Levels to (Early!) Coach of the Year

About this episode

Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby discuss the surprising performance of WNBA teams and coaching dynamics.

On this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby break down why the WNBA's surprise teams are surprising  (Toronto and Portland winning without a so-called superstar) and what that says about coaching and buy-in. Contrast that with Phoenix's stunning fall from the Finals to two-and-eight. Has a roster that beat the defending champs by 33 tuned its coach out? They also get into the Stephanie White–Caitlin Clark sideline moment and the impossible scrutiny of coaching the most-watched team in the league, then run down their early Coach of the Year ballots. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Hosts: Sheryl Swoopes, Terrika Foster-Brasby

Topics covered

• WNBA
• coaching
• team performance
• surprise teams
• Coach of the Year
• sports analysis

Keywords

• WNBA
• coaching
• surprise teams
• Coach of the Year
• Phoenix
• Toronto
• Portland
• Stephanie White
• Caitlin Clark

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: WNBA, Phoenix, Toronto, Portland

More episodes of Levels to This with Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby

• High Level Conversations: Cindy Brunson · May 28, 2026 · 1h 14m
• Levels to WNBA Early Season Stories · May 21, 2026 · 42 min
• High Level Conversations Replay: Clare Hamill · May 14, 2026 · 46 min
• Levels to Spring Cleaning LIVE with Sigma Gamma Rho! · May 7, 2026 · 38 min
• High Level Conversations: Part 2 LIVE in Brooklyn with Cari Champion and Jemele Hill of Flagrant and Funny · April 30, 2026 · 28 min
• High Level Conversations: Part 1 LIVE in Brooklyn with Cari Champion and Jemele Hill of Flagrant and Funny · April 23, 2026 · 1h 2m