The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GOOD FOLLOW - Caitlin Clark Effect, Brittney Sykes Joins the Show + Juju Watkins, SC vs Texas, NWSL Kits & More
Wed, 05 Mar 2025
This week on Good Follow: Ros & Logan discuss the Caitlin Cark and if anyone can replicate it, why the Rose and Laces are so dangerous, and highlight Breann Stewart at Unrivaled. Then, Ros sits down with WNBA and Unrivaled guard Brittney Sykes to talk joining Unrivaled, the Mystics, and the toughest players to defend. Later, Ros & Logan discuss USC and Juju’s statement win, Athletes Unlimited, and the 2025 NWSL kits. Finally, Ros shares her Unrivaled pick of the week presented by DraftKings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Chapter 1: What is the Caitlin Clark Effect?
I am absolutely ready. And I want to start with Kaitlyn Clark because she honestly, she had a pretty quiet offseason, didn't play in any games or leagues, as a matter of fact. And there weren't a lot of headlines. But with the WNBA season on the horizon, of course, the headlines are back because... Teams are already moving their games against the fever to larger venues.
And then a fever preseason game at Iowa sold out in 40 minutes. Mind you, that's 15,000 seats. And I actually saw some people saying that there might have been a little inside access because when they went to get the tickets, they were completely sold out already.
not insider trading right like maybe it was just for iowa people i'm not too sure but everyone wants to see caitlyn clark the caitlyn clark effect is back and i'm really keen for her to go into her second season so do you think that she'll meet the moment or i mean i don't really know what else she could do other than meet the moment but what do you think will happen with her
Yes, I do think Caitlin Clark is going to meet the moment. And I think Caitlin Clark mania and fever or Clarkonomics, whatever it is they're calling it, I think it only gets bigger and better. I mean, health-willing, of course. But I think part of it is there'll be less resistance this season.
And I think that's just because naturally as the seasons go on, the body of work begins to build itself up. And what comes with that is respect. And hopefully... This season, I hope that the conversation moves and the focus moves away from everything that isn't ball. You know, there was so much conversation about gratitude for Caitlyn or race and, you know, tension in America, all this and that.
And it was at some point exhausting for all sorts of fans, no matter what sides or beliefs you had. And I feel like this season, like, We'll have the opportunity to see her physically stronger, mentally rested, better improved. She has a squad and a team of real weapons around her now, real vets who can support her, who can lead her at times. She's got a really great coach coming in.
I think she's got everything she needs to be successful. And I hope this season that the way we're discussing Caitlin is about the game and the production. So that means that we can be talking about how she's meeting the expectations, how she's exceeding the expectations, and also have critical conversations about the moments where she isn't.
living up to the expectation, just as we would for a Victor Wambanyama, just as we would for a Jason Tatum. Like, I think that's the evolution of the conversation, not only around Kaitlyn Clark, but just women's basketball on a whole. So I'm excited for season two of Kaitlyn and the WNBA.
Oh my, especially given the players that she has around her. I mean, we talked about it, I believe a few episodes ago, but I think the fever can really do something special and they are set up to do something special rather than last year. It was all eyes on Caitlin, maybe her connection with the Leah Boston and some other players coming in. Now you have the team around her.
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Chapter 2: Who are the rising stars in women's basketball?
So I do think there's some players that will generate that kind of fandom. I do think to your point, like the logo threes, the no look passes, her style of play, how she shows up in big moments, that is generational and exciting.
And I do think full stop, the level of eyeballs, butts in seats, money being spent, and attention around Kaitlyn Clark, there is a gap for everybody else in women's basketball. So full on respect for what she is doing. But I think there's other players. I think a healthy Paige Beckers has aura. I think Juju Watkins can be that, just continuing to have team and individual success.
I think that in the WNBA right now, I did want to point out, I think there's one player who's not at the same level, but also a big time draw. And I would say Angel Reese. I don't even know why. I don't even really truly know what my affiliation is to her, like what my personal draws.
But when I had to make a choice on where I was going to spend my one jersey purchase on, it ended up being Angel Reese. So I do think that like there's other players who are big draws, who captivate you and make you want to spend money, you know, and want to see them.
absolutely but actually with you mentioning angel i want to touch on the rose game against the laces which was definitely the one to watch on monday i mean they were picked to finish last and the rose clinched the playoff spot with their win so you made a prediction back in episode one which i want to bring up just for a second Who do you think is winning this year? Who's the 2025 champs?
I got the Rose. There's a lot of space and islands in a three on three basketball situation. So you got to have somebody who can like create their own space, create their own shot. They got players like that. Chelsea Gray, Kalia Copper. You also got a nice combination of defenders. Brittany Sykes, Lexi Hull defends. You got size as a Ray Stevens. You got Angel Reese. And I think Angel's tenacity.
I happen to watch a couple of games. They can't.
keep her off the glass all of that you know combined i think makes them a championship contender damn that was so absolutely on point and actually i think my answer to that question was the laces so here we are your answer was obviously a lot better and more well-rounded you have quite literally predicted the future but as of now what is so dangerous about both of these teams heading into the playoffs
Yeah, well, I called that the Rose, you know, would be a really good team. I picked them as my favorite. They've now, they didn't start that way. So like, you know, look, it's easy to now, you know, point out the moment, oh, I was right. But at first they struggled. They've now won six of the last seven. And they've clinched the second playoff appearance after the Owls.
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Chapter 3: How are the Rose and Laces shaping up for the playoffs?
So if they get in there, they are a dangerous wild card.
You know what? One of the teams that absolutely was not impressing me whatsoever was the mist at the beginning of the season. They started two and seven and just were not looking good. We were even questioning like what is going on with this team, but now it does not look like they're slowing down after going on a three game win streak.
So with that, like the other teams, do you think they're coming together at the perfect time? Yeah.
You know, the team you wanted to be was a March team. You wanted to be ramping up and improving at this time of season. Shout out to coach Phil Handy, who has had this team improve collectively. And he's worked really hard with each of those players individually. And you're seeing that. payoff.
You're seeing from a veteran player like Courtney Vandersloot, who at times is leading the competitive fire for this team. Or you're seeing the individual improvement and the increase of joy and engagement over the entire body of a game from Jewel Lloyd. And that was something she was working on. Not busting out for 20 straight points.
No, just over the course of the whole game, playing with joy and making contributions. So her improvement. But everything The Mist is doing is anchored by Breanna Stewart. You know, Breanna Stewart is what makes them go. And let's look at some highlights of Stewie, because she's been, in this three-game winning streak for the Miss, she's been a huge part of it.
Stewie is one of the best players in the world, and she's been doing a great job at Unrivaled getting to the rim, getting to the basket, attacking off the bounce, playing with her back to the cup, running her lane. She's got all these different moves, counter moves for counter moves. But what impresses me most about Stewie
You're talking about one of the best players in the world who's so willing to do the dirty work. Like she is on the glass. She's in there making things, gritty things happen. She's top five in total points, total assists, total rebounds. She's number two rebounds per game. And when she crashes the glass, a defensive board, she can get it and go and impact pace.
An offensive board, she can get a foul. She'll get to the free throw line. Like Stewie makes great things happen on the court. And she just got a lot of heart.
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Chapter 4: Why is gratitude important for Brittney Sykes?
Why?
It's crazy you bring that up because that kind of set that intention a little bit before the new year to basically show gratitude and give myself grace for like where I am. Like, you know, the whole saying, be where your feet are. I think gratitude allows me to stay there.
Sometimes I can get a little spread out with what's not happening and I'm not realizing that what is happening is what's best for me right now. So for me, it's gratitude for sure. Just being able to tell people like, hey, I appreciate you. Or, you know what, God, I'm thankful that I am where I am right now.
And, yes, I might not be where I want to be, but I'm grateful for what I have and, you know, and focus on that and not what I don't have.
Yeah. No, I completely feel that wholeheartedly. And actually, we're here right now in Miami at Unrivaled. I mean, why was this the right place for you to be right now?
Yeah, for me, I had a pretty rough season last year. My foot, just getting back to it and then getting hurt again and sitting out longer. It was one of those things where I just wanted to... take the time to like get myself right. And I don't think it was the physical that was most like hard for me. It was the emotional, was the spiritual, was the mental.
Like, I feel like as an athlete going into my ninth year, the physical is not, that's the easiest part of my job. I think now it's getting into that. Okay. When things aren't going right with my body, like how do I emotionally respond? How do I physically respond? It's okay. But
The emotional and the spiritual, that's the parts where I'm starting to realize going into that, you know, that part of my career is like, hey, that's the part where I need to be most consistent at because I've dominated the physical. Like, it's like, what can I do to prolong my career another nine, another 10 years? And I feel like it's going to be in that aspects and those.
You're in an interesting spot, too, because you are a productive veteran, especially when you're healthy. And obviously you want to be a part of a team that contends, but you're in a tough situation with Washington where it was a rough year last season for injuries for all the reasons. There's a whole lot of new right now.
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Chapter 5: What are Brittney Sykes' insights on Unrivaled and team dynamics?
And it's always like, I'm coming for blood when I see you, and now we sit next to each other in the locker and we cracking up.
What's interesting, though, is you guys are both making names around the defensive end of the ball.
Yeah.
I mean, obviously, you are, you know, already... as one of the great defenders in the W. She's an up-and-coming player.
For sure.
You know, in Indy, they were calling her Hull Island. Did you hear that?
I did not know that. Yeah. I'm going to use that in practice.
She's putting people on island.
I'm going to use that.
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Chapter 6: Who are the toughest players to defend according to Brittney Sykes?
Go ahead.
Ryan? Ryan?
Nah, but she is hard to guard. But from who I've had to have on the perimeter, nah, you know what? I'm going to put Ryan in there because that clip is pretty damn fast.
And she got size.
Yeah, I'm tripping. No, Ryan for sure one of them. I feel like you put Arike in there because it's like, bro, come on. That's all the open space she needs to just get off. And then I'm not going to lie. You could pick any guard off the They didn't guard off the Owls. They've been pretty consistent. Alicia Gray. That's what I'm saying. Leafs been cooking.
It's crazy because it's a couple people in here where it's like you didn't get the C-Day bag because they played five on five, and then they get to three on three, and I'm like, all right, K-Mac, where was this? Because that's one person I was just like. Wait a second. You were caught off guard by Kayla McBride?
Yeah, because you got to think. She's been doing this all this last season.
But no, but not what we're doing in three on three. Like dribbling the ball and actually. Right. But I'm saying, but even, and you can ask her. Because we had this talk when we had the one-on-one conversation. It was like, I was not shocked, but I was like, okay, there's more tools in the bag. Right. Because on her team, respectfully, she doesn't have to do all of that.
Right.
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