We Got Next

Michelle and Filiberto break down the historic, remarkable, and unexpectedly compelling WNBA Finals win by the Golden State Valkyries and look to 2027. We also reminisce and relive the first epic season of this podcast: If you want to know how the Valkyries went from new kid on the block to league champion within 18 months, enjoy listening from episode 1.

Show notes:

47:05 – Fili’s favorite We Got Next episode.

48:01 – Michelle’s favorite We Got Next recording, Episode 5 about Juneteenth.

Holy basketballs!!!  This is when ish gets real!  Ballhalla making our presence felt at home and on the road. We break down Golden State’s SWEEP of the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and five-time MVP A’ja Wilson. Looks like the Valkyries weren’t playing with house money after all. We preview the Finals matchup between Golden State and the Atlanta Dream.

Show Notes

12:35 –  Janelle Salaün’s family congratulate her on Sixth Person of the Year

26:55 – Aminata Gueye’s will not be denied in Game 1.

30:39 – Atlanta Dream moving to a bigger arena. FINALLY.

36:01 – Yamamoto’s shooting form is lit.

44:00 – Allisha Gray’s finger injury.  Pew Pew.

We breakdown Golden State’s first round series win against the Dallas Wings, discuss how the Valkyries can beat the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, and wax poetic about the joy and hypeness of Ballhalla.

Show notes:

2:45 – Ceja Vineyards

25:12 – Arike’s college buzzer beaters

We provide listeners an update on our foster cats’ shenanigans, relive FIBA’s World Cup ups and downs, review the Golden State Valkyries’ record-setting second season, and discuss women’s sports’ concerning and harmful embrace of sports betting.

Show notes: 

0:22 – He-Man Thunder Kitty

2:02 – The wailer.

16:36 – WPBL shenanigans

22:13 – FIBA stats for each player.

25:33 – Veronica Burton got some rest and 6 STEALS

28:28 – Leticia’s Epic Play 

28:51 – Epic Burton block in the third against Seattle

46:43 – Sports betting is bad. Gambling as a pastime.

52:27 – Draft Kings is the DEVIL.

HOLY BUCKETS!  We relive the Valkyries’ franchise signature win against Minnesota (FINALLY). Michelle has an epiphany about Angel Reese’s Mebounds. Newly unemployed former produce clerk, Filiberto shares what rotting bags of salad have in common with today’s WNBA. And the WPBL has some explaining to do.

Show notes

2:05 -  Angel Reese – ESPN article, Reese passes the ball to herself with the Mebounds

5:08 - WNBA all star weekend – SF!!!

14:50 - Sydney Taylor’s glorious shots to beat the Valkyries.

18:29 - Each one of those cinematic steals. All Minnesota turnovers.

30:37 - Tiffany Hayes’ smooth scoring. 

35:53 - Strength of Schedule according to Tankathon.

39:08 - Race to the bottom for posting in a stacked 2027 draft. 

47:48 - Examples of Bargaining for the Common Good Demands.

52:40 - The Defector piece, The New Women’s Pro Baseball League Offers Hope—And Frustrations
57:27 - WPBL Board member lawsuit! 

Ditch the bro-centric sports pages for these apps that track women’s sports scores and schedules, Run with the Budz in Seattle, a Young Mystics team tries to take down the champs, Valkyries hold on to the number two seed with a 3-0 stretch, Why is Gabby Williams doing a sideways wax-on, wax-off?

5:22 – SheScoresSports.app and Bet On Her Collective

9:58 – Watch Run Budz run.

22:11 – Gabby Williams arms down fingers up!

Check out all her steals but the first one really speaks to it.

40:15 – Mark Walter shady deal investigation. 

45:15 – Walter using a third party to validate that deal. 

42:59 – Violet’s birthday vibe.

53:41 – Say hello to SJ Sharkie.

54:28 – Bay Area mascots celebrate Violet’s birthday.

Lots of great women’s sports to uplift, from Women’s Professional Baseball League opening weekend to She Weekend’s reverberating vibes to Nneka Ogwumike’s new scoring title to a fantastically entertaining WNBA All-Star weekend to the Valkyries hitting grind time of the season, and finally, Filiberto wonders why Valkyries fans were trippin over Kelsey Plum at trade deadline.

Show notes

9:43 – Maybelle Blair and her mascot.

12:38 – Bren Hucks’ She Weekend diary.

20:06 – Raising the Bar: Guidelines for Respectful Media Coverage in Women’s Athletics

20:30 – Nneka Ogwumike becomes L.A. Sparks all-time leading scorer.

47:54 – Valkyries stealing the ball a lot from Toronto.

Michelle and Filiberto hand out flowers to Women’s Pro Baseball League founding team names, review the Valkyries’ latest win streak and ascension to top three standing in the WNBA, hype the WNBA All Star selections, and expose the lies, fearmongering, and selfish attempts to bully Black, queer, and trans athletes.

Show notes

5:49 – Michelle was off.  Her name is Diana Nyad and she is amazing.

6:18 – Lady rower Kelsey Pfendler’s record-setting journey across the mid-Pacific.

8:25 – Women’s Pro Baseball History Happening.

9:44 – Robin Roberts Stadium is in Springfield, Illinois.

10:00 – Project B Info. Slight paywall. Read fast! 

16:00 – WNBA All Star Players

17:35 – Some all stars received less support from players than fans and media

37:00 – LA Fitness at midnight. Or 3 am. 

39:42 – Valkyries keeping opposing star players in check.

45:11 – Veronica driving to the basket to seal the win against Connecticut.

51:10 – The problem with Congress.

58:04 – Due to a recording error, Filiberto’s Mira Homies will not appear this episode!  Remember, he was hella tired and could not rerecord.

The Golden State Valkyries beat Atlanta twice and New York Liberty on an excellent home stand against top teams; Filiberto and Michelle highlight Kiah Stokes’ monster blocks, Kaila Charles’ off-the-bench athletics, and Gabby Williams’ playmaking; we reflect on the best ways for cis hetero allies to uplift and support Pride.

Show notes:

2:00 – Fili meant Friday and SUNDAY.

15:50 – Valkyries holding opponents’ star players to game lows.

18:51 – Best crab and oysters: Anchor Oyster Bar.

21:18 - Gabby Williams with a decisive late game steal

22:30 – Kiah Stokes’ block party vs Atlanta Dream June 26.

25:21 – Two back to the basket moves from Ceci  Late in the first and halfway through the second and 

34:19 – Kaitlyn Chen using a referee as a screen.

36:12 – 2022 WNBA All-Star Game MVP trophy goes to Kelsey Plum.  It’s ummmm, uh, a little underwhelming.

41:16 – Golden State’s attempted three pointers ranks them #1 in the WNBA at 30.9.

Big ups to all the Juneteenth and Pride events across the women sports world, PWHL San Jose drafts Laila Edwards!, We introduce Filiberto’s family to Balhalla, Valkyries beat Dallas then struggle against Minnesota and Vegas, Nneka Ogwumike’s walk off three-pointer helps WNBA celebrate 30 years and honors the women who paved the way

Show notes:

2:28 – PWHL San Jose team drafts Laila Edwards!

7:45 – A’ja Wilson’s thoughts on WNBA expanding season to 50 regular season games 

9:00 – It’s the INDIANA Fever. I kept saying Indianapolis for some reason.

12:35 – Dawn Staley on hand to watch 7 South Carolina alumni at Indiana-Atlanta game 

20:45 – LA Sparks superfan Leslie Jones lurking 

24:59 – Paige Bueckers on Kaitlyn Chen’s layup game 

30:25 – Family time at Valkyries game 

40:01 – Courtney Williams trolling Valkyries fans trolling Courtney Williams 

40:33 – Start booing opponents! 

44:20 – Valkyries schedule 

47:36 – Maybe this for craw?  

48:02 – Original WNBA tipoff was between LA’s Lisa Leslie and NY’s Kym Hampton  

50:00 – Nneka Ogwumike’s winning shot 

51:56 – Nneka Ogwumike tears up over the WNBA’s legacy 

55:39 – Madame president