Draymond Green Show - A'ja Wilson

The volume.

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What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond Green Show.

This next guest needs no introduction, but I'm gonna go with the introduction anyway, because this list of accolates, it's crazy, and so I'd be remissed if I don't run down them.

Thank you for having me. That was you could have stopped that pro you went, that's cool.

Well, I see.

So there's a few people that come that have come on this show and they don't necessarily have NBA championships, but they have college championships. And what they quickly find out is I am very upset and jealous and envious of them about their college championships because I did not win one. So you should feel that hate too, because I personally myself still wish I had a college championship and I really would give one of my NBA championship rings for that. So really I would like one shine

Like it's nothing like hearing that song.

So now every time I hear it, I can only think of not winning a championship. That's traumatic, yeah, very much so.

But needless to say for you growing up.

You grew up in South Carolina and then ended up going to UH University of South Carolina.

I walk me through that decision.

South Carolina was not the powerhouse that it is now when you decided to go there. What led you and kind of leading that, leading the torch and being the first one.

Yeah, it was uh yeah. South Carolina obviously was not what they were today. I think they made it to a Sweet sixteen before, so they weren't. It was kind of familiar, but it wasn't there yet, like it was taking it to another level.

And it's crazy because I remember listening to Coach Daley's Hall.

Of Fame speech and she was speaking and she may had a point where she was like to my players, just stay with me, like we're going to get it done. And I was just like and at the time, I was getting recruit and I was just like, oh, like that actually could happen. And I always say like Coach Stelee could be anywhere and I would still go to play with her.

She just so happened to be in South Carolina.

But I mean I just kind of looked at South Carolina as a place and Coach Sdaley as a person. I was like, that could tell me the good, the bad, the ugly, everything that goes on being a black woman in the in the Alegia world. So I was like, what better person to coach me than someone that's been through it? And that was really my really my decision. I wanted to go to other schools for the boys, so my head wasn't.

Really in.

That it needed to be in. I was thinking like a sixteen year old instead of like long jevity.

So yeah, that's when South Carolina was just it and then we just kind of took the world by a storm and it was it was a crazy, crazy four years, but I enjoyed it.

Now, that's incredible. And how did that relationship with coach Staley stars? Obviously she's at the University of South Carolina, but you said you just said yourself, if she wasn't there wherever she was, I would have gone there.

So just how did that really?

How did you end up getting so close with Coach Staley in the first place? Uh?

Coach Stiley was like, you know in the AAU circuits, we didn't have the big like Eybo teams. We were just like kind of the team that was just making it like we had fresh fries, like fish fries, car washes. We were just trying to get money, and we weren't the best team, Like we didn't have all the great talent, so it was very scarce when coaches would come around. But in the early parts of my recruitment, coach Staley

With me from rock bottom. Like in jym he's the only coach.

At a D one level there, And so that just kind of grew and I had an opportunity to be coached by her before anything got to South Carolina for the Judea Olympics, and like she was just honest, your honesty and her loyalty was really that stuck, like just stuck with me. And it didn't shift when we got to college. Like you know, they gonna say anything when they're recruiting you. They got the best facility, but like when we got on campus, I was like, no, she's

That's incredible.

I think in hearing that, I think coach Staley took a book out of Coach K's playbook, and which is coaching the junior Olympic team, and in turn she ends up coaching arguably the greatest woman to ever play college basketball. And I watched Coach K do that for years where he was coaching the national team, but he had all of his guys coaching the younger teams. Cable's coaching the younger team, all these guys and just pulling in and recruise to Duke.

So I thought that was an interesting one.

Yeah, growing up in South Carolina, and I'd be remiss about and ask you this because I wonder I'm very good friends one of my best Jermaine O'Neill, who's obviously from the state of South Carolina, and man, y'all had a Confederate flag up like six years ago. Still, and how was that for you as a young black girl growing up in that state being a prodigy in a superstar basketball player, but right up the street and it's a Confederate flag wave and how was that?

It was a very different feeling.

It was something that I probably didn't really notice until I got older, where I was like, this is they don't like us like And it also was a where I was like, you only kind of pay me attention because I'm wearing South Carolina on my chest because I'm dribbling basketball.

But once I take that uniform, all who am I to you? And that right there was.

Really hard figuring out growing up. But of course my parents were like be you and do that. But it was very different, and especially just growing up. I went to private school, so it was like maybe ten percent black, I want to say that, and then maybe like three percent of like black women.

So all I knew was white. All my friends was white and everything.

Like my only thing that I got black or culture wise was au And even then they were like, oh, you just the oreo. You just want to be a white girl. You want to do and like it was hard for me to like figure out who I was because I'm like, I'm surrounded by white people when I go to school so of course I'm going to talk a certain way or try to be a certain way

Me and I was like, listen, you don't have to like me, love me. I don't care.

I'm going to be me through it all. And that's kind of what I've just been sticking by. But it's definitely been difficult to kind of especially see the flag waving over our statehouse.

It was just very weird.

That's crazy.

So and saying that February sixth, they're black girls, how to be true to you? Well, should we expect to hear some of that journey about growing up in South Carolina and your upcoming book.

I think it's probably within the first two chapters I kind of hit you in the face with it because I'm.

Like to be like, this needs to be said.

Like things shouldn't get swept under the rug, especially in the society that we're in. Like the black woman already gets that, so why not bring it to light and why not showcase and let people know that, yes, we all go through it, but this is how we can get through it.

And I had tons of fun.

Writing this book because I felt like it was very relatable a lot of people, particularly the black woman. We go through a lot of the same things, and I think people kind of see me as someone that goes through something different because I'm a professional athlete. But it's like, at the end of the day, and once I take that uniform off, i am still a black woman trying to survive in this world.

And I know it.

Says dear black girls, but it's really for everyone. It's a gym for everybody. And I had tons of fun writing it. It's so real to me, so hopefully people can understand that when they're reading.

That's amazing.

I'm excited to check it out future future New York Times bestseller on the list of all these other accolades we just shouted out, so I'm definitely looking forward to that. I'm also starting the process of actually writing my own book, and so that's that's a challenge in and so so much respect to you on having that already done, because it is not easy, very time consuming.

Amongst and already busy schedules.

So I get it, and congratulations and also good luck on the release.

I think it'll be great.

You thank you.

Have you now statue outside of the arena, which all of us only hope to get.

So number one, congratulations on that again.

But with that and now you know, being a legend that you are, do you feel like some of that has now changed in the state due to your success, Coach Daley success, Lisha Gray's success, all the success that y'all have had coming out of South Carolina. Do you think that's changed some of that now? And when you return home and how you're greeted and the things that people say. Obviously you're going to be greeted differently than the young black girls death there now, but do you think it's changed.

Some part of me wants to say yes, I do want to believe that, But at the same time, you never really know people's true intentions, and you know, you always feel like that there's this underlying like night not microaggression, but it's kind of like micro managing a little bit, like okay, like you just liking me a little bit because I'm doing this for you or you're getting something out of me. But I think the way that Coach Staley has changed the culture of basketball women's basketball in

And Coach Staley has done a great job with the program. Obviously, you being a player to really spearhead and take that thing off. Is it ultimately a goal to yours to one day replace her when she's done there, you're done with your career, to go back there possibly be the culture universe of South Carolina.

No, Drey, I cannot coach.

I would never see myself coaching because I could never coach a mee like I.

Gave coach daily hell, like.

I think in.

Asia Wilson for four years, I would have a lot more gray hairs than what she has. So yeah, no, I'm not even gonna put that stress on me. No, absolutely I don't. I barely like to talk in timeouts, let alone happen to coach through one.

So yeah, no, I'm good. She got it, She got it.

What can we expect from you when you're done playing? I think this is always and obviously you're so young in your career, you got long ways to go. But I always think this is an interesting topic on hearing what people kind of have in store for themselves after we're playing. So many people get caught up into like the the now, which but the reality is is basketball is a very short window in our lives, and you got another forty years fifty years after that to live.

Oh my goodness. I really want to get into the youth community. I really want to.

Like when I see all these big AAU circuits and different things that these young girls are going to to help develop them to go to the next level, I want to dive into that area because I feel like that is that's the seed, that's the seed that we plant.

Like it's kind of late when you get into college.

I mean, you can kind of do it, but if you're not in a good system and have a good coach, it's kind of hard. But it's like, if we can get middle school girls to stay in sports, to grow with the game, to love the game and see it from a person that's been at that level. Because I was trash when I started, Like I was horrible, barely

Dear Black girls. I am committing to one hundred books. I'm going to buy one hundred books when this book released on the sixth and Asia and Clutch his team is going to figure out what black girls this.

Book should go to.

Now I think it should go to all young girls, but I am making a commitment to make sure we get this book in the hands of some black, young black girls. I know how hard it can be to get books, especially coming from places like we come from.

So that is my commitment to the book.

I'm doing that, and We're going to figure out a way to get this book in the hands.

Of some young black girls.

And speaking of basketball, though, let's get into that. Obviously, I am a huge fan of your career. My MVP, I thought she got a little slighted last year, went and backed that up with a championship. For those of y'all that don't think I'm the MVP, then let's just talk about it and getting into that.

Though you don't win.

MVP last year, which I thought you probably should have won MVP last year, how did that?

How did that feel? Number? One?

And then spark you going into the playoffs to make the run and have the playoff stretch that you did.

Yeah, that hurt that. That hurt me to the core. Actually, I don't think I've ever felt that low in my career honestly, because it's just I really felt like, I guess my thing was okay if I didn't get it, but that fourth place, like being third and fourth, it's really.

Crazy like that really like that is what did it?

Like?

Not getting it?

I was like, man, I gotta charge it to the game, you know, I get a voter, voter's fatigue, whatever you want to say. Cool, but being third and fourth was like absolutely not Like it struck my core. I was like, no, they are playing with me at this point, and I mean it just kind of it honestly did see me. And I think it feeled like my team as well, like we were just like, now, wait a minute, like we've been disrespected probably throughout this whole season. They already

Like y'all really just don't believe in us, ever, and.

That's okay because now we have to continue to prove to y'all while we're the number one team. And like I was excited, like I was so ready to get back on court because I was like, all right, it's time to play.

That, Like that's out the way y'all voted. Now let's play the game.

Let me prove to y'all why I felt like I deserve something better than third and fourth.

So yeah, that kind of kind of shook me a little bit.

And speaking of super teams, obviously, I've been a part for which I mean, I still question whether I was a part of a super team be that our team was so homegrown, Like yes, KD did come on a team, but it was a homegrown team. And I feel like y'all were the same way, Like, yeah, Kelsey may not have been drafted there, or Chelsea may not have been drafted there, but y'all were great when y'all got those players right, and getting those players, y'all then built that

Back in him?

But this was all This wasn't like, oh we plucked this player and now we go to championships. Is that your feeling, because I know that's how I feel about ours? Is that your feeling on y'all?

Yes, Like Kelsey obviously number one draft pick, she played in San Antonio, but then the next year Vegas.

Then it was me, then it was Jackie and.

Like we were grind like I remember my rookie year we didn't make it to playoffs, Like we were trying to grind out wins and form a fan base to be like come watch us, and like we we It's funny because we were just talking about we were like there were times that we would have a meeting and be like what are we doing? Like where do we

The whole time. This was it And that's the part that I was so happy for.

And that was like probably why the second championship was just that much greater than the first one, because I'm like a lot of y'all one wanted us to lose, but two couldnt believe that we really did it with our core that we've been having since day one, and like that right there, I.

Definitely feel the same way because I'm like, we literally have been doing the same thing.

We've been doing every year, like same thing, and we just so happened to be really good because we just put the work in.

Yeah, if that's the super team, then okay.

But no, they're acting like we just were like going to different gyms to be like yeah we want her, we want her.

We're okay, no.

No, I definitely. I definitely thought it was a lot sweeter as you. As you may or may not know, I'm a huge Canvass Parker fan has been since watching her in the Dunk Contest in high school and then to Tennessee on through WNBA with the Sparks, then the Sky and now her being.

With the Asist.

But I thought it was a lot to say for number one, uh cep getting hurt early in the year and missing missing a lot of the year, but then at the very end see Gregan hurt and like you said, a boiling down to just y'all having to close it out with well kind of what you started with.

Yep, and it shut all and they sayers up. You know how I viewed that.

I viewed that and now you know CP is my teammate, Chris Paul. But years ago, I think it was two thousand and eighteen, if I'm not mistaken, KD got hurt. I mean we were playing the Houston Rockets and CP gets hurt. And when CP got hurt, they're like, ah, CP didn't get hurt. Y'all was done, and then KD got hurt and we're like, all right, now we're faced with the same thing, we're out of deficit. Kd's out and now it's just us three and we came back and won.

And so to me, that was one of the sweetest series.

To win because everything y'all said about us. You cried to KD in the car, y'all you couldn't do this, y'all couldn't do that. Y'all had to and it boiled back down to us having to get it done, and it made it.

All the more sweeter for me. Yes, so I definitely get that.

But for you having a player like Candae spark around who's done it at the level that she's done it that for so many years, what benefit was that to you? And just being able to then team up with her and kind of pluck at some of that knowledge that she has.

Oh, it was incredible.

Like I've never was so excited just to have a person like Candice in our locker room just to pick her brain. I mean, it's just amazing just to compete against her in practice when we could, and then just to have her constantly just being in my ear. And I remember, like before we went into the New York series, we sat down and I was just like, how do we do this, like, how do I do this as.

A person that the light is beaming on? How do I do this?

And she was like, be you like and it's so simple, and it's like I knew exactly what she meant. I was like, I can't do anything different, can't force anything. I just have to go out there and be me and my team will fall. But just having her encouraging words on the sidelines, just still just practicing with her.

And I hate like when she got hurt. We were just right in the groove too. We were like, dang.

But it was just tons of fun just to like just to play along somebody that's She's my got Hall of Famer hands down, So just to share locker room with her and just her mind.

Man, it was.

It was a lot of fun just to have her around. And I'm super excited just to see kind of what her future. Hod Kandas is a hooper. She's a hooper and a trooper through and through, and I'm so glad that I could be able to just be a part of her journey because we.

Had a lot of fun. We brought out the youth a little bit out of her. It was. It was a lot of fun.

That's super dope. We had Canvas on the show and she actually spoke about coming to the Asis and that being the first time that she'd have her own locker, which our practice facility said she never had a practice facility,

What has your experience been?

Well?

I was kind of blessed because when I entered in the league, we were shifting everything. So Vegas was new, so we had new management, new French. It was like new everything. So we were able to kind of write our own story. So I really didn't go through the slums of the w Minus to travel, I think that was my biggest hit, because I mean, in college, I traveled privately. We got on a plane, left for the

But no, when it came to locker rooms, I was kind of blessed enough to have a locker room.

We've always provided a and everything we actually helped transform, like unlb's whole training room so it could be to us with cool tubs and everything like that. So I wasn't really into slums and I hate to see that others like that we're in the slums. But I'm also grateful to be on the side where we have an awesome practice facility that we are literally being treated the way we should. But yeah, I travel was just kind of like my little hit. But other than that, that

That's great to hear.

And then speaking of you know, to travel and your experiences, you all just had the highest rated finals, the most watched finals in.

Twenty years in a WNBA. What would you attribute the growth.

Of a w to, you know, and getting those type of ratings and own practice facilities and all these things.

Moving forward, What would you attribute that growth to.

I mean, I honestly think it kind of just kind of picked up in the collegiate side of it.

I think a lot of people started paying eyes on that and when.

Everything went down between Angel and Caitlin, and I think it kind of then allowed people to kind of open up this mindset of oh, let's kind of watch it at this level. And I think they're also starting to see us more. And I always say, if you can

Because we played decent basketball, were well the ass were gonna play some good basketball.

I feel I can buy us there and say now we're gonna put on a show for you for sure. And I think people are now starting to give it a chance and know that it's not just a charity case, but we're really good at what we do and whether that is and I think part of it also is we formed a rivalry. I think when you look in sports, everyone loves a rivalry. Everyone loves like the fact that I don't like them, they don't like us, so let's compete.

So I think that really really helped us. Was like no aces in Liberty.

As soon as we made the teams, people were like, that's the finals matchup. So when it came on to that, they were like, no, I have to watch it. So I think it just kind of were starting to open up into spaces of like the rivalry and like pitting.

Put people against each other because people love that, Like that's what sells is like I hate them, they hate us, let's go.

So I think that really kind of helped us getting those views and people buying our jerseys and pouring into our teams. Is because it's like we want to be the best, and also us being dependent champions, of course you want to see what's going on with US, So I think that was kind of the big cause of it.

Absolutely, no, I think I think that's incredible. And by the way, you just said something that I said years ago, and all y'all got mad at me. And I'm happy to hear you say that, because maybe I wasn't as far off my rocker as everyone tried to make like O US, which is people knowing your stories and like knowing who you are, Like people actually getting to know the story of Asia Wilson, get in to know the story of Chelsea Grey, get in to know the story

Nonetheless, I am happy to hear you say that.

The viewership and people getting to know our stories and know this person and know that person is what's changing things.

Because it was just a little suggestion. So it's great to hear that. Great to hear that. But in speaking of.

Well, before we move on to that, a lot of players in the W have to go overseas during the w's offseason because you all make way more money overseas than you making the W. All is not like myself included, all of us are not fortunate enough to have a big endorsement deals like Asian Wilson. But you know, y'all are just it's just a totally different ball game when

Oh? Okay, So to answer your first question, I have no idea what the W can do to help players not go overseas because it would just have to be a lot within the league that would have to change salary wise, and with our salary cap, that's really really hard to do.

So I don't know.

Exactly how like economically why like how that could work, but hopefully soon. But we are seeing a change, like we're seeing a lot more WS players staying because of anything, like we have new league with AU like it's a lot of different things that women can still stay here and play.

But I am also very lucky and blessed to be you know, clutch client, and they keep me working and that's why I love the most of the girl got to get paid.

But no, I think those are also it's like who's in your circle, who's working for you? Like what are they doing to put yourself out there? And they do

But like that's kind of like what it's all about, right, like all eyes on a lot of different things.

And I think with that, yes, but also obviously you got to fight TV time and viewership and different things like that. But for a longer season, I'm all for it. I know we're starting to try to add teams, which is going to be super hard, but they're trying, so that's a kind of step. But yeah, I think we would definitely need a longer season to really have people give a chance of like watching us, because then it's kind of like not riding on the NBA's coketail.

But in a sense, it's kind of like.

No basketball is still going on, Like basketball doesn't end when you guys are season, and it's like, yes, you have the whole summer to watch us. So just kind of implementing that and letting people kind of have eyes on us is big.

There's been a question that many people has asked or brought up, and it's always been met with resistance from you all. And I personally myself can understand the resistance. But you know, people will always say, well, why don't they lower the rims to nine and a half feet. That would make the game more exciting, and quite honestly, I think that's a totally different way of playing.

Like half a foot is a huge difference, huge.

Difference, Like it changes your whole shot, like you practice shooting the ball a certain way, your whole life, like it changes everything. But yet the first thing people will throw out there, Yeah, but there'll be more dunks and that's more exciting, and so like, how do you kind of come back that thing?

Like I do understand where y'all are coming from.

Yet I'm a big fan of the w I watched the games, and I also think I watched the games more so like the fundamentals that y'all like you can't find that shit an NBA, Like God's in the NBA just don't have fundamentals, And like you watch y'all playing the fundamentals.

I love it.

But for those that can only watch the game for excitement, because most people don't understand the game, like how do you kind of combat that?

I think my biggest thing is and I always try to tell people it's like you just honestly have to give it a chance and give it an open mind. I think that's kind of the only thing because like when you said lowering the rams, I'm like, I'm not changing twenty years of me learning basketball just so I can dunk maybe twice in a game. If we're being really like, I can't give that, Like I'm not We're not the Harlem Globetrotters.

We're not the guys that jumps on the trampolines.

Like I've worked too hard and put a lot of time into my game for me to change it just because I want to sell a ticket if we're already selling out tickets right now.

So I feel like the biggest thing.

And when I ask people, like when people ask me, I'm like, you really have to just go go to a game.

I get washing it on TV and that's great, but going to a game.

Particularly in an acest game, gives you a whole different outlook on just the game itself, because then it turns into entertainment because then you're like you get to feel the feeling of the game, and then you get to enjoy it because they're like, Okay, no, they're actually doing stuff really really well, like they're looking pretty decent. So yeah, I don't I can't I don't. I can't do the

So then it kind of translates over to.

The court for a for a period of time, I think the NBA and this specific NBA player support was like on blasts on Front Street for the w I personally don't think I see as much of that anymore, Like as far as being out in front of it, you may feel differently, do you, But my question is do you all still feel the same support from the NBA players and League as much as you once did.

And every time I every time I think about this, I think about the orange hity, I'm like, oh, thank you guys so much for wearing the orange hoity. But it's kind of like, okay, like you get it's like cool, thanks, like I'm glad you wore it, But what are we doing? Like I and my biggest thing, and I can actually appreciate it is kind of like and it is. I kind of feel like it's not dwindling. But it's new

Like college levels. People's kind of following along.

And I think this way the generation may not have that because it's just whether it's nil or it's just like social media and you see them in a different light. They haven't learned that yet.

But I also applauded because I'm like, keep that fake shit over there.

You know what I mean, like kind of like I don't need you to fake like you watch US, I don't need you to fake that you like us. I'd rather you keep it real and keep it pushing over

I've probably been to a couple of games, but I'm like cool. But I feel like, at the same time, we do.

Have a lot of players that are invested in us, that are helping to push the needle and having the seat at the table, and you guys are speaking out about it, and then those are the ones that obviously we appreciate and kind of gravitate to.

The most because it's real.

But I kind of dig the whole, like, hey, I ain't really watch them, So I ain't really going to wear an orange fitty and I can appreciate that.

No, I think it's definitely a number one personal relationships, which you see a lot, especially like guys who's been on the national team USA men's national team and women's national team, Like, you see a lot of that connection.

We spend a bunch of time.

Together, we travel together, we're at y'all games when y'all are playing.

Y'all are at our games when we're.

Playing, and so I think you see some of that natural connection as well.

And the reality is most people that are at that level.

When I say people, I mean players, women and men, you understand the game.

A lot of these young people don't understand the game of.

Basketball, so and and and and so, and speaking about like Laura and the Rima dunks, a lot of these young guys, uh in particular, are actually all into those things because they don't know the game. And so I can kind of see a correlation there as well, you know, which I think, which I think is interesting. A few more questions before we get out of here, I know you have to go and and just really speaking of the women's game, uh, the goats, the rivalries. Uh, you

Yeah, I love it.

Stu and I have been playing against each other for a long long time and it's crazy to think that we kind of grew up with this little rivalry.

But at the same time we're still cool.

I feel like that's what makes it that much better because we know it's like it's not beef. Like media can make it beef, anybody can make it beef, but it's not beef. And it's like when you see us, we're making each other better every possession, every single possession. I'm pretty sure if you has Stewie, what's asia scout, she could read it like that. And if you ask, I'm like, yeah, I got you. And I think that's kind of what our game in our league needs. It

In this space now.

But it's been tons of fun just growing alongside Stewie and just getting better.

I feel like she makes me better every single time we play against each other.

But at the same time, we've been cool since we've played together for USA and everywhere in between.

But it's a lot of fun.

We sometimes I feel like every game we just kind of look at each other and just smile aloud because we're like, look at us.

What we did like day, But Stuie, she could.

I know they talk a lot about like college girls now and like nil, but one place I'm gonna always give Stuwie's her respected is in college. That girl has four national championships and you can those away from her. And I get they talking about Angel, I get they talking about Kaitlyn, I get they talking about South Carolina's team, but the things she did in college does not need to go unrecognized. So yes, stue'rops there because I see they be playing around with this whole who's the best

So yeah, I love the rivalry.

I feel like we circle that game every time because we have no choice because we can see each other again.

So yeah, that's that's fire. You just mentioned.

You just mentioned Caitlyn and you just mentioned Angel Rees both to too incredibly good players at the collegiate level. Obviously this year soon will be making that jump to the NBA more w NBA, excuse me, more than likely. But when I when I watch some of these younger guys that when I'm watching college or you're watching some of the overseas guys come over. When I'm watching them, I'm watching them like ah, like that's cool, like that

Going to do it, and she's going to make sure you hear all of it.

Are you watching her? Sometimes? Like I like, I see you, sure are you? But just know you gotta come here soon? Or are you just watching it like I'm just enjoying the game.

I mean, sometimes I really just watch it to enjoy it.

But then sometimes obviously the player sided me is kind of like I watch because I'm watching as if I'm watching.

Film because clearly they're going to be at the next level. So I do kind of sometimes catch myself.

I'm like, oh, okay, bit, I got you, and I'm like, oh no, let me enjoy the game. Go women's sports, like the competitor Indy just can't live without a film session.

Sometimes I don't want you to enjoy it.

But sometimes I find myself like, all right, bitch, she liked that move. Bit I got it because like you said, I get older.

So I'm like, all right, I got to.

Start playing smarter a little bit and let me try to figure it out before they kind of get ahead of the game. And I'm pretty sure they like did it to me when I was a rookie, so I don't feel too bad.

I'm like, yeah, no, you did the same.

Absolutely, that's that's a fact I was. I was crazy.

I was thinking about that yesterday because I'm like, man, I wonder if if guys thought this way about me, And I'm like they one percent thought this way about us, Like this ain't nothing new, Like they've been doing this, okay, all right, long as I'm not the only one sick in he I'm good. Give me your give me your your Mount Rushmore of w n b A or women's basketball in general. It doesn't necessary necessarily have to be the w n b A because obviously the w NBA spans back now.

Twenty six years.

If I'm not mistaken, But give me your Mount Rushmore of women's basketball.

M cool.

Cynthia Cooper gotta have it.

Absolutely, I really want to put myself because I can't.

You can't not put yourself. That is a that is a okay, Green Show.

I'm gonna put myself because and mount workmore got four people?

It does four people.

I gotta say, Candice, I have to say, canness, But now I feel so bad. I'm sorry. Somebody can take I could take. My head can be on the side. They can like carve it on another side. And I'm just gonna because a partment wants to say DT, but then apartment obviously want to be like coach Staley because that's my girl.

I don't know.

We just have to carve in a couple of extra heads on the mountain before.

Go ahead and put like two together there.

It is, okay, Well, since you're removing yourself to the side, what what do you have to do in your career moving forward? Like you've already done everything. What do you have to do in your career to put yourself.

All the way on there? Like, ain't no moving me to the side. I'm here. What more do you feel you need to do in order for that to happen?

I gotta get too much, chips, I gotta get too more. I gotta get too more.

Yeah, I feel like that's just it just solidifies me at that point because I feel.

Like and especially if I can do them in a row. Oh my god, blessings, that's knocking it out the park.

But I feel like I'm already up there because being back to back is hard in itself.

Like that's like, that's.

Why when people be like, oh, like you won your second one, I'm like, please say back to back, because back to back is what really sets it off. So that's why I feel like if I can get a couple more like, then it's kind of like, all right, she did it back and back.

But then she also did it again and again.

So yeah, I'm just gonna get myself for it because and also I'm an even number girl.

I'm weird, So yeah, I need four and a couple will give me another gold medal. Yeah, I think then I'll be at peace.

Okay, I can respect that. All right, Well, I'll be sitting here on the championships.

I know you will get more, so I'll be sitting here count them so I can make my own rush, my own rushmore, and I don't have to slide you to the side that was your worst, not mine, before we get out of here, your best or favorite best, however you want to classify aces championship, parade stories or celebration, Like what out of all of that.

Do you look back on and you like that was the moment.

For me, like this year championship or last year or anything either.

You know, that's a that's a great problem to have, MVP. You ain't got a flex on me. It's all right, great problem to have.

I probably just I have to because my teammates are just so they're just my teammates.

It has to be. And it wasn't even the parade.

It's like immediately after when we're in the media and we're doing media and.

It's me and it's Chelsea.

We're doing it, and all of a sudden, we just hear this boombox and it's KP hammered with the boom.

Box, interrupting them, interrupting the whole press conference, and we're like, what is going on at this point? And KP apparently was left in the locker room by ourself. Once she came out, everybody was going there different ways.

We still know where people are to this day, and she just gravitated to the press room and decided.

To crash it.

That was the top moment of my life because I was like what is going on? Then the second one was another what's going on moment when we were in the press room again after winning in New York and the whole team just busted through and ruined me and Alicia Parker media and they're just like asking their own questions like, oh, the poor place, Oh what's going Like We're at this point where like, yeah, the media people are like and this is why we didn't vote for y'all, so.

It gave them their reason.

And I think that right there were like my top moments where I'm like, Ah, this team is awesome, Like I love them for this, so yest know.

It honestly looks like y'all have so much fun together, like even like on a daily basis, And I don't think people really understand the monotony of these seasons, right Like you're just in this grind and it's on and on and on and it's just like this revolving door, and I admire how fun it looks like y'all keep it for each other.

I think that's great.

I think I think in order to continue winning, you have to be able to do that because you run into the dog days, you run into the days you wake up, you don't want to play, and so I really admire that about y'all, like.

Do a good job of.

Keeping it fun and quite frankly, they cannot vote again if that's going to equal another championship, and.

Hey, you know what, you just keep on fueling the fire.

Asia, I can't thank you enough for coming on the Draymond Green Show.

Your resume.

So I always talk about, like you can't just be in the NBA or the w NBA and come on here, you gotta have a resume, like because we got to have something to talk about. And I don't really want to talk about what draft pick you were like that.

They don't really get it done.

But honestly, I'm so thankful to have you on Champion MVP. You know I'm a big fan. They're black girls. How to Be True to You by Asia Wilson. Y'all make sure February sixth, y'all get that book. Go check it out. I've told you all my commitment. I'm looking forward to reading it and checking out the book. Good luck this year. Make sure you're running back, make sure you go get the MVP. Don't leave no doubt this time.

Yeah, this got absolutely.

Wishing you well, thank you for coming on the show. I appreciate you.

Thank you so much.

Cliver Living