Celebrating Pride, Valkyries go 3-0 last week, Assessing the WNBA’s first half

Celebrating Pride, Valkyries go 3-0 last week, Assessing the WNBA’s first half

The Golden State Valkyries beat Atlanta twice and New York Liberty on an excellent home stand against top teams; Filiberto and Michelle highlight Kiah Stokes’ monster blocks, Kaila Charles’ off-the-bench athletics, and Gabby Williams’ playmaking; we reflect on the best ways for cis hetero allies to uplift and support Pride. Show notes: 2:00 – Fili meant Friday and SUNDAY. 15:50 – Valkyries holding opponents’ star players to game lows. [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ_sRVVs6XM/] 18:51 – Best crab and oysters: Anchor Oyster Bar. [http://www.anchoroysterbar.com/] 21:18 - Gabby Williams with a decisive late game steal [https://stats.wnba.com/events/?flag=1&GameID=1022600137&GameEventID=567&Season=2026&title=Williams%20STEAL%20(2%20STL)&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&LeagueID=10&sct=plot] 22:30 – Kiah Stokes’ block party vs Atlanta Dream June 26. [https://www.instagram.com/p/DaEqBsUBp_b/] 25:21 – Two back to the basket moves from Ceci  Late in the first [https://stats.wnba.com/events/?flag=1&GameID=1022600137&GameEventID=39&Season=2026&title=Zandalasini%2011%27%20Turnaround%20Jump%20Shot%20(2%20PTS)&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&LeagueID=10&sct=plot] and halfway through the second [https://stats.wnba.com/events/?flag=1&GameID=1022600137&GameEventID=200&Season=2026&title=Zandalasini%207%27%20Turnaround%20Jump%20Shot%20(4%20PTS)&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&LeagueID=10&sct=plot]and  34:19 – Kaitlyn Chen using a referee as a screen. [https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaJqS3YxvNO/] 36:12 – 2022 WNBA All-Star Game MVP trophy goes to Kelsey Plum.  It’s ummmm, uh, a little underwhelming. [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sHIYkI48tPY] 41:16 – Golden State’s attempted three pointers ranks them #1 in the WNBA at 30.9.

Joyous Juneteenth, Filiberto’s family’s first Valkyries game, Nneka Ogwumike is why we love sports!

Big ups to all the Juneteenth and Pride events across the women sports world, PWHL San Jose drafts Laila Edwards!, We introduce Filiberto’s family to Balhalla, Valkyries beat Dallas then struggle against Minnesota and Vegas, Nneka Ogwumike’s walk off three-pointer helps WNBA celebrate 30 years and honors the women who paved the way Show notes: 2:28 – PWHL San Jose team drafts Laila Edwards! [%20https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZs-r3hE2xC/] 7:45 – A’ja Wilson’s thoughts [https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZvNlXJRDzo/]on WNBA expanding season to 50 regular season games  9:00 – It’s the INDIANA Fever. I kept saying Indianapolis for some reason. 12:35 – Dawn Staley [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ0p6ibEfML/?img_index=1] on hand to watch 7 South Carolina alumni at Indiana-Atlanta game  20:45 – LA Sparks superfan Leslie Jones lurking  [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/re4XuhuhgOI] 24:59 – Paige Bueckers on Kaitlyn Chen’s layup game  [https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZuuzQqR92s/] 30:25 – Family time [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ8HXMRDyXr/?img_index=1] at Valkyries game  40:01 – Courtney Williams [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZy3vB-RknU/] trolling Valkyries fans trolling Courtney Williams  40:33 – Start booing opponents [https://www.instagram.com/reels/DOIOT8tDkoN/]!  44:20 – Valkyries schedule [https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/1611661331/2026/04/2026-Schedule_Print_Preseason-1.pdf]  47:36 – Maybe this [https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/stuck-in-my-craw] for craw?   48:02 – Original WNBA tipoff [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ5W9yFEf0M/?img_index=1] was between LA’s Lisa Leslie and NY’s Kym Hampton   50:00 – Nneka Ogwumike’s winning shot  [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ4Day5FNFC/?img_index=5] 51:56 – Nneka Ogwumike tears up [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ30PbYv78O/]over the WNBA’s legacy  55:39 – Madame president  [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ4Day5FNFC/?img_index=7]

Consume that cannabis! Vote in that All Star! Valkyries on a roll! Happy birthday, Fili!

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/ [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 info@wegotnextpod.org. 10:00 Voting for WNBA all-star players ends June 27.  https://www.wnba.com/allstar/voting-rules [https://www.wnba.com/allstar/voting-rules?utm_content=asv_exact] 12:32 Actually Kayla had a double double during the 2025 All Star game https://valkyries.wnba.com/news/gameday-recap-20250719 [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.

Valkyries at the quarter mark, Trans athletes thriving, HELL NO to patches celebrating the US’s birthday

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 [https://www.professionalsoftballleague.com/schedule] 5:43 – https://www.valkyriesbeat.com/ [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 [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 [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/ [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 [https://x.com/_breezy_briii/status/2062663499642442120?s=46] 49:32 – https://megaphone.link/VMP2793392468 [https://megaphone.link/VMP2793392468]

Valkyries heal their Fever, then fold against the Aces; Fili and Michelle touch on learnings from Jane Austen and Optimus Prime

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/ [https://www.instagram.com/p/DY43gLhNX0v/] 23:00 -- https://www.instagram.com/p/DZEJlUHBLwl/ [https://www.instagram.com/p/DZEJlUHBLwl/]