If I had my way, and as always assuming we have everyone back and 100% healthy, I want Paige as the point guard, Azzi and Caroline on the wings, Jana and Sarah inside.
I am so totally with you on this. Why assume anything else? It's not like constantly expressing anxieties on this score now will act like a talisman protecting the team.
Now to the business at hand: my idea of how this team will appear in November, and in January, and in March. It's just a guess and I'm just reading tea leaves, but this is what seems likely to me.
November
starting 5:
Paige Jana Ice KK Ash (because this is who has the most experience in the system + Jana)
Rotation:
Azzi and
Caroline (as soon as they're fully ready, which may not be until December)
Kaitlyn Sarah Ayanna Qadence Morgan Allie
Still rehabbing:
Aubrey
I expect the rotation to get a lot of minutes initially, until the heavy OOC games come along. Once that happens, I suspect the rotation will shrink to
Kaitlyn Sarah Qadence Ayanna.
January
Starting 5:
Paige Jana Azzi Sarah KK
Rotation:
Ice Caroline Ash Ayanna Kaitlyn Qadence Morgan Allie. At some point in January or February,
Aubrey may return, which will ratchet up the competition for minutes. Also, if Kaitlyn is going to challenge KK for the starting PG spot, this is when that will happen. This could also be a volatile time for priority in the rotation because players will have had enough time to earn game minutes in practice.
March
Starting 5:
Paige Jana Azzi Kaitlyn Sarah
Rotation:
Ice Aubrey Caroline KK Ash Ayanna Qadence Morgan Allie. I suspect the main rotation minutes in March will go to the first three (Ice Aubrey and Caroline) just because the depth in the front court is thinner, but also because Sarah will end up covering some of the high-post/PG duties. What I mean is she'll end up initiating the half court offense from the high post the way Olivia used to, but given her perimeter shooting, she'll force opposing teams to cover her out there. Similarly, on defense she's demonstrated her high post defensive skills. This will take a lot of pressure off the guards to cover the top of the key and open the low post for Jana Ice and Caroline. I think Aubrey will often be the sub for Sarah.
I expect there will be a lot minutes to go around all season long because I doubt anyone other than Paige and Azzi will regularly get more than 20 minutes/game