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It’s our first look into WNBL24 Free Agency, and it's already shaping up to be a doozy!

We have alot of fun with this one and jump right into it with Assistant Coach of NBL1 East reigning champs’ Border Bandits’ Sammy McDonald.

Based on the border of the two largest hoops states Sammy Mac helps us spitball some ideas in an exciting era for up and coming talent, vets that just keep getting better and the incredible imports that head to our shores.

Since recording this episode there has been a spate of mic dropping announcements, some speculation that’s now confirmed and some surprises. What we do know and touched on in this episode is that Vealy will leverage her CoE connections and Sara Blicavs is a great get - in Sammy’s words “Whoever snags her has got one of the best in the competition.”

Enjoy!

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In our next passport pod, Kiwi hoops expert Linden Moore joins us to talk to community ambassador and baller Maia Williamson.

Coaching at Middleton Grange High School in Christchurch Maia was born to coach and is paying it forward at her alma mater. A participant of the well-regarded Mainland Eagles Camp at a significant time of growth for New Zealand basketball in the South Island - a region of NZ that is as rich in community spirit as it is passionate for basketball.

Maia is incredibly passionate about women’s hoops and as a Coach has the privilege to instil the belief that ‘girls can hoop’. Intriguingly, her own personal story was that hoop dreams can extend beyond a professional playing career, a realisation that kept her home while many peers journeyed to US college.

Maia has taken an equally impactful route, as a woman in hoops she shares her knowledge and guidance within her community, including assisting with the U15’s Canterbury representative team. She advocates for female players to embrace the many fulfilling pathways and opportunities that exist in the world of basketball.

Alongside her coaching she is studying broadcast, in her own words “I like to talk”.

With an intuitive basketball IQ to see the game from a Coach’s perspective paired with her broadcast credentials there is no doubt that Maia will have a strong voice in elevating and advocating for the future of women hoops in NZ.

Enjoy!

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In this episode we lean on some Ted Lasso* inspiration, hence the name of the pod… you’ll have to listen in for that one.

We get into the recent swarm of speculation on the WNBL just as the CBA was being negotiated ahead of Free Agency.

At the time of recording this episode Free Agency was delayed, and has only just opened up on Tuesday 9th May - weeks later than expected leaving many athletes in a state of limbo, and the whole WNBL fanbase in a bit of a tailspin.

We'll unpack some glaring issues and get back to the real business of our top tier women’s hoops.

Enjoy!

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* Ted Lasso Series 3 (Epiosde 7) - The Strings That Bind Us

Next up in our passport pods for Series 5, we are joined by Amanda Christovich, a sport’s business reporter with Front Office Sports, to discuss the record growth of the NCAA Women’s March Madness.

From viewership and media rights to the evolution of the women’s game and the currency of our female players particularly as Aussie representation increases in US College hoops.

Increasing coverage by ESPN and international distribution has seen viewers contribute to the remarkable growth of women's college basketball creating an undeniable value proposition for the women's game at both the college level in the NIL era as well as the WNBA.

A Columbia School of Journalism graduate, Amanda is one of the leading reporters on the business of womens basketball at Front Office Sports, shining a light on the financial transparency of the sport, in her own words ”it became one of the biggest stories that no one could ignore.”

We’re grateful to Amanda in sharing a fascinating insight into the NCAA womens league, its value, the ripple effect to the pro leagues and most importantly a glimpse into the potential of women’s hoops for professional athletes.

Enjoy!

Read more from Amanda at Front Office Sports: https://frontofficesports.com/author/amanda-christovich/

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Co-founders of First Subs, Madel Giles and Kaz Emery join us for our first LIVE podcast of Series 5.

LIVE from ELS Hall Park, the home of the Inner West Bulls, we talk about their spirited community of women hoopers that was formed alongside their friends Marianne Engle and Victoria Kirby for women to come together to play hoops in Western Sydney.

Creating an inclusive, friendly and welcoming environment they have provided a safe and comfortable place for women of all ages and levels of experience to play basketball and connect.

Accessibility, acceptance and friendships underpins the growth of community hoopers. First Subs provides not just an opportunity to improve basketball skills, but to have fun and form meaningful friendships and networks.

The NBL1 game tonight at ELS Hall Park, North Ryde is between Inner West Bulls and Central Coast Crusaders.

Enjoy!

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In the first of our passport pod episodes for Series 5 we talk with Jocelyn Song - a recent graduate of Claremont McKenna College in Media Studies/Economics and an Asian American Studies minor, she makes her directorial debut with 'Sòng Pèi Xīng', a short documentary on her sister, professional basketball player Sophia Song.

Jocelyn is the first female director we’ve hosted on Shooting The Breeze, and she has crafted a moving short film featuring her sister Sophia, the first American Taiwanese basketball player to play professional hoops in Taiwan.

It’s a documentary piece that touches on universal themes of community, belonging, aspiration and sacrifice for family alongside Sophia's basketball journey. But what unfolds is a deeply affecting and personal story, and as Jocelyn candidly shares with us, was a surprising journey of discovery not just for herself but of her sister Sophia.

We love to see documentary pieces on womens hoops and especially by female directors.
Sòng Pèi Xīng will screen to the public as part of the L.A Pacific Asian Film Festival in May.

At the time of recording this podcast Jocelyn works at NFL Films in NYC and Sophia plays for Taiyuen Textiles in the WSBL in Taiwan.

Enjoy!

The films trailer can be viewed here via Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/653453959

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