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The 5 best moments from Tea with A & Phee (so far)

With a new episode of Tea with A & Phee dropping Thursday, Just Women’s Sports is here to recap some of the best moments from A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier’s debut season. While recording inside the WNBA bubble, the All-Stars mixed light-hearted moments with deeper conversations regarding life and basketball. 

Narrowing down this list was hard, so be sure to check out the entire first season — and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss a new episode!

The Great Banana Bread Debate

In the very first episode, A’ja and Napheesa discuss their respective quarantine experiences, including their attempts at baking. At the 19-minute mark, Collier asks Wilson if she got on the banana bread wave, and needless to say the two had pretty strong opinions about the delicacy.

“That’s disgusting,” Wilson says. “I’m not a person that mushes things together. Like it’s bananas, it’s bread. It’s fruit, it’s vegetables. Like people put fruit in their salad. Those don’t belong together. Banana doesn’t belong in bread.”

Wilson adds that she’s never actually had banana bread.

“I can forgive you because you’ve never tried it,” Collier says. “If you still have this opinion after you’ve tried it, I think this is our one and only podcast.”

This debate continued through the rest of the season, with the hosts asking each guest for their opinion on banana bread.

Spoiler alert: Steph Curry likes it.

Speaking of…

Steph Curry’s commitment to growing the women’s game

At 15:05, the three basketball stars discuss Curry’s Unranked basketball camp, which includes girls.

“You don’t really see NBA players highlight women’s basketball in a way to where they invite girls to their camps,” Wilson says.

Curry says he wants to create an opportunity for kids who are flying under the radar (as he did as a prospect), while also giving young girls the resources to make it to the next level.

“It’s just growing the game.,” Curry says. “It’s sad, but it is a learning curve for a lot of people how good the women’s game is, especially at the grassroots level.”

In the second year of Curry’s camp, more girls participated than boys.

“A lot of it is just investing in the game from both sides,” Curry adds. “They’re skilled, they know how to play.”

Elena Delle Donne on the player she hated to play against

Elena Delle Donne might have sat out of the 2020 WNBA season, but that didn’t stop her from spilling the tea on her least favorite player to face in the WNBA. At 37:40, Delle Donne names Tamika Catchings because of her physical style of play. 

“She was horrible to play against,” Delle Donne says. “Like her muscles, her upper body. I would just be thrown all over the court with her.

“I remember my rookie year she gave me this forearm that I died inside. Like, I lost my soul.”

During her 15-year playing career, Catchings racked up a number of accolades, including being the all-time leader in scoring, rebounding and steals in the WNBA playoffs. You can now add “Elena Delle Donne’s worst nightmare” to the Hall of Famer’s resume.

That time Saweetie was late to the podcast

The hosts didn’t hold back when rapper Saweetie was late to her appearance on the podcast. Rather thandelay the start, A’ja and Napheesa decided to rib Saweetie for her lack of punctuality.

“I dunno why you want to do glam, ‘cause we look like two thumbs over here. I just came from practice,” Collier says as Wilson laughs in the background. “A’ja looks cute in her high bun and glasses, but she’s definitely not glammed up.”

“I just got out of practice and showered,” Wilson adds. “And then, here it is, 4:50 and Saweetie is on Instagram Live.”

“She’s doing a makeup tutorial herself,” Collier says.

“Listening to Slow Jam,” Wilson notes. “I’m digging the playlist and the music.”

“I’m not digging the lateness, Saweetie,” Collier quips.

Saweetie finally joins about nine minutes into the show and they begin with a conversation about the role of social media in the life of a celebrity. Naturally.

Candace Parker calling out her fellow commentators

Candace Parker’s appearance was nearly twice as long as those of A’ja and Napheesa’s other guests. That meant twice the amount of tea, and it was all piping hot.

At roughly 40 minutes in, the three All-Stars got to talking about on-air talent in basketball and how commentators can sugarcoat bad plays.

“Sometimes when somebody makes a dumb— play, just say it is a dumb— play. Because as fans and as viewers, you see that it’s a dumb— play,” says Parker, who works as an NBA analyst for TNT. She adds that trying to sugarcoat things does not help: “It makes it look bad. Honestly, that’s the biggest thing.”

“People that keep it real, and obviously there is a fine line between attacking somebody’s character — I disagree with that — but when somebody doesn’t make a good play, you have to say it,” Parker says. “I think that goes along with growing the game of basketball. Us as players getting better and more skilled… as well as commentators.”

She then draws a comparison between the NBA and the WNBA.

“They would never have a terrible commentator commentating the best basketball in the world,” she says. “Like, that wouldn’t happen in the NBA.”

If it isn’t good enough for the NBA, it isn’t good enough for the WNBA either.

Other moments we loved:

  • At the 3:50 mark of the episode with Saweetie, the two spill the tea on the New York Liberty remaining in the bubble after the regular season ended — even when they knew they had zero chance of making the playoffs.
  • At the 12:45 marker in the episode with tea legend Candace Parker, the three discuss CP3’s daughter’s bubble business that turned out to be a valuable lesson in equity. Eventually, the 11-year-old decided to run a partial non-profit, with some of the proceeds going to St. Jude’s. Lailaa, a true businesswoman in the making.
  • During Tea Time Trivia, at the 28:15 marker, Kevin Durant reveals that he had “Umbrella” by Rihanna on his MySpace page. In addition, he rattles off the 2013 WNBA MVP (spoiler alert, it’s CP3) and the all-time WNBA leading scorer when quizzed. Light work for a man who invests in women’s sports.

‘Sports Are Fun!’ Questions the Impact of NIL on College Basketball Rivalries

Cover image for Sports Are Fun! with Kelley O'Hara featuring NCAA college basketball transfer MiLaysia Fulwiley.
This week, the 'Sports Are Fun!' crew tackles the effect of NIL deals on NCAA basketball. (Just Women's Sports)

Welcome to another episode of Sports Are Fun!

Every week on Sports Are Fun!, co-hosts soccer legend Kelley O'Hara, sports journalist Greydy Diaz, and JWS intern BJ serve up their hottest takes on the biggest women's sports headlines.

This week, the Sports Are Fun! crew makes some room on the couch for JWS's own social media guru, Gab Basinski. Together, the hosts then tackle a range of women's sports subjects, including how NIL deals and the NCAA transfer portal are reshaping the college basketball landscape.

"The NCAA transfer portal closed last Wednesday, which had over 1,500 players enter," opens O'Hara. "So many moves here, but just to highlight a few: Olivia Miles to TCU, Ta'Niya Latson to South Carolina, UCLA lost their entire freshman class, and Londynn Jones to USC, and finally, MiLaysia Fulwiley to LSU."

"Of all DI players, almost 30% of players were in the portal," says Basinski. "That's insane."

"I have so many questions and thoughts," O'Hara says.

In addition to all those NCAA basketball thoughts, Sports Are Fun! also dives into NWSL rivalries, the crew's growing beef with the KC Current, PWHL expansion, Caitlin Clark jersey sales, and so much more!

'Sports Are Fun!' asks if NIL is taking the fun out of NCAA basketball

Then, Sports Are Fun turned to coaching. The headline? Angel City bringing on new manager Alexander Straus from Germany's Bayern Munich.

"First of all, I think it's a cardinal sin — and that is pun intended — to transfer to a rival," O'Hara says. "Is that not a thing anymore? I could never, as a Stanford player, go to a UCLA or a USC. Absolutely not."

"When there's money involved, it's not it's not personal. It's business, baby," reasons Diaz. "We're seeing a Londynn Jones go from UCLA literally across the street to USC — that's insane to me. I feel like that's one of the craziest moves. So I guess it doesn't matter anymore?"

"To me, the thing that makes college sports so fun are the rivalries, your school pride," says O'Hara. "You are ride-or-die for your school, and it just doesn't seem like it exists anymore.

"I'd be ride or die for whatever school's paying me, to be honest," quips Basinski. "Get a bag. Because also, it's like, 'Oh they value me enough to pay this much for me to switch schools. So the school is kind of behind me, and if they're behind me this much, alright, I'll take your check and I'll go play.'"

Sports Are Fun! podcast graphic featuring Kelley O'Hara.
'Sports Are Fun!' places Kelley O'Hara at the intersection of women's sports and fun. (Just Women's Sports)

About 'Sports Are Fun!' with Kelley O'Hara

'Sports Are Fun!' is a show that’ll remind you why you fell in love with women's sports in the first place.

Join World Cup champ, Olympic gold medalist, and aspiring barista Kelley O'Hara as she sits down with sports journalist Greydy Diaz and a revolving cast of co-hosts and friends. Together, they're talking the biggest, funnest, and most need-to-know stories in the world of women’s sports.

From on-court drama to off-field shenanigans, to candid (and silly) chats with the most important personalities in the space, this show screams "Sports Are Fun!"

Subscribe to Just Women's Sports on YouTube to never miss an episode.

Players Criticize NWSL Officiating After Tense Portland-Louisville Draw

Portland's Jessie Fleming chases Louisville's Ary Borges during Sunday's NWSL game.
Portland's Jessie Fleming and Louisville's Ary Borges voiced frustration with officials after Sunday’s NWSL match. (Troy Wayrynen/Imagn Images)

Concerns over faulty NWSL officiating again took center stage this week, after Sunday's 3-3 draw between the Portland Thorns and Racing Louisville FC saw a league-record 41 fouls called — with only one card handed out in regulation.

In the chippy, physical showdown, Louisville took a 3-1 first-half lead only to see it shortened to 3-2 after referee Corbyn May awarded Portland a penalty kick just before halftime. Portland then drew level with another converted penalty, this one awarded late in second-half stoppage time.

Angered by May's controversial calls, Racing Louisville's Ary Borges garnered a post-match red card for dissent after confronting the officials on the field.

"I do think that match can't keep happening in this league. I think it's embarrassing — it alters the match, it alters the sport," said Portland's Jessie Fleming after the game, remarking on Louisville's aggressive play and the officials' lack of response.

"It's embarrassing for the league, and I think it's embarrassing for Louisville as a club, and very frustrating for us as players."

Following the match, Borges apologized for her outburst via social media, going on to note, "I'm not much of talking about referees because they are things that are beyond our control but what happened today in the match was a shame."

"For those who had two questionable penalties and spent the whole game throwing themselves in and around the penalty box, please take a moment to reflect and not talk about my team," she continued, accusing the Thorns of contributing to the issue by over-selling fouls.

PWHL Unveils Championship Rings for 2024 Walter Cup Winners Minnesota

A top and inside view of the Minnesota Frost's 2024 PWHL championship ring.
The Minnesota Frost won the first-ever Walter Cup in 2024. (PWHL)

With the puck dropping on the league's second postseason next week, the PWHL unveiled the Minnesota Frost's 2024 Walter Cup championship rings on Monday.

The reveal came as part of the league's multi-year partnership announcement with Paris Jewellers Canada, a family-owned jewelry brand that the PWHL has tapped to create its championship rings for years to come.

In order to personalize the championship jewelry, the design of the 2024 title-winning rings included input from inaugural victors Minnesota.

Fashioned from sterling silver, the rings feature an image of the Walter Cup. Surrounding the trophy are 74 diamonds, in honor of the goals scored by the team throughout their first season, as well as 18 purple amethyst stones representative of the squad's total 2023/24 wins.

The rings also bear inscriptions of the May 29th, 2024, championship game date and 3-0 winning score, the Frost's "Win One Game" motto, and each athlete's name and jersey number.

The champs received their rings in a private celebration on Sunday.

"This group will always carry the honor of being the first team in PWHL history to win the Walter Cup," said Minnesota captain Kendall Coyne Schofield.  "Now, we will forever have these special championship rings that encapsulate the journey to the top."

With the 2024/25 PWHL regular season closing on May 3rd, the Frost are locked in a battle with the Boston Fleet and Ottawa Charge for the two remaining playoff spots.

For a shot at defending their 2024 title, Minnesota must win their final two games by defeating both Ottawa and Boston this week.

US Tennis Stars Gauff, Keys Shine at 2025 Madrid Open Amid Blackouts

US star Coco Gauff returns the ball during her 2025 Madrid Open Round of 16 victory.
Major power outages impacted the 2025 Madrid Open this week. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Though rolling blackouts across the region suspended play at the 2025 Madrid Open on Monday, many top US talents are working their way through the clay court competition to great success.

World No. 4 Coco Gauff dispatched Switzerland's No. 42 Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-2 in Monday's Round of 16, exiting the court just before the arena lost power.

"I feel like, at this point, this is only a situation you can laugh at if I was on court," Gauff said after her post-match interview was cut short by a deadened mic. "Because it's probably not going to happen ever again, and we'll always remember the day the power went out at Madrid Open."

Gauff next faces No. 7 Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals, where a win could see her swap places with the now-ousted Jessica Pegula in the WTA rankings to reclaim No. 3 — and resume her title as the highest-ranked US player.

The rest of the Round of 16 resumed early Tuesday morning, with fellow US star and world No. 5 Madison Keys taking down Croatia's No. 21 Donna Vekić 6-2, 6-3 before No. 2 Iga Świątek eked out a win against No. 13 Diana Shnaider 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-4.

Keys and Świątek will now square off in the quarterfinals — their first meeting since Keys upset the Polish star in January's Australian Open semifinal.

How to watch the 2025 Madrid Open quarterfinals

The 2025 Madrid Open quarterfinals kick off at 4 AM ET on Wednesday. Coverage of the tournament will continue to air live on the Tennis Channel.

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