Renee Montgomery | Ep 79 | ALL THE SMOKE Full Episode | SHOWTIME Basketball

had us both on your shows. It was only right to, you know, come back around, especially with all the amazing news that's kind of surrounding you of Labist. I mean, get into the first and foremost congratulations, I'm becoming the first former player turn owner and executive. Thank you. Tell us how let's all all that came about? You know, it started back in October. Um. I felt like I wanted to do something something different, and there was a lot going on. We know, the A had a lot

going on. There was Stacy Abram shutting it down. The Hawks were very active with the more than a vote. So I just wanted to think, all right, how can we take this a step further? So then I thought I started to see about Atlanta Dream maybe selling the team. So I'm like, you know, I started to just think about it, talk to some some money people and see

if we could get some coins together. It didn't really work out in the beginning, but then I saw a Lebron tweet and I'm like, maybe they can get me in touch with the right people, And he got me in touch with the commissioner of the w n B A, Kathy Engelbert, and then after that it was off to the races. So leave it to Lebron. And it's crazy because like I had already kind of tried to put it in proposal before, but we didn't have the funds there.

We didn't have enough funds, and so, um, it was more so of who's already in the bids and how can we figure it out from there? Tell me what it feels like to to think owner and executive when you literally just stepped away from the game. It's crazy because my teammates is like, I think it's more waiting for them because I was just playing with them last year. For me, I think it was the next step. Honestly, Um, everything I was already doing was kind of moving towards

the business side of things. I think athletes shoul be more on the business. I don't know why we're not more on the business side of things. We know the business better than anybody else knows it. So I've been talking about that a lot, and just having the voice of the athlete. I know y'all been on teams where you're like, that makes no sense. Why are we doing it like that? We know things that make no sense. But if you have suits at the top that never played,

they have no ideas. So I just wanted to be that voice. I think that was the main thing. I think what's so amazing is obviously Kelly Loftler was the previous owner, and you know all the attention surrounding this last voting process back in November UM and you know she was running and and and really the turmoil started before that. You know the team, you guys actually had

kind of disagreed on some stances. And one thing I say about the w n B as you guys are so unified on all your messaging, which I don't even think you guys are ahead of the NBA on like you guys somehow saying like a smoke signal, you guys are all down for the ship, which I love. But talk to us a little bit about what it was like playing for her, and then once you kind of found out her true colors, when people kind of started

shifting to the other side. Yeah, you know the w n b A Unified you said it, uh, went into the wobble with the Social Justice Council. So that's kind of how everything got on the same page. I wasn't even in the wobble, but they was hitting me up like Yo, this is what we're doing, this is how

we move, and so I felt so connected. Um, and it was like, it's crazy being here in Atlanta and opting out because everything happened here and it's not even just with with the previous ownership, but just the runoff, Like who would have thought we would have had a run off that never happens, but it happened with us, you know, here in Atlanta, and it happened the year

I opted out. And so the players, I mean, you're right, like just stood tintoes down, like everybody who just was kind of like posted up behind me, behind everything going on. So um, it's it's wild to explain because as it kept happening, it kept getting more and more traction, and then I was like, yo, this is like this is kind of wild. Like even as I was like in a part of it, I was like, this is kind of crazy, what's going on? Because you're gonna have a

break more on making a dream a destination team. Yeah, we gotta do that. Like everybody loves coming to the eight, Like that's when you come to Atlanta. When you play Atlanta, people circle that on their calendars. They're telling their friends everybody that they're coming here, but nobody want to play here.

Like we're some with that, So I understand. I mean even when I left Minnesota, we won a championship in twenty seventeen, and when I was leaving Minnesota, everybody's like, yo, you're good, Like they was asking me why I'm going to Atlanta, and I'm like, I don't understand. I've lived in Atlanta for nine years, so I wanted to play for where I lived. But I don't know. We have to make it. People want to win, and just Atlanta

sports have not one. So yeah, like people love the city, but you love the city, would you want to win too? So as athletes, we have to make that next step um the dream. We're a little bit different in the sense of we've been to the finals multiple times we won, but the program just isn't there, the organization isn't there. So we're gonna start treating the players like professional athletes.

And I know on the men's side that's normal for y'all, but on the women's side, we don't necessarily get catered to like like it is on the men's side. So that's what I want to do with the Atlanta Dream. Just start making that that that destination. They just start getting the celebrities that support the guys need to support you out the same way, thank you, And I think

I think that's a big step. A lot of people come to the guys games, not even for the goddamn hals part to see at the game, but the women's team actually wins, so they need that same support. God damnage. Yeah, so I'm gonna see y'all at the game. It might be closed, you know, this season, but once everything opens up, Yeah, we need all that star power. And even with what happened with the n C Double A, like, let's talk

about that. Obviously, you guys have continued to fight for equal footing equality and then a perfect example of in the n B n C Double A is super slimy and slick anyway, and if if if it didn't get called out, it would have gone unnoticed. It would have continued to be the way. But someone happened to call out a reck of weights when the men have every minute. But then they try to come out and say instead

of the same, we're wrong. They make up some bullshit excuse that there wasn't plenty of room, and then someone shows there's plenty of room, you know what I mean, So what are your I guess you just add that to the checklist of you know that the fight for you guys. Know, And that's the thing, Like if anybody's been around women's sports, it's not new. Like in two thousand nine, we want a championship. We were undefeated and I'm sure that on the men's side, whoever won that

year probably had double the swag. But like you know what I mean, I'm not I'm not surprised. So anybody that's around women's sports, around sports in general, we know how it goes. You know, we still flying commercial, we know how it goes. I went from at Yukon we were lying private. You see what I'm saying. So if anybody is paying attention this is not a surprise, but it's not acceptable, Like we're not surprised, but we are

disappointed that man, Like, that's that's an oversight. And so what they said was, we really didn't plan on having any weight rooms until the sweet sixteen. Um, but why not that that's the question, you know, like that the excuse was that there wasn't any plan until the sweet sixteen. But what about the sixty four? Did they not want to get in a workout? Yeah? So for me, it's this is I'm glad it got called out. If we're

being honest, like I was. I was so happy that you had imagery because people won't believe it until they see it. Like some people have to see something to believe in it. So you saw the picture. You saw the picture, you saw the food, you saw the swag bags. You can't deny it. So now you gotta do something about it. What I thought was dope. There you start seeing other male athletes post on it, and I reposted it and a lot of people we posted it, you

know what I mean. And that's the kind of attention because as male athletes, our voices travel, you know, especially the guys still currently in the league. So it's we're all in this fight with y'all. Man, We're gonna keep pushing with you guys. I appreciate that. And speaking of no sho, a lot of college players spoke out ray Allen. I saw Steph Curry you like you guys, But that matters. I think a lot of people don't know. But it's kind of the same what Stack was saying about going

to the games. Sponsors care about that. Like it's like sponsors they might be on for the wrong reasons, Like you know, you saw all these sponsors post stuff like hey, women's in c double a D y'all need some weights, like you know you saw them. But I just want to know where they're hitting up the women inside before that happened, you know, like who's buying in when it's

not popular, who's buying in before the noise happened. So if they keep that content noise with allies like you guys, I mean, I think for whatever reason, the sponsors are like it, take us back to your upbringing childhood. When did you find basketball? Oh man, I grew up there. We didn't have it when I started practicing. I didn't even have a hoop outside. I was just dribbling all over the place. And then I did it for so long that my dad made a hoop, very unconventional hoop,

but it worked for me. Nobody from West Virginia had been high d one. On the women's side. We have Randy Moss, Jason Williams and all of them holding it down on the other side, um, but no one had been the one. No one for sure had been in the w n b A. So for me, I was just dreaming like And when I say that, I mean really like I didn't have anyone to to kind of

be like, oh, I want to be like that. I just when people would tell me, well you're kind of small, ill like yes, you know, like I would be okay. But it was just just the one to you know. I think that's what drove me. Just being in West Virginia. I'm like, how am I going to get these coaches to come here and look at me? And so I started playing a you and just our team ended up being really good. We had Candice Parker was on our team.

We started recruiting because we don't we don't necessarily have the talent pool like that, so we started recruiting from all over um, and we got on the map. And even when I became a McDonald's All American, it was like when I was there, people like, who is this West Virginia? You know, like it was who's this West Virginia girl? Um? But you know it just country roads brought me here, and you know what I mean, Like it's kind of what makes me. You know, I had

to like dream it. So when people are like, oh, this has never been done, I'm used to dreaming about stuff that's never been done. You gotta say country times team. You know, I went to ok So it's country out there. You're gonna get dizzy the road. Well, I don't know. So for me to be living here in Atlanta like this, like people don't really know how wild that is from my family and like my hometown, Like that's it's crazy.

What's happening? Yeah, very dead. Greended high school career three times state champ What stands out to most of you about your high school experience at basketball? That fourth year we didn't win. I'm not gonna lie. It was my senior year, so imagine winning every single year and then on my senior year we're losing the championship. So That's what stands out to me. Um, and then it reversed that. You can. We lost my first three years and then

my senior year we went undefeated. So I think with Hoopers, you definitely remember the losses more so than you remember the winds. I can remember things about the wins, but definitely remember that that fourth year, my senior year, just not going out on top. But you know, again West Virginia, it's the competition was actually better than what people would

think of. But it was like you still even though I had won three out of the four years, I had to go to Yukon like basically just fresh, starting over. Didn't nobody care about that, Like people that played in Cali, New York. I had lots of teammates from those areas. They didn't care like they were last placed. They was like, we're playing in New York like you in West Virginia. I ain't paying no mind. So just always just that

proving yourself mentality. It's easy to remember the losses when you win the championship on every level, at least three on every level. So I could see why you only remember getting a little you can not get it which one I mean that loss I can remember. That's it right with me, But you know you do. I kind of feel like you do learn more from lossuit. So obviously you worked hard to get the wins, but at the end of the day, you're not going to critique

a win. You know, for the most part, you're definitely a critique and remember like, damn, I can get better side. I mean, that's how you go from the loss, right, Yeah, what was your recruiting process? Like school, Um, we started to get on the map, so I really could have chose anywhere I wanted to go. Um, I chose you on my junior year, so I didn't even wait. I was like, what y'all want me? What you do? Like, let's let's do this. But it actually wasn't even in

the beginning. I was more so leaning towards Maryland because that's where my sister lives. So I'm like, all right, I can go to U M d um. They got a good program there, and then I just went to I went to my visit to Yukon. This is kind of crazy. I had all the other business lined up. I even put Hawaii on there because I just wanted to you know, sorry, so you already know I went to Yukon and signed with them right after King, So all the other trips, those were terrible calls to make.

Just letting everybody know West Virginia through a fit because I didn't take my trip to wu Um. I knew, like when I went there, they didn't roll up the red carpet for me. You know. Everybody else was like, yeah, you're gonna come here, You're gonna start for years. I'm like, how many people they're telling this too? Though, you know, like I just I like transparency. So Coach O M was like, look, we already got a point guard. We

know you're good. I don't know if you're gonna start, you know, like he's if y'all know Coach r M. And he's the same way for recruiting. So I think the players that go there, I think it says a lot about the players because you got people, Yeah, you got people promising you the world. So people that go to Yukon coach r In which just doesn't moves like that,

So that that says something about the players. I think what was your college experience, Like, I mean going to a legendary program, having a legendary coach able to capture one title your senior year. But I'm sure the experience is something you'll never forget, something you'll never forget. I mean, who already went there knowing the point guards that were before me? So it's like, I think that's that, that's the not to cut you off. Who was there when

you came in. So when I came in, it was Keisha Swania, so she was, um, she was one year ahead of me, so we didn't. It was it was almost wide open in a sense of that's kind of how I was making my Yeah. But when I say before me, I meant like a suber Jennifer Rosotti, just that group of caliber of point guards. So for me, it's for me like I said, I welcome that type

of shot, and I'm like, dang, it's lit here. So you have to you have to do something big to make an impact of the school like that, and you can. While everyone knows that we are good at partying, we played good we played good basketball too, But I think, but it's like no, And I say that because a lot of times it's like stores Connecticut, people are like, what do you do up there? Other than party? But I mean I think that the players we have a sisterhood.

You see us now, like we're all still close, Like it's not it's not like we're all still cool. Like we're all still close. Um, we got a group chat. And I think that's just the ties that we built, Like we build a real sisterhood there. And I think that's the culture that they make you have because practices is so hard, everything is so hard that you've gotta band together, Like we all got to be mad at coach together because we're not gonna beat him otherwise, Like

they make you figure it out together. So that's the thing I think I learned best at Yukon, just that he coach would do so many different things. We have practice guys. There will be like eight practice guys against us are five, and we'd have to figure out a way to beat the trap and we'd have to do different things. So he would always say, like I don't

really care what the circumstances, give me a solution. So I think that's kind of my mentality now moving forward on everything, Like all right, whatever the circumstances, there is a solution, Like, yeah, I gotta find it. Um, what was it like playing for him in particular? And maybe some advice that stuck with you early on, that that they got you through it. There's so much um, But

I would say planning for him early on. People you know, they always say coach has favorites, and I people like to label me as one of those, but I always

I still think I got yo that song. Um. Playing for him is like no other because everyone else on the other side hates him, and then you see like he's so down for you and he makes people mad, like he'll say whatever you probably think you're thinking as a player, and he's say, oh yeah, he's gonna say it, and he's gonna look at you in the face and be like and like, you know he's gonna he's about

that life. And so playing for him it makes you like proud, like you want to prove, Like if he says something to the media, I'll be like, yeah, I don't like listen, y'all already know Coach said that, So let's do our thing. Like just the advice that he always just gave us was that no one cares, Like like people think that people care about your situation, No one cares, like they don't care if we're battling injuries, they don't care. If we have no seniors, people never care.

And so once you realize that in all aspects of life, like your boss don't care, what's going on at home? You know, like no one cares. And so that's I've always kept that mentality like people don't care why you're late. You late, like people don't you know what I mean? Like you just if you keep that mentality that no one cares, figure it out and do it right. Um.

That that's kind of what stuff was. Yeah, what was your first impression of like more I remember she I remember playing pick up with her, and I'm like, she's different, Like you know, you can just or you just see people do stuff just like like what was that? Like you know what I mean? When and then she does something else and you're like, oh, she's like she's legit um and you just knew I mean, and she's And there's a lot of players that come out and just talk.

There's a lot of players that get all kinds of hype and then when you see them, you'd be like they're okay, you know, like they might be the best in that class, but that might be a weak class. So you know, they're all right, she had all the hype. So you come in looking at her what in that lens? And I mean as good as advertising, just some of the stuff she would do, Like I really just be like, Mama, I know you lying. And I got to I got to play with her in college and in the pros.

And so to see her in college she already had that just raw natural ability she can do everything. But then to see her in the pros and like she had honed did on, like she knew she was a killer, and she was killing every night. Um, not that she wasn't in college, but you could just tell, um, you know, she's like one of those generational players that you talked about. You're not gonna see them anymore like her. Did you play with someone and you know I did this? Yeah,

our Minnesota team. I meant Sympia Fowls was on that team as well. Um yeah we were were That's why people thought I was crazy. Um, your senior year thirty nine and oh national champions Uh, anything that any doubt ever creep in, anyone ever come close to knocking that crown off during that run. I mean, think about this going to Yukon and not winning the championship. I mean, every time I tell somebody go to you, like how many you want? Like that's the first question everybody asked.

My junior year, I was sitting in the goose sex. So my senior year I was I would say scared. I was terrified to go down as the worst in history. They let us know we would be the worst too, like the coaching staff would let us know, like we always went here, you know, like you guys gotta do it. And so I remember the preseason. It started in preseason like where I was turned up like I was. I was crazy, like I want a lie, like I was on one because I just didn't want to be that

one that that left without it. And then you get halfway through the season, we haven't lost the game, and I'm like, all right, that's dope. But once you get towards the end of the season you haven't won, you don't want to be that first loss in the tournament you get bounced out. So I would say the whole season I was, we were tight. And what I mean by tight is like, you know, like we gotta do

everything right because we don't have any more chance. I didn't have any more chances, and so my teammates treated it like they didn't have any more, and that was the dopest thing to me. We had a teena Charles on that team, Maya Moore, and I think they wanted it more of me sometimes in the way that they would be offended if people weren't doing things right, because they would be like, this is her last year, you know, like they would get on the people using that as

um the incentive. And so that was probably the coolest part about that year is how much everyone wanted it for me. You still were able to have fun or even though you were Okay, that was my senior years, so let's be clear. Pisting the trophy up, Yeah, which one cool? She flexed You didn't even know it. See you see that you see that life place? Uh just I would say the last one and being the first to be a Husky Varno, Yeah, you know, the Ukon trophy.

That was special for all the reasons that I just said, Like I was like, oh my gosh, we did it and we weren't even in the game at the end of the game because we was able to get up by enough and I still was nervous, like I wanted the buzzer to go off. I wanted it to be done, like, I don't want no problems. We know March madness can get crazy. That one. I mean that one's up there because in college you a four years. In high school too, like you get a limited amount of years. And the pros.

Do you remember the pros that didn't win championships? We can all name him, like the grades that didn't win a championship, Like there's a whole category. You yeah, problems, but there's a whole category for that. So you know I had I was fortunate to be on some of those powerhouse teams. UM was a crazy year because Prince was there and he invited us to party with him. Um happen like a private causer for us. I was one of the like and I have to always preface this.

They went all night. It's really crazy because him and his band, they literally put on a concert all night. They made us leave our phones at the door. They allowed us though this is how much they think about this stuff. They allowed us to have media there to write articles about it, so that we it wasn't just a memory that we could know. But no photos, no nothing. I was on stage with them. That's there's scenes for that, Like I I did, like we didn't just play a

game like we was turned up. Um yeah, like and that. And it's crazy because as we know, he passed away the very next year. So when we went in twenty seventeen, it was different, you know, like they had they had a band that covered music, Princess music. But it just yeah, I just had this feeling like this this it was a happy moment, but had this somber feeling like thing we was just with Prince and you know he's passed

away now, so I would say there's that different emotion. Also, got uh traded halfway through the season in so it was a crazy year for me. Back in a little bit. Winning the national champion at Yukon. You got a chance to meet President Obama at the time. What was that experience? Like it was motivation, you know, Like my senior year, we got to meet President Obama. He had just got into office. I remember when it found not that he

became president. We were at Coach r Amma's house, like celebrating turned up that that we had our first black president. And then we were like, oh, we need to go on and win a championship and meet him. So when we won in fifteen, it was the second time he knew my because she had won every year since then. Basically, so him and Maya were like best things. And it was pretty cool because him and coach as well. It's different when he knows sports, you know, like he was

into it. He knew who we were, so that was a different type of feeling. We played pig with him. By the way, he's like, how much time? My god, He's asking his people how much time? By god. They was like, you don't have time, Joe Lefty, Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's all right. Like you know that he used to be able to play some pick up and stuffing back in the day. He had something, but he was he didn't.

We didn't get to play a whole game. They were telling him, you don't have time, and he's like, all right, we'll play pig and he made times and we went out there. Um actually some photos of me shooting with him. But yeah, we didn't get to finish the game. We got a little little Lefty jump. That's cool. So, uh, two thousand nine, the number four overall pick coming from West Virginia going to Yukon. Now you're the fourth pick in the w n B A crazy because little me.

But what's really crazy is it was it was wild because everybody was saying I was going anywhere from one to ten because again it was that whole I have to every stage of my life, I've had to like prove myself again. So when it became pros I was too small, like that was my my scouting report. They're like, yeah, she's good in college, it's a great system and Yukon, but how can I yeah, like you know, so it

went from anywhere I could be one to ten. So I was like thinking about sitting in that room, you know, like you know when everybody's numbers getting called and you're just sitting there. I got invited to the draft. Um my parents were there, coach or Emma was there, and I'm like, I had no idea what's gonna happen, like and that's a terrifying feeling if anybody's everything, Like that's a scary feeling where you don't know where you're gonna go. You just want to hear your name. So one past

that was Atlanta at one Angel mccatrey went there. Um number two was Marissa coleman Um and then number three, Christie Tolliver, and then it came me and I was just like I was relieved, I'm telling you. I was like, all right, let's get to work because again I saw I saw the press clippings. I knew that people didn't think I could be successful at that next level. So that's that's what I remember about the draft. Two thous tenure traded to Connecticut. Yeah, what was that experience like

starting to learn the business? Yeah? Yeah, and it actually was a little bit late. I remember when I got drafted. The Connecticut coaching staff they basically like we're coming like you know, like they were like, we're coming for you. You You belong in Connecticut, and I was like what, yes, like let's go. It didn't happen that year, so it basically took a season, but I was excited. I mean, the four years at Yukon, that's like my family there. How far enough to go up? How far from like campus?

Did you guys play like forty minutes? So not terrible, but the crazy part was there was already Ukon players like on there, so it was yeah. And then Tina Charles. We drafted Tina Charles that year, so it felt like college, no class, and I was like, okay, yeah, this is this is I didn't really do too much class, but I feel you in college, well, we had to handle that type of business. So it became like, oh what basketball is just the business. And then it was like

the whole crew. Kleena Green ended up coming up there. So I literally had my squad in Connecticut. So yeah, we were off to the races for that. What was your welcome to the w n B A moment? I would say my welcome to the w n B A moment was losing a lot my rookie season. That was just something that I used to We all experienced that. Yeah, you know, it's a shock when you gotta lose and you want to be mad at it. You gotta scouting report for the next team that could be the next

day or the day after. I had to really get used to that. Like I didn't take losses very well. Like I just like in college, we were taught that the loss is a big blow, you know, like we didn't have them very often. And then in the pros we weren't very good, Like we just weren't very good my my rookie season. And so I just remember being like, Wow, did you have that mix? You have the mix of people like yourself, I know I'm gonna be here. How

can we get out of this? You've got people that's hanging around and know if they're gonna be on the team next then you got some mother fucker's that just don't care, you know what I'm saying. So it's a time let me trying to pull all that together, exactly. And so I'm used to winning, so like I understand more as you get in the Pros, like I would be really upset after a loss and they'd be like,

chill like you, they would be like exactly. So that was my welcome to the w B A moment where I was like, all right, I gotta like you can still take hard, but I gotta like handle losses better. That's where I really like was like, this is the Pros two thousand eleven. You have a career season, voted to the All Star team for the first time. What was that? Like? That was we were rolling in Connecticut and I mean I think we had three players that were All Stars that year, like we I can remember

being excited that I wasn't going by myself. Um, it was my first time team in Charles's first time, and so this is crazy because it ended up being my only time as an All Star. I flew my whole family out, I flew I got everybody hotel rooms, and I remember saying like, this could be my only one. You never know, like the league is unpredictable, you never know what's gonna happen. And everybody was like, I don't think you should be spending all this money, like you'll

be back. And it's crazy because that was my only All Star. Um. The very next season, my coach and the All season came to me and they were like, we have no firepower coming off the bench. And I'm like, all right, cool, what's that got to do with me? You know what I mean? And then he was like, we need you to come off the bench. And I'm like, I was literally just an All Star last year the first like, and so I went from being an All

Stars starting all the games in coming off the bench. Um. And so that was that was a shocker to me because I was still young then. UM. And so I ended up getting six Woman of the Year kind of just kind of just owning it. But it's the pros,

you know, it's like the business of basketball. You start to learn it quick talk to us with that experience, Like we talked to Lamar on him about that yesterday when you interviewed him, like he was a starter, and then you know they wanted him to move to the bench. The same thing. The first year he moved to the bench,

he won six Man of the Years. So what was that mentally like having a the whole another mindset coming off the bench, completely different mindset when I'm when I'm starting the game as a point guard, my first instinct is the all right, can we say who can I set up? Let's get her going, Let's get her going. All right. I might have a little shot here and there, But when you come off of the bench, they want

that like instant offense, that instant impact. And so like they first had to tell me, like, we need you to be more aggressive, like and that that second unit, you're probably our first or second option. And so I had to be more aggressive in the style that I like to play. In a sense, nobody's really gonna be mad about having to shoot more. So basically he was like, look, the perker coming off the benches, You're gonna get more shot and so you had to just I just kind

of had to own it, you know. I talked to my parents because I'm like, this is kind of crazy. Like I thought, this is pretty wild that I was literally my first All Star. I was excited, and then like my whole trajectory changed, and it actually it changed my whole career because then everybody started to know that I could do both and so probably wanted you to

be that six man every time. And I mean like big teams like I ended up going to Minnesota where they didn't even lack nothing, but they wanted that extra off the bench, and so it's to be free agency. I like, like it made me be a commodity, honestly, and so I even told my coach, coach Tebo, I was like, you know what, like at the time, I was not feeling it, but it makes your stock rise. Like people saw me different. They saw me as a score, they saw me as that impact player off the bench.

They saw me as a leader of the second unit, which people want. And so my young self was not feeling it. But as I got older and the contracts kept coming and I kept and I kept getting guaranteed contract. Yeah, I was like there might be something to this, this versatility. So two thousan, you head back to Minnesota and you're able to get your first professional championship. Yeah, that was a trying year. When I got traded, I was actually not even practicing with the team. I was at home

in bed Um. There was a pig GroEL set our apartment complex, and like a dummy, I ate it off and I got salmonella poisoning. I didn't even know it was salmonella at the time. From yeah, there was like an actual pig that they were I know, we're not supposed I know, I know, and look so now I can't even barely eat. Like I learned my left I learned my lesson. I was sick as a dog. And so they come to my apartment complex and they're like, yo,

coach wants to see you. I'm like no, no, they know I'm not practicing, like and they're like, no, coach wants to see you. So we all know what that means. I'm like, what's going on? What's going Yeah, what's going on? I'm sick. So I go they love story short. They tell me I'm traded the Minnesota coach. Coach read caused me and I'm like, Coach, I'm really sick, Like I don't know what's wrong, but I'm really sick. I hadn't got the test results back. She's like, yeah, I don't care.

You gotta play in two days. And I'm like, this is crazy. My family was there at the time visiting me, which ended up being the craziest blessing because I couldn't do anything. They packed up my whole apartment, put it in my car, ship my car to me, UM, and then I was heading to Minnesota, and I was practicing

and practiced during the daytime and a nighttime. I was like like working out trying to get my core together because anybody who knows anything about that, like I was wrecked, Like my whole stomach was just done, and so I didn't have any core strengths. And I was working out crazy at night, tired in practice during the day because I'm working out at night. UM, and then our starting point guard Lindsay Wayalen ends up getting hurt and the

team needs me for a big role. So I would say that was one of my like most memorable championships because people didn't know everything I was doing on the back end to try to get myself back to where they thought I was. They were getting traded for a player, but I was like not the player that they were expecting at that time. And um, I can remember not remembering anything during that first game I played. I had an I V before the game and just dugged it out. Tough.

So sixteen, you guys go from back to back championships, lose, seventeen you get your vindication. Yeah, and six team was a tough one. We played l A all three years like, so it was like everyone knew it was gonna happen. And then when they got they we lost on a buzzer beater, very controversial, but they won UM and soroversy one um, And so yeah, it was about that get back, Like that was all we could think about, you know.

And and if you won a championship, like it's different if you've never won, but if you've won and then you lose it, there's a different type of one. Like you you want it because you know what it feels like. And so yeah, we wanted that back. And I knew it was my last year on my my contracts, so I also knew, like when this is gonna be crazy if we can win a championship this year, It'll set things up. Yeah, it'll set things up. And so for for for me, I was just excited, like I'm like,

we can. We had the talent um, and so we ended up getting that championship, and like I said, it was it was fun. It was fun. So eighteen, you decided to bring your talents to Atlanta. You signed a multi year contract, Like you said, you wanted to come play where you lived at for a while. What was that experience? Like? That was dope? And and I kind of knew what I was getting myself into as far as Atlanta was concerned. We didn't have the fan base.

It's not there. So I went from Minnesota. We're literally selling out Target Center where where the Minnesota Links play. Yeah, the Timberwolves don't even Oh my gosh, So we're selling out, you know, we're selling out the arenas, and so I'm used to when we run out, there's just white noise, like just the crowd is going crazy. And so in Atlanta, we were running out to ourselves going crazy. We're run out to us climbing for each other, and uh, because

we were had to be our own hype man. And we you know, as we started, it was crazy because everybody, remember I told you when I said I was signing here, Everybody's like, you're right, sis, Like what's good? And then we ended up being the number two team that year, and so everybody was like, oh you all right since

like um and we were rolling. So we went into the playoffs the number two team, and as the season started, we saw more and more fans kind of join in, and in the playoffs we actually had a little crowd. They're a little thump to it. So yeah, so we um Angel mccatry end up getting hurt that year. I really think we had a we we were terrible to first half and we lost two games. The whole second half, like we were just rolling. Injuries got us and that

was about it. Yeah, you never really shied away from the big shot you had clutched in your d n A. Is there one moment that stands out? Yeah, that that l A game. Um, we were playing against l A. We were both twelve and oh thirteen and O was like a record, um that no team had ever done. And of course we were playing l A for that thirteenth win. That's just how things work out, and it was really crazy because I think my mom was getting cramps or wasn't foul trouble fouled out, I don't remember,

but she wasn't available. That would have typically been who shot our last shot, but so since she wasn't available, coach was like, all right, Renee, um, yeah, you're in, and I'm like, let's let's get it. Like you know, so dude, you know when they tell you're in, you're like looking at the clipbore real hard, making sure you don't mess your stuff up. She drip a play for me, which is really crazy. Our point guard Lindsay Wayland was in the game. Um, gotta in bounce past jove. The

baseline had a backscreen coming for me. I can literally remember that. There was like people on the sidelines. It was in l a. They were like reaching out to me, trying to like distract me. Um. I remember that just because it was like all the hype involved. Was like I told you, we played them every year in the in the finals, and so just to have that game winner against them and he didn't. Was the baseline drive baseline drift screen, Yeah, that's yeah, game for the game.

So we got one of those same plays in our history the same time I made it. No, I passed you pass it to me? Oh did you? Yes? You made you know you didn't go base so you went down the middle of member of Bedris set the screen. Yeah, uh, June sid a tweet that were kind of shape. You're directed to the trajector the world of your you know, your career and and kind of find your your life after basketball path. Although at the time you made not have known, but you know, you decided to set the

season out to focused on social justice. Your former your former college teammate and and and proteinmate did the same thing. What was behind that thinking a lot? You know, I had seen what's going on Atlanta. I told you we were right in the thick of things. There were protests going on everywhere. It was on the news. So I would look out my window. Yeah, Like I would look out my window. I could literally see the protests happening.

And then I would look on the TV screen and be like, dang, like Atlanta is really like So for me, I was like I need to be a part of this, like I feel it like And I would talk to my my parents and my mom was actually in Detroit during the Detroit riots, and so she was telling me like maybe I think this one feels different. And I'm like why, you know what, I'm asking all kinds of question, like why is this one different? And she's like, look at the crowd. You know when we did our thing,

it was all minorities, like all black people. Right now we see yeah, And so she kept telling me like I think this one is different. I'm like, yo, I need to be a part of this movement, like let's how do we pour gasoline on it? And so I was thinking, and I'm like, can I imagine myself in

the bubble? Like That's kind of what I had to to to think about because we knew that's where it was going, and I just didn't see it, like I like, I really kept on And this wasn't like people think I woke up and sent the tweet, Like didn't happen like that, Like I knew. I was debating it for like two weeks, you know. I was trying to think about the pros, the cons, am I gonna quit my job. I don't even have a job, you know, Like I'm

thinking about all those different things. But every time something else would happen or someone else would would would get murdered. I'm like, nah, this ain't it? Like to me, it was like this just saying it, and so yeah, like I really just felt like like my heart would have been in it. And so everything I've told you all it's been about proven and myself and it's all about passion for me, and so my heart wasn't gonna be in at that season, and I don't want to do

that to my teammates, my coaches. So I just made the decision, like to follow where my heart was taking me. It's it's just something in you that that's different, you know what I mean. A lot of people to stand up for people that you don't even know, I stand up for the rights of others and all that. It says a lot about you to put yourself on the line for other people that you don't even know. And a lot of people don't have the curse to do that,

you know what I mean. So for you, the stage you were in, the person you are in to position you in, for you to stand like that, like I told you on your show, that meant the world to me, you know what I mean, Because a lot of people don't. A lot of people have the platforms and have the position to say things for the for the betterment of all of us, but they don't do it, you know

what I mean. And with with everything you have to lose for you to do that, with so many of your sisters in the same position, it just meant the world to see for me, So I appreciated that. I appreciate that, And you know, for me, what was interesting about that was I didn't know where it was gonna take me, you know what I mean. Like a lot of people think I had a plan, like I really yeah,

Like I really didn't have a plan. So that's why even sitting here in the ownership and like in June, I was like thinking, all right, do I'm not about to have the drive uber? Like I didn't know, Like I really didn't know because I was already calling games. I was scheduled to call the women's in C double A, the G League Championship. But everything I can, so it was like all my revenue, all my income was connected to sports, and sports like just got canceled. So I

was like weighing that heavy. I have my family and so I'm like this decision wasn't just about me, and so you know, thank you for coming on the show, because I felt connected to two people like you all that are just you know, that fabric like you can just you can just feel it when when somebody's doing something for the papers or somebody's really doing it. So I wanted to make sure people knew it wasn't This wasn't for this is not for Cloud, this isn't even Cloud.

Like I didn't know if I was like canceled, because if y'all can remember that Kyrie call, I was on that Kyrie call and elaked and people were really mad basically to hear that Kyrie was talking about opting out basically, and so I already knew what people felt about players

that opted out. So I was even debating on that tweet, should I tell people why I'm offing out like I thought, because you could just say, hey, I'm opting out for personal reasons, like I debated that, but then I was like nah, like yeah, like I just wanted people to know I'll ever think go ahead. I was. I was on the phone with him, you know, like every day for three weeks up until that, you know what I mean.

We talked a lot, and I knew where his head was but a lot of people don't understand how could you worry about playing the game when you're seeing your people dying exactly, when you're seeing people getting killed for no reason, A game is not that si bigger and it starts to be bigger than that where you think, like basketball, like I don't even like you almost feel like you don't even have time for that now because

there's like there's something real going on right now. And Kyrie, you can see that he got it, and that's kind of how I even gravitated towards and I'm like, he

really gets it. And now people start to see because he's giving out scholarships, he paid some of our salaries um for the women that opted out in the w b A, he paid George Floor baby Mama house, like people like he not just talking about it, and so that's why I'm talking about like some people like they just say it because it sounds nice, it's a sound bite, and there's some people that's really about that life and he really is obviously not going into the bubble where

you're still proud of your sisters and what they were able to accomplish with their message. And and that's the thing A lot of people thought that, like when I opted out, I wanted everybody to opt out with me. I'm like, no, no, no, this is what I'm doing, Like this was what like I do. I'm glad that there was a w n b A season because look what happened. Like look what the w n b A. Yeah, the w n b A used this season too. These

are things we are already passionate about. But we leaned into it, like if people don't know the w b A and seen with Minnesota, we already wore shirts and said change starts with us. Because in Minnesota, Fialandocs still had been murdered by the police at that time, so this wasn't new to to any of us in the w n b A. It was kind of like we were kind of like oh no, no, no, like enough is enough to your point, And so, like I said,

we had a pipeline. I felt very connected to the players in the in the Wobble, and I think they felt connected to me. Um even Birdie reached out to me one time. I was like, hey, you know we're um vetting uh, Senator war Knock. We have a council that's helping us and I'm like, oh, let me, let me hear about this, and then I started to hear the stacey like some big names were on the council. So people think that the players just printed the shirts and put them one And was like, yeah, this is

how we know. Like there was real processes done. They were vetting people, they were thinking this out, and so for me, yeah, we we were we were united, and I wanted people to just felt like I wasn't calling people like, yo, you opted out with me. I think people want to be like thought I was doing that, not like everybody had opted out. That's what they had in their hearts. You guys, well, I mean I said this when when all of it happened on when I

was doing ESPN. But you guys have been fighting for equal footing, particularly just as women in sports, you know what I mean. So when other issues come along, when it stands for equality, it makes all the sense in the world where you guys are so unified when it comes out, because this is not a new fight to you guys, Like you said, you've been fighting the good fight, which was you know, police brutality. But you guys have been fighting since you started dribbling a basketball about equal

footing and and respecting the space. So that's why it wasn't surprising to me. And like I said, I think the NBA took a note from you guys because you guys were on your ship instantly together. Whether you're in the bubble or not, you guys were together. And I think that's you know that that showed. And now he and I went back and forth on like Jack bitch and because he didn't think people should play, I thought

they should play, and I thought they should play. Because our voices travel like you're gonna hear Lebron and you'll probably hear CP, but do you hear the guys that aren't those top tier superstars without the NBA logo behind them, with the NBA logo behind them, with the w NBA logo behind your female counterparts. Our voices travel around the world,

you know what I mean. And that's about both my point from that and to that point, like I see both sides because I see what Stack is saying to like, imagine if there's no W n B A and everybody has to answer to why, I mean, you know, and then it happened, you know, And I thought I talked about it, I said, Okay, so the NBA stopped because of COVID the first time, the second time, the NBA and WNBA's office for racism, Like who would have ever? Like?

Is that? That's that's wild to think about. When you think about people don't really realize how much of a business sports are. I think people have a hard time understanding, like sports is strictly a business. I know you guys see it as a game. But for a big business, big corp to shut down because of racism, that's not like like, that's not and they really didn't want it. But the players made it, you know what I mean.

The players made that ship happen because you know, I, like you said, this is big business, big money, Like that's the last thing they want to see. But they got a respect to be TV contract. You don't play that game. There's somebody that's supposed to be getting paid for you plant Like, there's so many things that the NBA is a business and the w b A it's a business. So I think that they took that and they made these businesses have to focus on social justice.

So that's my only reason for liking that they had to play because when the players weren't going to play again. What the NBA have to do? They were calling the owners. They said the owners got to get on board. They were making they forced the NBA's head and because they needed them to come back. So I really do see both sides in a sense of like you have to change. It is a business. But the business we know needs to change, Like we all know that from the ownership

group on like we we don't. I don't understand why there's not representation and ownership group. Even in the NFL. They have to make a rule, the Runy rule, to try to get people. The fact that they have to make the it tells you how crazy that is. People. There's a rule for it. Why should there be a rule for you to give equal opportunity to business to work for them but not work with them. They hire people look like I can't play, but you can't own

not a day, So what to me? You know? I mean, I think they obviously they hire people who look like them. Left it's so important for her to be in an ownership position now because you hire people who like you would start at the top of its management and then it works its way down. It's not what you know is who you know. And so if who you know is who you know, you don't know us, well like that you're not gonna hire. You're gonna hire somebody you're

comfortable with. And so you already know that's what we're doing here in Atlanta, Like that's our focus like day one now, the people we hire small business, minority owned business, like that's literally our whole focus and love it. So you were a big part of more than a vote, um all the way through the runoff with you know, Senator Warnock or uh what you spoke on. How important

was that to you? Big time? Um, It's crazy because I know people have to be tired because we were banging the drums since I can remember um in June where I threw a June Team pop up block party at Centennial And I'm like, man, people are really turned right now, but November is far away, Like I just kept on remember like thank November so far away, Like yeah, like I I so I started to create a campaign called Remember the Third and November because like we're passionate

right now, but I hope people understand, like you gotta take that passion to the polls, like you gotta fight people at their own ground, like we can be mad and do stuff in protests, but you gotta go to the polls. So I remember thinking like circling the calendar November three, and then we had to run off, and I was like, oh my goodness, we gotta go at it again, like you gotta rub the engines up. So that's kind of what I remember, just being like, look,

I know you're probably tired of it. I know, like no one wanted this, but we got to just time, because I don't think people even knew that you gotta go back, you know. I think people like, no, no, already voted for that, like so just kicking my vote again, still coming and and that's the engagement we don't really understand. But what was it, Like, I mean, you guys had a big hand in flipping a state. That's wild. I'm saying, yeah,

it's wild. And even as it was happening, you know, like I was doing stuff with Stacey Atrams at that time, SI's for culture, and I'm like, this is really crazy, like I told you, and you you guys know, when you're in the thicker things, it's kind of hard to see it from like the bird's view. So I was just in it, like they was hitting me up like yo, we're trying to do this, and I'm like I'm down, like what's up. So it was kind of just like

that type of situation. And then as we watched on the news unfold, like we're watching national news unfold and it's looking like we might pull this off in I'm telling you, it's it's something that like probably after a while, like it'll sink in. But I don't even think we like we knew the magnitude of what we were doing. But when people started to tell us that Senator Warnock was like pulling in the single digits before you know, we started a campaign for him, that's pretty crazy to

see what happened. So yeah, um, life off the court has been going amazing. You announced your retirement in February. Are you at peace with that? Yeah? Um. When I announced my retirement, I knew that you couldn't be a player and owner, so people didn't know that at the time, but I had to get you know, my affairs in order. So I was very comfortable within a sense of I don't feel like I left anything out there, you know.

I felt like, obviously I would have loved to play like one last season and have that you know, that farewell season. But to me, like the way I played, the way I prepared, I really did feel like I gave like everything I had, and so I didn't feel like I left anything out there. And then I thought about the bigger picture. I'm like, for me to be an owner and to be able to be the voice of the players, like the players, I know problems that we have right now here. That just was driving me.

I'm like, man, we gotta make this happen. How can we make this happen? And I'm telling you my family, they were my family. My fiance just were back at me. They were my battery packet because sometimes I just like I got discouraged, like real talk, because I'm like, I don't know how I'm gonna get to this seat at the table. It felt so far away, and I was trying to reach out to people, but I'm trying to do it on the low because I'm still playing. And

I just didn't like sometimes I got discouraged. But my family, now you're gonna be this owner, you know, like they were really like sometimes they was on my head, like Nana, this is for you because sometimes I'll just be like, all right, we'll find a different way. Like maybe I could be in the front office and I would change the the way. Um, But my family like they knew it,

like they saw it for me before I did. And so that's what I think about the most with that, because there were times, like I told that Stred in October when people people don't know the long process of that took. So there was times where I'm like, oh man, it's Christmas. Let's just like let me enjoy Christmas instead of trying to plot and playing and figure out. But

I'm so glad I did you know? That was a long, a long journey, but like we're here, I'm so thankful you just stated that we talked about you don't really what's going to understand the magnitude of what you're doing

while you're in the mix. But have you taken a step back and like fed like Renee from West Virginia as an owner of a professional sports team, have you have you have you had a chance to kind of do that yet us And I'm about to go back to West Virginia for my sister's wedding um next week.

I think that's when it will really, you know, like when you get back to like humble beginnings, because right now, I've been so busy ever since it like ever since it happened, like I have been really busy, and you yeah, I think so, so like once I can ever get some time like because right now I'm covering March madness, you know, like it's like I don't have to worry about a job anymore. And that's a blessing because at a certain point I really was was worried. Yeah, I

was really worried. And so now I think like two stacks point, once I get that time that VACA is coming in June, once I get that to just kind of just like be like what does that happening around it? Just go hitch yeah, like damn some joint. Look now, um, you mentioned you're covering March madness. You did some broadcasting early in your career. Obviously you're great, you know, relaying your your opinions and thoughts. When did broadcasting jump into

the picture for you? I'm going to school for it, so you know, I went to UA. I was a communications major. You know, sometimes you pick a major just because like let me just give me anything, Like I had teammates and did that. Well, I'm the daughter of a college professor. So yeah, I was in the baclaurette program in high school, like I had to be like all of those honors things. So I went into college like game. I was actually gunning for two majors actually,

and I finished. I had ended up with a minor, but I knew it, like I kind of am a planner, Like I planned. I planned. Yeah, I'm planned my whole wife out really, Like even when I was young. I told you I was in West Virginia dribbling on the pavement when you have concrete, and I'm like, I'm gonna go D one. Even when I was young, Um, there weren't even a w NBA until I was eleven, So I was just thinking D one and I've just been I've been planning every since honestly. But yeah, at Yukon,

that was that was the plan. So just announcing the podcasts talk or Takeline. Excuse me, Um, how did that come about? Yeah, they reached out to me. Um I did. Uh, It's crazy because I got multiple jobs from interviews like that. I did with a plan for him. So I didn't interview with TMZ Sports, like they wanted to talk about me off and out, and then they offered me a

job to co host TMZ Sports. Um. Then I did an interview with pod Save America and it's when the cook crooked like network and so then that's how they saw me on that, and they reached out to my manager and was like, hey, I think we you know, we want to do sports and culture where they meet basically, and I'm like, I mean that's my whole life. Yeah, that's my whole life. Um. And they were just like breaking it down Jason conceptsi and as the host they need.

They they're looking for a co host. Um. Did a couple you know, interviews, and then they called me like okay, so we want to roll with you. What's next? And that was dope because like, as you all know, y'all vote are on my podcast remotely Renee, and so I didn't know how that worked. I'm like, can I do to Like I didn't. I don't really know how all that works. UM, So I let them know and they were cool with it. My podcast is a little different than that, So I mean that's been really cool because

the topics that you know, y'all vote done TV. The topics that the TV tells you to stay away from. That's what we talked about. Goddamn right, that's what we talk about. So that's it's dope for me, you guys. First guest was Jeremy Lyndon. Obviously we're in a weird place right now where Asian hate crimes are are are popping up every day. Um, how was it talking to him? I mean, Jack and I both know him, Uh, great do very very well spoken, um and really kind of

a fixture for that community. So how was it talking to him and kind of hearing his point of point of view? It was different because you know, we're used to being oppressed, you know what I mean. Everybody understands our history. They understand why we're mad. Some people do, some people don't. But people understand, they get it. But when it comes to Asian hate, I feel like they have to almost explain to people why they're mad and

then allowed to be mad. And I think that's the struggle that you know, a lot of the Asian community hasn't even here in Atlanta where we just had that shooting, Like it's unbelievable because we can relate, you know, like as far as minorities are Gonnacern, we know what it's like for somebody to not like you but hate you. Like that's a wild concept, to not know somebody at

all but you hate them. And so I think that you know, that's being experienced for different cultures right now, and it needs to be almost a point where minorities now they're starting to see we have the same problem. Yes, so we think I think a lot of people thought that this was a black problem, you know, like a lot of people really thought this is a black problem. This is a black community, black and brown community problem the most. But it's all it's all moneyority exactly. And

I think that's starting to be seen more. I think the the Asian community is starting to gravitate two allies and they know that we're an allied because we get it. And so I think just talking to him and even him, I mean as people know, like he was called I believe coronavirus on the court. I mean that's athletes, you know, Like, so that's crazy because I never had a teammate or someone like say something crazy to me on the court.

I don't know how I would handle that, Like, I don't I don't really know, like I've never experienced that. So he even experienced that, and the way he handled it was great, you know what I mean. Like I said, he wanted he didn't want to get to them and troub We didn't want to call him now. He wanted to sit down and educate them. It's big, it's a big person. Amazing, he's a he's a good guy. Because I just don't know how I would handle that if

somebody said something wild to me like that on the court. Um. And so I think they just understand that, you know, the communities are allies now, like let's be allies and educate. Right when you said it's not just our problem. That was the one thing he spoke about when he was doing the marches because he's like, mad, I've seen every single color out there and struggling to you know what I mean. So it's not just a black problem around problem,

it's a minority problem. The way the system is set up, and there's there's about to say it's a white problem. Is it's because there's a lot of people that didn't realize it was a problem. That's a problem. If you didn't if you didn't know there was a problem. That's the problem because it's all around us. It's all around us, and so that's even going back to the n C double a thing. People have to see it, like they

need to see it. So when they saw the video of George Floyd, I think that's the first time some people really got it, Like they still wanted to some people still wanted to deny it and he should have did this and he was doing that and drug and I'm just like, no, did you watch the nine minutes or did you transt forward through it? I haven't, But I think that was very eye opening for people because

they're like, wow, how could somebody do that? And for us, we're like, you know, we know that's happened plenty of times before, basically, and so like I told you in six team, we were talking about this, you know, and it's Minnesota, so it's not even the first instance for them.

And so when people start to realize that, and then they start to go down that rabbit hole, when they start to that's that rabbit hole where they start to you start to educate people on stuff, and they don't want to believe it, so they go to Google and then they're like yeah, and then you start to see that eye opening. That's what happened a lot in I think. And so I mean, I don't mind if you don't like it's it's one thing to not know, but if you know better, do better. Yeah, who are your top

five is? Go to another conversation. Give me away from that because you know I'm to be Macael x Ron his mother. All right? Who your top players in the w B right now? Oh my gosh, y'all really that's tough, um, and we're talking about in their prom because right now, just period. I mean, I'm gonna have to go shoot the Yukon Special. Uh, can't go wrong, y'all. Can get your whole team that played the w b A and

win some w b A game. That would be let I'm going with Diana Tarassi, Um, Tina Charles to Bird. I'm just saying, like I got it roll with my dogs. But and that's a fact. Like people argued, if you want, um, who else, Brianna Stewart, that's cheat. I'm just saying that I'm gonna give you the the UKN Special. And that's what I said, argued, if you want to, Um, no, I'm not in the league. She's an owner number. You forgot. I forgot that now. But I know the men always

put themselves on the team. I would I wouldn't even do that. Nice. Um let's see who are we gonna go? And we got a point guard, shooting guard and Diana still we'll put her at the four t ts. She had to be. Oh, let's go with Sylvia fause I'm about to say that she's mean she down as the greatest. She's gonna go down as the greatest. And like I said, I was going to do a U CON special, but that's my pud and so and she's I mean, if we're talking five, she's like the most gitle giant killer

you have. You talk to her, you don't know what she's about to do to you. But yeah, that's that's crazy. Yeah, um w n b A is about to celebrate twenty five years. Tell us about the progression you like and what more you feel needs to happen. I like that, So let me just tell you a progression ten where the shirt change starts with us. Um, we even put a police shoot on there. That's crazy because we wanted people to understand. We got fined for that and they

told us. If you want to keep wearing that shirt, you're gonna keep getting fine. So basically, the w n b A was not rolling in sixteen. And again, this is the summer before Colin Kaepernick took a knee, So this was unheard of for people to do what we had done, and the w n b A was just, I mean to give them to a defense. This had never been seen before, for we just rocked up with shirts we made and wore for warm ups, and so

they weren't feeling it. They were not with it, and they basically and then other teams joined in and started to wear just black shirts and it became like a little movement and the w n b A was not with that movement. And so then when you fast forward to we dedicated our whole season of social justice. If you're on the Taylor on the back of our jerseys,

I'm I'm saying we're moving in the right way. Uh, they're start They're now starting to listen in a sense of like we're gonna do this regardless, like they kind of And I think that's the thing about the women's players. We have this like it's gonna happen. So what's your stance on this. That's gonna be on you. But this is what we're gonna do. And they just really like they kind of leaned into it. I mean for them to put Brianna Taylor on the back of all of

our jerseys, that's pretty big. We did a say her Name campaign every week where we we talked about it. You know, they they the national anthem. You know, there was just different things that we were allowed to do and I stay allowed to do because they could have find us. But they leaned into it. So the year twenty five, it's looking good. Um, I think that they they get it. You know, the hashtag is counted. I think give me the lion. But they even um, they

had the legends coming back. They're owed to the people before us, and I'm big about that. Like I feel like I'm old school in a sense of like the o gs and the o gs like, let's like always put them on a pedestal. So it looks like the w NBA is gonna do that this year. It's good. We had Sheryl Swoops on and she said that was one of the things that bothered her so much. Happy Birthday,

How do your birthday too? The legend. Um. I love her, so yeah, and that's the thing, like we should we should honor our o g is way more than I think what we've done. And so even in the new promo, the advertisement, Lisa Leslie was narrating it, so you know what I mean. They're on the right way, they're in the right direction. But yeah, she come on, now, that's not even her. That's cool. But hey, give me your thoughts on the current Hark squad and what they need

to win a game or two. Excuse me, we were on an eight game road streight, let's be clear, the temperature a little bit straight. We want eighth straight. And then last night we lost to the Clippers. We were actually up by like money, we're at like twenty and ended up losing to the Clips. I think everybody knows we got that new point is that we can make some noise, but we're not consistent, and so I think

that's why you remember us losing. We just want eight, but everybody remembers us losing because we just haven't been consistent. But it's been fun covering them. Trey Young, I think that snub was the best thing that could have happened to us. You know, like he got snub this year, the only player in the top ten scoring that didn't make All Star. I mean, it was just wild, but

it was just the record. I think so. But if the records matter, then we should check a lot of all I mean, what is the criteria then, But the only reason that knicks, the only reason around the made it because they was tied for ford for at the time. But that's just that's this year. There's been a lot of play, Like I never know what the criteria is for m v P. For all starts, they feel people who never played basketball, we have to say something. Hello somebody.

Don't let me start hello somebody. Um, since we're in the NBA season, favorite player to watch I don't play. Yeah, if you guys ain't playing, I ain't really watching, you know what I'm saying. But well, I would just go with Trey just because I get to watch him night and Ninity. I mean, he's flashy, so it's not even like I'm just picking him because he's the Hogs. Like, he doesn't wow stuff in the game I've been in

the last twenty years. He's about far the Besides, Joe was cool, but he's the most exciting player to watch since I've been living in Atlanta. Yeah, definitely, definitely. I mean it's just like what Steph Curry brings to the game that made change the whole game. Like they're shooting from the logo and that's a good shot, Like you know, like it's like you don't even be like, hey, that's

a terrible shot. Like when Trey shoot said, I'm like, oh, you know, I'm sorry, Yeah, that's you have a finals prediction, finals prediction. Man injury, that's the thing. Like it's tough because I mean, we all would assume that the Lakers would find a way to be in the finals if they're healthy, but now you know, first a d and then Lebron. I don't know, I can't nervous trusting teams that play well in the regular season because we've seen a seventies sixers every year. We think that they're gonna

be every year they look I mean, Joel Embid. People are talking about em for m VP. I know, but if you're talking about m VP color per person and if you have the team, why is the postseason always such a struggle? You know? Like so for me, I'm trying to think, like who are some some dogs in the league. That's there's a difference. So there's a difference

that Portland's team is always interesting. I feel like when you got a player like Damian Lillard, who it don't matter who he's mashed up against, like, hes gonna show up. I don't think they're gonna be in the finals, but I think they're gonna be somebody to watch. Just the West is so tough, but I don't really have a prediction. And what does that say about Brooklyn? They're best players hurt and people still got them going to the finals.

That's how good they are. And you know what, I gotta see it too, Like I gotta leave it, you believe I gotta see it. Because we talked about playoffs again. I mean we've seen we're talking about playoffs with KDD, Kyrie and James though okay, yes, but we're talking about playoffs and we're talking about injuries as well, and so a couple of those players. Like that's why I said injuries aside. If we're talking everybody has their dogs, I'm

gonna say Brooklyn in l A in the finals. If everybody is playing and everybody's healthy, I just don't know. If that's going to be the case. Recently, Shock had a comment that the hoop should be lowered. Didn't take too well to it to say, Shock, no thoughts about it. I think that's so wild. Um like should Josh should yo s be raised? There's too many people dunking. I mean, I don't know, like is it like is it too easy? Matter to me? Right now? I'm slapping that, So yeah,

I'm a touching that too. But what I will say in y'all defense, I'll take some women on some of my NBA teams before some of the Sorry motherfucker's you have a lot of them men didn't belong in the NBA. They didn't care then no way, So I would have took a lot of y'all wait before some of the teammates. I'm just saying, we don't need to change the game

that Nate Smith created. That is so silly, just because and I mean, if you ask people why to change the game, it's literally one reason for dunking, you know, like it's not because women don't shoot well enough from the three maybe the rooms. It's always just dunking. And so if that's like and I know that's what the NBA prize them now, I know, but people, this is casual fans talking. This is casual fans talking because they don't know that I mean, Katus Parker was dunking and

as certain you know what I mean. So people are only basing that on dunking. And so if you're doing that, then you're not really taking into account what the women's game is good at anyway, you know, like we play actual fundamental basketball, not saying the men don't, but we're not even allowed to travel. So think about that. We have to pivot, we have to take only two steps.

That's different, you know. And so I think that if you're saying the room should be lowered, then you don't really appreciate what's already going on in the game, considering your journey um to where you are now, where you sit. What is it a piece of advice you would give to an aspiring young lady looking to be an athlete or more of even a business owner, you know, I think, But women it is different, Like at you can't a guy could be like the eleventh man on the team.

You couldn't tell him he wouldn't go into the league, Like you really could not tell like guys have this like inner boastfulness that they believe in themselves, and so women will critique ourselves until maybe we shouldn't even go to the w b A. Like that's how we we we think about ourselves and women we tend to almost dim our light because we think about what are people going to say and what are people going to think?

And so I think, if nothing else in I think that young girls should see that, like women like we got something to say. Like, I think that even you don't see a lot of women as many as you should in high management positions, shall star our VP. I'm like Harris now the first time think about that though she's that's the first time in history that a woman

has held that high of a position. Why, Like, I don't think it's for not being capable at this point, but I think it's the norm and how people treated women and how people, you know, having a woman boss. I've been in positions where I'm going to call I'm gonna call with my manager and people are talking to him like he's he's the talent, or he's the one because he's a guy. So you got another guy talking

and that's just how it happens. And so I think now I think young girl should realize, like there's not a position that we can't hold, even though if it

hasn't happened yet, it doesn't mean it can't. And so I think that just that boldness, we need to have that same We don't have to be arrogant, but we need to have that same inner thing that guys have where you like, I'm telling you it could be a guy that hasn't played pick up in so long, but if somebody's like, check up, but I want to, like, you know, like guys just have that it's a bad thing. That's what I said. Yeah, one thing men need to

do that women do more than we do. Y'all more real with y'all say you know what I'm saying, we'll wake up to like you can go do it, you know, and damn where you can't do it, don't fall for it. Yeah, but that's that confidence, you see, Like, that's that confidence. So that's why I said a little in between, take a little bit from it. But women just are way too real, almost too real in the sense of we might dim our own bright light. And so I would

just say, yeah, that's over with quick hitters. First answer to come to mind, spit it out. Toughest player you ever had the garden. Why, Um, she has a quick tip? Yeah, because I used to be in the smaller player so I don't like when people are under my dribble and I don't like when people are quickens than me and different things of that nature. So yeah, she's she's a tough guard. Carolina. Yeah, we ask that question. You said, NBA players of all time, all time? Why you do

that to me? Um, let's go Tina Thompson, Cynthia Cooper. Yeah, I know, right, running suit Cynthia Cooper. Yeah. Like if we're gonna name teams, um, Don Staley, come on, come on, now, this is hard because I mean we're talking o G. I told you I like to pay respect, and so there's so many, um let's see, I mean put it. I mean, oh, let's go buy more. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, and there's I could think of an honorary five and a second, but yeah, I'll just roll with that. Top

three basketball movies in your opinion. So I just was talking to Ray Allen, so we gotta put he got game one there. Um, you said, do you say basketball or sport? Basketball? Okay, cool. Then loving basketball white man can't jump, it's two out of my thread. Yeah? Five? Then against dead alive? Who would you invite? My gosh, I'm gonna ask Jesus to sit at the table right, ask you some questions. Let's have a little change shot my go with Oprah. I want to see what she's

talking about. Um, I'm not Barack Obama. There, let's have a Actually, let's let's substitute Barack for Kamala Harris. Let's see what she's talking about. Get some women at the table. Um is that? That's three? Oh? What is her name? Shirley? The lady that ran for president? Shirley? Come on now, come on, baby, Malcolm X. What is her name? We didn't we didn't get behind? Uh? Shirley, Yes, Shirley Chisholm ran for BP. I want to talk to her because

imagine her being that bowl. She was already writing the president's speeches and then she's like, you know what, I'm just running for myself. So I want to talk to her, have a little chat. Um who else? Let me see? Actually, actually, I'm gonna have Abraham Lincoln said at the table, because I want to see where he released stands on a lot of stuff. We give him a lot of credit for stuff. So let's really see what you're talking about. Eggs. Yeah, like I want to tell you because I feel like

he was progressive for that time. But I want you know, I want to have a chat and see if you had to have one message on the well, we got politicians at the tables are and then you have Wooden d interest too might look a little crazy. One message on a billboard for the world to see. Moments equal momentum, Moments equal momentum. I think that everybody doesn't realize how big things can get. But I opted out. That was one moment, through a cookout. That was another one, and

things started to just spiral after that. Retired, that was a moment added to the momentum. Became an owner of the FCF Beast of the football team, then became one of the Atlanta Dreams. So yeah, all those moments. That's how you create your own momentum. You create your own moments, right dancer. If you have one person that you would like to see on all the smoke, who would it be? But whever you answer, whatever I answer, if you have to help, you have to help us with that guest.

That's very clever. Let me think about that. You already have Simona gusts On here and that's the only um hold on she Let me just think make sure because I think she's so different in a sense of she's a sneaker head, but she likes like all of the stuff. She has a Louisiana background. But let me think, I mean, they got it. They can't be ignoring your calls. No more needed because you're older now. So that's just going

straight through one is not tempering it. No. I get so many tweets like, was that comment you just made temper like talk about the players that are playing? Um, yeah, I'm roll with with uh. If it ain't, If it ain't Serena Grace, who's an upcoming artist, I'm rolling with Simona Augustus. That's how I'll go with that any day. Well, Renee Montgomery, thank you for your time to appreciate what you mean, what you want? What do you mean on

the show time that the house of business car company car? Yeah, company cars in Jack's pocket. Anyway, that's a wrap all the smoke. Thank you to our guests again, Renemed Montgomery. You can catch us on Showtime Basketball YouTube, and the Nightheart platform Black Effects see you all next week. This is All a Smoke, a production of The Black Effect and Our Heart Radio in partnership with Showtime