Phoenix Wants More Championships (Presented By AT&T)
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Shout out to AT&T for keeping us connected and for sponsoring today's episode. And as I said, Matt Ishbia and his staff and Josh Bartelstein, they are all in on the Phoenix Mercury and we want to win more championships. This is Queens of the Court.

What's up, everybody? Welcome to Queens of the Court, an Odyssey original podcast produced in partnership with the WNBA. This is a special WNBA All-Star bonus episode presented by AT&T. It's your girl, Jordan Robinson. I'm here for a solo interview, and court is in session now.

This was a very special interview that I had an opportunity to do while we were in Phoenix and

for WNBA All-Star Weekend, and it is with the one, the only, Anne Myers Drysdale. Now, when I got to do this interview a couple hours before the All-Star Game, I did not know that she was going to end up being the co-head coach for Team WNBA with Cheryl Miller. That was decided minutes before the All-Star Game when Cheryl Miller was

got Annie a half zip up, threw it to her and said, I want you to sit next to me on the bench. And the crowd went crazy. It was such a treat to see the two of them share the sidelines in Phoenix because Cheryl Miller was the first head coach for the Phoenix Mercury. So super, super special. Just to give you some background on the legend,

that Anne Myers Drysdale is. She was hooping before women's hooping was even really recognized.

the first player to be a part of the U.S. national team while still in high school. That's how much of a bucket Ann Myers Drysdale was. She was also the first woman to be signed to a four-year college athletic scholarship to UCLA. And she talks about it in the interview, how she is a Title IX baby. Because of those opportunities, she was able to get a scholarship to go play basketball, the first to ever do that.

was also the first overall pick to the Houston Angels in the inaugural Women's Professional Basketball League draft. But she decided against it because she wanted to keep her amateur status to be eligible for the 1980 Olympics. So she is an Olympian. Perfect time to run this as the Olympic Games are going. She was also the first woman to sign a contract with an NBA team, the 1979 Indiana Pacers, for a whopping $3.

$50,000

But I loved her game. She was a bucket getter, one of the pioneers of the women's game. And now she is a vice president for the Phoenix Mercury and color analyst for the Phoenix Suns and the Mercury for the broadcast. We are coming to you a few days removed from All-Star Weekend. But I really wanted you guys to hear this interview in my chat with Anne Myers Drysdale. So without further ado, here you go.

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So we are here with a legend in Phoenix and a hooper before women's hoops was even being recognized, a broadcaster, also the vice president of both the Phoenix Mercury and the Phoenix Sun.

Anne Myers Drysdale, thank you so much for being here and being on the show. Thanks, Jordan. I'm so happy to talk to you. And like I mentioned, I'm sweating here in Phoenix. It's All-Star Weekend. Can you just explain the energy around this weekend? Because I feel like everybody showed up and showed out per usual for the Mercury. It's only 114 degrees. It's gone down. Yeah.

Like you said, the excitement, and you have to give that to not only the Phoenix Mercury organization, but Matt Ishbia, our owner. I mean, he came in when he bought the Suns and the Mercury. He was bound and determined to make this not only the city that it really is to make it bigger, but also the organization. And certainly bringing the WNBA All-Star Game here in such a short period of time and bringing

really is just exploded. And it has coincided with the building of the new facility for the WNBA, the Phoenix Mercury practice facility, which is just state-of-the-art. And not only how much, $100 million he put into it, but going there and just seeing it and being dedicated to Diana Trasi, 20 years in the WNBA and her six Olympics, and

But it just, people are blown away by how wonderful it is for the WNBA, for the Phoenix Mercury. It's showing that Matt Ishbia really cares about not just the Phoenix Suns and the NBA, but also the WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury. Well, we have to talk about that practice facility because, like you said, $100 million.

Diana Taurasi has her own logo on both of the courts. Were you there when she first saw it? What has been the reaction so far? Well, the team got to see it about three weeks ago. So they walked in, and it wasn't finished yet, but they had an opportunity to really kind of see what it was going to be like. And I think what, in talking to some of the people that were involved in building it, is the care and the listening and communication that they had with the players.

especially African-American women. They have a salon, but they have different hairbrushes for the white people and the black people. I love that. And they were just like blown away that they were listened to. The players were listened to. And I know you as an African-American woman that your crown is your hair. Absolutely. And we have all this white stringy stuff going on.

But the fact that they listen to the players in the locker room, how the doors open up for different sized players, whether it's BG, Brittany Griner at 6'9", or somebody that's a little bit smaller and so forth, and where the handles are on their doors and whatnot.

Just the details and the whirlpools, hot and cold and a treadmill in the water and saunas and spas. And they have a dining room area. They have a smoothie area. They have the weight room that is incredible. Even the doctors were saying, can we move our practice here to the facility? Because just the rooms that they have for the medical people and so forth. And it really is pretty special.

And, you know, this is the third team to now have a dedicated practice facility for the WNBA, the Las Vegas Aces, the Seattle Storm. How is this kind of setting the standard? Because now when free agencies are looking at what teams to go to, they're going to say, okay, well,

I can go and be in this really nice practice facility over here and it's just raising the bar for everyone else. And that's happened in college sports. Yes. Whether it's basketball or football or baseball and it's all about the facility now and you see that a lot of organizations have to really raise the bar as you said and it takes a lot of money. And so...

College players, high school players, they recognize who's going to give them the most. And the same thing on the pro level. And as I said, Matt Ishbia and his staff and Josh Bartelstein, they are all in on the Phoenix Mercury. And we want to win more championships.

And that's how you do it. That's a good start. That's a good start. Well, you know, I love that they had the practice facility in time for All-Star Weekend. This is the first time that All-Star has been here since 2014, I believe. And

And, you know, we're recording this Saturday morning. So last night, the skills competition and the three point competition, it was a sold out crowd all the way to the Raptors. Everyone showed out. But I just kind of want to get your analysis on the skills and three point competition. We saw Alicia Gray win both of those. That was fantastic.

fun time. It really was. I was rooting for Sophie Cunningham, local Phoenix Mercury. I was rooting for BG in the school. BG, I know, BG did really well. And she and Sherelle was there. They didn't have their new baby Bash there, but I'm so happy for them as a couple. And Diana and Penny were there with their kids. But yeah,

Just like you said, it was sold out. It was sold out the excitement that the city has brought to everybody that they want to see the WNBA players. And certainly Alicia Gray is a terrific player and happy for her. And Jean-Claude Jones was in that final, boy, she was just stroking it. One shot away. One shot away, but it's just the way this goes. But it was exciting. And then they had the three-on-three USA Olympic team against the U-under 23 teams.

You know, and that was fun to watch. And we had the Golden Grannies out there dancing away. Oh, yeah. So it was always fun for everybody. But now the competition and I think the game itself is going to be just as exciting. And, you know, USA Basketball got to have practice at the facility, at the practice facility. And the All-Star team got to practice at the arena. So they had a chance to really kind of see the floor. And the floor looks amazing.

Yeah, it's a first floor dedicated to the all-stars. Did I read that right?

that right? Yes. On the floor, you'll see all the Olympians that have been there and then all the all-stars that have been WNBA all-stars on the floor. And it's pretty special. That investment that you talk about, like Phoenix is like, we're going to do it better than anybody else. Recognizing and giving, you know, kudos to the past and just bringing Cheryl Miller in, who's going to coach the all-stars and Cheryl, who's a hall of famer and Olympian, just, you know,

She has always been the Pied Piper for me and was the first GM and coach here in Phoenix and took them to the finals and coined the phrase X-Factor, which the fans have loved. And, you know, nobody has ever shown that kind of excitement as a player, both ends of the floor. When they won their first game against Charlotte, which we broadcast NBC did that game and I was here for that,

and they won and beat Charlotte, and she gets up on the table and waving her arms and everything, and that really gave the feeling of what the Phoenix Mercury were going to bring to this event.

this 28 years now of the WNBA. What's it going to be like to see her back on those sidelines? Well, you know, she's been a coach. She coached at SC, not only coached here in Phoenix with the Mercury, but coached at SC and coached at a school in Oklahoma and coached at Cal State LA. So, I mean, she knows the game. And she and I talk quite a bit. We've remained friends for a long time. And so I just saw her a week ago because USA Basketball honored our 50th anniversary of USA Basketball.

And so she was there and Reggie was there, who's a UCLA Bruin. But just the whole family support for her family. And for whatever reason, she and I remain dear friends and sisters. Despite the UCLA-USC rivalry? Despite. Oh, that's so nice. Yeah.

I love her passion for her school and I respect it and same thing for mine. Always a Bruin though. Always a Bruin. Well, I saw her, you know, I saw a clip of her in practice. She's putting in plays. Like, this isn't a normal all-star game. I think we've been talking about that. It's, yes, it's going to be fun but

but Team WNBA and Team USA, they want to have a good competitive matchup. And the days of opening and parting the sea to have somebody dunk or just let somebody shoot three-point shots, this is going to be a competitive game. The interest by new eyes on our game with the players that we have,

The unfortunate thing for USA basketball, people think that you just step on the floor, you've got 12 great players, and it comes together. They've only had one practice, and this will be the only game that they get to play before they go to Paris. And that's very difficult. And Cheryl Reeve and her coaching staff, they've got their work cut out for them.

I know some of the USA players are coming off some injuries. So timing-wise, chemistry-wise, conditioning-wise, knowing your role, what you have to do, and sacrificing for each other. So it is not as easy as just stepping on the floor and going. I know the men have had, what, four or five games before they go to Paris? So that makes a big difference. So this will be their only game. And then on the other side, with Cheryl Miller coaching,

You don't think that this all-star team wants to win that game because there's players that feel like they got snubbed. And at least the media makes them feel that way too. But there's players on this team that are fabulous players that are good enough to be on the Olympic team. And you look at those Olympians and they are good enough to be on the all-star team too. So it is going to be a competitive game. Both teams want to win. And I don't think whoever wins is going to be a loser. Right. The,

These are the best players in the world on both ends of the ball. And there's some players that didn't make the All-Star. Yeah, that should have. Yes, yes. And if you had 20 spots, that would be great. We had five more players or seven more players to that. But, you know, you can only select so many. Do you have any players in mind that maybe –

were left off of the all-star you would have liked to play? Oh, there's too many. Too many, right? There really are. I mean, this has been an incredible year and we've got two rookies in Kaitlyn Clark and Angel Reese who both are deserving and both those players halfway mark are leading in assists and rebounds. They have two rookies. Then you've got one of the great players playing today that, well, we talked about Diana in her six Olympics, but

who's still playing at a high level, but Asia Wilson is just playing at a higher level. She's an all-star, but she's an Olympian. And so she's number one in scoring. She's number two in rebounding, but she's been back and forth. And her shooting percentage, blocked shots, defensively, I mean, she's just getting it all done. And they've got four players from...

Vegas, three players from Phoenix, you know, and two players, what is two, three players from New York. So there is continuity on that USA Olympic team. And, but just, it's going to take time to put it all together and they don't really have that much time, especially in the WNBA season where these rookies are coming straight from college. They're going straight into the season and now they're getting a little bit of a break, but I

But I wanted to talk about the three Phoenix Mercury players who are on Team USA, who aren't going to get a break because they're going to Paris. But Diana Taurasi, Brittany Griner, and Kalia Copper.

I mean, we all saw and I cried when Kalia Copper accepted her Team USA jersey. Just talk about the season that Ka has been having for the Mercury and how proud you are to see that she is going to be repping USA. Getting the opportunity to know her as a young woman, very competitive and wants to play at the highest level. Played for C. Vivian Stringer at Rutgers, who I adore.

But the thing that I like about her is she's so humble, and she's all about the team. So she's had, what, seven 30-point games, two 37, 39. So she's close to 40, and I think she'll get there because of the system. A new coach with Nate Tibbetts and so forth. So bringing in Tosh Cloud at the point guard has really made a big difference, and Beck Allen also. Yeah.

I don't think Beck Allen gets talked about enough, but I certainly feel that Ka has just, as good as she was in Chicago, she's a lot more mature in understanding her game and understanding how to blend with somebody like a Diana Taurasi, who's been in this league for so long, and Tasha Cloud, who's another veteran point guard. And to play with somebody like

Like Brittany Griner at 6'9", who's so unusual to play with. But Kai is just, when she's on, I mean, she can take over a game. And it's not just on the offensive end. I mean, her defense, and she can rebound, one of the better rebounding guards. And it's just fun to see when she plays with such joy. Yeah. And you mentioned Brittany Griner. I know she started the season a little slow with an injury. But when she turned it on, the Mercury is just a better team.

Well, there's certainly, you know, what happened last year when she was in Russia and imprisoned unlawfully. But she has come back with a new sense of life. Yeah. There's no question. And the game of basketball, and certainly having a family now is a big plus. She worked very, very hard to get in shape. And again, Nate Tibbetts and his staff really worked with her in the offseason. She's put some things into her game in her 10th season that...

And people don't realize that 6'9 and her size, she can't do all the things that somebody like an Asia Wilson or Leah Boston can do. But, you know, her footwork has gotten better. She works so hard, too, and wants to be better and has used her left hand a little bit more. Mm-hmm.

She's shooting the three, too. And she's been working on that for about four or five years. I love it. She's worked on her three-point shot, and so people are surprised. But, you know, we aren't because how hard she works on it. And all our bigs do. But, yeah, having that injury, the very beginning, right on photo day, you know? Yeah. And that was so hard because she'd gotten in such great shape. But in that interim, she's...

She said, you know, that bike riding is not my thing. But she owned it. She was making sure that she was in shape and staying in condition. But nothing is like being on the floor running up and down and competing with other players. But it's taken her a little bit over.

to get back there. But the fact that she's on the Olympic team and representing our country again, which she has such great pride in this country. Yes. And I respect her so much for all the things that she's gone through. And she's no better voice for us.

And Diana Taurasi, I was at a dinner the other night just celebrating 20 years of her in a Phoenix Mercury jersey. You have seen her throughout those 20 years. And I'm telling you, you're going to see her.

Year 20, she's looking spry. She came out just with a different level of intensity and tenacity, and she's still shooting that ball like we know her to do. But what have you seen from her this season, especially going into her sixth time as a member of Team USA? Well, it's like all great players. She's so competitive. And I've seen her in high school in Southern California and then her four years at Connecticut and all those years playing

on the Olympics, her first one in 2004. So to see her growth and maturity not only as a human being, but again, being at peace at who she is, certainly changing her lifestyle as far as eating habits and becoming vegan. A lot of us were concerned. It's like, oh my goodness, she's lost so much weight. She doesn't have the strength. But she's so intelligent and

on the court and in life. But to watch her on the court, you know, a lot of people don't like Diana. They think she's dirty, but that's, people thought that of me. - Really? - Because you play aggressive. You're a physical player.

And she played overseas for so many years. And so you have to learn how to play internationally too. And the rules are different and so forth. So, you know, one of the things you do, and Michael Jordan would say this, he said, I'm not going to let you just get a layup.

I'm going to follow you before you get a layup. And that's what Diana does. Diana is not going to give up any easy shots. And so sometimes I get so like, oh, no, don't foul. But there's a reason behind that. And so her physicality on the defensive end. I remember in college when I was doing a game, I asked an opposing coach, what do you think of Diana's defense? They said, oh, she's not that good a defensive player. And I'm like, well, she's leading them in steals. She's leading them in block shots.

And she reminds me of a player that she sees the floor. She sees she's like a chess player. She sees it happening before it happens, what the move is going to be. And so, you know, she gets in that position. She's great at helping. She's not a great one on one, especially now at this age at 42. But she knows how to help out. She knows how to head. She knows how to, you know,

And I think defensively she doesn't get enough credit. She'll get her hands on the ball or so forth. And she's not as fast as she was. She's not as quick, but...

Because she's so intelligent and understands the game, she knows where to be. Right. Like a Larry Bird. Yeah. Like a Larry Bird used to. Okay. But, you know, defense, I know we won a championship going against Seattle in the playoffs one year with Lauren Jackson, the way she doubled down. You know, she just knew when to go. Everything was about timing. And it's not just because you helped out. It's when you did it. Mm-hmm.

And she understands that. But, yeah, every time she shoots, I expect the ball to go in. Me too. There's no question. You know, I wish she would be averaging four or five shots made a game. But it's not just a three-point shot. I mean, she knows how to get to the basket. She knows how to get fouled. She doesn't always get the fouls called for her. And so there's a frustration there. Because she's been in the league so long, I think even the officials say, no, we're not going to call that.

And so she gets a little frustrated at that. I think a lot of us do. But I think the fact that for me as a fan and somebody that has played a little bit of the game and watched it, but to watch her play, and we've had some other women that have come through this league that you've just enjoyed, but for 20 years to play,

stay at this level every year she's added something different but nobody works as hard she's one she's like a kobe bryant she is the white mamba because you say well let's meet at six o'clock well she's going there at five o'clock she's already going to get that workout in and then work out with you so i mean her time on the floor and what her craft and her work second to none

Well, led by Diana Taurasi, this is a group of vets, what we just talked about, even bringing in a Natasha Cloud. They are hungry to go to the playoffs, and they want to go far. So how do you kind of see the second half of the season working out for the Mercury? Natasha Cloud has won a WNBA championship with Washington. Kai has won a WNBA championship with Chicago. Diana and BG have won championships in Phoenix. Beck Allen?

has been to the finals with Connecticut and New York. And so we have a great attitude of, like,

Getting there. They are hungry for another one and we've got some good young talent We've had injuries just like everybody else has had and so the hard part about this league Jordan is it's only four and a half months long Right and then you break for three weeks. So the chemistry the timing it is very difficult to get together And so when you see that magic come together as a team no matter what team it is in this league you think oh my goodness, you know, they're gonna win it all and

and nobody's going to beat them. Look at how good this team is. And then all of a sudden you see another team that doesn't have a great record is at the bottom, and they come in and win. You cannot take lightly any of these teams in the WNBA because anybody can beat anybody on a given night because they're so talented. And, you know, yeah, I mean, we're going to have to put things together, and I think Nate Tibbetts has really added value

you know, a joy for, you know, this team and the players playing for them. And Chrissy Tolliver, who's the associate head coach, and Chrissy Tolliver, who's won a championship several times with L.A. and Washington. And to have her here, too, and the assistant coaches, it's a new feel for the players, and they respect that. Yeah.

I love how you just put that together because sometimes you see it all coming together for a team in the middle of the game. Like sometimes with Phoenix, when they're throwing, you know, they are running and gunning a lot and they're excited. They're jumping for joy in the middle of a, or heading into halftime. And you're like, oh yeah, they just kind of became teammates like a

But it's a matter of sustaining it for 40 minutes. And you can go in at halftime and be up 20. And we've seen it in this game. Somebody's up 30.

And it can switch just like that in the second half. Well, I know that we are in for a treat for the final weeks of the season for all the teams, even some teams in the last place. If they get healthy, Dallas, they could come sneak in there. So nobody's spot is safe right now. But as we wrap up, I just wanted to get your perspective because I know you are a hoops legend and you have been doing this for so long and been in the game and

this moment that we are in right now, we know the product has always been there, has always been great. But what are you seeing? How are you feeling during this time as people are starting to put more eyes on women's hoops? Well, for whatever reason, whether it's Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and all the other rookies, there are new eyes on our game. But don't lose sight of

the people that have been here before. You talked about being from Sacramento and watching Tisha Penichir and Ruthie Bolton and Yolanda Griffith. Houston with Van Chancellor and Coop Swoops and Tina Thompson and Janeth Arcane, Lisa Leslie and Wadi Mabika and so many other players in our league that

even after that, Tamika Catchings and Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird and whether it be Diana and just my mind is like, okay, who are all those players? Because we have so many great ones that have come through. And in saying that, and I'll say here in Phoenix with Jennifer Gillum and Timsy and Bridget and so forth and Cheryl Miller being here, but I just think

Because the opportunity, and I'm a Title IX baby, and Title IX is so important for these young girls and women to get scholarships. And we have a league now, which I was the number one draft pick in the WBL, which was the very first league in this country. And to me, that was a precursor of where we are today in the WNBA. And to know that these young women say there's a dream.

They can make a career playing a sport that they love. But I want these women to start...

watching the game, these young girls and women, because when I even speak today, I say, well, who's your favorite player? And they say an NBA player. Who's your favorite team? They say an NBA team. And I said, and you want to play and be a professional basketball player. You better start following the league and the teams and the players that know who they are. And that's your competition. Don't be like so-and-so in the NBA. You know, be like Diana, be like

Stewie, be like Jonquil or UNESCO or Angel or Asia or Plum or Chelsea Gray or just, you know, we have so many women and from the past and even as announcers, I want our broadcasters to start comparing to, you know, to me, Kennedy Carter is like a Cappy Pondexter. Yes. You know, and I just want to say, you know, give credit to the women that came before. Mm-hmm.

And I see this league continuing to get better and better. Certainly the players union and the collective bargaining agreement, I think there's still things to be worked out. The charter flights are still not what they should be. I want to see, I would love to see not only more higher salaries, but I would love to see this league at six or seven months and

And does it stay in the summer or does it switch to a different time? But I just think if we have a longer season, they don't have to go overseas. And then they have time to rest their bodies and not play 12, 11 months out of the year. And they can stay in this country, but the salaries have to get better. And I know there's deals being done through the league and so forth, which is great, but for me it's never enough.

Well, I want to be like an Ann Myers Drysdale. That's the name I'm going to drop. You be you, Jordan. You're doing just fine. Thank you so much for taking the time. And if you have any tips on bands or anything to stay cool. Take an Uber. Don't walk anywhere. Take an Uber. Okay, I'll do that. But thank you so much. Thanks, Jordan.

Thank you, Anne. Thank you so much to Anne for taking the time out of a crazy, hot, busy all-star weekend. Which, by the way, I tried to get some tips on how to withstand the heat and she gave nothing. She loved it so much. So I guess when you live in Phoenix for so long, you just turn into someone who loves three-digit heat.

But Anne, what a legend. And I think one of my takeaways from our conversation was especially, you know, as we are breaking records with the WNBA All-Star viewership attendance, it was sold out in Phoenix. And just thinking about way back to when she first started hooping and how much the game has grown, how far we have come.

And the advice that she gave to the young listeners of Queens of the Court, that you got to make sure to know your legends, know your history. I always think about that. I grew up watching women's basketball. And when I wanted to be a point guard, I wanted to be like Tisha Pinochero. And so you want to make sure that you know your legends. You know your legends like Ann Myers Drysdale, like a Cheryl Swoops, etc.

And you're able to say that you want to be like them when you grow up. But overall, I had so much fun at WNBA All-Star Weekend. Can't wait to do it again next year. And hopefully we'll be back again next year with more interviews and more coverage. But thanks so much for tuning in to this special episode.

brought to you by AT&T. Please continue to follow, rate, review the show. It's available on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also send us questions, feedback, stories to our listener email address at queensofthecourtatodyssey.com. You can find us on social media. I'm at HeyJordanR and Cheryl Swoops is at airswoops22.com.

Queens of the Court is an Odyssey original created in partnership with the WNBA. The show is produced by James Jackson. The executive producers are Asha Saluja, Maddie Sprung-Kaiser, and Leah Reese Dennis. Special thanks today to Chris Disney and Jake Galley. Social media assistance from Isabella Apple. Music from T-Storm Battle. And a very special thanks to Alex Ozzie and Lena Moss Glazer. And court.

Is adjourned. I'll put my gavel back. And court is adjourned. This episode was brought to you by AT&T. Connecting changes everything. Stay connected to the game you love at home or on the go with AT&T 5G and home internet.