Sue Bird and Maria Taylor Talk About Life as a Sports Broadcaster AND Make Some WNBA Predictions
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In this episode of A Touch More with Sue Bird & Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird welcomes NBC Sports' Maria Taylor to discuss her journey from college athlete to a trailblazing sports broadcaster. The conversation dives into Maria's path into journalism, her early struggles to find her niche, and her groundbreaking role as the first Black woman to host Football Night in America. They reflect on the challenges of balancing a demanding broadcast schedule with motherhood, the physical and mental demands of live TV, and the importance of preparation and resilience—parallels drawn from her athletic background. The hosts also analyze the opening weekend of the WNBA season, highlighting standout performances, team transformations, and the league's growing popularity. Maria shares her predictions for the season, spotlighting the Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, and Dallas Wings as championship contenders, while Sue praises the league's depth and the impact of new players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. The episode closes with a fun fashion game and a celebration of the WNBA's new Rebel jerseys, underscoring the league's evolving identity and cultural significance.
Maria Taylor's journey from college athlete to NBC Sports' lead broadcaster was shaped by serendipity, resilience, and a deep love for storytelling.
The WNBA's opening weekend showcased dramatic highs and lows, with young, talented teams like the Dallas Wings and Indiana Fever showing major promise.
Maria Taylor emphasizes that covering the WNBA requires full immersion—she treats it like a new league to honor its players and fans.
The Dallas Wings have 'leveled up' the most through strategic free agency and depth, making them a serious championship threat.
Sue Bird celebrates the WNBA's new Rebel jerseys as a cultural milestone, especially the return of the OG team designs.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome to A Touch More & WNBA Season Kickoff
The episode opens with promotional segments for Paramount Plus, Eater app, and other podcasts, followed by Sue Bird welcoming listeners and setting the stage for the WNBA season. She shares her new title as Connecticut's state bird and pays tribute to Tina Charles' retirement.
WNBA Opening Weekend Recap & Team Breakdown
“I think that's why you saw the Mystics do so well. So moving on to some other games that stood out, pretty obvious. The Dream played the Lynx. That one went down to the wire.”
Maria Taylor's Broadcasting Journey
“I went to that class and I was like, ooh, this is the first class I feel like truly speaks to me. And it was the first time that it happened in college.”
The Challenges of Being a Female Broadcaster in Male-Dominated Spaces
“So many other women deserve to be in the chair. And I'm just the one that got the opportunity. And so in that way, I don't want to let them down.”
Preparing for the WNBA: A New League, a New Mindset
Maria Taylor discusses her deep dive into the WNBA, treating it like a new league despite being a longtime fan. She emphasizes the need for constant research, schedule mastery, and emotional investment to do justice to the players and fans.
“So many other women deserve to be in the chair. And I'm just the one that got the opportunity. And so in that way, I don't want to let them down.”
“I think this, I guess it wouldn't really be a surprise, but... The Indiana Fever to me, like now that I'm watching them again, I feel like and with Caitlin Clark, she said that she came on NBC too and said that she was like, no, we're going to win a championship this year.”
“I went to that class and I was like, ooh, this is the first class I feel like truly speaks to me. And it was the first time that it happened in college.”
Hosts
Guest
Maria Taylor
person
Sue Bird
person
WNBA
organization
NBC Sports
organization
Dallas Wings
other
Las Vegas Aces
other
Atlanta Dream
other
Caitlin Clark
person
Asia Wilson
person
Nike
brand
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