Here’s Tip Hayes’s logo 3 with reactions by Steph Curry and other Warriors in the crowd. We’ve got three TV announcers covering it plus a few other Hayes highlights.
Last press conference, Coach Nakase declined to explain the game winning adjustments GSV made and told us to watch the video instead. So after getting a lot of requests from you all, I made a short video analysis of the game plan changes. And yes I also did a traditional celebration analysis.
By the way, I’ve started a new YouTube channel called Eric Apricot Jam. It would really help if you subscribed to it (for free!). This would tell YouTube that there is an audience for women’s basketball and that YT should share out my videos about the WNBA to more people.
You already know Jesswondering as the creator of the Ballhalla Bingo series. Once she told the Discord she was going to the Laughing Monk event with Veronica Burton and Kaitlyn Chen, I knew I had to have an eyewitness account. And she has kindly agreed to share it with you, so here it is, complete with fan reactions and data on when to arrive and where to park. — Eric Apricot
Hi Eric!
I’m not sure what kind of report is appropriate. I mostly wanted to email because at the event I asked VB and Kaitlyn to sign a low tech bingo board, which mostly saw the light of day because of your discord channel. I’m sure they sign all sorts of things, but that seemed pretty unique and so I was excited about the moment. You’re welcome to use any or none of this on your website.
Laughing Monk event was about 50-80 people. The tables were cleared out and it was mostly rows of chairs. The second floor was cleared off limits (whoops) and the kitchen was not serving food but the bar was open. Attendees were a range of ages and ethnicities. Most were swagged out, custom swag was common. We weren’t able to show up early but were able to park a few blocks away by the park. But I heard some people in the front row showed up as early as 1pm (event started at 4pm). It wasn’t overcrowded and even seated in the back we thoroughly enjoyed our starstruck selves.
VB and Kaitlyn showed up right after we sat. The vibes were already positive but the players arriving brought a sit-up lock-in energy and excitement. The order of operations were:
Show up, claim seat, get drink
Players show up
Photos with players
Facilitator questions (softballs)
Fan questions (hard hitting, jk)
Autographs
Enjoy standing in the same airspace for just a while longer
I prepared the only thing I knew how to prepare for an autograph, a VB/Chen Bingo Board. They were amused and I left them a copy and a bunch of team versions to maybe make future film sessions more entertaining. Forgive me for not mentioning Valkyrie Nation, I had enough bandwidth to mention bingo and blacked out right after.
I promise I’ll do better next time.
Some fun takeaways --
VB and Kaitlyn love playing on the floor together. It gives them a chance to share floor general duties.
When asked who they were rooting for, for FIBA break, they left it along the lines of “We hope all our teammates do well. 😜”
We were buzzing all evening, it was a super fun event and I’m grateful they took time out of their days to do it. For someone who can’t make it to Ballhalla with STH frequency, it was an amazing opportunity and a fun time to connect with some also diehard fans.
They say don’t idolize athletes or don’t meet your heroes, but they’re just looking for good froyo places, and enjoying the best “big girl job” ever.
The pro’s photos and mine are attached.
Okay, Eric Apricot speaking again. Thanks again to Jesswondering for sharing her experience.
Okay, since this is a Veronica - Kaitlyn event, I do have to pull out this video of the last press conference where I asked Veronica about her pre-game ritual with Kaitlyn Chen.
In case you have no idea what I’m asking Veronica about, here is an official Valkyries pregame video from the Chicago game (see the ending). Also here and this epic photo.
At 4:47…
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