Naked Sports with Cari Champion – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to Season 4 of NAKED SPORTS!

We're excited to kick off the season with a six-episode docu-series, *The Making of a Rivalry*, which follows the rise of women's basketball stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. The series traces their journey from high school to college, examining the media frenzy that has fueled their rivalry. It highlights their impact on the sport and how they've shaped the perception of women's basketball. The series also explores the importance of rivalries in sports and why competition is essential. 

This episode features interviews with players, coaches, and sports journalists, offering insights into the players' skills, personalities, and the challenges they face.

Special guests in this episode include Jemele Hill, Sarah Spain, Sabreena Merchant, and more."

Connect: @CariChampion @NakedwithCariChampion

Check out NAKED SPORTS on YouTube!

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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?

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Styles P's name is synonymous with the Lox, New York, Hip Hop, and now a healthy lifestyle. Styles didn't grow up vegan/plant-based, but after making small changes over the years, he adopted the lifestyle to transition his health, mind, and energy intentionally. In this episode, Styles elaborates on how he ventured into creating healthier options in the neighborhoods that need them most. 

Connect: @StylesP @CariChampion   

Learn More: Farmacy For Life

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Sheryl Lee Ralph is an American actress, singer, author, and activist.  Ralph shares stories of her life in show business; from her very first audition, experiencing fame, and the various roles of her career. Ralph currently stars on Abbott Elementary and is the founder of, Diva's Simply Singing" the longest consecutive running musical AIDS benefit in the country. 

Connect: @CariChampion @theSherylLeeRalph

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This is a special extended episode with one of the players that inspired Cari’s initial attraction to collegiate basketball.

Grant Henry Hill is an American former professional basketball player who is a co-owner and executive of the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association. He joins us from his family’s home in the D.C. area to share stories of his upbringing, family, and long-lasting commitment to the game.

Read: Game: An Autobiography

Listen: Game: An Autobiography – The Audiobook

Connect: @CariChampion @realGrantHill

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When you’ve been in the business since childhood your perspective of the industry has generations of evaluation and insight. We spend some time discussing yesteryears but in addition to what we know of Ali, she expounds on her dedication to the maternal health of black women. After experiencing a difficult birth with her son, Ali started to question why. Why her? Why do so many black women in America have such incredibly difficult deliveries? 

Connect: @TatyanaAli @CariChampion

Who should we interview next? @NakedwithCariChampion

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This next guest needs no introduction, on second thought we may need to, because he has the tendency to cause quite the uproar, especially among the ladies.  Michael Ealy has had high-class problems for the last twenty-plus years, but somehow he is still shy and humble to receive all the attention.  With a consistent career and staying power, he gears up for his latest project, “Reasonable Doubt” scheduled to premiere this fall. Ealy speaks openly about his longevity and how he controls his lane.

Connect: @MichaelEaly @CariChampion

Who’s Your Favorite Celebrity Crush? @NakedwithCariChampion

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Van Lathan is an established host and media personality from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. At present, Van resides in Los Angeles and is developing both film and television projects. Lathan is the author of Fat, Crazy, and Tired: Tales from the Trenches of Transformation, Lathan explains on this episode why he wrote this book and how it helped him exercise some of his own demons. Van and Carrie have a heated discussion over the unbalanced attraction men and women have to power. 

The Book: Fat, Crazy, and Tired: Tales from the Trenches of Transformation

Connect: @VanLathan @CariChampion

Share your thoughts: @NakedwithCariChampion

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It’s this thing think called, Hip Hop and as it evolves and continues to open new chapters, the veterans of the genre are also finding new ways to design their thrones.  TOO SHORT a pioneer of West Coast Rap came into the game in the 1980s with lyrics often based on pimping and promiscuity. TOO SHORT was committed to telling the stories of Oakland, California; using humor and pimp vernacular he created a vibe capable of using the word “b*tch” as a term of endearment.  TOO SHORT-born Todd Anthony Shaw has been able to evolve with the music, now with a locked-in icon status is still recording, performing, and having fun with it.

Stat Connected: @CariChampion @TooShort

Listen: Spotify Apple Music

ION: Bring home Brittney Griner

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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 Recording Academy and as the Co-Founder of the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network, here’s her story.  

Stay Connected: @CariChampion @Valeisha

Learn More: Valeisha.Org

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