What are we drinking's doing Coke 0 sugar?
You can hear that did you hear that?
It's carbonated and everything?
Can I get it open though? Ohh my goodness.
Now you're all swagged out.
You got the you got the Coke
Zero, you got the Puma.
I mean, I think just continuing to to
kind of represent the WNBA represent
women's basketball and female athletes.
But I feel like there's so much
more recognition and exposure
coming from endorsements.
Obviously media and it's an exciting time.
Here in Seattle there's momentum
as well, obviously.
First year in Climate pledge Arena
home opener has to be a crazy night
and I just I'm really looking forward
to being back in the heart of Seattle.
So I'm gonna take a swig
of this because I have
to read off your resume
and it's long. So hold on just a second.
WNBA MVP Gatorade Player
of the Year in high school.
McDonald's All-american 4 titles at UConn
final four MVP in those four years,
rookie, the year two time WNBA Champ,
two time Olympian 91 and eight
with Team USA. I looked it up.
I did my research, that's pretty good.
I'm closing in on 100.
What are you most proud of?
I put 2018 in a league of its own.
2020 The Bubble super impactful.
What we did on and off the court. But
to be able to be here playing
in front of our fans in 2018 was
such crazy series that we played.
I'd never forget. The Champions, so I
left a bunch of stuff out too.
You've been more comfortable
talking about issues off the court
towards the end of my college career
and into my first year in the WNBA.
That's when I I shared my me too story
speaking up about equality and sport,
you get to a point in time.
You know I wanna be genuine.
I wanna be genuine with
what I do on the court.
I wanna be genuine with
what I do off the court.
How's your baby?
Ruby is doing great.
She's almost eight months,
which is crazy.
She's gonna be moving around right
for the start of the WNBA season.
So good luck to my wife Martha
for kind of chasing her around
during the games when I ruptured
my Achilles. It was shortly after someone
brought it to my attention about freezing.
My eggs wasn't on my radar at all hindsight,
it was one of the best decisions
I made because as athletes,
as people in in the workplace were so
busy we're going all over the place.
And you never really have a moment to
kind of stop or exhale or see what
else is going on by freezing my eggs.
I kind of set myself up for the future.
We
also have this interesting story
with your wife in that you met while
playing together in Russia, correct?
We met in Russia playing on the
same team we played against each
other internationally before
because she has represented Spain.
We were encouraged and I
tell people all the time.
It's just going to be
annoying because I say this,
but I just kind of like
dangle it over a little bit.
She didn't talk to me
until I ruptured my kills.
So we just wasted however much time.
And what's interesting too.
And and I think people are talking
about it more because of
what is going on with Russia.
And Ukraine is whole reason you played
in Russia is because of the pay
discrepancy here in America, right?
And we are paid a lot more overseas and
we are valued differently overseas.
I mean, do you think that because
of the situation in this weird way,
it's raising attention for why so many?
WNBA players have gone to Russia.
Whether it be yourself,
Britney, Griner, others,
yeah, absolutely and people are like alright.
Well, let's value them more.
You know, let's continue to kind of find
avenues to to kind of appreciate our
athletes to where they don't need to
go overseas where they can stay home,
be in markets all the time.
Be you know visible and seeing 12 months
out of the year instead of six when
you're having your MVP's in 2018
and you're getting paid like 10
times more in Russia. Right,
yeah, that's wow.
You signed for one more year, right?
What should storm fans read from that?
Obviously, I've been in
Seattle for a long time.
My heart is in Seattle and
having an opportunity to come
back and play with Sue Jewell,
Sadies and some new players as well.
I'm really excited and looking forward
to it one year deal because of the
prioritization clause that's in our CBA.
For those that don't know,
it's starting 2023.
Season if I was to be late to training
camp on find every single day,
I'm late in 2024.
I'll be suspended for the season,
which is where this whole Russia issue
kind of is interconnected, right?
Exactly? Do we have to worry that there's
gonna be film crews all year trying to?
Recreate the last dance like this is the
last dance for the storm. I hope not.
Well, here's to have an another good season,
perhaps hanging another banner in a
new facility in Inner Bay and Equality.
In pay cheers. Thanks for sharing.
Drink with me and hopefully I
don't spill it. Don't spill it.