Andrew's away, so Chauny's going to play. That's right, I'm filling in for Five Out, so buckle up and know that reader's discretion is advised. Side effects include nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, and diarrhea, all depending on who your team is. 

If you've made it past that disclaimer, make sure to subscribe to the newsletter and stay tapped in on all the happenings with NCS, because this week Rashard's in the booth with a lovely little feature you won't want to miss. 

But let's get down to business, we have no words to waste, there's a literacy crisis afoot.

We had boots on the ground in Atlanta for Aces vs Dream!

Picture it, State Farm Arena, May 2026. Somewhere around 17,000 people turnt up, creating an electric atmosphere on a Sunday afternoon. These two teams have met up before with incredibly high stakes, but something was different about this particular showdown; there was some hate in the air. 

The primary criticism of the Atlanta Dream (mostly from me) has been that they are happy playing the play-cousin role to the Las Vegas Aces. Everything has been tee-hee hee and buddy buddy to the point that it takes the teeth out of the game from a competitive standpoint and turns it into a pseudo family reunion. Not Sunday. There were a couple of key moments that made me raise my eyebrow and go "oh, ok. I see." I'm attributing a lot of it to the Angel Reese acquisition. Before the game, I spoke to Te-Hina Paopao about how Angel could get them over the hump and finally beat Vegas. She cited her competitive fire and how she has that dawg in her. It was evident from the jump.

In the first quarter, Jordin Canada gets a steal and races down the court. A gassed A'ja Wilson jogs up court but is clearly not in chase-down mode. Angel Reese hip checks her at midcourt. Not that it was really subtle, not enough to draw a whistle in the new Pheedel Castro league (sorry if I've worn this title out), but I noticed it. Aliyah Boston has typically been the only brave soul to (admittedly) try and rage-bait the four-time MVP, so seeing this move from a known Gen Z troll made me nod and smile like Jack Nicholson. I like seeing my g'oat get her feathers ruffled. Keeps things interesting. Which brings me to the next moment. 

In the second quarter, Allisha Gray, noted bestie of A'ja Wilson, runs into a Wilson screen—foul on Wilson. There was no chuckling or giggling on the matter. Later, with 5:48 left in the third, another foul was called on an A'ja screen, this time on Lish. Lish was hot and complained to the refs that A'ja was flopping. Again, stark contrast to last year when Lish got absolutely laid out on an A'ja screen, and the two kinda laughed it off. Friendship bracelets were left on the kitchen table this morning! 

This sets the scene for the final moment. With 3:42 left in the first half, Jordin Canada is called for a touch foul on A'ja, sending her to the line. The entire arena booed heavily. It was glorious. Last year, she got MVP chants in Gateway in the midst of Lish's MVP campaign of her own. This year, the crowd had seen enough and drew a line in the sand. They were rockin' with the home team. I heard dialogue about my g'oat and her penchant for flopping and getting a special whistle that I had never heard in public spaces. This could be a premier matchup for the next few years for several different reasons, and I believe Sunday was the start of a special new rivalry.

Ok, so after an amazing game in Atlanta, which featured Chennedy Carter getting busy to the tune of 20 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists, she had a postgame press conference that sparked some chatter. I wasn't sure what happened. I was at the Dream press conference, and the video didn't look as weird as the initial descriptions suggested. 

Carter responded to a fan on Threads, saying 

"I have family stuff going on relax dawg, I can be human…" 

Let me make this abundantly clear: Chennedy Carter nor any other athlete is obligated to make the public privy to their private matters. My qualm is this tendency to draw attention to said matters, thus making them a story. 

If you ain't got it and can't do the presser, ain't no shame in it. But if you're going to come out and show face, have some canned responses in the chamber for those moments you know are going to make you bristle. 

The league as a whole is still learning how to navigate tough questions in press conferences, and so far, it's not going so well. In the case of Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, it is absolutely their prerogative to tell the press to piss off and mind the relationship that pays them. But looking around helplessly until the PR person steps in, instead of just saying, "I'm not answering that, next question," makes it a story when it could simply not become one. Dead the noise on impact, or it leaves room for speculation, and right or wrong, speculation will happen on matters involving public figures. It's just the nature of the beast. 

Just moving forward, I would like to see the league play it cool and dodge the questions rather than have a visceral reaction that creates a narrative when they would really like there not to be one.

The aforementioned rage-baiting goat, my dawg, Aliyah Boston, is hurt. It's being described as a "lower leg injury," which leaves infinite room for speculation. For me, as an ABC2 truther and FeverCock fanatic, I'm concerned to say the least. 

At this point in their very young pro careers, we've seen both Boston and Caitlin Clark sustain some pretty serious injuries after going without any in their entire collegiate careers. I know my girls are drinking their milk because I'm the one bottling it and shipping it to them, so I must ask: what in God's name is the Fever training staff cookin' over there, and why does it smell so bad? 

If Unrivaled or something is to blame for this most recent injury, then say that, but quit with the mysterious act. It's concerning the hoes.

So, going back to keeping it cute in the press conferences, Jose Fernandez. I know his last little rap session had Andrew and Tyler salivating a bit (because the messiest person you know is a man), but I wasn't feelin' it. You just got here, and you are already causing drama. 

If there is selfishness in the locker room, can you at least TRY to mitigate it before immediately summoning the court of public opinion for jury duty? Cuz now I'm tryna play Guess Who and arrive at the conclusion that it was Maddy Seigrist who was the culprit, and I don't want to do that. I could be completely and horrendously wrong about what I just typed, but I wouldn't have the room to even get that off if he acted like it wasn't his first day on Earth. 

Grant Afseth of the Dallas Hoops Journal reported that Paige said that last week's matchup against the Minnesota Lynx was the team's first real look at the Spain pick-and-roll and how to defend it. I'm sorry, but Jose, you have so many bigger fish to fry. You will not be a bigger Dallas Wings hater than me, so keep it cute and stop trying to be.

Hey, I don't know what to make of this, but the girls are getting concussed at an alarming rate. Sunday's Dream vs. Aces game happened without Rhyne Howard and Janiah Barker, who were in concussion protocol. Seattle Storm's Domonique Malonga was also out with a concussion. 

Are the girls doing Oklahoma drills during practice??? WHAT IS GOING ON???

Our Tyler DeLuca was in Dallas as the Wings hosted the Mystics and there were some familiar Husky faces sitting courtside supporting Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers with Sarah Strong, Ice Brady, and Kelis Fisher in attendance.