Naked Sports with Cari Champion

The Mission Continues with Valeisha Butterfield Jones

Valeisha Butterfield Jones grew up with Politics and Service ingrained into the culture of her family.  Her career was influenced by this innate leadership, although her initial interest was to follow her dream of becoming a Music Exec, she wanted to make her parents proud so she went to their alma mater to study law. After a year in law school, she pivots, moves to New York, and focuses all her energy on walking in her own path.  Fast forward Jones now serves as the first black female Co-President at the <a href="https://www.recordingacademy.com/press-room/executives">Recording Academy</a> and as the Co-Founder of the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network, here’s her story.   Stay Connected: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carichampion/?hl=en">@CariChampion</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/valeisha/?hl=en">@Valeisha</a> Learn More: <a href="https://www.valeisha.org/">Valeisha.Org</a>  See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese caused a media frenzy after their infamous “you can’t see me” exchange in the 2023 NCAA championship game. There was a fierce debate over their perceived rivalry and it only intensified once they became the hottest prospects in the WNBA's rookie class. 
The media’s fixation on their so-called rivalry has been fueled by the same gender and racial bias that has haunted women’s sports for generations. And now that Clark and Reese have brought thousands of new fans to the sport, is it safe to say that this storyline is what the WNBA needed?  Or has it invited toxicity into a space that has always prided itself on its inclusivity and sisterhood?
In this groundbreaking series, Cari Champion searches for answers from those who know Clark and Reese best – from the coaches who helped shape their game, to the players and journalists who have witnessed their meteoric rise first-hand. Champion traces the incredible parallel paths of not just these two historic talents but the WNBA itself, and sets the stage for the collision course that has brought us to this very moment. The Making of a Rivalry: Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese is not just about two of the brightest flames the sport has ever seen, but it also asks an essential question – in a time of such divisiveness, is it possible to let greatness unite us?
Connect: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carichampion/?hl=en">@CARICHAMPION</a>