Kelsey Plum on WNBA Player CBA Demands, LA Sparks Move, Unrivaled, and Her Role in Happy Gilmore 2

00:00:01
Speaker 1: Well, we are here to celebrate the really of Happy Gilmore Too, now on Netflix and also with our amazing partners All the Smoke. Without further ado, it is my absolute honor to introduce the amazing, legendary NBA icon and host of All the Smoke, Matt Barnes.

00:00:40
Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. What up everybody? How's everybody doing? Thank everybody for coming out tonight. Obviously, Top Golf, Thank you guys very much. Netflix and Chardette, you've been amazing. We've been able to partner on a few projects and this is something that's near and dear to my heart. When the first film came out thirty years ago, I was all over it, and we had an opportunity to partnering with you guys for part two and it's been really special. So again, thanks Chardei, thank Netflix, thank you guys, Top Golf. Yeah, get them around of applause. Thank you guys for showing up, and let's get to it. Man, this is one of my favorite players in the W right now. She's a dog. She's from San Diego, did her thing in college, won some chips in Vegas, and now she's in La So without further ado, Welcome to the show, Kelsey Plumb. We got enough mics. Oops, so thank you for being here. So you guys just had a game in New York last night, buzzer beater, and then you can what time you get back to.

00:01:48
Speaker 3: La oh man, I think we landed at four am. Oh I knows.

00:01:54
Speaker 4: I got some tea.

00:01:55
Speaker 2: Yeah, I got I got something a little harder than tea. But and it's got her name on it would help you. Hey, all the smoke we started to do shit. Look at this, but how is everything five straight wins? You got to start and get hot. Your transition from Las Vegas where you're able to win a few championships with Asia, and we're talking about this off camera, like everything you do now is going to measure if you guys win and lose. Obviously, you had a historic college career. You were the all time leading scorer at one point, and then you took kind of a role, still did your thing, but took a role to win some chips. And now you're in one of the biggest media markets in the world and your team is starting to find their rhythm and it's all predicated like night and night out. If Kelsey plays good, we win if she don't, ain't no telling. Sometimes you can still play good and lose. But what has that been like transitioning into LA.

00:02:51
Speaker 3: Oh. I mean, I'm so grateful to be here. LA has welcomed me with open arms, so I'm super grateful for that. But like you said, yeah, I think it's a time of my career. At the pro level, there's a different level of responsibility and really every decision you make on and off the court decides and wins and losses, and you know, as a competitor, you take that really heavily. So to start the year, we're not winning games. You know, it's like, wow, like this is way more than I thought i'd bargained for, right, Yeah, and you know, we had a lot of injuries and and you know we had seven day contracts and all this is and the end of the day, no one cares either win or you don't. And so but we're finding our groove now and got a full healthy squad. So I'm excited about that and just got to keep it going.

00:03:36
Speaker 2: So this is your eight your eight, four time All Star, former number one pick. How's the LA media treated you? Because it's a little different, I think in some cities people can hide out, but in LA there's always going to be a spotlight on you. And now, particularly with the sparks, you being the key one of the key members. What has the media been like for you?

00:03:57
Speaker 3: I mean, I feel like I'm very friendly with the media. I enjoy it, so I'm not bothered by the pressure, the big questions. And that's what you want, right as an athlete. You want the lights, you want the pressure, you want the responsibility. And you know, when I saw LA as an opportunity, I was like, hey, this is it. You know, as a player, you get probably one chance in your career to jump and you either sink or swim. And so I think a lot of times this test of characters like do I really got it?

00:04:24
Speaker 4: Well, we're gonna find out. You know.

00:04:27
Speaker 2: Obviously I've got a chance to catch two games this year. Has there been people that have come to the game You're like, oh, damn, okay, that's dope. They're fans? Yeah you okay, But you know I've been a fan. I've been fucking with you for a minute. I've been a fan. But how has it been again? Again? La? Just the lights are a little bitut Although you guys won championships in Las Vegas and had a great team. I just feel like La New York. There's certain cities where the energy is different.

00:04:55
Speaker 4: Absolutely.

00:04:56
Speaker 3: I would say, you know, in Vegas, we did get a lot of big time people, especially because we're rolling and popular, but a lot more actors, actresses, a lot of you know, entertainers, soccer players, sizza.

00:05:13
Speaker 4: Trying to think. I'm trying to think.

00:05:15
Speaker 3: To be honest, I really stay locked into the game until I see my teammates after taking pictures of people and I'm like, oh, yeah, yeah, someone's So's here, so we're here.

00:05:25
Speaker 2: Happy Gilmore to the launch of Happy Gilmore give it Up Again for Netflix and Happy Gilmore too. How did you get your role? You had a brief cameo. How did that come about? Matt?

00:05:36
Speaker 4: It was so random.

00:05:37
Speaker 3: I got a call from my agent one day and was like, hey, ad a mask if you wanted to be a Happy Gilmore.

00:05:44
Speaker 4: And I was like what? And I.

00:05:48
Speaker 3: Showed up, And you know, the movie's a little different than commercials. Movies are like you kind of are just there all day waiting and they just say, hey, you're on, and so I get there. It's in New Jersey. It's like six am, hair and makeup done. I'm just sitting in the trailer by myself. I have lines. I'm like, okay, here we go, and I walk into They asked me to go into this trailer. I walk in and in walks at him and he was just like the most warm, welcoming He was.

00:06:17
Speaker 4: Like, yo, do y'all know who this is? And he's pooring to me. I'm like, what is all that?

00:06:23
Speaker 2: Like, who's here?

00:06:24
Speaker 3: Right? It's I'm looking around, like who's is all these like producers, hair and makeup And he's like, this one one is the gold. This one one is the gold. And I was like, shut up, you watched that game like that was awesome. And then so I just I give him a big hug and I was like, thank you so much for having me's are you kidding me? And we got on set and he scratched everything in my part, scratched everything, and so I'm like okay. And people don't know Adam obviously acts, but produces, writes. He picks all the actors and so he's it's it's amazing to watch him work because he's behind the camera. He's in front of the camera, so he he's telling me and I do my lines and he's like, no, you got to be a bigger.

00:07:06
Speaker 4: Bitch, Like this is someone that hired me.

00:07:10
Speaker 3: I'm on camera and I'm trying to like He's like, no, you're way too nice. You got to do it again, do it again. So it ended up just being this great, uh, this moment and it was awesome. I got his number, So he's been amazing.

00:07:22
Speaker 2: No, Adam is super cool man. Speaking of gold, got a chance to represent the United States and winning gold medal? What did that mean to you? Yeah, clap that up.

00:07:35
Speaker 3: I mean when you're playing for the best team in the world, you know, like there's a level of just pride and you go out there, you represent our country and uh, the Olympics bonds US. We might not know who the athlete is, but they're wearing Team USA. We're all in, you know, pair of sailing, skiing, darts, it doesn't matter, like, we're all in.

00:07:58
Speaker 4: And so it was just an amazing feeling. It was in Paris.

00:08:01
Speaker 3: My family got to come and yeah, you know, the entire world does not want us to win, especially in basketball, so that kind of makes it even more fun. We're playing France in the gold medal game in France. It was high stakes and I'll never forget that game.

00:08:17
Speaker 2: Outside of actually basketball, what was the best part about that experience, I'll say, watch.

00:08:22
Speaker 3: My family get to experience it, right, because there's so many people that sacrifice for you to get to that moment and then for you to be able to share that. You know, I got my niece there, my parents there, you know, all my siblings took off work, came over and just like being around the other families, that to me was the best experience.

00:08:41
Speaker 2: That's dope. This season twenty point six assists, the only player in the w in the top five and both congratulations for that also lead the league and three pointers made talk to these people because if you guys don't know, she was a monster in college. She was all time to score at one point the man every night you have with thirty one a game in your senior year, like it was some nasty shit. And then she went to Las Vegas and again sacrifice. The won two championships with that team. But again, now your role has increased not only as a score but just the leader of this team. And we're talking again, learning how to talk to people differently and understanding just the impact of your words and your actions tell us what it's like to really step into that leadership role. Not that you weren't a leader on Las Vegas, but really being like the woman on this team.

00:09:36
Speaker 3: We talked about it off camera, but there's just a level of humility you have to have going into a new role. And that's with all of us, right Like when we step into a new role in life, it's okay to say like, I don't know how to do this, I've never done this, and really lean in a lot of mentors and support, you know, Cheryl millerly So Leslie women I'm tapping in with just to provide that wisdom. But I think for me, it's just learning to be super adaptable. You know, one game, you might have to go score ten fifteen in a quarter. One game, you might have to go lock up the other best perimeter player. One game you might have to get into the paint and get people going for assists. It's just it's one of those things where I've learned over time. I'm like, my role is going to change, not just in every game, but every quarter, every time out, and just being okay with that and being super present, not allowing what happened, you know, either off the court or what's going on in that moment to affect the next moment. And so I'm being stretched in ways that I didn't know what's possible. But it's going to make me a better player in person.

00:10:37
Speaker 2: Absolutely. So five straight wins, you guys are what a half game out of eight, but two games out of five if I'm not mistaken, something like that, right, right, So everything's plucked up. So what did it mean for you first year in LA to be able to get this team in the playoff but not only get in the playoffs? Will make some noise.

00:10:54
Speaker 3: I mean it's early, so you know, I'm just trying to take it a game at a time. But you know, for me, I none of the stats matter if you're not affecting winning. You know, I think basketball a little bit now in this generation has gotten away from that. You know, people get a lot of individual credit, and with all due respect, you know, if you're scoring and you're assisting doesn't impact winning, then, to be honest, I don't really give it dawn, right, And you know, as someone that you play both sides of the ball, I think that's something that is like we got to get back to that. We got to get back to that because because like, what are we doing if we're not winning right period? So that's where I'm at with it.

00:11:33
Speaker 2: I got my twins here and we just got back from peach GM E ybl And that's the thing. It's just like the game has changed, and I don't know if it's shifted as much in your guys as league has in the NBA, but it's just one sided now. And you saw in the playoffs you got a chance to have some defense and be able to play both sides of the ball. But to me, that's so important because there's a bunch of people that put up empty numbers and at the end of the day, those are just numbers. If you don't win, what is the point of the empty numbers? There isn't one.

00:12:01
Speaker 4: Did y'all play defensive?

00:12:03
Speaker 2: Beach yam oh? They got to? Yeah, I make them work. My defender was hurt. He fractured his ankle, so he was out. But I mean, the one that likes to play all offense, play some defense. So about you a little bit past the halfway point of the season right now, Like where are you mentally Again, you just got off a flight at four or five am and you're here with us, and we appreciate that. But where are you at as far as mentally, spiritually and team wise at kind of the halfway point of the season.

00:12:31
Speaker 4: I'm excited. You know, we got five in a row.

00:12:34
Speaker 2: Give it up for that five in a row. They just beat the Liberty last night at the Buzzer.

00:12:39
Speaker 3: And it's crazy when when you're used to winning and then people are like, oh my god, we won two in a row.

00:12:44
Speaker 4: I'm like, oh.

00:12:45
Speaker 3: Gosh, we'll get there.

00:12:48
Speaker 4: We'll get there.

00:12:49
Speaker 3: No, but I think I'm excited and I know that, you know, you got to take it one game at a time. Every game we played Vegas, next right after that we played I think New York again, like it never ends. But you know, my mindset is just trying to be super present and just continue to stack dubs and uh, you know, you look up, you're fighting for a playoff season and then then it's a whole new game.

00:13:12
Speaker 2: Yeah, once you get there, what is it like playing against your old team because you don't know any other way. You had seven years in in Vegas and you guys are won and one against them this year. But what is it like, what was your first experience like playing against your former team.

00:13:24
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I knew they were gonna play hard as hell, but it was kind of surreal. I felt, like, you know, because my first time playing Vegas it was back in Vegas, so I hadn't been around and you know, basketball obviously around the team, but there's so many more people that go into the production of the game. So you have, you know, just like security and you know, the people that are behind the scoreboard and you know, so it was just more reconnecting and just paying gratitude. You know, there's a lot of people that put a lot of time and effort into us being able to produce those games, win and come together for a championship.

00:14:01
Speaker 4: So I think, honestly, I was just more caught up in that.

00:14:05
Speaker 3: And yeah, I mean, you know, I think it'll always be kind of like weird.

00:14:10
Speaker 4: I don't know when it'll wear off. I don't know if it were off for you.

00:14:12
Speaker 2: Yeah, it just depends on what team and what situation. Obviously, you guys have so much history together and one championships together, so I can only imagine that I'm a brag on you for a little bit. All time leading scorer with over thirty five hundred career points in college. Kaitlyn Clark came in and knocked you out of that position, but to average twenty five points a game over your career, you averaged thirty two as a senior. What was your college experience like as a Husky at Washington?

00:14:43
Speaker 3: When I first went to Washington, I think a lot of people were like, why did you go there?

00:14:49
Speaker 4: No offense?

00:14:50
Speaker 3: They hadn't been to the tournament, and I think almost fifteen years, we just got a brand new coach, and I just wanted to do something different and I wanted to see kind of similar to this position in LA, Like, you know, if you really believe you are who you say you are, then you're going to be here for the challenge. And so that's what I wanted to do. And that's the other thing. It took time. It took to my junior year to get to the final four. You know, that's three years of sitting in that muck.

00:15:18
Speaker 2: But it's a lot of I think it says a lot because kids these days they jump at the first sign of adversity, first sign of struggle personally or team wise, they don't sit in the struggle and the growth. They run. So for you to say, like, it took us three years to get where we wanted to be, and what do you think about the And I can't even blame the kids these days because I think it's more of a cultural thing, like everyone just bounces around. What are your thoughts on? Because I came up in the era at UCLABL. My first year I didn't play a ton, second year I played more. Junior I played a lot. Senior year I was the man. So what do you think about just the mindset of athletes these days, that kind of running at any sign of adversity, you.

00:16:00
Speaker 3: Asking that, And I know every situation is a little different, and I know nil plays in two effect, and I know there's money and opportunities and sometimes you got to take that for you or your family, and I get that. I think what I stood on and what my parents raised me as is if you're having issues, it's probably because you just have a lack of character. There's something that needs to be developed inside of you, and so the grass ain't greener. If you are having a problem, you decide to leave, whether that's a relationship or a work thing or whatever. You're gonna find the problem in the next place. So either you develop and fix it or you just keep running. It's going to follow you.

00:16:40
Speaker 2: Explain and simple. I love that w NBA All Star weekend. You were cracking shout out the stud buzz, you were live streaming, you had the bottle of Crown. You took a little heat because you said you guys are hung over. But what's crazy to me is like you guys are doing stuff and they're just starting to put cameras on. It gets brand new. On the other side, we got dudes drinking, smoking, using drugs and it's okay. But let you guys get in an argument or start pushing or or heaven forbid, Kelsey has a bottle of Crown on the off time during All Star and takes a drink of it, Like, what are your thoughts just when you guys kind of let your hair down, your guard down and have fun and then the I guess sarcasm or just critiquing you guys take on every single move you guys make.

00:17:27
Speaker 3: You know, Matt, I don't know if it was the Crown or it was me not using the chaser that.

00:17:31
Speaker 4: Like bother people.

00:17:35
Speaker 2: Straight to the fact.

00:17:36
Speaker 4: I don't know.

00:17:37
Speaker 3: That's this is where I grew up. You just don't chase you. Yeah, you have fun, move on, Yeah, not think period. I heard someone say period. Yeah, you know it's so interesting because it's a new microscope. But to me, I think it's honestly really cool because in my career, when I first came into the w until now there was a microscope. And now we're viewership. You know, people are watching casuals tuning in and that's what you want, right And the more hate you're getting, the more pushback you're getting, that means you do something right.

00:18:12
Speaker 2: They're not hating now. Motherfuckers are not doing nothing.

00:18:14
Speaker 4: Amen.

00:18:14
Speaker 2: Come on, man, give it up for that one time. You've been a four time All Star. I didn't get a chance to make it this year, but was All Star? Was the energy around the game a little different this year?

00:18:25
Speaker 4: Did you feel like, you know, it was cool?

00:18:27
Speaker 3: I think we have to be careful though, because I know the NBA takes a lot of heat for not playing hard in the All Star Game, and so like, we had a lot of fun, but there was definitely a lack of defense. So we're getting to that point where we're gonna have to figure that out too.

00:18:42
Speaker 4: But no, it was a lot of fun Indias.

00:18:44
Speaker 3: I mean basketball heaven, right, So I mean we had we had an amazing time.

00:18:49
Speaker 2: Are you one of the players, because I feel like on the NBA side with the torch being passed from bron and KD and Steph to this younger generation of guys, are you someone in the w that can kind of get the women's ear, like, hey, y'all, we see what's going on on that side. The rainings are down for All Star. We got something special. We're continuing to build momnium. Are you someone that can get the girls to like, yo, let's go out there and really play. We're gonna have fun or we're gonna really play.

00:19:13
Speaker 4: Oh yeah, I got an idea.

00:19:14
Speaker 2: Okay, let's hear it.

00:19:15
Speaker 4: Netflix is here.

00:19:16
Speaker 3: I was thinking, there we go, I say your tears baby. I was singing, uh, you know the game sponsored by Netflix?

00:19:26
Speaker 2: Oh million dollar pot ooh shardey. Y'all got a ton of money, right. I ain't count nobody's pocket, but Netflix is not doing bad these days.

00:19:35
Speaker 3: I know I went small with a million dollar part. Maybe you do five million dollar pot.

00:19:38
Speaker 2: See, I'm trying to help you out. Now you're going crazy.

00:19:42
Speaker 3: Split it, split it twelve ways for the for the winning roster, and I guarantee people picking up.

00:19:48
Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, I mean speaking of that, you guys are in an expiring CBA at the end of this year. There's a lot of talk, and I think there's a lot of misinformation out there. From a standpoint if there's no mystery that in the past that the league has lost money, but revenue is up, new TV deal is up, franchises are going at an all time high. They're being bought and then times in ten within the first year. What are your thoughts about moving forward with this new collecting bargain agreement for your for you those of you guys don't know. So the NBA gets a forty nine to fifty one percent REVS share, These women only get a nine percent split of the money that comes in and then they get fifty percent split. I guess after the league recoups. But most of the time you never see that. We got some deals that we're in, like now that we're fifty or seventy five percent. Once they recoop and we don't see shit. So I already know what that is like, but what are your thoughts moving forward? You guys have made so much progress, but the league is in a much different space than it was in twenty twenty when you guys did your last deal. So as a player and then as one of the biggest players in this league, where do you guys stand right now with this new collecting bargain agreement.

00:20:56
Speaker 3: It's a it's an amazing time, and I think it's a great opportunity. And it's not just an opportunity for our league, but it's really for women and a representation of where where or not we're just where we are, but where we're headed. And so I think, and I've told Kathy this, I think she has an opportunity to be a leader in this space of historical transformation, right. And yeah, the rev share is super interesting because a lot of times the misinformation comes in where we're asking to be paid with the men are being paid. That's not true. We're asking just the same percentage of revenue or a similar percentage of revenue, and right now that's not the case. And so that's what we're fighting for. And I do believe one of the greatest strengths of our league is the unification of our women. And so I mean, we've seen our women come together to flip an election in the state of Georgia. So like, we're not new to this, and we know what's on the line. And it's not just about the next couple of years, but we're thinking about ten twenty years down the line. What just represents And I have all the faith in the world that we'll get there.

00:22:00
Speaker 2: This is me kind of talking to some people and doing my research and and and I feel like there hasn't been full transparency from the league side in the last couple of years because again the new TV deal, teams and merch and and and again the revenue is continuing to add up, but it doesn't seem like that's reflecting with what you guys have going on. So this is a big situation coming up for you guys just at the end of this season. Correct, yes, are you on the board.

00:22:26
Speaker 4: Or are you a member of the vice president?

00:22:28
Speaker 2: Okay, So so you got to say that.

00:22:32
Speaker 4: They bring me in for the meat and potatoes.

00:22:34
Speaker 2: Okay, that's the most important part of the meal. The unrivaled you committed and then decided to step away and rest. It had its first season this past year. What are your thoughts on Unrivaled? And and do you think we'll see you in that? Is that a what is that a beatle? It's a big ass bug right there. I don't play with bugs. Thoughts on Unrivaled?

00:22:59
Speaker 3: It was incredible, Uh, the revenue had generated just also shows the league that you know, there's a sustainable options, absolutely, and I think it's good. It puts a level of pressure on them to step it up. Yeah, you know, it's funny. I I committed, but I never actually fully signed. And I actually had said, you know, I don't think I'm gonna play early on, but I didn't. I didn't, you know, fully back out until a little bit later. I needed arrests, I needed rest the season. There's a lot of personal stuff. Divorce is a.

00:23:33
Speaker 2: Bitch, amen, No telling that. Don't even start on that ship. I'm my divorce was eleven years ago. God damn it, bless you man.

00:23:44
Speaker 4: No, but I think I think that.

00:23:45
Speaker 3: I I'm just really excited about the league and you know, yeah, if everything goes right, I would love to play.

00:23:53
Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, for those you who don't know, and Rob was the new with It three on, with It three on three three on three league that had incredible splits and payouts to players, and they did a great job in Florida. But for you all those you also don't know, like a lot of these women have had to go overseas in the off season because what the WNBA is paying some of these women isn't adequate enough to make a living, so they had to jump from one season to another season and then come back. So hopefully in these next round of collecting bargain agreements and with other options out there, because women are still making great money overseas and then Unrivaled is another great option where they're paying good money. Hopefully with this next sit down and go around, you guys will be able to come up to what you need. All right, quick hitters, We're out of here, so happy. Gilmour liked to scrap on the course. If you were in a team fight, look out women fight two. Who are three people in the w that you would want on your side?

00:24:55
Speaker 4: Rakia Jackson?

00:24:57
Speaker 2: Okay, so she's pretty in she could scrap.

00:24:59
Speaker 4: Huh you can scratch.

00:25:00
Speaker 2: I like yeah, I like them type yeah, just saying in general, uh am I including.

00:25:09
Speaker 3: Myself please no, no, you plus three actually you.

00:25:13
Speaker 2: Plus four, like I need five women.

00:25:15
Speaker 4: I like that.

00:25:16
Speaker 3: I would say Rakia Jackson. I would say, hmmm mm hmm. I would pick Asia. Yeah, that's she's all around, big, strong, fast, quick.

00:25:30
Speaker 4: You're getting hit a bunch of ways. I would pick uh Djnke Carrington.

00:25:35
Speaker 2: Okay, I was having a good year by the way to this year. She having about eighteen nineteen points a game. A little lower, someone said a little lower, thanks, thanks sake.

00:25:46
Speaker 4: I pick Ooh.

00:25:48
Speaker 3: I picked Ryan Howard, and I'm trying to think honestly, I'd probably pick Aleah Boston.

00:25:59
Speaker 2: Okay, yeah, I like that. I know you people to tell you need to start golf, and you're here today and you're going to swing the club a little bit, but you and your dream for some so you plus three other players, I mean.

00:26:11
Speaker 3: I'll take Happy Gilmore, come on now, Tiger, Yeah.

00:26:16
Speaker 2: And let me just bring the weed. I'm coming too. I'm inviting myself. I'm on the.

00:26:20
Speaker 3: Course with you, all right, Matt, And who are we taking? I'll take my brother, Okay.

00:26:27
Speaker 2: Could he play?

00:26:28
Speaker 4: No, he's just fun.

00:26:29
Speaker 2: Okay, Well ship, and that's that's what the golf course is for. Last question one guest from your league that you would like to see on all the smoke.

00:26:42
Speaker 4: Okay, Rikia Jackson, let's get it there we go.

00:26:45
Speaker 2: I love that simple. Well, Kelsey, I appreciate your time. Thank you. We know how much you had to travel and get here today. Good luck the rest of the way, and we're all excited for this playoff. Push you guys are gonna be on. We're gonna be there supporting you guys every step of the way. Appreciate you guys. Give it up, give it up for Kelsey. Plumb mm hmmm.