All Things Basketball with GD - 2023 WNBA Season Recap, Playoff Preview and Postseason Awards Predictions

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Greetings my peeps and welcome to the All Things Basketball Podcast with your boy GD.

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In this episode I'll be talking WNBA, I'll be wrapping up the season, we'll talk about

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the playoffs and we'll talk about postseason awards as well.

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So just sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

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Okay guys so it's your boy GD back once again with All Things Basketball with GD Podcasts

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and in this episode we're gonna talk, it's all about WNBA.

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We're gonna wrap up the season and then we're gonna look at the playoffs and then we're

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gonna look at postseason awards and so forth.

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So let us not delay, let's get right into it.

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At the top of the ticket, Las Vegas Aces at 34 and 6, of course they have Aja Wilson there,

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have the point guard extraordinaire and Chelsea Gray, you got the plum dog there, Kelsey Plum,

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you got the silent assassin Jackie Young.

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Still no Candice Parker, she's still out so there hasn't been any word about her returning

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for playoffs guys so we'll see what happens there.

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Of course coming off your bench Alicia Clark who's been a godsend for them and of course

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Kia Stoke doing her best Candice Parker impression and of course you have the bench there as

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well so Becky Hammond you know she's got the ship going in the right direction as always

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so she's got this team primed and ready for the playoffs so and they sit at the top of

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the WMBA.

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Followed in second by the New York Liberty, New York Liberty with 32 wins against 8 losses,

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of course the addition of Breonna Stewart, you got Stewie there, Courtney Vander Sleut,

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John Quill Jones, you add that to Sabrina Nescoos who's had a fantastic year, Banaji

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Laney, she's been solid as well, the bench is starting to heat up guys, you got Marine

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Johannes, you got her there Kayla Thornton, you got Big Mama Steph back, Stephanie Dolson,

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also Sabali sister there, Nyera so you have those ladies there.

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So we'll see what happens, the Liberty there, loaded for bear so you know we'll see what

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they do in the playoffs.

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Your third place team Connecticut Sun, of course the engine, the one that makes the

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team go, Alyssa Thomas there, oh they finished 27 and 13 which is still by all counts it's

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pretty much unbelievable that they finished with such a record, you know like I said Alyssa

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Thomas is there, DeWanna Bonner who had a season for the ages, then of course Breonna

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Jones goes down but the chip keeps sailing, you know you got some players there and then

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Stephanie White who's done a hell of a job over there, gotta give her credit, so that's

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your third place team.

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Fourth place the Dallas Wings, a team I think is probably the most dangerous non-super team

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so quote unquote, they are very dangerous.

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What Letretia Tramble has done there is really been a boom to that team, Koshie Geirica,

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Agumbawale, you have her there, you also have who I think is most improved player of the

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year, Sato Sabali, you have her there, Natasha Howard, Tierra McCowen, so you know you have

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some firepower over there so we'll see what the Dallas Wings, what they do, fifth place

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the Atlanta Dream, of course Tanisha Wright, she's with these ladies into shaping, they're

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good to go, they got their big three, Ryan Howard, Cheyenne Parker and also Alyssa Gray,

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so you have those three there, then your sixth place team, the Minnesota Lynx who started

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out the Gate guys 0 and 6 but right at the ship and ended up finishing 19 and 15, of

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course, Nafisha Collier coming off her pregnancy had a fine year, very fine year over there,

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you got Kayla McBride over there, the two rookies who made solid contributions over there,

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Diamond Miller and Dorca Yuhas, then your seventh place team, a team I think is pretty

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dangerous as well, the Washington Mystics, Elena Deladon, what more can I say about

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her, she's a walking bucket, she's their leader, she is the one they look to when things get

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sticky, you know, she always delivers, so you have her there, of course their emotional

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leader, Natasha Cloud, the point guard for them, Brittany Sykes has had a fantastic year

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guys and in the last game in fact, her go ahead bucket beat the Liberty, I'll talk about

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that matchup a little while but you have her there, Shakira Austin is back, Ariel Atkins

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as well, this is a team you know you're gonna have to pay attention to, especially in these

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playoffs and then your eighth place team sneaking into the playoffs, Chicago Sky, everything

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begins and ends with Kalea Copper, she is just becoming one of my favorite players, the

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fire and desire that's in that girl, reminds me a lot of Tamika Catchings, just that fire

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and desire, you know, playing on both ends, but Kalea Copper, yeah she's, don't mess with

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that girl that's for sure, and of course the addition of Marina Marbury has helped that

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team as well, you know, they were in flux, their coach, James Wade left mid-season, so

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there's that, but they were able to write the shipment, sneak into the playoffs, so

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kudos to them for that, so that's your eight teams that's in the playoffs, on the outside

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looking in, the Los Angeles Sparks who were injury riddled the entire season pretty much

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between that and players still overseas, you had to wait for them, but this is a team that

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with a break or two probably could have made it into the playoffs, so Kirk Miller's inaugural

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season there, kind of a rocky one, but there's promise over there, anytime you have a Nekka,

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a Uumakai there, there's always hope with that and then provided this coming draft,

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you get somebody who can immediately contribute, so they're not that far off guys, they're

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not that far off, so we'll see what happens there, Jordan Canada who had a flying year

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over there as well, so De'Erica Hamby, she was there, so this is a team, you know, if

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they had a break or two they could be in the playoff picture, but these things happen,

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so what can you do?

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And then your 10th place team, the Indiana Fever, I think this is a team next year,

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people gonna have to pay real attention to, Aliyah Boston was as good as advertised, the

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combination of her and Alyssa Smith inside was just pretty good, very good in fact, and

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Kelsey Mitchell, she had a flying year for them, Grace Berger looks like the rookie,

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she's a player that can be on the come up next year, so hey, I think they're a piece

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away from being really, really competitive, I mean they were competitive this year at

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13 and 27, but you know, I think a major piece over there and they really can propel themselves.

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Then in 11th place, the Seattle Storm, you knew this team was gonna take a hit, it did,

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I thought they had a glimmer of hope when Gabby Williams came back, but then she got

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hurt again and then that was pretty much it.

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Jewel Lloyd had a fantastic year despite everything going on around her, but she was

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fantastic, you know, Noel Quinn, she can get in the draft, you know, a difference maker,

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maybe the team can be in the playoff conversation for next year, so we'll see what happens there

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and then bringing up the red Phoenix, Mercury, a team that I thought underachieved, of course

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they had to change in coaches, you had injuries as well with Diana Tarasi there, Brittany Grina

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missed some time where she needed a mental break, so this is a team that for all intense

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purposes may end up with the number one pick, depending on how the lottery balls fall, but

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this is a team that needs something.

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And then of course, the question is two questions actually, what do you do with a scholar, Dick

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and Smith, who's still a part of your team, what do you do there, actually oddly enough,

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Diana Tarasi was asked about her and she said no comment, so a lot of people speculate,

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oh there's beef there, this and that.

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So your question is two prong, what to do with Scholar, Dick and Smith, and will Diana

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Tarasi retire?

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I think those two things will play a huge role in what happens for them next season, and

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if that's not the case, maybe, you know, you have new ownership there, may say something

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crazy here, but you know, maybe you consider a rebuilt, which probably means you have to

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trade away players, would they pull a trigger on a Brittany Griner trade, possibly depending

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on what you get back, and way center and so forth, but I think she would be a solid fit

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in Chicago, playing next to a Kalia Copper and Marine Mavery, but Phoenix has some real

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questions to ask, so we'll see what happens there.

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But nonetheless, so that's your season wrap up in that regard, let's talk about the playoff

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matchups.

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The playoff matchups, we'll start with the four or five, the Atlanta Dream taking on

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the Dallas Wings, Dallas in this series, won the series three and oh, so they've been

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dominant in this series, but you know, the playoff is a different animal, so we see what

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happens.

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Some of the matchups I'm looking at, Alicia Gray versus Erika Agumbawale, I think that's

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one that bears watching, you want to make sure you keep Agumbawale in check, so you

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definitely want to do that.

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Ryan Howard versus Sato Sabali, I think that's a dynamic matchup there, I think the player

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who gets the better of the other, their team will have success, and then you have Cheyenne

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Parker versus the Twin Towers over there, Tara McCowan and off the bench, Kalani Brown,

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who's been very solid coming off their bench, so my prediction for that, the best of three,

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I think this is one that can go three, and I would say Dallas in a close series, that's

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my prediction there.

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Then you have the six versus the three, Minnesota Lynx versus the Connecticut Sun, Connecticut

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Sun went three and one versus the Lynx, I think another year of seasoning, this matchup would

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have been really a tough one, but I think when all is said and done, Connecticut gets

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the win in this series.

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Some matchups I'm looking at, Lafisha Collier versus DeWanna Bonner, kind of the young player

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versus DeVette in that regard, also Dorca Yuhas versus Alyssa Thomas, the things Alyssa

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Thomas can do, man, unbelievable.

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So maybe if Dorca can keep her off the glass, I think that gives the Lynx a shot, that's

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a tall order to ask for rookie, but nonetheless, that's the assignment there, you have to fulfill

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that assignment.

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I think a low key matchup would be Kayla McBride versus Tiffany Hayes, I think this is one

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that's low key that could really make a difference in this series.

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Tiffany Hayes has been a solid player for the Sun this season, so and Kayla McBride,

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they don't call her Kayla McBuckets for no reason, she can light it up.

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My prediction though, I think Connecticut Sun, I think they sweep, I think they sweep and

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they win this three game series in two games, so I'm picking the Connecticut Sun, looks

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like I'm going chalk here a little bit guys.

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Washington Mystics versus the New York Liberty, this matchup absolutely frightens me, it

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really does guys, it seems like Washington went fully healthy, the Liberty somehow can't

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beat them.

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The Liberty, you know, they're going to have to take a long hard look in the mirror because

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you're supposed to be that team that's everybody's demon going to the finals versus the aces,

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so this is your litmus test right here.

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If you can take care of business here, and I don't mean to three games, I mean sweep

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these guys, if you can do that, then I think that would make a huge statement in these

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playoffs.

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A cost key matchup, Elena Deladon versus Breonna Stewart, that goes without saying that's your

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marquee matchup there.

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Britney Sykes versus Sabrina Nescu, I think that's one that bears watching as well.

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Shakira Austin versus John Quill Jones, I think whoever dominates the glass definitely

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gives their team a shot.

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Natasha Cloud versus Courtney Vanusloof, battle of the point guards there, that should be

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intriguing.

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In your bench versus the other bench.

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Jordan has a strong bench, Liberty has a strong bench, I think the team that can outscore

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the other teams bench will probably have the advantage in this series.

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So with that said guys, I know I said they have to sweep them, but I don't think they're

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going to sweep them.

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It'll go three games and I'm going to pick the Liberty.

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Listen, listen, listen, listen.

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The Liberty going to have to get it done.

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Sandy Brondello, you built this team for this moment.

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So you're going to have to coach your butt off in this one to get the win.

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But yeah, I'm going to say Liberty and three in this series.

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And then the Chicago sky versus the Las Vegas aces.

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The aces beat them 3-0.

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Kalia Copper, she has gotten real hot versus the aces.

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Not enough to get the win, but she has lit them up.

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And of course the key matchup, it will be Kalia Copper versus Jackie Young.

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That's I think is the matchup right there.

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I know Kalia Copper is not going down without a fight.

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So we'll see what happens there.

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Also Courtney Williams versus Chelsea Gray.

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Guys, if you get playoff Chelsea, it's going to be a quick series.

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That's for sure.

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And she's always dangerous in the playoffs, but Courtney Williams, you know, she's coming

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off a few triple doubles herself.

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So you know, she's got a shot here, but is going to be a tall task.

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And then of course your X factors, Asia Wilson, of course, Kelsey Plum.

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If those girls are going off, forget about it.

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It's a short series.

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So my prediction, I want to see the sky kind of pull one out, but I don't see it.

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So unless Vegas gets too overconfident, I don't see it.

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So I'm saying Las Vegas, Aces in two.

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So that is your first round matchups in the playoffs.

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Now let's talk about postseason awards.

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I gave you my midseason awards.

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I kind of tweaked it a bit.

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So here it is guys, really tweaked it in one area.

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Best player of the year, I still say is D. Jeané Carrington of the Connecticut Sun.

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She's had such a good year coming off the bench for them.

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I understand I get it.

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You can definitely talk up a Marine, Johannes for the Liberty.

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You can definitely talk her up if you wanted to.

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There's a few others as well, but to me, Carrington, she was a big part of helping that team, especially

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when you lose the likes of a Breonna Jones.

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So you definitely needed more firepower and she provided that.

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So I'm going to say Carrington.

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Most improved player, I think this is a no brainer, Sato Sabali of the Dallas Wings.

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I think hands down.

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You saw what she did.

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She became an all star this year.

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She's had a solid all around the game.

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You saw her drop 40 in a game this year.

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I think hands down.

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There's some other people you could have considered, but I think Sato Sabali is just, she's been

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that girl.

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So I think she ends up getting it.

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Defensive player of the year.

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You know, I tried to get cute with that, but I think at the end of the day, when all is

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said and done, Aja Wilson is your defensive player of the year.

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There's some people who, you know, you can kind of give consideration as E. Magbugor.

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I mentioned her, but I think when all is said and done, Aja just rose to the top in that

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regard.

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So there's that also a Britney Sykes.

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You could have gave consideration to her player of the year, but I think when all is

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said and done, Aja Wilson gets it.

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Coach of the year.

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I'm staying steadfast in that.

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I know a lot of people are trying to talk up Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx, especially

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how they started.

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They want to talk up LaTricia Trammell as well for the Dallas Wings, but I think Stephanie

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White, you have to give it to her for the Connecticut Sun, especially with the adversity

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they had to face.

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Not only replacing the coach like Kurt Miller, you lost players like John Quill Jones, Courtney

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Williams, then down goes Breonna Jones.

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So you have to adjust there.

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So she kept the team sailing in the right direction, so she gets props for that.

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And I think she's coach of the year.

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MVP, one of the toughest MVP races that we've seen in quite some time guys.

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Three players you can give it to.

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You probably wouldn't get much of an argument.

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So let me lay out their cases then.

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Aja Wilson, 40 games played.

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So she played in all the games.

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22.8 points per game.

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That's third in the league and scoring 9.5 rebounds.

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That's second in the league.

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1.4 steals.

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That's 10th in the league.

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2.2 blocks.

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She's number one in that regard from the field.

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55.7% third in the league and then 81.2% from the free throw line.

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So Aja Wilson, the best player on the best team in the WNBA, so you can always make a

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case for her.

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Breonna Stewart, here's what Stewie did.

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Also 40 games.

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She's appeared in every game.

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23 points per game.

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And that put her second behind Jewel Lloyd.

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And 9.3 rebounds.

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That's third in the league.

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3.8 assists.

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1.4 steals.

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That puts her eighth just by percentage points above Aja Wilson.

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1.6 blocks.

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That puts her in fourth place.

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Shot it from the field.

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46.5%.

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35.3% from 3.0 range.

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And low over 85% from the free throw line.

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So Stewie, an absolute guard send for that Liberty team.

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They wouldn't be where they are without her and she's showed up for every game.

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So you got to give her credit for that.

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The absolute turnaround of the New York Liberty begins and ends with Breonna Stewart.

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And then you have Alyssa Thomas.

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I've been singing her praises.

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Also 40 games for her.

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15.5 points per game.

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9.8 rebounds.

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That puts her in first place.

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And think about this guys.

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Alyssa Thomas at 6-2 leads the league in rebounding.

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Above a 6-4, Breonna Stewart.

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Above a 6-4, Aja Wilson.

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Above a 6-5, well I think she's taller than that, Brittany Griner.

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All these players, she's above them.

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That just goes to tell you guys rebounds isn't just about sizes, about desire.

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And Alyssa Thomas gives you that desire and then some.

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So she leads the league in rebounds.

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Second and assist behind Courtney Vannes-Sloof at slightly under 8 per game.

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1.8 steals.

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That puts her third in the league.

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Shot at 47.4% from the field which is pretty good.

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71.5% from the free throw line.

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And oh by the way guys.

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She led the league in triple doubles with 6.

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Fantastic year for her on the third best team in the league.

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And a team that if you took her away, they are a lottery team at best.

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So with that said, who do I think gets it?

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I think there could be a case of kind of the same with the NBA as far as probably photo

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fatigue of naming Aja Wilson.

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I think all signs are pretty much pointing to Stewie getting the MVP this year.

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That's the way it's looking like guys.

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I could be wrong on this but I think at the end of the day Breonna Stewart gets the award.

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So.

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Alright guys so that is going to do it for this episode.

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Play also be on the way Wednesday guys.

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Wednesday the 13th so we'll see what happens.

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I'm expecting an exciting playoffs.

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Some good action and we'll see what happens.

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All my picks are chalk.

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Will there be upsets?

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We'll see.

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So anyhow once again I thank you for listening as always.

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You know what to do.

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All things basketball with GD.com that's the website.

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That sportsduegd.com.

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That's the email address.

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Check reviews guys on the website you can do it.

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Also on YouTube like the video.

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Comment on the video.

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I want Apple as well guys.

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Apple podcast for you iPhone folks.

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So I'm there.

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Leave a review there as well.

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I'm on all your platforms.

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Social media.

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Podcast platforms all that sort of stuff.

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Wherever you watch and listen to podcasts I'm there.

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Alright guys so that's going to do it for that.

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Honestly the next time you hear from me.

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Hey guys we're less than three weeks away from training camp.

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So probably right around that time we'll begin talking about the season ahead.

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We'll talk.

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I want to do an episode on fantasy basketball for those that are into that.

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I know there's a groundswell for that so we'll talk about it.

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And of course you know what lies ahead for the season.

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So anyhow so that's it for me.

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Once again I thank you for listening.

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Much appreciated and we'll talk soon.

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Take care.

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So my peeps if you like what you're listening to you can go to my website www.allthingsbasketballwithgd.com.

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You can also email me at that sportsduegd at gmail.com.

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To support this podcast you can go to my paypal and that email is that sportsduegd at gmail.com.

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Also on my anchor page I have a support button there that you can also use to help the podcast.

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I'm on all the major platforms like anchor, spreeker, google podcast, amazon, soundcloud,

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youtube, cast bots, radio public, pod chaser just to name a few.

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And also you can find me on social media, facebook, instagram, twitter, tiktok, clubhouse

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and fanbase.

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So once again I thank you for listening and supporting this podcast and take care and

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be safe.