Alex Azzi
@byalexazzi.bsky.social
1.8K followers 240 following 95 posts
Producer Good Game w/ Sarah Spain ✨ I know a lot about women's sports & the Olympics/ Paralympics! Previously: NBC Olympics Researcher, Writer, Editor ✨ she/ her
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Reposted by Alex Azzi
richardcohen.bsky.social
Apparently they were saying "No big deal, we're gonna win the next 16 and then take the Finals in a sweep." What an absolutely mind-boggling turnaround. #WNBA
richardcohen.bsky.social
I want a mic on this conversation. What the hell are your stars and head coach saying to each other in the fourth quarter of this one? #WNBA
Reposted by Alex Azzi
artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social
Totem Inschrift, by Carl Heidenreich, 1963, 📸 by @GoslingPhoto
Reposted by Alex Azzi
jessicawluther.com
As Serena once said: "I don't think any woman should be down on her knees thanking anybody like that"
richardcohen.bsky.social
One quote from Collier's statement that I haven't seen transcribed:

Collier: 'And in that same conversation, [Engelbert] told me "Players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them."' #WNBA
byalexazzi.bsky.social
True three years ago. True today.
Screenshot of tweet from Sept 2022 that says: “Something I spend a lot of time thinking about: Many of the best women athletes in history could teach college courses on labor studies.”
Reposted by Alex Azzi
juliapoe.bsky.social
One of my first experiences covering Cathy Engelbert as WNBA commissioner was when she named gun violence as the main reason why the league refused to open up a Chance the Rapper concert to the public during All-Star weekend in Chicago. Didn’t get much buzz at the time but always stuck with me.
dr-thompson.bsky.social
Napheesa Collier's full statement at the beginning of her exit interview.

She directly quotes conversations with Cathy Englebert that legitimately call into question how the WNBA is being led. (Part 1/2) #WNBASky
Reposted by Alex Azzi
sarahspain.com
Shoutout to this human ball of sunshine on an amazing career. 🫶

Hear us chat about her decision to retire and what's next for her on tomorrow's "Good Game."
Reposted by Alex Azzi
sarahspain.com
Come for the WNBA playoffs talk, stay for the Ship of Theseus paradox… 🚢🏀

You never know what you’re gonna get from a Big Citrus chat on “Good Game with Sarah Spain.” Right, @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social @byalexazzi.bsky.social?

Listen to the full episode: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
Reposted by Alex Azzi
sarahspain.com
Big Citrus breaks down the suspension that caused Cheryl Reeve to miss game 4 of the Lynx’s series with the Mercury, Reeve’s criticism of WNBA officiating, and Phoenix’s return to the WNBA Finals. Plus we predict the winner of Game 5 of the Aces & Fever series.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
byalexazzi.bsky.social
Shoutout to @richardcohen.bsky.social and the whole @herhoopstats.com team for their excellent WNBA research.

Also, one nugget that didn't make it in here?

WNBA players don't make a salary during the playoffs. They still get per diem payments and there are also playoff bonuses, but no base salary.
sarahspain.com
Odyssey Sims is a great story - a hardship contract player going off in the playoffs - but the financial reality for these fringe roster players isn’t the stuff fairy tales are made of. Producer @byalexazzi.bsky.social breaks it down.

Listen to the full episode: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
Reposted by Alex Azzi
sarahspain.com
Odyssey Sims is a great story - a hardship contract player going off in the playoffs - but the financial reality for these fringe roster players isn’t the stuff fairy tales are made of. Producer @byalexazzi.bsky.social breaks it down.

Listen to the full episode: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
Reposted by Alex Azzi
sarahspain.com
Big Citrus is back on the mic! @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social & @byalexazzi.bsky.social join me to discuss the WNBA semifinals matchups, the best championship storyline, the W’s coaching carousel, and OG fans getting priced out of tickets.

Listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
Reposted by Alex Azzi
sarahspain.com
Great News! "Good Game With Sarah Spain" is a finalist for the Signal Awards in the Best Daily Podcast Category!

We're up against some heavy hitters, but you can vote for us! (You have to sign up to vote, but it’s just an email & password--super quick.)

Vote: vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting...
The Signal Listener's Choice Award needs YOU
I just voted for this finalist to win a Signal Listener's Choice Award. You should too.
vote.signalaward.com
byalexazzi.bsky.social
With Sandy Brondello out, Cheryl Reeve has officially been on the job longer than every other WNBA coach combined.

Cheryl Reeve's tenure: 5768 days
Every other WNBA coach combined: 4529 days
Reposted by Alex Azzi
sarahspain.com
I would love for a reporter with an established history/relationship with Sophie to ask her which of Charlie Kirk’s messages she agreed & disagreed with.

I.E. “reject feminism,” “prowling Blacks,” Black women lacking “brain processing power.”

Not in an antagonistic way, asking her with curiosity.
byalexazzi.bsky.social
Cheryl Reeve's tenure with the Lynx: 5766 days
The tenure of every other WNBA coach combined: 5862 days
byalexazzi.bsky.social
Still, does that say more about Tibbetts (who was hired less than two years ago) or the WNBA’s coaching carousel?
byalexazzi.bsky.social
The fact that Nate Tibbetts is now the fourth longest tenured coach in the WNBA is pretty wild.
Reposted by Alex Azzi
sarahspain.com
Lexie Brown talks being a pro hooper whose biggest opponent isn’t on the other team–it’s her own body. After being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, she’s taken on a new set of challenges, including learning to speak openly about an illness many endure silently.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
byalexazzi.bsky.social
I will appreciate this moment of progress, while still reserving the right to complain about how Google searches for "WNBA standings" still default to results by conference.
screenshot of google search result for "wnba standings" that shows results for the eastern conference
Reposted by Alex Azzi
nhannahjones.bsky.social
The MSNBC commentator saying that most political violence has historically come from the left just once again showed how we suffer from failing to learn history. Lynching, pogroms, race riots, the political violence that ended Reconstruction, and against the Civil Rights Movement. Come on.
Reposted by Alex Azzi
sarahspain.com
Broadcast icon Robin Roberts talks about the advice she got from fellow legend Billie Jean King when she was contemplating leaving ESPN.

Listen to the full pm episode: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
Reposted by Alex Azzi
scoutripley.bsky.social
It’s not exactly handling something in house when you have to make a press release about it
Reposted by Alex Azzi