes closed ♪ 1579 01:09:05,641 --> 01:09:07,810 ♪ We'd already gamin' ♪ 1580 01:09:07,810 --> 01:09:10,938 - [Commentator] Sami Whitcomb will try for three 1581 01:09:10,938 --> 01:09:12,482 the old-fashioned way. 1582 01:09:12,482 --> 01:09:13,983 ♪ Get a mic, need a medic ♪ 1583 01:09:13,983 --> 01:09:15,401 ♪ You might talk so slick ♪ 1584 01:09:15,401 --> 01:09:16,819 ♪ If I say it then I mean it ♪ 1585 01:09:16,819 --> 01:09:19,238 - [Commentator] Sami Whitcomb doesn't hesitate. 1586 01:09:19,238 --> 01:09:20,531 ♪ I'm a boss ♪ 1587 01:09:20,531 --> 01:09:21,991 ♪ That's how the coins was tossed ♪ 1588 01:09:21,991 --> 01:09:23,034 ♪ Hopin' that I lose ♪ 1589 01:09:23,034 --> 01:09:26,287 ♪ Well I'm sorry for your loss ♪ 1590 01:09:26,287 --> 01:09:28,373 - [Commentator] Natasha Howard's on fire, 1591 01:09:28,373 --> 01:09:30,666 she's got 13 all by herself. 1592 01:09:30,666 --> 01:09:31,918 ♪ Win by any means ♪ 1593 01:09:31,918 --> 01:09:33,628 - [Commentator] They cut off Sabrina. 1594 01:09:33,628 --> 01:09:34,670 ♪ Win by any means ♪ 1595 01:09:34,670 --> 01:09:36,297 ♪ Say, win now, win now ♪ 1596 01:09:36,297 --> 01:09:37,965 - [Commentator] Hold back the baby. 1597 01:09:37,965 --> 01:09:39,467 Hits from deep, 1598 01:09:40,426 --> 01:09:42,804 The 1st half will come to a close. 1599 01:09:42,804 --> 01:09:46,808 The New York Liberty with a 17-point advantage 1600 01:09:46,808 --> 01:09:49,685 led by Natasha Howard's 14 points. 1601 01:09:49,685 --> 01:09:51,604 ♪ Right up to the game, right up to the game ♪ 1602 01:09:51,604 --> 01:09:53,898 ♪ This is my show ♪ 1603 01:09:53,898 --> 01:09:55,608 - [Walt] We did start to get lazy defensively, 1604 01:09:55,608 --> 01:09:57,693 and they bailed us, they missed some shots. 1605 01:09:57,693 --> 01:09:59,695 We got lazy and got lucky. 1606 01:09:59,695 --> 01:10:01,697 They've gotta tighten that up. 1607 01:10:01,697 --> 01:10:04,200 You know what? They in the cause go to the aggressor. 1608 01:10:04,200 --> 01:10:06,536 We started out that way punching, we can't let up. 1609 01:10:06,536 --> 01:10:08,037 We can not. 1610 01:10:08,037 --> 01:10:11,124 (players chattering) 1611 01:10:12,291 --> 01:10:13,793 - I would like to see more of this. 1612 01:10:13,793 --> 01:10:15,878 This driving kick, gets you two in the paint. 1613 01:10:15,878 --> 01:10:18,673 Great drive, great drive, I love it, keep it up. 1614 01:10:18,673 --> 01:10:20,299 Offensively, you guys have done a hell of a job 1615 01:10:20,299 --> 01:10:22,427 and you guys cannot let up one bit. 1616 01:10:22,427 --> 01:10:24,262 - Mm hmm. Okay, not one bit. 1617 01:10:24,262 --> 01:10:26,222 Those doubles have to stay aggressive as shit, okay? 1618 01:10:26,222 --> 01:10:27,932 We're not gonna let 'em get back into this game. 1619 01:10:27,932 --> 01:10:29,392 Liberty, 1, 2, 3. - Liberty! 1620 01:10:29,392 --> 01:10:31,394 - [Walt] Come on, ya'll. 1621 01:10:33,229 --> 01:10:34,981 - Okay, we up 20. 1622 01:10:34,981 --> 01:10:37,859 No way we about to give away a 20-point lead. 1623 01:10:37,859 --> 01:10:39,735 (tense music) 1624 01:10:39,735 --> 01:10:40,862 - Okay, here we go. 1625 01:10:40,862 --> 01:10:43,906 (players chattering) 1626 01:10:45,408 --> 01:10:47,493 - [Commentator] Cloud voice up the three and knocks it down. 1627 01:10:47,493 --> 01:10:49,662 Mitchell hits the three. 1628 01:10:49,662 --> 01:10:52,081 - And by the time you know it. 1629 01:10:53,332 --> 01:10:55,751 - [Commentator] Ariel Atkins then hits the three. 1630 01:10:55,751 --> 01:10:57,795 - In just a matter of seconds. 1631 01:10:57,795 --> 01:10:59,922 - [Commentator] Atkins again. Feeling it! 1632 01:10:59,922 --> 01:11:02,008 Ariel Atkins knocks it down 1633 01:11:02,008 --> 01:11:03,926 and the lead is down to 10. 1634 01:11:05,136 --> 01:11:06,220 - We're leading. - B! 1635 01:11:06,220 --> 01:11:07,722 - Get it, get it, get it, get it get it! 1636 01:11:08,181 --> 01:11:10,683 - Tom! Hold them done there, Mich. 1637 01:11:12,226 --> 01:11:14,187 - [Commentator] Walker-Kimbrough. 1638 01:11:14,187 --> 01:11:15,605 - And they cut it to single digits, 1639 01:11:15,605 --> 01:11:18,107 and I was like, what the fuck? 1640 01:11:19,108 --> 01:11:20,693 - God damn it, they can't score. 1641 01:11:20,693 --> 01:11:22,695 - [Walt] Pick up! 1642 01:11:22,695 --> 01:11:26,115 - [Commentator] Walker-Kimbrough hits the three. 1643 01:11:26,115 --> 01:11:28,201 And the lead is down to five. 1644 01:11:28,201 --> 01:11:30,661 Playoff implications on the line. 1645 01:11:30,661 --> 01:11:32,455 (tense music continues) 1646 01:11:32,455 --> 01:11:34,290 - [Player] Up, up, up! 1647 01:11:35,458 --> 01:11:38,794 - She's just running into us and knocking us. 1648 01:11:38,794 --> 01:11:39,712 Jesus Christ! 1649 01:11:39,712 --> 01:11:41,214 - Time is on our side, y'all! 1650 01:11:41,214 --> 01:11:42,965 Come on, time is on our side! 1651 01:11:42,965 --> 01:11:44,300 - [Walt] Dig in! Dig in! 1652 01:11:46,052 --> 01:11:48,971 - Go, go, go! - Come on! Come on! 1653 01:11:48,971 --> 01:11:50,097 Time-out! 1654 01:11:50,097 --> 01:11:53,601 (whistle blows) (tense music continues) 1655 01:11:53,601 --> 01:11:55,394 You got 'em, Dus. - We know it. 1656 01:11:55,394 --> 01:11:57,271 B, you're gonna handle (indistinct) 1657 01:11:57,271 --> 01:11:58,981 (indistinct) we've done this screen, 1658 01:11:58,981 --> 01:12:00,858 we're comin' up high, stay high. - Yeah. 1659 01:12:00,858 --> 01:12:01,567 That's it. 1660 01:12:01,567 --> 01:12:03,027 - Everything we've learned from other fucking game, 1661 01:12:03,027 --> 01:12:04,529 right here, so come on, come on! 1662 01:12:04,529 --> 01:12:06,656 - Liberty, 1, 2, 3! - Liberty! 1663 01:12:06,656 --> 01:12:09,075 - We had to play to win, we had to go back 1664 01:12:09,075 --> 01:12:11,661 to what was working for us in the 1st quarter. 1665 01:12:14,914 --> 01:12:19,961 Playing to win instead of playing not to lose. 1666 01:12:19,961 --> 01:12:23,172 - [Player] Forward! Three! 1667 01:12:23,923 --> 01:12:25,258 ♪ Got 'em to the game ♪ 1668 01:12:25,258 --> 01:12:26,759 (crowd cheering) (upbeat music) 1669 01:12:26,759 --> 01:12:28,594 ♪ Right until the 28 ♪ 1670 01:12:28,594 --> 01:12:30,596 ♪ Bad out, bad out Win by any means ♪ 1671 01:12:30,596 --> 01:12:32,932 [Announcer] Sabrina Ionescu! 1672 01:12:34,600 --> 01:12:36,852 - [Walt] Hey, we need (indistinct) 1673 01:12:36,852 --> 01:12:38,688 - [Player] I know. 1674 01:12:38,688 --> 01:12:40,356 - [Player] Nice bin! 1675 01:12:41,524 --> 01:12:42,775 - They're not gonna steal this game from us 1676 01:12:42,775 --> 01:12:44,902 like we've had done to us plenty of times. 1677 01:12:44,902 --> 01:12:47,113 (upbeat music continues) 1678 01:12:47,113 --> 01:12:48,531 - [Woman] Howard! 1679 01:12:52,285 --> 01:12:54,453 - [Commentator] Sabrina Ionescu, and that's the quick shot 1680 01:12:54,453 --> 01:12:57,373 off there and Ionescu hits it again! 1681 01:12:57,373 --> 01:12:59,834 Another huge bucket! 1682 01:12:59,834 --> 01:13:01,460 ♪ Welcome to the game, this is my show ♪ 1683 01:13:01,460 --> 01:13:05,840 - [Commentator] They win this game tonight. 1684 01:13:05,840 --> 01:13:08,134 The New York Liberty will be in the post-season 1685 01:13:08,134 --> 01:13:11,804 for the first time since 2017. 1686 01:13:11,804 --> 01:13:14,974 ♪ Bow down to the queen ♪ 1687 01:13:14,974 --> 01:13:16,225 - It's fuckin' great. (chuckles) 1688 01:13:16,225 --> 01:13:17,977 ♪ To the queen right now ♪ 1689 01:13:17,977 --> 01:13:21,272 (crowd cheering) 1690 01:13:21,272 --> 01:13:23,274 - The one thing you need to win a championship, 1691 01:13:23,274 --> 01:13:25,067 you have to obviously have the players, 1692 01:13:25,067 --> 01:13:28,154 you have to have the staff that supports the players, 1693 01:13:28,154 --> 01:13:29,363 you have to have the resources. 1694 01:13:29,363 --> 01:13:31,490 It's a grind throughout the WNBA season, 1695 01:13:31,490 --> 01:13:33,993 you need a little bit of luck with some health. 1696 01:13:33,993 --> 01:13:36,329 But at the end of the day, you have to have 1697 01:13:36,329 --> 01:13:40,666 that persona of we are here to win day in and day out. 1698 01:13:40,666 --> 01:13:45,004 This team is young, but you see that they want it, 1699 01:13:45,004 --> 01:13:47,256 it's now just about learning what it looks like. 1700 01:13:47,256 --> 01:13:49,133 (crowd cheering) 1701 01:13:49,133 --> 01:13:51,761 - It's a desire to want it that bad. 1702 01:13:51,761 --> 01:13:53,262 You gotta want it that bad 1703 01:13:53,262 --> 01:13:58,059 that nothing freaking else matters but to win it. 1704 01:13:58,059 --> 01:14:00,561 - It's worth remembering that the New York Liberty 1705 01:14:00,561 --> 01:14:03,939 were a contender, year in and year out, 1706 01:14:03,939 --> 01:14:06,942 early on in the history of the WNBA. 1707 01:14:08,361 --> 01:14:12,573 - With Houston, we quickly developed that type of rivalry. 1708 01:14:14,033 --> 01:14:17,787 - The Houston Comets were, they won four championships in a row. 1709 01:14:17,787 --> 01:14:19,705 And New York came up against Houston Comets 1710 01:14:19,705 --> 01:14:21,457 in the finals for three of the four years 1711 01:14:21,457 --> 01:14:23,125 that they won those championships. 1712 01:14:23,125 --> 01:14:25,044 - Can't believe it, it's time to play, baby. 1713 01:14:25,044 --> 01:14:27,129 It's that time again! 1714 01:14:27,129 --> 01:14:29,131 - [Commentator] Van Chancellor has one time-out left, 1715 01:14:29,131 --> 01:14:30,633 but he's not gonna call it. 1716 01:14:32,426 --> 01:14:34,929 We'll put it in the hands of Cynthia Cooper. 1717 01:14:34,929 --> 01:14:36,138 Cooper to Thompson. 1718 01:14:37,306 --> 01:14:38,557 Tina Thompson puts it up 1719 01:14:38,557 --> 01:14:41,477 (indistinct) score with 2.4 remaining. 1720 01:14:41,477 --> 01:14:43,270 The Comets, up by 2. 1721 01:14:43,270 --> 01:14:45,064 (crowd cheering) 1722 01:14:45,064 --> 01:14:47,233 Liberty out of time-outs. 1723 01:14:47,233 --> 01:14:49,568 - The Houston Comets appeared to everyone 1724 01:14:49,568 --> 01:14:52,154 as if they had done what they normally do, 1725 01:14:52,154 --> 01:14:53,739 which is won again. 1726 01:14:53,739 --> 01:14:55,700 There's ticker tape on the ground, 1727 01:14:55,700 --> 01:14:58,494 and it would take an absolute miracle 1728 01:14:58,494 --> 01:15:01,247 for the New York Liberty to pull this out. 1729 01:15:02,665 --> 01:15:04,583 - I just remember grabbing the ball out of the net 1730 01:15:04,583 --> 01:15:09,004 and just like, damn we lose another one to these guys. 1731 01:15:09,004 --> 01:15:12,758 - Kim is slowly walking to get the ball. 1732 01:15:12,758 --> 01:15:14,343 No one's around me, so I'm screaming, 1733 01:15:14,343 --> 01:15:17,763 Kim, throw the ball, throw the ball. 1734 01:15:17,763 --> 01:15:19,932 - So Spoon had ran to the half-court line 1735 01:15:19,932 --> 01:15:23,269 and I had wanted to roll the ball to her 1736 01:15:23,269 --> 01:15:24,437 just to maximize the clock 1737 01:15:24,437 --> 01:15:26,272 and not use any time off the clock, 1738 01:15:26,272 --> 01:15:27,773 but when Tina Thompson saw that, 1739 01:15:27,773 --> 01:15:29,775 she started running back towards her. 1740 01:15:29,775 --> 01:15:33,112 And so I just had to pass it into her. 1741 01:15:33,112 --> 01:15:34,697 - [Commentator] They've gotta go the length of the floor. 1742 01:15:34,697 --> 01:15:37,867 Teresa Weatherspoon, at the buzzer, for three! 1743 01:15:37,867 --> 01:15:39,535 Oh, she put it in! 1744 01:15:39,535 --> 01:15:40,786 She put it in! 1745 01:15:40,786 --> 01:15:43,164 And the Liberty win game two! 1746 01:15:43,164 --> 01:15:44,331 What a finish! 1747 01:15:45,458 --> 01:15:46,917 Unbelievable! 1748 01:15:48,961 --> 01:15:51,005 - [Teresa] Time happens for me to throw it up there. 1749 01:15:51,005 --> 01:15:54,550 I heed and it goes up and it took forever to drop. 1750 01:15:56,719 --> 01:15:58,554 - I stopped and I was watching it thinking, 1751 01:15:58,554 --> 01:15:59,972 that has a chance. 1752 01:15:59,972 --> 01:16:02,725 - [Commentator] This crowd is absolutely stunned. 1753 01:16:02,725 --> 01:16:06,312 One of the most amazing finishes in the WNBA. 1754 01:16:06,312 --> 01:16:09,732 And there'll be a game played tomorrow afternoon. 1755 01:16:09,732 --> 01:16:11,567 - Everyone was on the floor on Teresa, 1756 01:16:11,567 --> 01:16:14,153 and I remember just leaning, falling on the pile 1757 01:16:14,153 --> 01:16:15,571 and all I could think of was, get up, get up, 1758 01:16:15,571 --> 01:16:17,031 'cause I don't hurt anyone, get up, 1759 01:16:17,031 --> 01:16:18,574 and we have to play tomorrow. 1760 01:16:19,825 --> 01:16:20,993 And I felt like we were gonna win it, 1761 01:16:20,993 --> 01:16:23,079 because then I felt like that was our omen. 1762 01:16:25,581 --> 01:16:28,250 That was our sign, but. (clicks tongue) 1763 01:16:28,250 --> 01:16:29,585 (solemn music) 1764 01:16:29,585 --> 01:16:30,961 - Hanging in there with us, baby. Hold on. 1765 01:16:30,961 --> 01:16:32,963 - All right, good job, Teresa. - Thanks, baby. 1766 01:16:32,963 --> 01:16:34,882 - And to know we worked so hard. 1767 01:16:35,466 --> 01:16:39,261 And we got there and it never happened for us. 1768 01:16:40,179 --> 01:16:41,597 It still bothers me. 1769 01:16:44,016 --> 01:16:45,810 It still bothers me because 1770 01:16:49,605 --> 01:16:52,066 those ladies chose me as their leader. 1771 01:16:53,150 --> 01:16:58,280 That I didn't come through for them bothers me. 1772 01:16:58,614 --> 01:17:02,368 - [Commentator] It's official, there's a dynasty in the WNBA, 1773 01:17:02,368 --> 01:17:06,872 the Houston Comets have won their 3rd straight championship. 1774 01:17:06,872 --> 01:17:09,875 - But to know that I didn't see 1775 01:17:09,875 --> 01:17:14,380 them celebrate a championship bothers me. 1776 01:17:16,465 --> 01:17:19,134 - (sighs) When they started winning those championships, 1777 01:17:19,134 --> 01:17:21,220 I believe Spoon took that personal, 1778 01:17:21,220 --> 01:17:22,721 and we all took it personal. 1779 01:17:22,721 --> 01:17:27,142 We were like, "Uh-uh, this isn't gonna happen," so... 1780 01:17:27,142 --> 01:17:31,647 - Spoon's last shot, it was the epitome of Spoon. 1781 01:17:31,647 --> 01:17:35,025 I will never ever stop, I'm only gonna lose 1782 01:17:35,025 --> 01:17:36,819 because we ran outta time. 1783 01:17:36,819 --> 01:17:40,739 And that's how it always felt with New York Liberty. 1784 01:17:40,739 --> 01:17:44,785 You never ever, ever give up on an opportunity. 1785 01:17:47,413 --> 01:17:48,747 - It's crushing. 1786 01:17:48,747 --> 01:17:53,252 To go to the championship a few times 1787 01:17:53,252 --> 01:17:58,007 and get so close to winning it, it's devastating. 1788 01:17:58,007 --> 01:18:01,468 And everybody's always thinking what could I have done? 1789 01:18:02,803 --> 01:18:04,972 - [Announcer] Here to perform "Unfinished Business", 1790 01:18:04,972 --> 01:18:08,767 please welcome Joan Jeff and The Blackhearts. 1791 01:18:08,767 --> 01:18:10,102 (crowd cheering) 1792 01:18:10,102 --> 01:18:12,104 (upbeat rock music) 1793 01:18:12,104 --> 01:18:13,939 ♪ Unfinished business ♪ 1794 01:18:13,939 --> 01:18:15,900 ♪ Risin' to the top ♪ 1795 01:18:15,900 --> 01:18:17,943 ♪ Unfinished business ♪ 1796 01:18:17,943 --> 01:18:19,945 ♪ Never gonna stop ♪ 1797 01:18:19,945 --> 01:18:25,784 - So we recorded the song and we played it at the halftime 1798 01:18:25,784 --> 01:18:27,703 at Madison Square Garden. 1799 01:18:27,703 --> 01:18:31,040 You gotta know I love the Liberty to do that. 1800 01:18:31,040 --> 01:18:35,044 ♪ Let's go Liberty ♪ 1801 01:18:35,044 --> 01:18:39,131 ♪ Let's go Liberty ♪ 1802 01:18:39,131 --> 01:18:43,093 ♪ Let's go Liberty ♪ 1803 01:18:43,093 --> 01:18:46,222 ♪ Let's go Liberty ♪ 1804 01:18:46,222 --> 01:18:48,057 ♪ Unfinished business ♪ 1805 01:18:48,057 --> 01:18:52,311 - The business isn't done, you still gotta win. 1806 01:18:53,145 --> 01:18:54,313 Women, - Heck yeah. 1807 01:18:54,313 --> 01:18:57,900 we gotta win, New York. Right. 1808 01:18:57,900 --> 01:18:59,860 ♪ Gonna break through ♪ 1809 01:18:59,860 --> 01:19:00,903 ♪ Ow ♪ 1810 01:19:00,903 --> 01:19:03,656 (crowd cheering) 1811 01:19:09,536 --> 01:19:12,539 (people chattering) 1812 01:19:37,022 --> 01:19:39,108 - Yes, Nina is here. 1813 01:19:39,108 --> 01:19:42,194 (players chattering) 1814 01:19:44,613 --> 01:19:46,865 - It's really unfortunate that we can't play 1815 01:19:46,865 --> 01:19:50,035 in our arena tonight, it's booked out. 1816 01:19:50,035 --> 01:19:51,495 A concert, I believe. 1817 01:19:51,495 --> 01:19:53,706 And that's not fair really. 1818 01:19:53,706 --> 01:19:55,541 That's pretty disrespectful for our team 1819 01:19:55,541 --> 01:19:58,127 that there's really no home court advantage. 1820 01:19:58,127 --> 01:20:00,170 We're just playing on a neutral site now. 1821 01:20:02,631 --> 01:20:04,383 - [Interviewer] Does that happen to the Phoenix Suns 1822 01:20:04,383 --> 01:20:06,135 when they make the playoffs? 1823 01:20:06,135 --> 01:20:08,053 - No. No, it doesn't. 1824 01:20:09,638 --> 01:20:10,472 - Let's get it. 1825 01:20:11,598 --> 01:20:12,433 - Here he is. 1826 01:20:12,433 --> 01:20:13,559 Yo, where do I go? 1827 01:20:13,559 --> 01:20:14,768 Just out? 1828 01:20:14,768 --> 01:20:15,978 - Out to the right. Out to the right. 1829 01:20:15,978 --> 01:20:16,812 Okay. 1830 01:20:25,195 --> 01:20:27,322 - [Interviewer] I'm curious as to what you think 1831 01:20:27,322 --> 01:20:31,035 this playoff appearance represents for this team? 1832 01:20:31,035 --> 01:20:32,578 - Moving forward we wanna be a playoff team 1833 01:20:32,578 --> 01:20:34,747 every single year, but this is where it starts, 1834 01:20:34,747 --> 01:20:36,206 it starts making playoffs first, 1835 01:20:36,206 --> 01:20:37,541 it starts getting that experience 1836 01:20:37,541 --> 01:20:39,460 and learning what it takes to win 1837 01:20:39,460 --> 01:20:42,463 in a single game elimination when your season's on the line. 1838 01:20:43,630 --> 01:20:45,632 - [Announcer] Welcome to ESPN's coverage 1839 01:20:45,632 --> 01:20:47,926 of the WNBA playoffs. 1840 01:20:47,926 --> 01:20:50,095 Welcome back the New York Liberty, 1841 01:20:50,095 --> 01:20:52,264 who have missed the playoffs the last three seasons, 1842 01:20:52,264 --> 01:20:54,600 won only two games last year. 1843 01:20:54,600 --> 01:20:56,185 Thank God they get to the playoffs 1844 01:20:56,185 --> 01:20:59,021 on the final day of the regular season. 1845 01:20:59,021 --> 01:20:59,897 - Let's go! 1846 01:21:02,191 --> 01:21:03,859 - Facing the New York Liberty, 1847 01:21:03,859 --> 01:21:05,194 I knew they could be a dangerous team 1848 01:21:05,194 --> 01:21:07,613 if we allow them to be dangerous. 1849 01:21:07,613 --> 01:21:10,574 So it's more about making sure we come out really strong. 1850 01:21:10,574 --> 01:21:12,242 - [Commentator] The winner will advance on, 1851 01:21:12,242 --> 01:21:13,535 the loser goes home. 1852 01:21:13,535 --> 01:21:15,537 - [Announcer] Let the playoff go on. 1853 01:21:15,537 --> 01:21:17,831 - [Commentator] And we are underway. 1854 01:21:17,831 --> 01:21:20,292 (dramatic music) 1855 01:21:20,292 --> 01:21:22,294 Sabrina Ionescu with the first bucket. 1856 01:21:22,294 --> 01:21:25,130 (players cheering) 1857 01:21:25,130 --> 01:21:28,300 (indistinct) waiting for Ionescu to come by. 1858 01:21:28,300 --> 01:21:30,552 (upbeat music) 1859 01:21:32,763 --> 01:21:36,308 Sabrina in her playoff day debut looks ready. 1860 01:21:36,809 --> 01:21:39,144 Howard hit the deck trying to draw the charge. 1861 01:21:39,144 --> 01:21:41,814 And she scores! 1862 01:21:41,814 --> 01:21:45,234 (upbeat music) 1863 01:21:47,820 --> 01:21:49,113 (whistle blows) 1864 01:21:50,405 --> 01:21:53,033 - They're being the aggressors, and they're getting calls. 1865 01:21:53,033 --> 01:21:55,160 They're gonna foul you guys, okay? 1866 01:21:55,160 --> 01:21:56,328 But we're going away from contact 1867 01:21:56,328 --> 01:21:57,579 instead of going into it. 1868 01:21:57,579 --> 01:21:59,581 Find an arm, rip up through it 1869 01:21:59,581 --> 01:22:01,166 and go get an hand on one, okay? 1870 01:22:01,166 --> 01:22:02,918 That's how we inch our way back into the stadium, 1871 01:22:02,918 --> 01:22:04,962 that's how they get frustrated. 1872 01:22:04,962 --> 01:22:08,966 (upbeat music continues) 1873 01:22:08,966 --> 01:22:11,009 - [Commentator] Whitcomb hanging out at the three point line, 1874 01:22:11,009 --> 01:22:12,177 where she lives. 1875 01:22:13,428 --> 01:22:16,014 9-0, Liberty run. 1876 01:22:16,014 --> 01:22:19,351 They're working very well now. 1877 01:22:19,351 --> 01:22:20,519 Betnijah Laney. 1878 01:22:22,354 --> 01:22:26,775 Laney, creating and then finishing with her off hand. 1879 01:22:29,778 --> 01:22:33,949 Richards thanks Whitcomb for the pass. 1880 01:22:33,949 --> 01:22:35,075 Look what we have here 1881 01:22:35,075 --> 01:22:38,203 with New York catapulting back on top. 1882 01:22:38,203 --> 01:22:39,621 Laney gets it. 1883 01:22:41,123 --> 01:22:43,125 - [Commentator] I don't know Betnijah Laney in this game. 1884 01:22:43,125 --> 01:22:46,670 - [Commentator] Laney follows her own miss. 1885 01:22:46,670 --> 01:22:49,298 Biggest lead for New York. 1886 01:22:49,298 --> 01:22:51,175 - [Commentator] Laney bringing that New York state 1887 01:22:51,175 --> 01:22:53,051 of mind to the desert. 1888 01:22:55,929 --> 01:23:00,767 - [Commentator] Griner, with Whitcomb whose a lot shorter. 1889 01:23:03,061 --> 01:23:04,146 Can they hit 'em again? 1890 01:23:04,146 --> 01:23:07,316 And she does, and then she screams. 1891 01:23:07,316 --> 01:23:09,067 Now, and can she counter? 1892 01:23:09,067 --> 01:23:09,902 Yes! 1893 01:23:11,570 --> 01:23:14,406 Cunningham with a new career play off high. 1894 01:23:14,406 --> 01:23:15,741 (crowd cheering) 1895 01:23:15,741 --> 01:23:17,034 - Oh my God! 1896 01:23:17,034 --> 01:23:20,412 (upbeat music continues) 1897 01:23:23,332 --> 01:23:24,333 - [Commentator] That's Sabrina returning 1898 01:23:24,333 --> 01:23:26,460 the favor and gets it in. 1899 01:23:27,461 --> 01:23:30,756 Takes the fight to the screen. 1900 01:23:30,756 --> 01:23:33,342 Eight ties and 12 lead changes. 1901 01:23:33,342 --> 01:23:36,678 Ionescu to Howard with the perfect pass. 1902 01:23:42,851 --> 01:23:44,186 Laney, a nice fake. 1903 01:23:44,186 --> 01:23:45,312 Beautiful. 1904 01:23:45,312 --> 01:23:47,940 That was a nice fake and a better pass to Howard. 1905 01:23:47,940 --> 01:23:50,567 So well executed by the New York Liberty. 1906 01:23:53,779 --> 01:23:57,783 (crowd cheering) 1907 01:23:57,783 --> 01:24:00,369 (upbeat music) 1908 01:24:01,286 --> 01:24:03,664 Sophie cross court to Skylar. 1909 01:24:05,791 --> 01:24:06,708 It goes in! 1910 01:24:09,711 --> 01:24:10,545 The game is tied. 1911 01:24:12,839 --> 01:24:15,676 Ionescu gets New York back on top. 1912 01:24:17,928 --> 01:24:19,096 Sophie. 1913 01:24:19,096 --> 01:24:21,390 Are you kidding me? 1914 01:24:21,390 --> 01:24:23,225 Everyone on their feet. 1915 01:24:26,728 --> 01:24:27,896 Skylar! 1916 01:24:27,896 --> 01:24:30,649 (crowd cheering) 1917 01:24:32,818 --> 01:24:36,029 New York does have a time-out, 1918 01:24:36,029 --> 01:24:37,990 but they're not gonna take it. 1919 01:24:37,990 --> 01:24:39,241 Played it. 1920 01:24:39,241 --> 01:24:41,159 (crowd cheering) 1921 01:24:41,159 --> 01:24:42,202 What a game. 1922 01:24:42,202 --> 01:24:45,831 Betnijah Laney with the three. 1923 01:24:45,831 --> 01:24:48,583 - [Sandy] Betnijah Laney, I mean, what an inspiring story, 1924 01:24:48,583 --> 01:24:50,919 the growth of her as a player. 1925 01:24:50,919 --> 01:24:53,964 She could win a game on her own. 1926 01:24:53,964 --> 01:24:56,300 - [Commentator] What a game here in Phoenix. 1927 01:24:57,384 --> 01:25:00,262 (coach talking) 1928 01:25:00,262 --> 01:25:02,431 - They were playing aggressive, 1929 01:25:02,431 --> 01:25:05,601 and then it came down to the last play of the game. 1930 01:25:05,601 --> 01:25:07,144 I had a feeling they're gonna trap BG, 1931 01:25:07,144 --> 01:25:08,603 'cause they've done it all game. 1932 01:25:09,604 --> 01:25:11,940 - [Player] Now! Go! 1933 01:25:11,940 --> 01:25:14,443 - [Commentator] Turner fouled! 1934 01:25:16,361 --> 01:25:19,114 With 0.4 seconds left to go, 1935 01:25:19,114 --> 01:25:21,700 Sami Whitcomb commits the foul. 1936 01:25:21,700 --> 01:25:26,496 - [Announcer] Sami Whitcomb (indistinct). 1937 01:25:30,709 --> 01:25:31,877 - [Player] Up! 1938 01:25:35,881 --> 01:25:38,550 (buzzer buzzes) 1939 01:25:38,550 --> 01:25:41,636 [Announcer] Turner only got one shot left. 1940 01:25:41,636 --> 01:25:43,055 - [Commentator] Got it. 1941 01:25:43,055 --> 01:25:44,723 (crowd cheering) 1942 01:25:44,723 --> 01:25:46,558 Time-out, New York. 1943 01:25:46,558 --> 01:25:51,646 But they only have 0.4 seconds to get a shot off. 1944 01:25:52,272 --> 01:25:54,316 Is that enough time for New York? 1945 01:25:59,488 --> 01:26:03,158 [Announcer] Is that as loud as you can be? Turn it up! 1946 01:26:03,158 --> 01:26:05,911 (crowd cheering) 1947 01:26:06,995 --> 01:26:09,706 (crowd chanting) 1948 01:26:10,999 --> 01:26:12,084 - [Commentator] They need Ionescu. 1949 01:26:12,084 --> 01:26:14,002 Her shot. Short. 1950 01:26:14,002 --> 01:26:17,297 (crowd cheering) 1951 01:26:17,297 --> 01:26:21,134 And the Phoenix Mercury in one of the 1952 01:26:21,134 --> 01:26:27,557 most memorable playoff games that we've seen in a while, 1953 01:26:28,767 --> 01:26:33,397 eliminate New York 83-82. 1954 01:26:35,357 --> 01:26:36,691 - Tonight that we was here, 1955 01:26:36,691 --> 01:26:39,069 we made mistakes but nothing too big, 1956 01:26:39,069 --> 01:26:40,612 we didn't win, but that's big. 1957 01:26:40,612 --> 01:26:43,073 This is the momentum we need going into next year. 1958 01:26:43,073 --> 01:26:44,699 We got this. Here we go. 1959 01:26:44,699 --> 01:26:46,118 - Come on y'all. - Come on y'all. 1960 01:26:46,118 --> 01:26:48,745 Liberty on 3. 1-2-3. - (All) Liberty! 1961 01:26:48,745 --> 01:26:49,663 (solemn music) 1962 01:26:49,663 --> 01:26:51,164 - [Announcer] The New York Liberty should not 1963 01:26:51,164 --> 01:26:51,790 hang their heads. 1964 01:26:51,790 --> 01:26:54,709 That young team came in here and they put up a fight. 1965 01:26:54,709 --> 01:26:55,961 - [Commentator] This should propel New York 1966 01:26:55,961 --> 01:26:57,963 into great things for the next year. 1967 01:26:57,963 --> 01:27:01,383 (solemn music continues) 1968 01:27:08,056 --> 01:27:10,767 - Having a team the way that we've build it, 1969 01:27:11,643 --> 01:27:13,728 we we're gonna go through those learning curves, 1970 01:27:13,728 --> 01:27:15,313 we were gonna take those losses 1971 01:27:16,731 --> 01:27:18,608 so that we could build this team the way 1972 01:27:18,608 --> 01:27:19,818 that we wanted to build it. 1973 01:27:19,818 --> 01:27:22,696 We build up a young core so that we can bring 1974 01:27:22,696 --> 01:27:24,739 in the Betnijahs, that we've bring in Natasha, 1975 01:27:24,739 --> 01:27:25,824 they wanna be here. 1976 01:27:28,410 --> 01:27:30,537 - Our goal is definitely to win a championship, 1977 01:27:30,537 --> 01:27:32,914 and it won't just be for us, 1978 01:27:32,914 --> 01:27:34,666 it will be for everybody that came before us, 1979 01:27:34,666 --> 01:27:36,585 everybody that believed in us. 1980 01:27:36,585 --> 01:27:39,796 - When we get to that point, that's when Teaspoon, 1981 01:27:39,796 --> 01:27:41,840 Crystal Robinson, they can get their rings. 1982 01:27:41,840 --> 01:27:44,468 - You have to do it for Teaspoon. 1983 01:27:44,926 --> 01:27:46,470 (dramatic music) 1984 01:27:46,470 --> 01:27:48,930 - The game means that much to me. 1985 01:27:48,930 --> 01:27:50,849 The game means that much that I leave 1986 01:27:50,849 --> 01:27:54,269 something for someone else to be able to take. 1987 01:27:54,269 --> 01:27:56,188 Not just take it from me, 1988 01:27:56,188 --> 01:27:58,440 how about leave something for someone else? 1989 01:27:58,440 --> 01:28:02,027 That when you walk away, that they got it. 1990 01:28:02,027 --> 01:28:05,238 You left something for someone else to grow in. 1991 01:28:05,238 --> 01:28:06,781 Leaders lead. 1992 01:28:06,781 --> 01:28:09,367 And when leaders lead, they make sure 1993 01:28:09,367 --> 01:28:12,787 they left the leader when they leave. 1994 01:28:12,787 --> 01:28:15,499 - This is reciprocal, this is giving back, giving back. 1995 01:28:16,291 --> 01:28:19,211 If you want something to last, it has to be a circle. 1996 01:28:19,211 --> 01:28:21,713 Those that started it, and it goes all the way around 1997 01:28:21,713 --> 01:28:24,049 to those that are currently in it. 1998 01:28:24,049 --> 01:28:26,718 - That's just the evolution of sports. 1999 01:28:26,718 --> 01:28:29,638 We're so happy to see these girls get these things 2000 01:28:29,638 --> 01:28:33,892 and to get more, now they have to bear that responsibility 2001 01:28:33,892 --> 01:28:36,144 and continue to build and grow 2002 01:28:36,144 --> 01:28:38,104 so that the generation after them, 2003 01:28:38,104 --> 01:28:39,606 it'll be even better for them. 2004 01:28:42,400 --> 01:28:45,320 - When you walk in that day and your day is done, 2005 01:28:45,320 --> 01:28:46,905 you better make sure you able to tell yourself you 2006 01:28:46,905 --> 01:28:49,074 did something great for someone else. 2007 01:28:49,074 --> 01:28:50,909 You helped someone else. 2008 01:28:50,909 --> 01:28:52,494 If you give a hand, you better be given a hand 2009 01:28:52,494 --> 01:28:54,162 to lift somebody up. 2010 01:28:54,162 --> 01:28:56,831 (solemn music) 2011 01:29:08,843 --> 01:29:11,429 (tense music) 2012 01:29:12,764 --> 01:29:14,808 - [Announcer] Michaela Onyenwere, Rookie of The Year. 2013 01:29:14,808 --> 01:29:18,186 (players cheering) 2014 01:29:18,186 --> 01:29:19,437 - Winning Rookie of The Year 2015 01:29:19,437 --> 01:29:22,023 was definitely not in my expectations. 2016 01:29:22,023 --> 01:29:24,859 (players chanting) 2017 01:29:26,778 --> 01:29:29,531 (dramatic music) 2018 01:29:38,456 --> 01:29:44,796 - [Announcer] Making her all-star debut, Betnijah Laney! 2019 01:29:44,796 --> 01:29:48,341 - I could not be more ecstatic for B to be an all-star. 2020 01:29:48,341 --> 01:29:50,969 - I guess now I am in the all-star club. 2021 01:29:50,969 --> 01:29:53,597 And I wanna stay there. (laughs) 2022 01:29:53,597 --> 01:29:56,975 - I have Betnijah as a all-star. 2023 01:29:56,975 --> 01:29:58,560 I said I just want you to know, 2024 01:29:58,560 --> 01:30:00,812 every all-star game that mommy played in, 2025 01:30:00,812 --> 01:30:02,272 mommy was the MVP. 2026 01:30:02,272 --> 01:30:04,232 (all laugh) 2027 01:30:04,232 --> 01:30:07,944 (energetic rock music) 2028 01:30:12,616 --> 01:30:14,451 ♪ Lookin' to run ♪ 2029 01:30:14,451 --> 01:30:16,286 ♪ Lookin' to score ♪ 2030 01:30:16,286 --> 01:30:18,204 ♪ You left me hanging' round ♪ 2031 01:30:18,204 --> 01:30:20,373 ♪ And I'm lookin' for more ♪ 2032 01:30:20,373 --> 01:30:23,376 - When somebody becomes available 2033 01:30:23,376 --> 01:30:26,796 that hasn't been available in a near decade, 2034 01:30:26,796 --> 01:30:28,548 that has championship experience, 2035 01:30:28,548 --> 01:30:29,341 (sharp whistling) 2036 01:30:29,341 --> 01:30:32,177 you have to take your shot at that person. 2037 01:30:32,177 --> 01:30:33,678 (audience cheers) 2038 01:30:33,678 --> 01:30:36,514 - I am the new head coach of the New York Liberty. 2039 01:30:36,514 --> 01:30:39,809 (audience cheers) 2040 01:30:39,809 --> 01:30:43,897 ♪ Unfinished business Risin' to the top ♪ 2041 01:30:43,897 --> 01:30:47,984 ♪ Unfinished business Never gonna stop ♪ 2042 01:30:47,984 --> 01:30:50,070 ♪ Unfinished business ♪ 2043 01:30:50,070 --> 01:30:53,156 - Uh-oh, I think we've got a super team 2044 01:30:53,156 --> 01:30:55,742 in the making in New York City. 2045 01:30:55,742 --> 01:30:57,535 - [Sportscaster 1] The Liberty acquired Jonquel Jones, 2046 01:30:57,535 --> 01:31:00,330 the 2021 WNBA MVP- 2047 01:31:00,330 --> 01:31:01,331 - [Sportscaster 2] One of the greatest players 2048 01:31:01,331 --> 01:31:02,832 in WNBA history. 2049 01:31:02,832 --> 01:31:04,250 - [Sportscaster 3] Breanna Stewart is headed 2050 01:31:04,250 --> 01:31:05,710 to the New York Liberty. 2051 01:31:05,710 --> 01:31:07,253 - [Sportscaster 4] New York landed another all-star, 2052 01:31:07,253 --> 01:31:09,214 point guard Courtney Vandersloot. 2053 01:31:09,214 --> 01:31:11,883 - We both saw our futures being really bright 2054 01:31:11,883 --> 01:31:12,884 here in New York. 2055 01:31:12,884 --> 01:31:14,344 - It would mean everything to me to be able 2056 01:31:16,096 --> 01:31:17,389 - It's exciting to see 2057 01:31:17,389 --> 01:31:19,182 the super team era is now happening. 2058 01:31:19,182 --> 01:31:21,059 - Jonquel came and then Stewie came 2059 01:31:21,059 --> 01:31:22,435 and then Courtney Vandersloot came, 2060 01:31:22,435 --> 01:31:24,729 and so now it's kind of the talk of the town. 2061 01:31:24,729 --> 01:31:26,064 - Once you see the greats, 2062 01:31:26,064 --> 01:31:27,899 it's like, "Oh, we're gonna win." 2063 01:31:27,899 --> 01:31:32,070 ♪ Unfinished business Risin' to the top ♪ 2064 01:31:32,070 --> 01:31:34,072 ♪ Unfinished business ♪ 2065 01:31:34,072 --> 01:31:36,199 ♪ Never gonna stop ♪ 2066 01:31:36,199 --> 01:31:38,243 ♪ Unfinished business ♪ 2067 01:31:38,243 --> 01:31:40,286 ♪ Got a job to do ♪ 2068 01:31:40,286 --> 01:31:42,622 ♪ Unfinished business ♪ 2069 01:31:42,622 --> 01:31:44,874 - Liberty are an incredible story 2070 01:31:44,874 --> 01:31:48,712 about the trajectory of women's sports. 2071 01:31:48,712 --> 01:31:51,047 Talk about going from Madison Square Garden 2072 01:31:51,047 --> 01:31:52,966 to the Westchester County Center, 2073 01:31:52,966 --> 01:31:54,634 to the Barclays Center. 2074 01:31:54,634 --> 01:31:58,555 It really is a story about the respect that's conferred 2075 01:31:58,555 --> 01:32:02,726 on women as athletes and on the potential future 2076 01:32:02,726 --> 01:32:04,310 of the league. 2077 01:32:04,310 --> 01:32:07,147 ♪ Let's go Liberty ♪ 2078 01:32:08,314 --> 01:32:11,151 ♪ Let's go Liberty ♪ 2079 01:32:12,485 --> 01:32:15,321 ♪ Let's go Liberty ♪ 2080 01:32:16,448 --> 01:32:18,158 ♪ Let's go Liberty ♪ 2081 01:32:18,158 --> 01:32:19,492 - [Sports Analyst 1] These players can play 2082 01:32:19,492 --> 01:32:21,411 and I think that's what I'm hearing more 2083 01:32:21,411 --> 01:32:22,912 and more and more of. 2084 01:32:22,912 --> 01:32:24,748 - [Sandy Brondello] The players get better and better. 2085 01:32:24,748 --> 01:32:26,166 - [Sports Analyst 2] It has been phenomenal. 2086 01:32:26,166 --> 01:32:28,626 It's reached the level that we hadn't seen before. 2087 01:32:29,753 --> 01:32:32,088 - Have you ever been to a WNBA game? 2088 01:32:33,840 --> 01:32:35,800 I'll leave you tickets. 2089 01:32:35,800 --> 01:32:37,010 If you go to a game, 2090 01:32:37,010 --> 01:32:38,178 and you can honestly go to that game 2091 01:32:38,178 --> 01:32:40,013 and tell me you didn't enjoy yourself, 2092 01:32:41,347 --> 01:32:43,433 I'll buy you some Jordan's, I'll buy you dinner. 2093 01:32:43,433 --> 01:32:45,852 ♪ Let's go Liberty ♪ 2094 01:32:47,645 --> 01:32:50,064 ♪ Let's go Liberty ♪ 2095 01:32:51,816 --> 01:32:54,235 ♪ Let's go Liberty ♪ 2096 01:32:55,862 --> 01:32:58,281 ♪ Let's go Liberty ♪ 2097 01:32:58,740 --> 01:33:01,576 ♪ There's unfinished business ♪ 2098 01:33:03,203 --> 01:33:06,039 ♪ Unfinished business ♪ 2099 01:33:07,040 --> 01:33:09,876 ♪ There's unfinished business ♪ 2100 01:33:11,419 --> 01:33:12,796 ♪ Unfinished business ♪ 2101 01:33:12,796 --> 01:33:14,214 - This is it? 2102 01:33:14,214 --> 01:33:15,131 Oh, my God. 2103 01:33:16,299 --> 01:33:17,217 - Thank you, guys. 2104 01:33:17,217 --> 01:33:18,218 This was so fun. 2105 01:33:20,011 --> 01:33:21,137 - Oh, my gosh, you know what? 2106 01:33:21,137 --> 01:33:22,305 How'd that fly. 2107 01:33:22,305 --> 01:33:23,556 The time went by fast. 2108 01:33:23,556 --> 01:33:25,141 - I did really good. 2109 01:33:25,141 --> 01:33:27,560 - I appreciate you all so much for your time. 2110 01:33:27,560 --> 01:33:28,728 Thank you so much. 2111 01:33:28,728 --> 01:33:29,646 Thank you. 2112 01:33:30,605 --> 01:33:31,231 Awesome. 2113 01:33:31,648 --> 01:33:32,899 Awesome. 2114 01:33:32,899 --> 01:33:34,692 ♪ Ow ♪