October 15, 2026
ELLE DUNCAN: Hi everybody! I believe I seeWXIA at the bottom, and if that's the same WXIA that I used to work at, hi, 11 Alive, if that's y'all, love you guys. One of my first jobs in sports was working there. Anyway, this is my third WNBA Finals, and I was in the building to witness the Liberty win their first, and last year, to watch the Aces, and so as much as I love dynasties, I'm so absolutely thrilled for this WNBA Finals because we are going to make history either way.
It's either going to be the type of history that puts pressure on every expansion team for the rest of history, or it's going to be the kind that brings that elusive title back to the city of Atlanta, which as an Atlantan, I'm super excited about.
It's an absolute thrill to work with these incredible women. USA Sports took on a really, really big task of jumping into women's basketball, and I can tell you that the resources, investment, and care have all been there all year long. So this is our big final curtain call, and we can't wait to do the best that we can to document what's going to be an incredible Finals.
TAMIKA CATCHINGS: Thanks, Elle. I'm excited. This is my first Finals from this standpoint. Crazy enough to think, four Finals overall, three as a player, and now my first one on the other side, which is crazy. But like Elle, I'm super excited, and for those that knew me as a player, you know, defense is my staple. So I am excited about what both of these teams bring to the court. The players, we have had a chance to watch all season, played against some of them, DB (DeWanna Bonner) probably the most.
But yeah, I'm really excited about the Finals, and I think Elle said it well, like, this has been an amazing experience with this USA Network team. Just what we've been able to do, watching the studio from the games, and just how the team operates overall. Like, our team, and being able to showcase the best women basketball period in the world. It's just been a lot of fun, so I'm looking forward to it.
KATE SCOTT: Just to tack on to what my teammates said, this is everything I think you could want in a championship, right? Two teams, peaking at the perfect time that are going to meet at the summit and fight over who gets to plant the flag, right? I can feel the chemistry between these two teams, how much these players love playing alongside one another. You can see the buy-in to both of their coaches. It is incredible. They feel like awesome reflections of the cities in which they're based.
And just like Catch and Elle said, the fact that this is our first year covering the league, and we're going to have the honor and the opportunity to crown a first-time champion. It feels really special, and I cannot wait for us to get to San Francisco for Game 2.
DUNCAN: And, Kate and Catch, we finally get to answer the question, ‘Does defense win championships?’ Because these are the two best defenses in the W, and so the answer is emphatically yes. Defense and rebounding. Let's go.
Q: Unfortunately, you're not able to see my beautiful face, but I just want you to know it's gorgeous. My camera is, like, not working, of course, when you're traveling, but I'm here in San Francisco, so I'll be here for the Finals, so hopefully we'll get to see all of you. But this question's actually for Elle.
Elle, I wanted to understand, as someone who is from Atlanta and has seen a lot of this Atlanta Dream team over the years, I'm curious of, from your perspective, what is different about this year's team?
DUNCAN: Oh my gosh. I'm so glad you said that. I've been reflecting so much the last couple weeks on the Dream’s run, and I remember, like, you know, a year, maybe Angel McCoughtry's second year, I would go to the Dream games. I was actually honored by the Atlanta Dream in 2010-11, and to go to those games at State Farm Arena at the time and to see, it was called something else, Phillips and to see almost the entire arena draped in curtains because they could not sell the lower bowl and to see that and then to see just the momentum and energy that they' got when they went to Gateway. I have been there, and it is something very special. But to see, in particular for me, what was really cool, guys, was watching the outrage slash demand that these women deserve to be at State Farm and the coordination that it took for everyone involved to make that happen because they understood the importance of this team and they understood the importance of putting them in the best possible position to win a championship.
I think the trajectory of this team in terms of what makes this team different than other Atlanta Dream teams that have been contenders but haven't been able to make it, you know, to the summit, as Kate said, I think it's chemistry.
I think it's one of the best in-season moves that we've seen in a very long time and bringing in Angel Reese. I think Karl Smesko is incredible. I remember two years ago us going, I don't know if this is going to work like Florida Gulf Coast. It ain't the W and they completely bought into his system.
And so I think it's the cacophony of all of those things. Support, great established All-Stars and team players, and then bringing in a piece like Angel Reese and ultimately again bringing in a piece like DeWanna Bonner. It's been really amazing to see Atlanta not rest on their laurels and keep trying to improve.
Q: Hi all, thanks so much for doing this. So, I think this is for Tamika. So, offense was up across the league this season, and there was a discussion of how much did defense really matter when it came to moving through the season and then getting through the Playoffs and into the Finals. How do you think that amid how much the game has been changing, it's been spaced out more, offense is up, that this Finals proves that defense still does win championships?
CATCHINGS: Yeah, and I think Kate kind of put the hammer down, or put the hammer down on us being able to finally talk about defense. You know, it's crazy because when I think back, we were the best defensive team going against the best offensive team when we played Phoenix in 2009. Same thing when we go against Minnesota in 2015. And defense has always been, I mean, that's been something playing at University of Tennessee, Pat Summitt had done it all the time, and now to see it so prevalent, Natalie Nakase, she talks a lot about, I want the team to exemplify what I was as a player, and you see it from the way they play, the way they defend, you know, the statistics speak for themselves.
And same thing for Atlanta, you know, finally buying into a system and you can score, but as we all know, even though scoring goes up around the league, like we have seen them, the ball does not drop. And the only way you can win is by defending. So you play defense, make the stops, and then, of course, you know, get some of the steals and get down the court. So I think that's the main thing.
When you look at it, defense has always been prevalent, but I think this year, specifically, with these two teams, it has been the staple. And that's been something they've talked about consistently throughout the season. Yeah, like, we're gonna knock down threes, we're gonna pass, we're gonna do the offensive stuff, but their teams are built on the consistency of how they play defense.
DUNCAN: I will add this really quick, because this was a huge conversation for us a couple of weeks ago. I had my researcher pull this stuff and I was looking down at my phone while Catch was talking, trying to find exactly what it was. I can get the exact stat for you, but it's so interesting. We were arguing about defense winning championships. There's only been a handful of teams that have ever won the WNBA championship with the top-rated defense. It doesn't happen very often, I believe.
We've only ever had like five teams that have ever won the championship with the number one regular season defense. And I would pose this question to Catch, I know I'm doing your job and I shouldn't be, but I can never get out of the broadcaster role for Kate and Catch. I think the difference in these two teams is that even if you have a great defense because Golden State had the best defense last year too, you need a finisher.
You need one and that's why they got Gabby Williams to go along with that great defense. You need someone that's going to take that bucket for you at the end. And the same with the Atlanta Dream. And it's been different people for the Dream. Certainly it's been Jordin Canada, it's been Angel at times, been DeWanna.
But I think that's the difference is that like, yes, defense wins championships, but each one of these teams has a closer, a legitimate offensive threat that can get them that basket when they need it at the end.
CATCHINGS: Multiple, multiple closers. It's not one player that steps up, and so I think you're right. I mean, we're looking at Angel Reese as Defensive Player of the Year, but Gabby Williams, I think at one point I even selected Veronica Burton as somebody that could be instrumental from a defensive standpoint. So both teams have players and Angel gave credit to Rhyne (Howard). Rhyne and the amount of steals that she's able to get.
I mean, like you can go down the line defensively and even just overall of players that can step up on both sides of the court.
DUNCAN: She's like, y'all throwing history and stats.
SCOTT: I think I was the most helpful. So you're welcome. You're welcome.
DUNCAN: Attribute all the quotes to Kate.
SCOTT: Thanks, Elle.
Q: Yes, thank you all. I actually have two, but it's funny you guys were talking, because my question's also about defense, and I'm going to build off of that. Obviously, I mean, Tamika, it might be your favorite topic, I'm sure, in that regard, given you're probably the greatest defender in the history of the league, but with this matchup in particular. We just found out there's six of the 10 players on the All-Defense team are in this series, out of the two teams, three on each team.
The Valkyries have very clearly valued Kiah Stokes in particular. She's not somebody who people are gonna necessarily see much on the offensive end. But how much do you, Catch, look at a player like Kiah Stokes and see that, you know, the Valkyries are calling her their team MVP at times, mostly for what she's doing defensively? How much is that part of this series going to end up kind of dictating more than the scoring, even as we talk about it? Like, both of these teams clearly want to win by defense.
We might see scorers looking more like previous eras of this league than the 100-point scores. Do you feel like that's a big part of this series, potentially?
CATCHINGS: I think it's going to be a low-scoring game, all of them. I think it's going to be a huge battle, but when I look at Kiah Stokes specifically, I'd say she's probably one of - when we talk about her in general, one of the more undervalued players. Like, we need to be giving her more props. You look at the championship she won with the Aces and the way she played defense, she never takes the shine, she just shows up, she does her job, she's a professional in every single way, in every single capacity.
What I've loved is I've loved watching her evolve as a player, because before, it was like, okay, well, Kiah Stokes, she can't really shoot, you know, mainly around the basket, she’s your defender, right? Now she's stepping up, she's knocking down threes. So she's able to do it offensively, which she hasn't. She's expanded her game.
A lot of that, she gives credit to the team and the confidence that the team has in her. But defensively, it's one thing when you're a guard and you're on the outside and you get beat and you're like, oh crap, I got beat. Another thing when you're a guard and you get beat, and I know I got Kiah Stokes at the basket, it's like, oh yeah, like she got my back, she's gonna throw out the ball.
And you know, so much confidence in the way that she's playing right now, too, and she had that experience to give to this young team.
DUNCAN: Wouldn't you have confidence if you just shut down the greatest player in the world? I mean, give her Defensive Player of the Postseason. Is that a new thing we can do, a DPOP? I mean, what she did on A’ja, like they are not in the Finals without her.
SCOTT: Yeah.
DUNCAN: Amazing.
Q: It, to me, is remarkable. Within that, Kate, obviously, I'm sorry that I wasn't able to join until right as the question started, but us in the Bay Area know your bona fides here in this region, even though you've been in Philly for a while. You've seen what this market can be like when a team makes a championship run, but you've seen the Valkyries even in this year covering games on the national level.
What are you almost expecting out of what the Bay Area is about to be like when you're here for this first massive women's sports championship series in that way?
SCOTT: Yeah, it's great to see you, and you and I will chat more in the next few days. I think Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans and other members of the men's professional sports teams in the Bay Area have said it so well as of late. It is louder for Valks games at Chase Center than it is for the Warriors. And it does remind me, I've only called one game at Valhalla so far this year, but I cannot wait to get back. Because when I was there during the pregame festivities, as they're beating the drum, as everybody is starting to go crazy for the next three hours, I was having flashbacks to playoff games at Oracle, which I was lucky enough to attend right when the Warriors were starting their run because I was covering the Warriors, as you know, for KNBR for their radio flagship before it all started, and then through their championship dynasty, and it felt like that. And I haven't felt that arena like that for Warriors games.
So yeah, I expect the Bay to be utter madness throughout the Finals, and I expect Atlanta to be the same. I think both cities, as I said earlier, I think both teams, which we don't always get in sports, but I think when you do, it makes the runs that much more special. I feel as if the Valks and the Dream are both so representative of their cities. They see themselves in their fans, and the fans see themselves in their players and coaches.
So the love and care and passion just grows that much more. So yeah, I can't wait for this. And I love that Elle was a radio traffic reporter in Atlanta, and I was a radio traffic reporter in the Bay. And let's go, baby. Let's go.
DUNCAN: It's incredible. Maybe we can give a little traffic pregame, you know, just some.
SCOTT: I can tell you that things are gonna be deadlocked across the Bay Bridge, Elle, trying to get into the city for this.
DUNCAN: I can tell you the downtown connector is gonna be a nightmare.
SCOTT: Smart, everybody. Take public transit.
DUNCAN: Yeah.
MODERATOR: Yeah, please don't predict any traffic. Let's see now. All right, next, we've got a couple more.
Q: Hi, yeah, I have a couple quick ones for Tamika and Elle. Tamika, just to be part of the coverage team this season for the W with Chamique, just, like, how special has that been, to be teammates with her in a different way? And for Elle, just, like, what have you enjoyed the most about having Chamique in the studio, with you?
CATCHINGS: Okay. It's been a blast, you know, right when I found out Meek was - both of us were gonna be doing USA together, and in different capacities, but, you know, it brings us back together. And, you know, with our relationship, we've gone through the highs and lows over the years, just from the standpoint of life happens, like, we're busy, we're doing different things. This has pulled us back together and having more conversation, talking more about the game.
We're teammates, you know, like back to being teammates and not just with her, but this amazing group of ladies, and Carlan.
DUNCAN: Carlan!
CATCHINGS: But it's just been awesome. And I think for both of us, the experience that I've had in the college game and doing in the last nine years covering the young ladies in the college game, now bringing it to the W and being alongside of them, I mean, it has been, I can't even say a dream come true because I'd never imagined myself being on this side.
But being able to be here and being able to showcase the stories of the women that are on the floor, it's been unbelievable.
DUNCAN: I can tell you from my perspective, our Wednesday night doubleheaders, those nights are real long. We are there from 3 until 1 in the morning. And getting to know Chamique Holdsclaw has been, honestly one of the best parts of this experience for me, because I met Chamique before. She came on my show at ESPN to talk about mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month years ago, and obviously grew up a fan of Chamique, but she is the human embodiment of aromatherapy. That's the best.
Like she is so calming, right? Like she.
CATCHINGS: Yes.
DUNCAN: Just this calm, and I don't know if you know this about me, I've got a lot of frenetic energy. I'm like a Chihuahua on pixie sticks, and she's so centered and just grounded, and she's inquisitive, and she asks questions, and you would think being that she's an OG and one of the best to ever do it, she's just so open to being like - she looked at me right away and was like, ‘I'm a rookie, Elle, help me, tell me what I need.’ She was really, really, really adamant that she wanted to be good at this, and she grew so much in this space over the course of the year.
When I tell you spending time with her and Renee (Montgomery) for hours on end has been super special. She is an amazing woman who has so much conviction and uses her platform in every possible way to shine light on a lot of different topics and places that need it. She's a one-of-one, there's a reason she's one of the GOATs.
SCOTT: I know you didn't ask me, but can I just shine some light on Catch as well? Because that has, just as Elle said, that's been one of my favorite parts of our long, exhausting, but exhilarating summer. One of my favorite parts that has been unexpectedly, has turned — I wasn't expecting this — has been going into arenas and calling games with Tamika Catchings. The love that she has gotten from fans has been overwhelming for me, so I can only imagine how great it has felt for Catch.
My favorite thing is that I am her play-by-play announcer and her broadcast partner, and then as soon as the game ends, I turn into her bodyguard because oftentimes, I tell her, I will be the bad guy. Just let me know when you're done taking pictures and signing autographs so we don't miss our flights, because that many people want to talk to her. And then, in addition to that, just seeing the love that she and Chamique have gotten online and in the social spaces, that people have missed these players. They are so happy to have them back.
And what an honor it is for Elle, for me, for all of us at USA, to get to be a part of their revival, and get to just kind of sit next to the shine and the recognition that they so desperately deserve. And yeah, it's been an awesome part of this journey this year.
DUNCAN: Catch walking through Gainbridge is something to see. I've seen it. I'm like, girl.
SCOTT: Catch, we gotta do an open! Like, sorry, ma'am, ma'am, I'm gonna need to let her go.
DUNCAN: Mayor.
SCOTT: I know, and she's so kind!
SCOTT: Yeah.
DUNCAN: She will take a picture with anyone.
SCOTT: "We're going on live television, Catch. I need you!"
CATCHINGS: Thank you guys, it's a blessing.
Q: Hello everyone, thanks for taking time to speak with us today. I have a question for Tamika, another defensive question, but I kind of wanted to drill into what both these teams bring to the court. What would you say is each team's strength defensively, and do you feel like this series will ultimately come down to who blinks first?
CATCHINGS: That's a good question. Let me answer the last question first. What do I think it's gonna come down to? Honestly, when I think about the matchup and we've all gone back and, you know, looked at all three games from before, which was so long ago, they're totally different teams, but I really think like the depth. Staying healthy.
So it'll be interesting for Atlanta, you know, what happened with Allisha Gray and her being able to get back, implemented with the team, but I think it'll be the depth. Everybody being available to play, you know, one of the biggest compliments that I felt like the Aces talked about with Golden State was they just kept throwing players at them, and we had this conversation before we got on the call.
I was like, man, Golden State has, like, oh, okay, this isn't working all right, this player comes in, oh, this isn't working, another player comes in. So I think from that standpoint. But defensively, it's going to come down to the principles, right?
Whatever the game plan is, which now they've had plenty of time to go back, look at the film from the first game, go back, look at the last series, what they did, what Atlanta did against New York, what Golden State did against Vegas. It's gonna be two completely different teams that they're going up against. So, you kind of scrap a little bit of that, and you readjust based on how both teams are playing now. I can't give you, like, specifics. We haven't had conversations with the coaches. I know we will, so listen to the broadcast. Make sure you listen to the broadcast.
But yeah, I think it's gonna come down to who stays healthy defensively, whatever scheme they have, you know, they're so similar as far as player for player and what they bring but one of the question they would ask about Kiah Stokes. I think she's gonna be a pivotal player for Golden State, and I think Angel Reese is gonna be pivotal, and both of them staying out of foul trouble and being on the court.
DUNCAN: And real quick, if I may, certainly I'm not Catch, but I…
CATCHINGS: You are, I did it when I was…
DUNCAN: But when I'm identifying, apart from everything that she said, when I'm identifying what could be a difference too, because I think if you look at both these teams, like a lot of things are pretty even, right? They're both defensive-minded teams. They both love to shoot threes, like all those things. I think it could come down to the bench.
I think you've got the Sixth Player of the Year coming off the bench, right, in Janelle Salaun, but then you've got the pedigree and the veteran leadership of DeWanna Bonner on the other side. So I do think that ultimately some of these games are going to be decided by who gets more production from their second unit.
CATCHINGS: Mmhm. And both teams have champions. So, you know, you can't even say, oh, this team has more champions than that team. I really think, like, the bench, who's available, staying healthy, staying out of foul trouble.
DUNCAN: Did you also hear that one team has a bunch of UConn players? I feel like no one's talking about that.
CATCHINGS: I forgot about that (laughs).
Q: Hi guys, it's nice to see you all. So I have a question specifically for Tamika, especially having been a part of the three WNBA Finals as a player when you were with the Indiana Fever. Now looking back as it's approaching its 30th finals, I'm just curious to know what have you seen from the evolution of the WNBA Finals from when you were a player to its growth as well?
CATCHINGS: It's been fun. I'll go back and, you know, I see Scott on the call too, so he could probably attest to this, but you go back to the Finals in 2009, 2012 when we won it, in 15 and it was crazy. Like it was sold out at all places in Phoenix and both times against Minnesota. But the evolution of what you see is obviously more fans, more eyes this year, you know, more network partners, us being one that come on board.
And so you've seen the growth of the game, the interest that has come. Along the journey, I mean, 30 years into the W, and here we are, celebrating not only that, but celebrating with new partners, celebrating with the growth, a lot of different and new fans that have entered the arena. So I think, for me, from a personal standpoint, if I had to put myself in their shoes, the same principle would apply.
You focus on the game, you focus on the huddles, you focus on what the task is at hand, because it's easy. Especially now with so much going on. I mean, when Jamie was talking about the show that's going to happen before and, you know, now we didn't care what we wore to the game. We wanted to win. And that's all that mattered. I don't care what, I don't remember what I had on. I don't remember. I don't even think I packed.
DUNCAN: Damn.
CATCHINGS: Like, I wore the team sweats and, you know, whatever we had to wear for the team, but now it's become more of a show, but always get back to keep the main thing the main thing. We want to win, and I think that's going to be the main thing that they're going to have to remember.
DUNCAN: You weren't rocking your custom Prada fit back then?
CATCHINGS: I still don't have any!
Q: Hi, everyone. I just was curious individually, like, how fulfilling is this moment for you guys as a team? It's in your first year, obviously, but getting the baton from ABC and then NBC Sports, like, this is a significant moment I got to imagine for all of you, so I'm wondering kind of what the emotions have been for the buildup for each of you.
SCOTT: Oh, I get to start this time. Okay, that was unexpected. Yeah, incredibly excited. I think, first and foremost, shout out to our friends at ESPN. Ryan and Rebecca and Holly and the rest of their crews and everybody behind the scenes, like, we are all friends, right? It just feels like one big family covering the W, but we are not here, the league is not here, having millions of people tune into regular season broadcasts without the work that they have put in.
For the past decade-plus, and we are so grateful for that. And I imagine that this is hard for them this year, and we look forward to begrudgingly passing the baton back next year and then getting it back in years to come. But yeah, it's incredibly special. I'm flashing back to when we talked to all of you, what was it, in April or May, right before the season, how excited we were. I had I I had forgotten how special covering women's basketball is. I have missed this space so much.
So, to be back here, covering this game at the highest level, with the highest level of talents all around me, in Tamika and Elle and Sarah and Meghan, the entire crew, and to see the reception that we have gotten from fans in our first year, that has meant a lot as well, because all that I care about is covering each sport and game that I call to the best of my ability, and making it as entertaining and enjoyable as possible for everybody who is tuning in.
And I think we have done that. And I look forward to doing it at an even higher level for the next couple of weeks and crowning again, a first-time champion in our first year covering this league. It's very special stuff.
DUNCAN: Let me add, too, to the Kate perspective of it, I think that to have someone of Kate Scott's ilk back in women's basketball is so amazing, because let's just be honest, 10 years ago, it was, you know, that was where you started, and then hopefully you could elevate to the men's game, and she's done that, and she's a trailblazer. But for her to use her cache to be in the women's game, we need her, and she was the first person that USA Sports told me that they acquired, her and Sarah, and I was like, cool, I want to do it then, because you guys obviously care about really great talent.
I'll be very brief here before I get into Catch that, like, leaving ESPN, it was very difficult for many reasons, but also because I thought that it meant I would have to leave women's basketball behind, and while I did on the college level, USA Sports giving me the opportunity to stay in a space that I've really grown to love so much, despite everything, has been a dream come true. And building something from the ground up, after being at a very established network, where all that foundational stuff was being built before I got there, has been super cool.
CATCHINGS: Yeah, and ditto. It's an honor for me to work with them. And my first game that I did with Kate, like, I'm still, I'm nervous. I was thinking about this earlier, even as I've gotten prepared this week, I'm like, man, I am nervous for the games and nervous in a good way, but being alongside of them just kind of like, whew, talking with friends and hanging out.
But knowing the magnitude of what this means, and, for Golden State, their second year in the organization, you know, being able to have friendship with both of the GMs. And now to see how they have grown their team. Dan going to Atlanta when I was starting with Indiana in my GM role, and he was my guy, like, back and forth, talking about strategies and talking all of that, and now to see how he had taken the Dream to where they are.
Yeah, I showed Kate yesterday, oh, hey, my lady. 2016, we were hanging out, and for USA Basketball, they had to win a gold medal, and they were in the gym, her and Dawn Staley were in the gym with me all the time, because I needed to get extra shots and stuff up, and now to see them both come full circle for us to be a part of that and then to be with these ladies. I never thought, I never wrote this in my journal. Like, this isn't something that I wrote, and now, to have it is a blessing.
Q: Thanks so much. I appreciate you all taking the time. So this is for Elle and Kate. And Tamika, you can answer this if you'd like to. Elle, you made a comment recently about how difficult it is to cover this league and especially this year. So what I want to know is what do you think needs to happen moving forward without diluting some of the intersectional storylines that have become so important to the bedrock of the WNBA?
DUNCAN: It's a great question because this is a league that was built on social activism and, you know, being unapologetically themselves and, you know, really dipping their toe into subjects that a lot of people would deem controversial. And these women have been very brave in that pursuit. I would say that it's exactly what I said on that panel that you're referring to, and by the way, I did not say it was just toxic this year, it's been years.
I've been saying it for a long time, but I think it's exactly what I said, to continue - it's not the player's fault. It's not the player's fault that it's been hijacked, so we continue to support, we continue to buy their apparel and merch, we continue to watch their games, we continue to show up. We do protect our peace where we can. That does mean maybe limiting some of what used to be really fun conversation on social media because that's not really a place for it anymore.
But it does not mean in any way that it impacts or affects your fandom because you will outlast those people. And so you just have to be bullish in your commitment to the space, because if you support women's basketball and if you love these players, and the best way to show that is to keep showing up for them. Because ultimately, they win when we try to refocus the narrative and conversation back onto them.
Q: I guess I just wonder, looking at the media side of things, because that area of coverage has brought more coverage and more fans to the space, so I guess I just wonder, when it comes to covering some of these intersectional storylines. How can you do that without the toxicity, if that makes sense?
DUNCAN: Yeah, I mean, God, if I knew that answer maybe I would have some great solutions as to how we end that toxicity. There is definitely the belief that, like it's a good thing, there's a pain point for any league that's growing. If everyone's talking about you, even if it's controversial or taboo topics or polarizing topics, at the very least they're talking about you, right? What is it, Jamie? You're a PR guy. No such thing as bad PR, and so, yeah, I think that's a real thing.
It comes down to our media partners, and it comes down to fans, frankly. Like I have told this to fans, I'm like, you know, media people keep doing this because every time there is a controversial clip about something, it engages. It's so much engagement, so much more than, ‘What's it gonna come down to in the WNBA Finals?’ And so we do have some power as fans as well to control some of those narratives.
And if you really do want to get it back to the basketball, I say there are so many people just talking about basketball and so much content out there for you. And so you can really pick and choose which information that you're trying to consume. And I think that ultimately, we can change some of those behaviors because the more that we keep clicking on those things and engaging, even if it's engagement just to go, ‘This is not cool,’ it's engagement.
It all counts as the same, even if it's negative engagement, whatever it is. And so I think that we can do a better job of trying to refocus, and, this is me included, trying not to take the bait, when someone is doing exactly that, when they're trying to engagement farm.
SCOTT: And going off of that, you put it on a pedestal for me, Elle. I sent Elle an email yesterday which she probably hasn't had time to read because she's a busy lady.
DUNCAN: Really?
SCOTT: I don't even know if you check email. It is such an honor to be teammates with Elle Duncan. She loves this league so much, and if that is not evident to everybody by now, you are not paying attention. To have the courage to address difficult subjects that a lot of people avoid because they are difficult, inspires me.
And I just really feel like, how lucky are we to have this woman in our space when she has her choice of what spaces she wants to be in, and who she wants to work for at this point in her career, because she is a sports broadcasting superstar. So the fact that she chose us, and to cover the W, I feel incredibly lucky and I cannot wait to get out to San Francisco and give her a hug because we've been on opposite sides of the country all year.
I cannot wait for the orange carpet. How f*cking fun is that going to be?!
Yes, I cuss. You're welcome. The cuss jar. I will have it.
It's about damn time. This league deserves two hours of pregame coverage before Game 2 of the Finals. And we're going to blow it out, hopefully all the way through five, six and seven. And what an honor and privilege it has been to cover this year, to cover this league for this year, and we cannot wait to do it for every year to come.
DUNCAN: Yes. Thank you for what you said, Kate. You're the best.
SCOTT: Mean it. Love you, girl.
DUNCAN: I love you.
SCOTT: You're so brave.
DUNCAN: You're so sweet.
DUNCAN: Brave or stupid. I don't know which one.
SCOTT: It's a fine line that I tiptoe along as well, but you're still on the brave side, y'all.
DUNCAN: I'm just shocked it was Kate not…
CATCHINGS: Me.
DUNCAN: It's usually me.
SCOTT: There's still time, Elle.
DUNCAN: You guys are the f*cking best! Thanks. We will see you on Monday night!
-USA SPORTS-
