We Got Next

WNBA and the Players Association decriminalize marijuana, but ban treatments used for mental health. Valkyries survive two close games, then demolish the Sparks. Fili starts planning his triple quince and Michelle shares her disdain for unnecessary “spray” imagery.

Show notes:

4:11 Marjuana Moment broke a big story. https://www.marijuanamoment.net/wnba-removes-marijuana-from-banned-substances-list-and-sets-rules-for-player-endorsements-of-hemp-cbd-products/

6:45 oops Filiberto forgot to mention these are all things that he has used therapeutically for his PTSD. 

7:50 Exhibit B Drug of Abuse

9:36 email us about Drugs of Abuse [email protected].

10:00 Voting for WNBA all-star players ends June 27. 

https://www.wnba.com/allstar/voting-rules

12:32 Actually Kayla had a double double during the 2025 All Star game https://valkyries.wnba.com/news/gameday-recap-20250719

14:47 – On August 2, 2025, Aces lost 111-58 to the Minnesota Lynx. That turned around their season, they entered the playoffs on an undefeated streak.

We express appreciation for Marisa Ingemi’s humane profile of transgender athlete and advocate AB Hernandez. We celebrate WNBA star Natasha Cloud’s sharing of her painful journey overcoming retaliation for advocating for social justice. We shout a big hell no to celebrating the United States’ 250 birthday, recognizing that democracy has always been intentionally illusive.

3:30 – Dang were we wrong!!  https://www.professionalsoftballleague.com/schedule

5:43 – https://www.valkyriesbeat.com/

6:00 – https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/story/2026-06-01/how-transgender-athlete-ab-hernandez-beat-vitriol-stoked-by-trump 

35:53 – https://valkyries.wnba.com/news/valkyries-sign-nadia-fingall-20260607

38:20 – https://www.sportico.com/leagues/basketball/2026/wnba-america-250-patch-fanatics-donald-trump-1234902332/

39:16 – https://x.com/_breezy_briii/status/2062663499642442120?s=46

49:32 – https://megaphone.link/VMP2793392468

Valkyries have a strong win against the Fever, fall short to the Champs; Fili and Michelle discuss formative books, good advice from the Transformers, making salsa from scratch with the next generation, and feeling our power!

0:42 -- https://www.instagram.com/p/DY43gLhNX0v/
23:00 -- https://www.instagram.com/p/DZEJlUHBLwl/

Ew to the “girlbossification” of AI, Portland Fire waive Black players for some whities, Golden State Valkyries’ first-ever draft pick Juste Jocyte makes her highly anticipated debut, the good and the bad of the PWHL contract and owner, and props to upcoming She Got Game weekend.

10:35 Out of Your League Piece on AI 
45:21 Justė Jocytė First Bucket! 
           Nice Profile too.
51:33 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Professional Women’s Hockey League and the Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association
57:44 PWHL Salaries
1:00:33 Yes Flava Flav started with Water Polo
1:02:39 Flava Flav goes to the Clark County Commission Meeting

We talk about the importance of air conditioning, Fili learns that motorcycle drag racing is in fact a thing, and the Golden State Valkyries start the season strong with a three-dimensional offense (YAY!!). Also, are the WNBA rules changes on “physical” play trying to reduce player injuries or is it a racist dog whistle of more sinister motives?

3:08 Dystany Spurlock and Motorcycle Drag Racing 

9:30 PWHL Finals Game 1 – Montreal vs Ottawa

11:19 USWNT Head Coach Emma Hayes on reporters needing to stop covering women’s sports from male gaze

12:39 Link between ACL Tears and hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles

25:18 Sheila E! 

32:14 Johannes Sideways Fade 3 

46:39 Dawn Staly Droppin' Knowledge. Article. Video. 

We talk about what we’re most excited about for the WNBA season, and why WNBA owners need to stop crying poor. Michelle pans the sports journalists’ coverage of Natasha Cloud’s free agency. As greeting card, floral, and jewelry companies force a normative Mother’s Day on us all, Filiberto reminds us that people have a variety of relationships with their parents, and chosen families should be as celebrated as birth families.

6:52 Valuations Sportico – GSV $850 m, CNBC – GSV – $1 b. Infographic

10:30 Value to Revenue

12:50 Rant on Billionaires!

16:02 USA Rugby Players Combat Trans Exclusion

16:30 Minnesota lifter JayCee wins lawsuit against USA weightlifting over trans exclusion

20:50 USA today commentary by Brianna Turner  

Michelle and Filiberto highlight the badassery of WNBA players starting Unrivaled to gain leverage in bargaining, embrace various women’s sports teams building off each others’ wins in their collective struggle for equity and liberation, and denounce the cruelty of billionaires and misogyny. Oh, and celebrate the low-key fanciness that is Kirkland Prosecco.

37:27 A good overview of the Developmental Player contracts. 

Does the world really need another sports podcast?  YES!  We can’t compete with the podcasts by seasoned sports journalists or amazing athletes. But, we will uplift and center athletes who identify as women of color, and/or gay, femme, queer, non-binary, and transgender.

This week, we're laying out our origin stories better we head into a new Valkyries Season

Keep listening to our podcast where we will share the fan experience through our labor and social justice perspective. Enjoy the conversation and build community with us!

Show notes:

12:00 – WNBA marketing of players in 1997

15:52 - Filiberto's documtentary. The Massacre at Nueva Linda

23:00 – Photos of Michelle playing bball in 8th grade

32:00 – Video of Cecilia Zandalasini shooting a last second shot for the Valkyries during the WNBA playoffs

40:00 – Michelle’s Paying for College series 

Filiberto's previous podcast was called El Huateque. He mentioned interviewing Annette Torres and Joseph Rios