Professional basketball player Blake Dietrick
Kristi is joined by fellow Massachusetts native, Blake Dietrick. Kristi and Blake met at basketball camp fifteen years ago but since then their athletic careers have followed different paths. The duo caught up on the podcast and discussed what inspires and keeps them motivated, what their struggles and insecurities are (and how they deal with them), and what goals they have both short term and long term.
*This is an automatically generated transcript*
Blake Dietrick 0:05
I played in Athens for a year. That was incredible. I would hop on a ferry on an off day just like picking islands, take the ferry go to a Greek islands,
Kristi Wagner 0:14
did you think your life was gonna be like that?
Blake Dietrick 0:16
No, never in a million years, I pinched myself that I'm still doing it like I'm about to turn 30 Next week, and I'm like, I can't believe I'm still living eight months out of the year in Europe, and then coming home and playing more basketball and not having to work a nine to five and not you know, it's just I've Yeah, I feel so incredibly blessed and lucky.
Kristi Wagner 0:37
Welcome to the other three years, a show for anyone who has an Olympic sized dream, they want to turn into a reality. Hi, and welcome to this week's episode of the other three years. It is a very exciting week, because I have my old friend from when I was a kid. And now she's a professional basketball player, Blake Dietrick. And so Blake and I are from neighboring towns in Massachusetts. And we both went to the same basketball camp and then worked there. As counselors. It's called below the rim. And I'm pretty sure we also played each other in a you. But I'm also pretty sure that her team totally crushed my team. But anyways, Blake went on to be a total All Star playing basketball and lacrosse at Princeton, where she led the basketball team to an undefeated season, her senior year and a second round appearance in the NCAA Tournament, post college, she's played in the WNBA, and in many different countries around the world. But most recently, she spent this past winter playing in France. And her team won the Euro Cup and the French Championship, which is super cool, and very impressive. So she's currently on the USA three on three series team and right now is traveling playing tournaments with them around the world, which is so cool. And three on three is such a new, fun, exciting thing. And it's really cool that she's kind of been a part of that. Yeah, so it was a really fun conversation. And our lives and paths have definitely followed somewhat of a parallel path over the years. And Blake shared a lot of what's kept her motivated over her career and what her biggest struggles and insecurities are, how she tackles those plus she talked about kind of what her goals are in the sport and what she wants to achieve. And we also talked about how kind of amazing and awesome it is that female athletes are able to sustain longer careers in sports these days, and how that's kind of inspired her. And it's just a great conversation. I think everyone's gonna love it. So. But before we share that, I wanted to give everyone an update on what's currently happening with my training. So I am in Princeton, New Jersey. And right now, the second selection camp for us rowing is happening, we're in our third week of it. But Sophia and I are just basically rowing the double. So we're not really a part of the selection camp. We're preparing for trials, which will happen in two weeks. And the women's double and a few other boats are trials boats this year. So the winner of that trial will earn the opportunity to represent the US at the World Championships later this summer. So it's been fun, we've just been training in the double and getting some singles rose in the afternoon. But camp is always a little bit stressful because they're making cuts all the time. And even though we're not directly involved in that right now that's still kind of the vibe that's in the air. So it definitely has been a little bit high stress a little bit of a tense energy in the air but at the same time really exciting people achieve goals and are kind of going really fast and and getting more out of themselves, which is exciting to be around. So it's highs and lows, I'd say but our boats feeling good, and it's been nice kind of just being back in the double a little bit. We train with the lightweight women's double. So do a lot of stuff side by side, which is fun. And just trying to get better every day is we have big goals and I think if you just focus on the day to day that helps you achieve those more long term goals. This past weekend was the Third World Cup. So we got to watch that online early in the morning on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And there was some great racing there. It was really awesome. I was sad. We weren't there. It was in Lucerne, Switzerland, which is just a beautiful place. And always a bummer, you know, not to be racing. But, you know, we're getting good practice here. And hopefully, we'll be back on the world stage soon enough. I've also been watching a lot of the tour Tour de France, the cycling race. I think everybody knows that, and a bit of Wimbledon. So definitely a lot of inspiration from other sports, I watched a little bit of the US track and field championships that were just happening, really cool that it's so easy to watch all these sports right now. I mean, now I belong to like 18 different, you know, Hulu and Peacock, and whatever the heck you watch these things on, but it's really awesome to see all these different sports and that we can watch them so easily. And they're just so exciting. The tour has been so exciting. It's great timing, because we get back from practice. And they've been going for like an hour and a half, two hours. And then I just kind of put it on and get to watch. All the exciting parts happen while I eat my breakfast and start my work for the day. That's been really fun. And I just watched the Netflix series. So I feel like I know, which covered the tour last year, but I feel like I know people a little bit better. And it's been fun. So really cool. I have so much respect for them. It is just a slog and a marathon and they just show up every day and are so impressive. It's really motivational and amazing and kind of same thing with Wimbledon. Like any day could be your day. And it doesn't matter if what your rank, like you just have to go out and play and show up every day, you know. So I think there's I've had a lot of outward motivation from these other amazing sports and these amazing athletes from all around the world. It's been really, really fun. I was really rooting for Cavendish in the tour. I was like, so sad when he fell and got out. It's just such a bummer. And every time I something like that happens to someone, it just reminds me like, you know, you can't take anything for granted. You never know what's gonna happen, you have to live each day to the fullest because especially in sports, like anything can happen. And you can end your career just as quickly as you started it. So I think it really just motivates me to make the most of every opportunity I have, and every day, every practice every race and just try to, you know, be the best version of myself and accomplish things I didn't think I could accomplish before. So that's basically it. We're just in Princeton right now. It's really hot. So I'm really sweaty, not right now because I'm inside. But it's been a very sweaty time, and just trying to Refuel and rehydrate and not be out in the sun and the heat more than we need to but it's it's been it's been hot and I think it's just gonna keep being hot. So we got a lot of weeks in Princeton left to go this summer, but I think it's definitely been enjoyable and definitely a good atmosphere good vibe around the team. So I think especially once selection kind of rounds up this week, people will be obviously some people will be upset but I think most of the people will be happy and and people that are kind of sticking around will be happy and just have goals of Okay, now we're in boats and we want to keep getting faster and there's not so much it's more of a team collective and not so much individual. So kind of everyone's on the same page and just wants to keep keep making their boats faster. Keep making the team faster pushing every day. So I'm looking forward to that. Yeah, so now it is time for my conversation with Blake and yeah, I think everyone's gonna love it so fun. Let me know what you thought. Let me know if you have Yeah, let me know what you thought. It's
so exciting that you're here, Blake. I know I was trying to think of the last time that we probably saw each other. I think it was high school. Blake and I know each other because we are from towns next to each other. And we both played basketball. Growing up, Blake was much better than me. And she played basketball on a team with one of my like, good friends from high school. But then we also met at below the rim, which was this basketball camp. You did you go there as a camper to
Blake Dietrick 10:40
I think I did. Yeah, I think I started as a camper. And then Mr. snotty hired me to be a what were they called coaches and training cit.
Kristi Wagner 10:50
Training. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So we both worked at this basketball camp. Which was hilarious. So fun. It was a great time there. Yeah, obviously you played basketball like growing up. But you played the cross. Yeah. Right. And probably others. Yeah, I ran across. And then. And then did you play lacrosse and basketball at Princeton? Yeah.
Blake Dietrick 11:15
So I played I played lacrosse for two years. But the this the way it all happened was a little convoluted because my call it my head coach for basketball, was married to the assistant coach on the lacrosse team. So initially, my freshman year, they the basketball coach was like, Nope, you can only play basketball like we have to focus on that for now. And then, I guess at home, her wife was like, let her play lacrosse. Let her play lacrosse. So I got I was allowed to play my sophomore in junior year. And then senior year, I was preparing to play pro for basketball. So I didn't play in. But yeah, two years of lacrosse for basketball.
Kristi Wagner 11:58
I was I did some research on you had a very successful senior year.
Blake Dietrick 12:04
We did. Yeah. 30. You know, do
Kristi Wagner 12:08
you guys did you have like, a big? You know, your class was that? Were you guys like gearing up for that? Or did it kind of happen by surprise?
Blake Dietrick 12:18
Yeah, I think it happened because I don't know if that means. Yeah, no, totally. It happened because we lost the Ivy League Championship the year before 100%. Without a doubt, because we were in Princeton basketball was at a point where we they had won, I think four in a row, or five in a row or something crazy. So the expectation every year was to be Ivy League champions. So when we did not do it, that junior year, it was like the world was ending. But it ended up being the motivation that we needed. I know it's so dramatic. But in the moment, it feels that way. You're so young, and like, Oh, I get it as well as your whole life. And you think that yeah, exactly. I know. It's not like that now. And looking back. It's silly. But it did add that extra drive that extra chip on our shoulder that we had something to prove that it was ours to lose, and we had lost it. So then the next year, I think everybody talks about him not even just the senior class, came back ready to recommit. And yeah, I think there's a funny Well, there's a funny story. From that year, I think we would play like three games already in the season. So we're very early on in the year. And my I was looking at the the rest of our schedule, and I'm like, You know what, I think I think we could run the table. So I go to my teammate Annie traction, and she's like Armenian background. So she has very dark hair. And I'm like, Hey, Annie, if we go undefeated this year, will you bleach your hair? And she like looked at me kind of funny. I was like, why are you saying that? And then she was like, Yeah, sure. Because we were three games in and so we had 27 games left to go. Come April come March Madness. We are undefeated. We're 30 You know, and I'm like an eternal pay up. And she did it. She went to the salon, she bleached her hair. We played our NCAA Tournament game. She had white blond hair, it was oh my god, it was so funny. And actually, for our second round game, Rebecca Lobo, she's one of the like NCAA announcers for basketball. We were playing Maryland who was the first seed and so if we upset them, that she was gonna die piece of her hair like bleach blonde in like solidarity with us in the studio. Unfortunately, we didn't end up winning the game, but it was very, very funny.
Kristi Wagner 14:29
That's awesome. That's so funny. Yeah. Yeah, that's amazing, though. I mean, I totally I feel like I understand it was in college one things I don't know when you failed or didn't achieve what people thought you were going to then it was like, the biggest deal in the world like yeah, just crazy. But yeah, I feel like it did really like band people together.
Blake Dietrick 15:00
Definitely we Yeah, I think there was just such thing. Yeah, I think there was such a realization that what we wanted to achieve was so much bigger than each of our own, like personal goals for basketball, that the commitment to the team and the commitment to being a good teammate, and like from all the X's and O's to, like, it was just every single little thing became more dialed in, like nutrition, not drinking, not going out during the season, like all of those kinds of things like really, really got got locked in, and, and the non basketball stuff, too, which I'm sure you know, like, those things matter. Just as much like everyone being a good teammate, everyone being happy to be there. Nobody pouting about playing time, or those types of things. Because we had, we had two seniors who didn't play as much there were two of us who did and two who didn't, but they lead just as much from the bench and from the sideline as we did on the court, like we that season would not have happened without them just as much as the ones, the team, the people who are playing. And I've come to realize that more and more as I've had more experience as a pro those people and good teammates and good people, and those people who are always willing to do the extra work matter so much, not just the like the quote unquote, like superstars. Yeah.
Kristi Wagner 16:24
Yeah, I mean, I feel like, in rowing, it's similar, but different. Because we all like, race, you know, like, people don't sit on the bench there are, you know, different boats? Well, at least in college, high school and college, right. Yeah. But it is true. And I think I learned that a lot my senior year, too. Like, every seats important, every person is important. And you're not like, if the worst person on the team isn't pushing and isn't doing a good job than the best person can't be their best like, yeah, it really is a full team effort. And that's even true. Now, you know, on the national team, like, if we're not constantly, I mean, obviously, we want our boats to go fast. But like in practice, we expect our teammates to be pushing just as hard, you know, so that we can all build each other up, and we can be ready for our big opportunities. And like, I think not thinking that you're more important than anybody else is such an important lesson to learn. Yeah, and it's like, now, I'm sure this happens to you a lot, too. Like, I interact with so many kids that just graduated from college, or, you know, or like these young, amazing kids. And it's like they haven't, I can tell they haven't learned some of the like, kind of hard lessons yet. And I'm like,
Blake Dietrick 17:47
Yeah, you will. Yeah, exactly. No, but you do have to learn it for yourself. I think it's so it's so cliche, but I really do think you have to be in that situation before you, you fully learn it, and you fully come to terms with it. Because I Yeah, coming out of college, even myself coming out of college, like I had had that role as like a leader starter, point scorer or whatever. And then going to the WNBA, like last kid on the bench probably wouldn't play like 95% of our games would only go in if we were like up by 30 or down by 30. And so to totally have that swing is very humbling. But it also makes you find other ways forces you to find other ways to to add value. And so whether it's being a good teammate getting extra shots up rebounding for your teammate, like anything you can do to help. It still matters. So
Kristi Wagner 18:45
yeah, yeah, no, it definitely does. And I think it's hard to see that until you're like on the other side, like if you didn't achieve something that you wanted to achieve, but you know, your teammates did or whatever. Like, I think it takes a little bit of time to sometimes see that and, and be able to think, Okay, I did play a role in this. And for sure, you know, every job is important. But yeah, yeah, so you said that your senior? Oh, sorry. No, no.
Blake Dietrick 19:19
I was just wondering, you see, Roy was choose. I'm so sorry. I think there's like
Kristi Wagner 19:25
no, it's I think it's my Wi Fi stupid hotel Wi Fi. But I will just pause after I speak. I wrote in mostly singles or doubles. I spent a little time in a quad this year. But now I'm back in at double so mostly to person Okay, boats recently.
Blake Dietrick 19:51
Okay. And then do you like going into a Olympic prep like as you are now? Are you always with the same person or Are they like mixing and matching you to see who's going to be the best like pair?
Kristi Wagner 20:06
So we all raced, we all race every year first in the single. And then it kind of gets moved through there. But we're not always with the same person. I am right now rowing with the same girl that I rode with last year. So now we'll spend our second year together. But it is a little bit different than like a lot of other countries. Their partnerships have been together for super long time. Yeah, so it's a little bit different. But in like small boat rowing, it's like spending time in the single is helpful for the double. So it's not it's not really that big of a deal. And as long as we have enough prep time for like, racing, it's really okay. Yeah. But yeah, to boat to person boats are funny. Like, it's a very interesting relationship.
Blake Dietrick 21:09
Yeah, I can imagine. So you're not with the same person you rode with in Tokyo?
Kristi Wagner 21:15
No, she doesn't. She's okay. Okay. Interesting. Yeah.
Blake Dietrick 21:20
Yeah, I have so many questions for you like your like your I just think it's so interesting. And I don't know a ton about rowing, but I'm sorry. So sorry. I'm asking too much about stuff. Everyone who's listening will already No,
Kristi Wagner 21:31
no, that's okay. Rowing is a weird sport. So it's, you know, it's, it is funny, and people it doesn't. I'm not I mean, maybe it's the same for other sports. But it is really interesting, like, so this summer, we're qualified the like, we'll go to our world championships, and then we'll qualify the littoral like, boats, like the double the single, but not the people. We won't be named like knock wood, whatever. Yeah. until right before the Olympics. Okay, gotcha. Gotcha, gotcha. So, it's a little weird.
Blake Dietrick 22:08
Yeah. That's crazy. That's stressful. I mean, yeah, I just, I, it's the same with round three. They're like, we have a pool of people. There'll be like, 12 of us. And then, right, the team will qualify USA as a country will qualify, and then they'll, they'll name the team and like, it won't be like immediately before, but it'll be like February or March, before July? Because then we'll have camps and stuff leading up to that. But yeah, it's crazy.
Kristi Wagner 22:39
I think it makes sense, though. Because kind of like what we're talking about, like, you want the best people. I mean, you want to be in the best people, but you want the best people to go because you want your team's chance of doing well to be the highest. Yeah, exactly. So like, it's not, you know, if you just keep your head down and keep working and keep making your boats go fast, then it is what it is.
Blake Dietrick 23:08
Yeah, you're doing your job. You're doing your job for your country. And however, it turns out, yeah.
Kristi Wagner 23:16
Yeah. I mean, but it's like, say some kind of your though. No, no. But like, in the last Olympic cycle, I kind of like came out of nowhere. And if they had named the team, like, a year out, I wouldn't have made the team. So yeah, like, yeah, you know, you have to now I'm in a position more, it's more like, Okay, I want them to name it earlier, but you have to earn your seat. Arguably, like every day, I'm sure it's the same you have to earn your spot, like every day. So I was gonna ask you about, like, making the decision to keep playing after college?
Blake Dietrick 24:00
Yeah, um, we had such a great senior year that I was my team was the reason I had any like interest from professional teams. But once I realized that that was a possibility, it was kind of a no brainer, because again, that like, that was always the dream. I never realized I didn't never knew if it would be a reality. But once it, it did it once it became an option, it was an easy choice. And those are the first thing was the WNBA draft. And I knew I wasn't gonna get drafted, but my like head coach really thought that there was a chance and so she wanted to have like, a draft night party like and bring the team over to her house and everyone watched together and I was like, we're not doing that. Like I know, I'm not My name is not getting called like, we're not doing this. So I just went over to her house by myself. The draft happened, didn't get drafted. But then the coach from DC called and so I was signed as like a free agent to go to training camp with them. So it didn't really matter that if I was drafted or not, it was all it's all the same. Once you get to camp, you have to earn your spot. And so I made it until the last day of camp and was cut on the last day. So then I went overseas, which is normal, like you go, you play in the WA in the summer, you go overseas in the in the rest of the year, you and I went to Italy, had a great year, got another shot at the league played in Seattle, like made the team that time got cut halfway through the summer. And then I'm sorry, I've totally wrong with your question. But all that to say like, it's, it's a grind. So then the next summer, I played a full summer in the WNBA. So it just took time it takes it takes a lot of effort and focus and commitment and dedication to your craft. Because every year there's new kids coming out of college, right? So the pool just gets bigger and bigger, because there's not as many people retiring as there are coming out. So yeah, it's tough. It's a it's a it's a grind for sure.
Kristi Wagner 26:03
Um, and the WNBA is small.
Blake Dietrick 26:07
Yeah, 144 spice. Yep. Yeah. And it's even less than that now, because they've changed our collective bargaining agreement. So the high end of salaries are a little bit higher, which, and they didn't change the salary cap. So it now limits the amount of money that teams can, well, they just have less money to work with if they're going to be paying like Max salaries to a few players. So what that does is it cuts out the those middle players who was that was me, like two years ago. And the reason I'm not really in the league anymore, obviously, skill level, amazing other players, all that stuff, but I hit I hit the vet minimum salary. And once you're making that minimum, it's a lot more to pay you than it is to pay a rookie. So it makes more sense for those teams to pay their their all stars as much as they can, and then fill in those other spots with a rookie salary so that they can balance it out better. But then also, the other option is to just carry an 11 person roster instead of 12. So then it's even less it's like 140 138 spots on a team instead of 144. So it's crazy. Yeah, it is. It's a battle. It's like I'm very proud to say I've played I've played in the league at all, because it's it's so competitive. So
Kristi Wagner 27:23
yeah, I mean, that's amazing. Like, it's so cool. Yeah, yeah. So did you in that time where you like, you know, got called went to camp like got cut. Did you consider not playing?
Blake Dietrick 27:43
Yeah, it wasn't then. But it was the first week. So when I got to Italy, I was culture shocked. I was homesick. And I know I get that that feels a little silly to say because I was in Italy, right? Like I wasn't in Russia, or like turkey or some of the countries that are a little bit harder to live in. But I was in this tiny town, nobody spoke English, like it was it was a tourist destination town. So in the winter months, there was nobody there was like very elderly population, like not a lot of kids, not a lot of young people. And it was a challenge. It was a major challenge. And at that point, I started studying for the GMAT, I was like, I'm done, I'm going to do one year, and I'm out, I'm not playing anymore. But then you get the next call, and like Seattle calls and it's like, All right, one more chance, like one more shot. And then the call after that was to go to Australia. And I was like, When am I ever going to have this opportunity in my life? You know, so I go to Australia and then you know, so it just like it, but I do I've thought about it many, many times over my career, like is this it? Am I playing so long that it's going to be challenging to get back into the workforce? Like I'm gonna be 30 Starting a basic entry level position. How is that going to be for my family like there's there's so much to consider. Also, at this point, like I've gotten to a point where I'm, I'm very proud of what I earn as a basketball player. And so it is hard to imagine having to take all of those steps back and start over and take an entry level salary when I've worked so hard to get to where I am in my career. But at some point that transition is going to happen. So there's always that give and take of is it too or is it too late? Is it too early like Is now the time I don't want to set myself up for failure the rest of my working life? Yeah, yeah, it's really challenging. I'm sure it must be hard for you as well, especially when the Olympics is every four years and like I know that there's there's much more downtime, not downtime, but like time between those peak competition moments, I guess.
Kristi Wagner 29:53
Yeah, I think it isn't, it isn't because I I like we have the ability to work as well. Well, necessity and ability. And so like, I definitely had those concerns a couple of years ago, and I want, I don't want to start, you know, from zero. So going into this, like quad of training for Paris, I work and have more, you know, I don't work a full time job. I don't work, you know, 40 hours a week or anything, definitely not exactly what I expect to be doing post rowing. But I feel more comfortable in that I won't be starting in an entry level position. Yeah. And I think because we're not like we get a stipend, but it is in no way enough to live off of. So I think it's just a little bit different in terms of like, I expect to make more money when I'm done rowing. And, but I think in the way that like, you know, this rowing stuff, like looks good on my resume. The same is true for you. You know, like, I don't think you exactly I mean, you start lower, but it's not like you haven't been learning things and growing in since you graduated from college, it's just in a different avenue. Yeah. And I also think about it like, I wouldn't want to work for a company that didn't respect and value my time in sports. Yeah. For so. Yeah, that's so yeah, but it's definitely hard, especially coming from an Ivy League background. Like, I'm sure the same is true for you. I had never just done sports. I had always done sports and school. So that was a super hard transition for me. Yeah.
Blake Dietrick 31:56
Did you? Did you ever live overseas? Or have you always been based in the US while you're training?
Kristi Wagner 32:03
No. I've always been here. I did think about, like the Oxford Cambridge, but race is a really big deal. And people go and like get their MBA or whatever they're and grow. So I did think about that. But I wasn't really planning on growing past like 20, the 2020 Olympics and then COVID. And then like, making the tea everything kind of put. And now I'm like, in 2024. I mean, like I, that would be a lot. Yeah, yeah. But we don't really have like, it's not the same. There's not like a league over there. I guess you could go and row with different teams. In Maryland, like England, some people have gone over to Australia and New Zealand for like the summer, you know, winter summer thing, but it's different.
Blake Dietrick 32:56
Yeah. So but it sounds similar, though. So you were like contemplating, you're like, Okay, 2020. After that I'll reassess. Maybe I won't grow anymore. But then you make the team and things are going really well. And so you keep going, right? So it seems like that's similar with me like it was, I would always be almost ready to quit. And then another call, like a great opportunity would happen. And so then you just stay in and you keep going. And it's funny how it pulls you back in. And I think about like how I'm going to know when, when the right time is because my my body is still really healthy. And so for me, it's not going to be I'm pretty sure again, like knock on wood. It's not going to be an injury. That's, that's gonna be like, Oh, my, oh, I just can't like my knees can't go anymore. Like, I'm pretty sturdy. So it's gonna have to be a mental decision versus a physical one. But I think sometimes that can be more challenging, because you have to decide, not like, my body's telling me this, and I have to listen to it. You just have to choose. Yeah, it's hard. It's really hard. And I Yeah, at some point, I think I'm gonna have to turn down and there's gonna be that next good offer, right, that next good thing and I'm just gonna have to be willing to say no. But it's tough. It's tough. It's hard to think about. It's hard to imagine.
Kristi Wagner 34:16
Yeah, I mean, but I feel like that's such an happy problem like that. You've created a life for yourself that you see as sustainable. And, I mean, that's kind of like, what spurred this whole podcast idea. Like, how is, you know, a woman in sports life sustainable beyond just a couple of years? Like, I feel like it's pretty recent that women are playing sports more than just a couple of years. Yeah. And how you make your life full and lucrative and you know, yeah, enjoyable.
Blake Dietrick 34:55
Yeah, for sure. And I I'm excites me to see more and more, more Mom's going back, like having a baby and then continue to play, particularly right now the World Cup team. I think there's three, three moms on the team. And I'm like, You guys are just inspirational. And there's lots of moms in the in the WNBA, as well. And it's so impressive, but then also encouraging that they just, you know, they find a way, it's not impossible. They just make it work. And they're able to be at the top of their game while having children and having a family and creating all that stuff. And I know that people say you can't have it all. But I think there's a way to find more balance than we used to think was possible. 100 Exciting.
Kristi Wagner 35:40
Yes. It's so impressive. Yeah. So yeah. Do you want to talk a little bit about like, what you're doing right now, I know. You just want a big you're playing in France. Right. And you guys want a big
Blake Dietrick 35:55
weekend finished? Second? Oh, my, my French team? Yes. Yeah. So I was playing professionally, in France. And I was playing for Tony Parker's team. He's like he played in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs, he was just inducted into the Hall of Fame. But he's a French citizen, and is very big on French basketball in general. But particularly on the women's side, he owns both of the teams in Lyon, the men's team and the women's team. So they had one the last time they had won the championship was 2018. So it had been a little while. And we put he put together this team of really talented European players. And then a couple of Americans, there's myself, Gabby Williams, who plays in the WNBA, marine Johannes plays in the WNBA. And yeah, we won the Euro Cup, which is a European tournament with all the best teams in Europe. And we won the French league as well. So we had the goal was the trifecta, because there's the French Cup, the French league, and then the the Euro Cup, we were two for three. So overall can't complain. It was a really great, really great season. France was amazing. But then I went straight into three on three for USA Basketball. So that's the next thing coming up. And that I'm in at the moment. But yeah.
Kristi Wagner 37:15
So the three on three, you were on the series team. What exactly does that mean?
Blake Dietrick 37:22
Yeah, um, so it was an Olympic sport for the first time in Tokyo and 2020, USA won the gold medal. But the way they picked that team was three on three is different from five on five basketball, I don't know how it relates to other Olympic sports, but the way your team qualifies or your nation qualifies is through earning points. And you earn points by playing tournaments, you earn more points for winning in tournaments. And then there's like three auto qualifiers solely based on points. And then there will be qualifying tournaments as well, that will happen in like the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, and other teams will qualify that way. So what we're fighting for right now is one of those auto qualify bids. So we are playing in as many tournaments throughout the summer as we can accumulating as many points for team USA as we can. And hopefully, we'll be in the top three, to get that auto qualifier for Paris. But then the way the team is chosen is different. So you have to have and then each player has individual point rankings as well. So from the top 10 In the USA, and points, they have to choose two players for the team. It's only for for roster spots, two players for the team and two alternates have to be in your top 10. The other two, they can choose from anywhere. So those will probably be WNBA players who are unavailable to play the women's series, but are really, really talented. So they'll pull from that pool for the other two. So we're basically fighting, there's like six of us, there's the huge 24 team as well who are in the conversation. So it's a lot of people from very few spots. But again, you're doing your best for your team for your country to earn as many points as possible. And I'm sure you know, anytime you will get to where USA across your chest is like the biggest honor. And regardless of the of the stage, it matters and you feel you feel like you're doing something important. So yeah, that did that make sense? It's it's very different. It's very new. It's all very like, yeah, confusing a little bit. But yeah,
Kristi Wagner 39:26
it makes sense. Yeah.
Blake Dietrick 39:28
So five on five is different, just that like so they choose the team. I'm sorry, they choose whoever they want for the team. Like obviously USA has to qualify but yeah, it's a different different situation.
Kristi Wagner 39:42
Um, so how many like of those kind of tournaments are you guys playing in this summer? And like, how often are they
Blake Dietrick 39:50
Yeah, so we played into already I think the goal is to get to like nine total, the final so the women's series also has a final and that will be in Ulaanbaatar Are Mongolia in the middle of September. So the goal is to be in the top eight teams throughout the summer and then make the final and if you win the final you earn a ton of points. So that's really important. But yeah, trying to get to eight tournaments, I think plus the final. The ones coming up, I'm going to Kosovo tomorrow we are going to Pristina Kosovo to play tomorrow. The next one after that is Edmonton. And then yeah, there are all over the world until until September. So
Kristi Wagner 40:33
what's your favorite place that you've gotten to go play?
Blake Dietrick 40:38
For three on three are generally play for basketball for basketball, I lived in for basketball. Yeah, I played in Athens for a year. That was incredible. I would hop on a ferry on an off day just like pick an island, take the ferry go to a Greek islands, the lifestyle was just so chill. It was incredible. So definitely there,
Kristi Wagner 41:03
did you think your life was gonna be like that?
Blake Dietrick 41:06
No, never in a million years. And I I pinch myself that I'm still doing it. Like I'm about to turn 30 Next week. And I'm like, I can't believe I'm still living eight months out of the year in Europe, and then coming home and playing more basketball and not having to work a nine to five and not, you know, it's just I've Yeah, I feel so incredibly blessed and lucky. But people also correct me when I say that, because it I mean, there's luck involved, there really is like with injuries and like you getting an opportunity because someone else isn't available that all those types of things. But you know, as well how much hard work it takes behind the scenes, and how much dedication and drive it takes, especially when you have to be self motivated. Because if you're on a team, they're telling you what to do. But in those times when you're on your own, it's whether or not you're able to get yourself out the door. Right. And I don't know, for me, sometimes it's it's challenging. It's hard. And there are moments when I questioned why I'm doing it, but that you know, you have those big moments and those exciting moments and it's all worth it.
Kristi Wagner 42:13
Oh, definitely. Definitely. I feel like you've always been super motivated, though.
Blake Dietrick 42:20
I mean, I think so. But I see other people, I hate to compare, but you you see other people and you're like, dang, they are working just as hard as I am, if not harder, and it's motivating. But it's also like, you're never going to be the best I guess as what I've realized, like I will never be the best basketball player in the world. So the best I can be is the best version of myself. And whatever that means is what it is. And coming to terms with that can be hard. But But yeah, there's some really hard working people in every sport in every in every discipline. But it's impressive. It's impressive to see and motivational. And the players now also speaking of like moms and the women who are playing until like 40 years old, like Sue bird and Diana Taurasi. And those people they are just the way they take care of their body. The professionals they are like it is just it's so impressive and so exciting that it's not just NBA players who are doing that now. You love to see it. Just love how how great how well women's sports are doing right now.
Kristi Wagner 43:22
I know it's so exciting. I feel like my whole Instagram feed is just like women, badass women athletes, like Yeah.
Blake Dietrick 43:31
Do you fall together? Yeah. Do you have all that together? Yeah, I absolutely love their content. It's amazing.
Kristi Wagner 43:39
Yeah, yeah. I follow like all of them. And I feel like they just like, I follow like, together like on her turf, I think. Yeah. Like ESPN, W whatever. Like all of them. They just like reshare the same thing. Yeah.
Blake Dietrick 43:57
Like, like, like, like, like, yeah,
Kristi Wagner 43:59
yeah. But it's great. I mean, I feel like it's just growing like all of these sports. And you know, it's awesome.
Blake Dietrick 44:10
Do you feel like rowing is growing at the same speed?
Kristi Wagner 44:15
No. I mean, I don't really know. Rowing is a tough one. Like, the barriers to entry are pretty high. And I do think that it's, there are definitely more like college and high school teams than there were. But it's just kind of crazy because we live in a gigantic country. Like right the US is huge. And the number of people of women that are like trying to grow after college like trying to go to the Olympics trying to be on the national team is just not that high. Because it's a really tough it's tough. Tough it's a tough life. Yeah. Especially the way I think that rowing like D one rowing in colleges right now. Like, you're, it's gonna be like kind of not the rowing is downhill but like the lifestyle is is hard. You go from being treated, you know a certain way if you're rowing at Michigan or Texas or whatever, even an Ivy League school and then you do a lot of stuff on your own. So I think not that that's not true in other sports. I think it is. But it's a little different. Yeah, for sure. But I don't know if you read the Boys in the Boat,
Blake Dietrick 45:43
or no, yes, I did. I did. Yeah.
Kristi Wagner 45:47
So they're making a move where they made a movie of it. And it's going to be released on Christmas Day. I think. George Clooney is like the executive producer or whatever, but apparently it's gonna like change the sport of rowing. Wow. That's exciting. So yeah,
Blake Dietrick 46:07
that is I mean, it was an amazing story. Absolutely incredible. So. Oh, yeah. Very cool. Yeah. I love it.
Kristi Wagner 46:15
Okay, well, I have a few basketball trivia questions. Oh, no. No, I think you'll know the answer to most of them. Okay. Because I even knew the answer to some of them. Okay. Good. Okay. So, where was the sport of basketball? invented?
Blake Dietrick 46:37
Springfield, Massachusetts.
Kristi Wagner 46:40
Yes, yes.
Blake Dietrick 46:43
100%? Because that's where the that's where the Hall of Fame is.
Kristi Wagner 46:48
Yes. Have you been there? I have. There
Blake Dietrick 46:51
was a three on three tournament. They had three on three nationals there last year. So that's the last time I was there. It was really cool, actually. Because they did it inside. Like they have a court indoors. And it was very fun. Yeah.
Kristi Wagner 47:03
That's really cool. Yeah, I went there on like a field trip in school.
Blake Dietrick 47:07
Nice. Oh, really? I don't think we did that. I don't think yeah, no, we went to like we did like Bunker Hill Monument and that kind of stuff. We never made it out there. It's like not that close. It's quite a drive from Wellesley and Weston. Yeah.
Kristi Wagner 47:25
Yeah. Okay, so some questions about the WNBA. When the WNBA started,
Blake Dietrick 47:38
I'm gonna be off by a little bit. It was like, we had the 25th anniversary a couple years ago. So if it was 27 years ago 99 ne
Kristi Wagner 47:53
877 Yeah, there we go. 1997 So do you know which three teams still exist that existed that when it was first started?
Blake Dietrick 48:14
Oh, this is a good one. I was you know, on the other day, I was just looking at like, who had won all of the championships, the WNBA championship, so but I know the Houston comments won a lot of the first ones and they don't exist anymore. I think LA the LA team existed. That right? Yeah. Yep. The mistakes. Washington mistakes. No. That's wrong. No, dang it. Um, Connecticut gets on. No, close. Oh, New York. New York. New York. Okay. The Liberty la liberty. Um Oh, my gosh, I don't know. I'm not sure.
Kristi Wagner 49:03
The Mercury. Oh, okay.
Blake Dietrick 49:05
All right. That makes sense. Ouch. That was a bad one.
Kristi Wagner 49:10
No, no, you're you're good. You knew the first one. I also thought it was interesting. There have been 18 WNBA. Teams, like, over the course of history. Yeah. Which I thought was kind of cool. All right. Do you know who the first women's basketball player to have a shoe named after her was?
Blake Dietrick 49:37
Um, I'm pretty sure it was Sheryl. Swoopes.
Kristi Wagner 49:41
It was nice. It was
Blake Dietrick 49:43
nice. I worked with her at night, you know, for a little bit. Yeah, she's super cool. Yeah. I'm sorry. Next question.
Kristi Wagner 49:53
No, no, no. No, that was great. All right. There's just two more. Okay. Do you Who was the first female player inducted into the Hall of Fame? Oh
Blake Dietrick 50:14
I think my guess is going to be wrong. But Lisa Leslie?
Kristi Wagner 50:20
No, it was Cynthia Cooper.
Blake Dietrick 50:21
Oh, shoot. Yeah, I should have known that. Oh, that's bad. Sorry, Cynthia.
Kristi Wagner 50:28
No. No. And then well, you already kind of answered one of these for us was gonna ask you, you know, the first time five V five and three on three Women's Basketball was in the Olympic program.
Blake Dietrick 50:44
Yeah. 2020. Tokyo.
Kristi Wagner 50:47
Yeah. And then the dino five V five.
Blake Dietrick 50:50
Oh, the first oh, five V five M for women. Oh, my gosh. Like the 1960s 1968 I feel like I saw that date recently. So
Kristi Wagner 51:03
it was actually 76. Wow. Okay. Which is when women's rowing was also first. So oh my gosh, you're saying
Blake Dietrick 51:14
very cool. Yeah. Little connection. How did you say do
Kristi Wagner 51:19
ridiculously recent?
Blake Dietrick 51:21
Yeah. Yeah. Crazy.
Kristi Wagner 51:25
I think the basketball team one.
Blake Dietrick 51:28
Nice. And the rowing squad? Yeah.
Kristi Wagner 51:33
I'd have to look. Okay. I don't know if there are a lot of rowing. There are a lot of different boats. So yeah. Well, in some of them. Nice. Good job. I feel like you crushed that.
Blake Dietrick 51:43
Thanks. Thanks. I'm glad I did a little homework recently. It's a little prepared.
Kristi Wagner 51:52
Um, cool. Well, I feel like we've been going for like an hour. But do you feel like they're tying I kind of didn't ask you about that you want to talk about?
Christine O'Donnell 52:04
Hi, I did have a couple questions. I met Okay. Of course. So it's so first I think this is just a clarifying question for both of you. Are so like, are you? So? And I'm sorry, that I don't understand completely. So I might not even say ask this question correctly. So you are currently vying for a position in the three M three. To go back to the Olympics, or to go to the Olympics. Just like Kristi is currently trying to get a position in the Olympics. Yo, y'all could see each other in Paris.
Blake Dietrick 52:42
Yes, exactly. Okay, my chance. My chances are way way slimmer than Christie's but yes.
Christine O'Donnell 52:49
Okay. Well, I was gonna push for you both to have a big fun reunite reunification in Paris together. Yeah. So cool. Because that would be so fun. Awesome. Well, so you guys are in like very similar, like past trajectories right now. So you're kind of in similar places, just different sports. And there's a lot of different rules for every single sport, which, wow, I am learning so much. Another question. I had an I don't this is one of those things where like, maybe we don't talk about money, but like as an outsider, who is I'm not really like I didn't. I guess I just don't completely understand the pro sports world for women. So like, you are given a salary to play professional basketball in France. Yes, and Krist, you are given a stipend because they don't have salaries for rowers, professional rowers?
Kristi Wagner 53:45
Okay. I'm technically not a
Christine O'Donnell 53:49
rower. So there's a difference. Okay. Right.
Blake Dietrick 53:52
And I also I have a Skype I do you get a stipend from USA Basketball. But it is nothing like I'm sure Kristi, you can relate. It's like next to nothing. And I signed up for the insurance and stuff and the like, life insurance policy for Olympic athletes is $10,000. I was like, What is this? This isn't even enough for you know, like, it wouldn't cover no expenses. So I'm just like, US Olympic Committee. Help us out a little more. But anyway. Yeah,
Kristi Wagner 54:20
the insurance is not very good. Also.
Blake Dietrick 54:23
Luckily, I have double my my fiance is in the military. So I'm covered with him too. But yeah, it's like so when
Christine O'Donnell 54:29
you were talking so it makes total sense, like the max salary for the like, versus the what did you like the new geeky rescale salary scale? So Ken, would you mind sharing? Like, what is the max salary? Like?
Blake Dietrick 54:42
Yeah, for sure. I was just trying to Google it. Because I don't know the exact number but I'm pretty sure it's like 250,000 for Okay, Max and then the rookies I think are making around like 60,000. Okay. So it is it's enough to live on, certainly even at the rookie law. Because also in the WNBA, you're provided with housing and a car. And when you're on the road, your meals are covered, you get like $80 a day and for meals per diem in per diem. Yeah. So it's it's doable. But it does, it changes the structure of a team when you have like, so you have four people at max salary, your salary cap limits, you being able to take that vet those vet minimum people who make around like 85 to 100k. It's much easier to fill your team then with the rookies versus those like middle of the road people.
Christine O'Donnell 55:34
I feel like after having a TED last so binge last night, I tried to get it.
Kristi Wagner 55:43
Well, and they like they've been changing. They've been fighting to change it right like that. Because it used to be a lot less. And so basically, players like had to play overseas also.
Blake Dietrick 55:56
Exactly. Okay. Yeah. So these changes in the CBA. Were were the first step. So the first step was to get your core players, your superstars to stay home and not go overseas. So what that did is take away the ability for those middle players to say, Yeah, but hopefully, eventually, like salaries will continue to increase opportunities in the US will continue to increase. And actually, Breanna Stewart and ifisa Collier, who are two WNBA players, have just announced that they're going to start a league in the offseason. And it's going to include five on five, three on three and one on one. So it's like a little bit of a different model. Yeah. And hopefully it will be interesting to fans. So therefore lucrative and is it just another way to get players to stay in the US and not go overseas?
Christine O'Donnell 56:46
Awesome. Yeah. Okay, one more question. Yeah. Do you have a quote that you think of when you're having a hard day?
Blake Dietrick 56:56
Mm hmm. I've been working on like, mantras. This sounds kind of silly, but I feel like sometimes, at the at this level, you have to play mind games with yourself to get through tough stuff. And if you're having going going through a slump, you can try and get yourself out of it. So the mantra I was using at the end of the season, this might be totally embarrassing, so but I'm willing to share it. It was like I am capable, I can do it. Now watch me. And I don't know if that sounds so weird. Like saying it out loud. That was something and then something really simple. My when I was in high school, my coaches grandmother would come to games. And she was like the absolutely most adorable woman. And she one time said to my dad, like, Blake is everywhere, and she does everything. And he like laminated it and made it into like a little bookmark for me. So that was just my reminder to like play for grandma Lisa and be everywhere and do everything for her. So yeah, those are like my two.
Christine O'Donnell 58:10
I really like it I feel like
Kristi Wagner 58:17
I can attest that she she was everywhere and did everything. Thank you. Christine. I can't emphasize like Blake was like the best basketball player but I like interacted with in high school. She was so much better than like everyone like I mean we did not where we're from it's not like a basketball hotbed by any. She was like so much better than everyone else. Yeah. Oh, thank you. Um, yeah.
Christine O'Donnell 58:56
i It makes me wonder like, Did you by chance? Have you listened to the episode of Christie and her mom? I haven't.
Blake Dietrick 59:04
I haven't. I need to. I definitely need to. I see the clips.
Kristi Wagner 59:09
I listen to this.
Blake Dietrick 59:11
I'm sorry. Go ahead.
Kristi Wagner 59:13
No, it's just say my mom told this story of when I started playing basketball. And they put me on like the A team because I was so tall. And she called the coach and was like you've made a mistake. She's like horrible basketball.
Blake Dietrick 59:28
Oh my gosh, that's awesome. I need to go back. I'll go back and listen.
Christine O'Donnell 59:33
Well, it was so sweet though. Because she was like I thought he was setting you up to fail and I wasn't about that. Which I love like that's such like, you know, powerful Mama Bear. Yeah. So cute. I felt like we could absolutely have just talked about moms. I think that's it. Those are that my questions for you. This was like very eye ear opening for me and I love the entire conference. sation about women creating sustainable lives for themselves in sports because why the f*ck? Aren't we having that conversation? Yeah. Yeah, so I got a lot of value out of that. Awesome.
Kristi Wagner 1:00:13
Yeah. Ya know, Blake, thank you so much. I'm sorry about the technical difficulties.
Blake Dietrick 1:00:19
Don't be sorry. I feel like it's my computer's a little old too. She's she's struggling you know the fan is like worrying so I'm very sorry about but thank you so much for having me. I'm so grateful. This was so much fun. And Fingers crossed. See you in Paris?
Kristi Wagner 1:00:36
Yeah. Yeah, I'll keep being a fan. Cool.
Blake Dietrick 1:00:43
Awesome. Thank you guys so much.
Kristi Wagner 1:00:50
I'd love to hear from you. So send us a topic suggestion or if you'd like to submit a question for our Ask Kristi anything segment, head to our website, theother3years.com