Virginia Tech duo having enjoyable as “Queens of Cassell” with new podcast

Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore host their first episode of Queens of Cassell.

One is from North Carolina. One is from Australia. One is a senior. One is a junior. One is the reigning ACC Participant of the 12 months. One had the primary triple-double in class historical past. Their names are Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore, and collectively, they’re the Queens of Cassell.

That’s, based on their podcast of the identical title, which they created previous to the season.

The Virginia Tech Hokies are presently No. 13 within the AP high 25 ballot, and the 2 pals have been a giant a part of the explanation why. Kitley is the reigning ACC Participant of the 12 months, averaging 18.4 factors, 10.7 rebounds and a pair of.1 blocks per recreation, which ranks within the high 5 of the convention in every class. Amoore is among the high level guards within the league, as her 5.5 assists rank third and her 13.9 factors put her at ninth.

The workforce’s ascent into the highest 15 this yr has given Kitley and Amoore a lot to debate on their present. To date, they’ve had six episodes as a part of a weekly podcast, which supplies “a behind-the-scenes take a look at life as a Virginia Tech Girls’s Basketball participant,” based on the Apple podcast description. They’ve had enjoyable doing it.

“Our conversations are undoubtedly huge and steady and we speak on a regular basis and we’re actually not like forcing something, so each time we movie, it’s just about simply us urgent file on an on daily basis, common dialog,” Amoore stated.

Elizabeth Kitley, with Georgia Amoore within the foreground. Virginia Tech Athletics picture.

The thought for this podcast happened when the duo have been interviewed on the “Sons of Saturday” podcast, which is related to Virginia Tech athletics. Afterwards, one of many hosts proposed to them the thought of doing their very own podcast.

“Inside per week’s span, it got here into power,” Amoore stated.

They named themselves after their homecourt, Cassell Coliseum. Of their first episode on Friday, Nov. 4, the three-year roommates laid out the construction for his or her present. They preview their upcoming video games and recap their previous video games, if one thing actually attention-grabbing occurred, equivalent to Amoore’s triple-double and their teammate Cayla King’s 33-point efficiency.

Additionally they delve into what it’s like residing collectively, as on their first present, they talked about throwing away meals after a number of days, in addition to their favourite music, which incorporates Taylor Swift. A section that they launched on this primary present contains highlighting freshman follies.

They by no means have hassle arising with contemporary content material.

“Generally, it’s simply enjoyable and lighthearted to focus on that as a result of not everybody’s excellent. All of us have fun,” Amoore stated.

The Queens have additionally had company on the present, together with coach Kenny Brooks, King, ESPN and ACC analyst Kelly Gramlich, former teammate and new WNBA champion Aisha Sheppard, former NC State and present Storm middle Elissa Cunane and Amoore’s personal mom, Kelly. They credit score the “Sons” producer for serving to them procure their interview topics for the present.

“Actually connecting us, that’s one thing that we’re grateful to him for,” Kitley stated. “He reaches out to whoever we wish.”

Georgia Amoore initiates a play. Virginia Tech Athletics picture.

One visitor that on their want record is Sheppard’s teammate on the Las Vegas Aces, All-Star Chelsea Grey. They’re considering of different potential future company, as properly.

The podcast is sponsored by Phillips Actual Property, an area enterprise in Blacksburg, as a part of an NIL cope with Kitley, who with Amoore is aware of the enterprise proprietor. Kitley is blissful to deal with that half, as Amoore can’t profit from NIL as a result of she is in the US on a scholar visa.

“It’s a really sophisticated house, I believe, and it’s not as simple because it sounds…as time goes on, I believe we’ll see increasingly more of what the advantages can doubtlessly be,” Kitley stated.

This particularly comes throughout a time when increasingly more athletes are venturing into media areas with their very own podcasts. Amoore is a fan of some NBA podcasts. 

Although Kitley and Amoore usually are not the one Virginia Tech athletes to have their very own podcast, they’re the primary, and are highly regarded with alumni, they are saying.

“I believe that we’re simply becoming a member of it on the proper time and wouldn’t be shocked if increasingly more folks begin their very own podcast,” Amoore stated.

Each stated they’d be open to persevering with the present by means of the NCAA Match, if they’ve time.

“It’s probably not seen as work for us, prefer it’s a little bit of a launch and it’s additionally like a approach for us to doc our lives. I believe it’s going to be actually enjoyable to look again on,” Kitley stated.

For now, she stated she has realized quite a bit, which incorporates changing into a extra well-rounded individual by studying from company of the present.

“It has opened my thoughts, I assume, to profession paths and I believe it’s made me a greater speaker,” Kitley stated.

Elizabeth Kitley defends. Virginia Tech Athletics picture.

Each gamers hope their podcast will carry extra consideration to the Hokie program in a yr the place they’ve already been ranked the best in class historical past (sixth) and when they’re promoting extra dwelling recreation tickets than ever earlier than.

“We’ve simply been making an attempt to enhance ourselves and as that occurs, the workforce additionally will get higher as properly,” Kitley stated.

Brooks sees the advantages of doing the podcast for Kitley and Amoore.

“I believe it’s serving to them turn out to be extra humanized, a facet to the followers, which can allow them to only be extra snug with themselves and that may keep it up far far after basketball’s over with,” he stated.

After spending Christmas collectively in North Carolina, Kitley and Amoore returned to the court docket and are presently 3-3 in convention play. On this present four-game stretch, each proceed to play at a excessive stage along with extra confidence, due to their podcast.

“I believe this is a component that has given them some confidence that’s going to develop them as leaders, whether or not it’s right here at Virginia Tech or on the subsequent stage, their subsequent cease in life, the subsequent chapter in life,” Brooks stated.

Virginia takes on Louisville as we speak.