2024 WNBA Season: Part 2 (August ---)

[cancontent]

Now this is a creative way to remind people to dispose of their garbage properly.

 

[Dillon77]

Dillion77- - -The Sun vs Sparks game from Boston was televised on NBC Sports Boston, who has the rights to the Sun games!
So it wasn't just on League Pass!
But DC has a good point that more press should have been done!
The Tuesday Seattle vs Washington game was blacked out here in CT because of contract issues! Why?
There are blackouts of games that aren't showing local teams! That makes no sense!

Thanks for that input.
Local Fox Sports "leased/rented" the rights to the Liberty-Wings game in NYC and kept it off streaming, much to the chagrin of my 20+ daughter who (only) streams.

Just seems like this one should've been coordinated better, from rights allocation to overall publicity (as you and DC noted.)

 

[cancontent]

Considering Hines-Allen just joined the Lynx, the justification behind the trade was proven last night. With Alanna Smith dealing with foul trouble, she made a lot of great contributions to the Lynx's victory last night. She looked like she's been part of the roster since the start of the season to me.

 

[Dillon77]

I didn't even have to jinx the Aces, they took care of it themselves. Probably not gonna win many games when you allow your opponent to shoot 60+% from the floor.

Led by 'Phee, of course, the Lynx had five starters in double figures for just the second time all season. Myisha Hines-Allen had 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in just under 14 minutes off the bench, which is what Coach Reeve probably had in mind when she traded for her. Hines-Allen fit in seamlessly with the other Lynx vets when I saw her.

Jackie Young had one of those odd games when she shot much better from three (6-8) and the FT line (6-6) than two-point range (1-7). As noted, their defense put them in a hole (hey, Williams can shoot folks) and while they made a late run, it took the gas out of 'em.

 

[Dillon77]

Considering Hines-Allen just joined the Lynx, the justification behind the trade was proven last night. With Alanna Smith dealing with foul trouble, she made a lot of great contributions to the Lynx's victory last night. She looked like she's been part of the roster since the start of the season to me.

Owe you an orange juice (I was just adding some stats to that)

 

[cancontent]

Led by 'Phee, of course, the Lynx had five starters in double figures for just the second time all season. Myisha Hines-Allen had 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in just under 14 minutes off the bench, which is what Coach Reeve probably had in mind when she traded for her. Hines-Allen fit in seamlessly with the other Lynx vets when I saw her.

Jackie Young had one of those odd games when she shot much better from three (6-8) and the FT line (6-6) than two-point range (1-7). As noted, their defense put them in a hole (hey, Williams can shoot folks) and while they made a late run, it took the gas out of 'em.

As Plum said last night, Williams "cooked" her.

 

[GirlBoo1020]

Only viable options would be Collier, Stewart or Ionescu. After last year’s snub and all the hype and talk about A’ja this year, I don’t see anyone taking it from her. If they do, good luck going against her in the playoffs.

Yea if the season were to end today I'd obviously give it to her and it wouldn't be close. But the Ace's don't have a favorable schedule ahead and the Liberty have one of the easiest schedules the rest of the way so the door is still open for things to change. Unlikely but not impossible. Collier should get some looks too if the Ace's continue to struggle and they sneak into second place. My money is still on A'ja though. Her season has been unreal to date and no real reason beyond wishful thinking to think it won't continue.

 

[Geew1992]

Only viable options would be Collier, Stewart or Ionescu. After last year’s snub and all the hype and talk about A’ja this year, I don’t see anyone taking it from her. If they do, good luck going against her in the playoffs.

Funny, people seem to think Clark is next in line behind Wilson

 

[azfan]

Is there a chance Wilson doesn’t win MVP if Aces finish, say, 25-15? Been a long time since a winner came from anywhere other than a top two or three team. But no one else has ever had a season like hers, either.

Yes...between1.0% and .000000000001%

 

[azfan]

Not since Candance Parker in 2008 has an MVP been selected from a team who finished outside the Top 3, and even then, only once during that period for a team finishing 3rd (2015 Elena Delle Donne).

I would think A'ja will become the exception.

Note: There has only ever been one unanimous MVP vote, the inaugural season in 1997.

View attachment 103033

So do I, as well as all the competent voters.

 

[azfan]

Atlanta is 3-0 since the break, all against teams who are going to make the playoffs. I'm tellin' ya, they are hot hot hot!

Interesting game.

Hard to draw real conclusions about the Atlanta dream given the mediocre nature of the Mercury's road work, the unraveling of the million dollar coach's well failure to coach (3 Olympic gold medalists on the team and they perform with such a lack of passion and cohesion), and what is becoming increasingly clear as a culture of blah. Contrast the emotion of Gray who's a player you just want to root for and the indifference of the Merc. Gray didn't let a slow start affect her play and man did she come on. Even more impressive against million dollar coach's outstanding defense. If things don't work out for Nate in the valley of the Sun maybe he could provide clinics on both defense and establishing a team culture.

The Dream did take care of business and I think the rematch tomorrow is going to tell us a great deal. I fully expect the Mercury to not show up, I mean it's a road game right.

Absolutely the best take on Phoenix:

'The Mercury realistically haven't done a lot to deserve the benefit of the doubt so far this season' (ya think?)

How eight WNBA teams can make a championship run in 2024

Eight teams will advance to the WNBA playoffs. Each of them is capable of a championship run. Yes, even the Fever and Sky.

www.espn.com

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think it depends on how she ends the season. If her stats come down a bit (15 and 9 tonight is good but not unanimous MVP worthy) the next month. and the Ace's don't finish top 3 there is a small chance she doesn't get it. Very small but the door is open with them being in 5th place right now. I think they also have one of the tougher schedules to close the season as well, playing almost every other day from own until the 19th with road games @ New York, @Minny @ CT @ PHX @ Seattle and @Indiana x 2 left. Lots of basketball left to play though I'd still pencil in A'jas name on that MVP trophy right now.

I'd pencil A'ja in, but not in ink. In terms of the team, Vegas has 10 losses and likely will finish with 12-15 losses. Most likely they will finish between 3rd and 5th. Their defense is weak, and only 3 players are playing well.

In terms of individuals, A'ja would have to slump, almost regardless of what anyone else does. I think her scoring is still at or near a record pace. I agree that Stewie and Phee are likely also in the top 3. If their teams go on a long streak and either player puts up 20 and 10 consistently, we could have a fairly close vote. Maybe Bonner or Copper has a very outside chance. As of now, I see A'ja winning comfortably, maybe not unanimously, with Stewie and Phee tied for second. No one else gets a first-place vote.

 

[GirlBoo1020]

I'd pencil A'ja in, but not in ink. In terms of the team, Vegas has 10 losses and likely will finish with 12-15 losses. Most likely they will finish between 3rd and 5th. Their defense is weak, and only 3 players are playing well.

In terms of individuals, A'ja would have to slump, almost regardless of what anyone else does. I think her scoring is still at or near a record pace. I agree that Stewie and Phee are likely also in the top 3. If their teams go on a long streak and either player puts up 20 and 10 consistently, we could have a fairly close vote. Maybe Bonner or Copper has a very outside chance. As of now, I see A'ja winning comfortably, maybe not unanimously, with Stewie and Phee tied for second. No one else gets a first-place vote.

This is where I am at but with Sabrina up there as well. One could make the case she is the best player on the best team right now ahead of Stewie, but its quite close. That's probably what is really eliminating any competition A'ja might have. The other top teams are too balanced which is ironically what hurt A'ja last year in MVP voting.

Anyways I do think A'ja is MVP but there door cracked teeny tiny bit open for others depending on A'ja's and the Ace's play the rest of the way. If the Ace's were a top two team I think A'ja could slump a bit the rest of the way with no issue. Now I think she has to maintain this 27PPG/12RPB statline to grab it OR someone would have to play out of their minds the next month on a top 2 team for any serious conversation to occur.

 

[visitingcock]

Funny, people seem to think Clark is next in line behind Wilson

Behind?

Not the Clarkistas.

 

[Bigboote]

Funny, people seem to think Clark is next in line behind Wilson

Yeah, someone a few days ago (Deb Antonelli?) said, “I’m no longer thinking of Clark as rookie of the year, but as MVP.”

My opinion, through my own cloudy lens, is that if Alyssa Thomas wasn’t MVP last season, no way should Clark be in the conversation this year.

 

[bballnut90]

Yeah, someone a few days ago (Deb Antonelli?) said, “I’m no longer thinking of Clark as rookie of the year, but as MVP.”

My opinion, through my own cloudy lens, is that if Alyssa Thomas wasn’t MVP last season, no way should Clark be in the conversation this year.

Funny, people seem to think Clark is next in line behind Wilson

As much as people want to snark at it, Clark's having a 1st Team All-WNBA caliber season. Not sure how Alyssa Thomas not winning MVP last year (she finished 2nd but was 1st in MVP votes) is in anyway relevant to Clark being in the MVP conversation. Since Indy's brutal start to the year (11 games in 20 days against a loaded schedule), she's played as well as anyone in the league besides maybe A'ja and her team has gone 11-6 since.

Overall, I don't see a strong case for CC largely due to the rough start, but if she continues on her tear she could move up the MVP ladder and it's worth keeping an eye on. Right now I see the tiers as:

Tier 1:
A'ja Wilson

Tier 2:
Napheesa Collier
Sabrina Ionescu
Breanna Stewart

Tier 3:
Caitlin Clark
Alyssa Thomas
Kahleah Copper
Jackie Young
Nneka Ogwumike

 

[GirlBoo1020]

Ah the Clarkistas have once again tricked y'all into turning a conversation that has nothing to do with her into an opportunity to talk about Caitlin Clark. Very well done, a tip of the cap, but I will not go for the bait.

I think someone else said it up thread but a conversation might be worth having is how much the Ace's have regressed versus how much have other teams improved? Would last year Ace's team be number 1 in the league? I am not convinced they wouldn't be around 3/4th place in this years league.

 

[Bigboote]

As much as people want to snark at it, Clark's having a 1st Team All-WNBA caliber season. Not sure how Alyssa Thomas not winning MVP last year (she finished 2nd but was 1st in MVP votes) is in anyway relevant to Clark being in the MVP conversation. Since Indy's brutal start to the year (11 games in 20 days against a loaded schedule), she's played as well as anyone in the league besides maybe A'ja and her team has gone 11-6 since.

As I said, my own dirty lens, which is hoping for some consistency among the voters. Yeah, I know, herding cats. Thomas had a better year last year (leading the league in assists and rebounds on a top-three team), and A'ja is having a better year than anyone did last year.

Clark's having a good year, no argument from me on that.

 

[baggerbob]

I'd pencil A'ja in, but not in ink. In terms of the team, Vegas has 10 losses and likely will finish with 12-15 losses. Most likely they will finish between 3rd and 5th. Their defense is weak, and only 3 players are playing well.

In terms of individuals, A'ja would have to slump, almost regardless of what anyone else does. I think her scoring is still at or near a record pace. I agree that Stewie and Phee are likely also in the top 3. If their teams go on a long streak and either player puts up 20 and 10 consistently, we could have a fairly close vote. Maybe Bonner or Copper has a very outside chance. As of now, I see A'ja winning comfortably, maybe not unanimously, with Stewie and Phee tied for second. No one else gets a first-place vote.

Las Vegas right now is terrible defensively, and A'ja, and Young are good defenders, but part of that.
A'ja will get the award because of her offensive stat's but defensively the entire team has been bad.

 

[bballnut90]

Ah the Clarkistas have once again tricked y'all into turning a conversation that has nothing to do with her into an opportunity to talk about Caitlin Clark. Very well done, a tip of the cap, but I will not go for the bait.

I think someone else said it up thread but a conversation might be worth having is how much the Ace's have regressed versus how much have other teams improved? Would last year Ace's team be number 1 in the league? I am not convinced they wouldn't be around 3/4th place in this years league.

Aces last year appeared to be one of the best teams of all time when they were healthy a year ago. With Parker in the lineup they went 16-2 with Parker in the lineup and looked darn near unbeatable in stretches. Even without Parker they still got the job done, and took home the title despite missing Chelsea Gray in game 4.

This year they're a very different roster due to the absence of Chelsea Gray and being overly reliant on their Big 3. They don't have any consistency outside of Plum/Young/Wilson which has seriously hampered their title chances. The Liberty are better this year and playing with more cohesion after adjusting to new roles last year, but I think a healthy 2023 Aces team would easily be #1 in the league this season.

 

[CajunHusky]

I thought the place was hoppin' last night. However, Di'joni Carrington was p'oed at the WNBA for not promoting the game and (merely) having it on league pass only. When this game was scheduled, it could've had Cameron Brink and been a good enough top-liner, so I've got to lean with DC on this one. Bit of a misstep by WNBA who were probably taking their cue from major media players.
Here's the article.

DiJonai Carrington calls out WNBA for lack of 'promo' for Boston game

DiJonai Carrington called out the WNBA over what she felt was a lack of promotion for the Connecticut Sun's historic game in Boston's TD Garden.

www.espn.com

And there was a "lack of Promo" because what? DC says so?

subjective I think .... no story here.

 

[GirlBoo1020]

Aces last year appeared to be one of the best teams of all time when they were healthy a year ago. With Parker in the lineup they went 16-2 with Parker in the lineup and looked darn near unbeatable in stretches. Even without Parker they still got the job done, and took home the title despite missing Chelsea Gray in game 4.

This year they're a very different roster due to the absence of Chelsea Gray and being overly reliant on their Big 3. They don't have any consistency outside of Plum/Young/Wilson which has seriously hampered their title chances. The Liberty are better this year and playing with more cohesion after adjusting to new roles last year, but I think a healthy 2023 Aces team would easily be #1 in the league this season.

I wasn't considering the Parker ACes so much as the post-Parker Aces. The Parker Aces would probably be top of the league again but by a smaller margin. The Post-Parker Aces, idk. The Lynx are significantly better than the Sun last year. The Liberty are a step above where they were last year as well. I think the Sun might be slightly better than they were last year but that is questionable.
Regardless I do think the rest of the league isn't getting enough credit for improving and the Aces are getting too much hate for regressing when a think its a bit of both.

 

[GirlBoo1020]

And there was a "lack of Promo" because what? DC says so?

subjective I think .... no story here.

Well it was a huge and historic moment for the league and women's basketball and it wasn't on national tv so I think she has a pretty big point.

 

[Gate81]

Having watched Dijonai play for 3-4 years, I think she is very bright and probably has very good judgment. She has a point. If you disagree, let's rephrase the question into if Caitlin Clark and Indiana were playing in that game at Boston, do you think it would have been on ABC? If so, then that says something.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

Having watched Dijonai play for 3-4 years, I think she is very bright and probably has very good judgment. She has a point. If you disagree, let's rephrase the question into if Caitlin Clark and Indiana were playing in that game at Boston, do you think it would have been on ABC? If so, then that says something.

More relevantly if the NBA was playing a game in a new city, they’d certainly have it nationally broadcast.

 

[CajunHusky]

Having watched Dijonai play for 3-4 years, I think she is very bright and probably has very good judgment. She has a point. If you disagree, let's rephrase the question into if Caitlin Clark and Indiana were playing in that game at Boston, do you think it would have been on ABC? If so, then that says something.

Outside of the NBA channel, I don't think the WNBA dictates who is on National TV. Networks pick and choose their own programming.

It is my understanding the Boston game was a CT Sun marketing project start to finish. An effort to expand their fanbase. Judging from the sold out crowd and the participation by fans at the Suns promotions in Boston Metro in the days leading up to the game, the Sun did a pretty damn good job.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Chelsea Gray is entirely a different player currently than she has been at any other point during her stint with the Aces. Especially the last 2 years she was outstanding. That's what is making this year's version of Las Vegas so different than the team that won back to back championships.

 

[packwrap]

And there was a "lack of Promo" because what? DC says so?

subjective I think .... no story here.

Much of promo comes from the TV rights holder. Had this game been ESPN airing on ABC, they would have blown it up.

Once WNBA sells rights, big promo is a bit out of their hands.

 

[BlueSkyGLW]

Two starters down, can the Liberty survive Dallas? Now 59-58, leading by 1....Stewie having an awful game shooting (3/15). In fact, most of the Libs are not shooting well.

Anybody's game.....Arike is around but the big girls are the ones making the plays in closing minutes of the game.....interesting..

 

[Dillon77]

Two starters down, can the Liberty survive Dallas? Now 59-58, leading by 1....Stewie having an awful game shooting (3/15). In fact, most of the Libs are not shooting well.

My jaw keeps dropping watching this game. This is ugly.

• Like you said, the Liberty are shooting horribly, but they're grabbing offensive rebounds as if Dallas is a JV team (But the Wings are very tall up front!) The Liberty have 16 or 17 offensive rebounds and have taken 10 more shots than Dallas, according to the broadcast team. Can Dallas put a body on someone? Or hustle on 50-50's.
• I feel there have been some really sketchy foul calls against Dallas. Jonquel Jones just -- IMO -- ran over Natasha Howard and got an "and one" call. Howard is a good defensive player and can't buy a whistle.
• Fiebich was player of the game for me....