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

[JellyBean]

Just saw that Caitlin is making 63% of her lay-ups this season...as a ROOKIE GUARD. We're all on high alert here!!!!!

Is that an ESPN stat? Some of these stats these days, make me laugh. "This player shot 43% from the right block, when they were being guarded from the right angle with a left-handed player who wore ankle socks while wearing Kobe's protype shoes. But on a Wednesday, when the gym was slightly crowded and the lights were dim, while wearing the same socks and shoes combo and being guarded by a right-handed player, they shot 60%"

 

[cancontent]

Is that an ESPN stat? Some of these stats these days, make me laugh. "This player shot 43% from the right block, when they were being guarded from the right angle with a left-handed player who wore ankle socks while wearing Kobe's protype shoes. But on a Wednesday, when the gym was slighted crowded and the lights were dim, while wearing the same socks and shoes combo and being guarded by a right-handed player, they shot 60%"

The NFL advanced analytics make me chuckle every day I hear them break things down. Whoever said statistics was boring in high school but spits them back to you now were liars!!!!

 

[cancontent]

What an accomplishment in addition to her bronze medal this summer.

 

[Dillon77]

Skylar Diggins-Smith had an excellent all-round game in helping lead the Seattle Storm to a 88-79 victory over the LA Sparks. Diggins-Smith finished with 26 points on 10-13 shooting and 6-7 from the line. In addition, she had 5 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks.

Gabby Williams had an excellent shooting night, as well, going 6-10 from the field (3-5 from three) and 2-2 from the lline for 17 total points. Nneka Ogwumike had 16 points and pulled down 8 rebounds, as did Ezi Magbegor.

Seattle caught and pulled away from the Sparks in 2nd and 3rd quarters, but LA hung tough in the 4th, ultimately fell short en route to their 2nd home loss in a little over 24 hours.

 

[cancontent]

Skylar Diggins-Smith had an excellent all-round game in helping lead the Seattle Storm to a 88-79 victory over the LA Sparks. Diggins-Smith finished with 24 points on 10-13 shooting and 4-5 from the line. In addition, she had 5 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks.
Gabby Williams had an excellent shooting night, as well, going 6-10 from the field (3-5 from three) and 2-2 from the lline for 17 total points. Nneka Ogwumike had 16 points and pulled down 8 rebounds, as did Ezi Magbegor.

Seattle caught and pulled away from the Sparks in 2nd and 3rd quarters, but LA hung tough in the 4th, ultimately fell short en route to their 2nd home loss in a little over 24 hours.

Really happy to see Diggins-Smith have the season she's having. She had a rough last year getting back into shape, which isn't easy after having a baby. It's going to be interesting to see how Seattle does in the play-offs.

 

[YoDore]

Question for you WNBA fans: Is A'ja Wilson having the greatest season in league history? It's a sincere question. I actually don't know.

 

[irsh4242]

Question for you WNBA fans: Is A'ja Wilson having the greatest season in league history? It's a sincere question. I actually don't know.

I would argue yes. Since last years playoffs she’s been unstoppable. I’m very impressed.

For all the knocks she’s gotten since college for not having a consistent three point shot she’s shown the critics well guess what if I’m unstoppable within the line I don’t need it.

 

[cancontent]

Question for you WNBA fans: Is A'ja Wilson having the greatest season in league history? It's a sincere question. I actually don't know.

Wow. Good question. It seems like it, but I'm guessing some accounting for the number of games in a WNBA would have to be taken into consideration.

 

[visitingcock]

Question for you WNBA fans: Is A'ja Wilson having the greatest season in league history? It's a sincere question. I actually don't know.

Let's look at stats:

*Alltime WNBA Single Season Scoring Record:

*Second (could get to First) WNBA single season rebounding record.

First in Blocks for this season. (Who has the all time seasonal record for blocks?)
Second (tie) in Steals for this season.
Most points in a game for this season

She looks strong on offense and defense. Still, it's going to boil down to opinion. What other players with past super seasons can we compare her to?

 

[visitingcock]

Wow. Good question. It seems like it, but I'm guessing some accounting for the number of games in a WNBA would have to be taken into consideration.

There's always that. An age old argument,

Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs in 1927 in only 154 games, and American League schedules moved from 154 to 162 games in 1961. It took 34 years for Roger Maris to hit 61 home runs in 1961 and break Ruth's record.

• Babe Ruth (1914-1935)
• Home Runs: 755
• Hank Aaron (1954-1976)
• Home Runs: 755

 

[nwhoopfan]

Wow. Good question. It seems like it, but I'm guessing some accounting for the number of games in a WNBA would have to be taken into consideration.

Her points per game is an all time high, so it really negates the issue of playing more games.

 

[JellyBean]

The NFL advanced analytics make me chuckle every day I hear them break things down. Whoever said statistics was boring in high school but spits them back to you now were liars!!!!

OMG!! So true! These stats take on a whole different meaning in sports.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Wow. Good question. It seems like it, but I'm guessing some accounting for the number of games in a WNBA would have to be taken into consideration.

Cross-season comparisons such as “the greatest season” in a team sport where individual play is generally impacted by team composition (e.g. not baseball) requires normalization and a filter.

As you mentioned, number of games which have increased, is part of the normalization — average stats are better than total stats.

I would add normalization due to the increase of number of possessions due to better (faster play), better pool of players, hoarding of top draft picks, etc.

As for the filter:

• Does the team have to win the WNBA championship?
• Does the team have to be in the top half of the playoffs?
• Does the team merely have to reach the playoffs?
• No filter for playoffs;
• Delta Analysis: Did the player markedly improve the stats for the team in the analyzed category (e.g. the debate between team rebounds vs rebounding rate);
• Other, for example in this case, does the player have win MVP?

Here are the Stats-Per-Game Single Season Leaderboards:

• Points Per Game
• Rebounds Per Game
• Assists Per Game
• Steals Per Game
• Blocks Per Game

 

[typhaon]

I'd like to see a stat for "contested rebounds."

 

[CalWBBfan]

Gift link. SF Chronicle story on new Valkyrie locker room facilities, etc at Chase Center. Valkyrie facilities

“For the Valkyries’ dedicated locker rooms, a 6,800-square-foot space in Chase Center is being renovated and will include a training room, a player lounge and dining space, separate offices for the coaching staff, medical staff and player development staff.

Their practice home, formerly the Warriors training facility for 22 years, will feature two-and-a-half NBA-size practice courts with 17 basketball hoops, a weight room, hot and cold pools and locker rooms. It’s also where the front office will be based.”

 

[cancontent]

Gift link. SF Chronicle story on new Valkyrie locker room facilities, etc at Chase Center. Valkyrie facilities

“For the Valkyries’ dedicated locker rooms, a 6,800-square-foot space in Chase Center is being renovated and will include a training room, a player lounge and dining space, separate offices for the coaching staff, medical staff and player development staff.

Their practice home, formerly the Warriors training facility for 22 years, will feature two-and-a-half NBA-size practice courts with 17 basketball hoops, a weight room, hot and cold pools and locker rooms. It’s also where the front office will be based.”

Piggybacking with the post in Twitter. The renderings are gorgeous.

 

[bballnut90]

Let's look at stats:

*Alltime WNBA Single Season Scoring Record:

*Second (could get to First) WNBA single season rebounding record.

First in Blocks for this season. (Who has the all time seasonal record for blocks?)
Second (tie) in Steals for this season.
Most points in a game for this season

She looks strong on offense and defense. Still, it's going to boil down to opinion. What other players with past super seasons can we compare her to?

A'ja Wilson's non-MVP 2023 season:
22.8 points (3rd in league), 9.5 rebounds (2nd in league), 2.2 blocks (1st in league). 1.4 steals (9th in league), 55.7% FG (3rd in league).

Stats are almost all better this year, but the team was far better a year ago. Aces last year went 34-6, this year they'll likely finish about 25-15. Factoring in team record, I'm inclined to go with Wilson's 2023 season > 2024, but I wont retort against anyone claiming this is the best individual season ever.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Aces last year went 34-6, this year they'll likely finish about 25-15. Factoring in team record, I'm inclined to go with Wilson's 2023 season > 2024, but I wont retort against anyone claiming this is the best individual season ever.

Does that have anything to do with Wilson? Gray is a very pale shadow of her former self and Young and Plum were both quite a bit more efficient.

 

[bballnut90]

Does that have anything to do with Wilson? Gray is a very pale shadow of her former self and Young and Plum were both quite a bit more efficient.

I'd argue winning is an important criteria even though it's a team game. Her teammates haven't performed as well as they did a year ago but in all reality, I think Vegas should be a better team than they are with prime Wilson + Plum/Young in their starting lineup.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

A'ja Wilson's non-MVP 2023 season:
22.8 points (3rd in league), 9.5 rebounds (2nd in league), 2.2 blocks (1st in league). 1.4 steals (9th in league), 55.7% FG (3rd in league).

Stats are almost all better this year, but the team was far better a year ago. Aces last year went 34-6, this year they'll likely finish about 25-15. Factoring in team record, I'm inclined to go with Wilson's 2023 season > 2024, but I wont retort against anyone claiming this is the best individual season ever.

Honestly I think both years are fairly similar. The biggest difference between last year and this year is minutes played. A'ja has played 4 more minutes more a game than last season. Hammon alluded to last season that A'ja would have lead the league in both points and rebounds last season had she played her more in the 4th quarters.

Looking at the end results of 2023 A'ja had 14 less rebounds than league leading AT who played 200 more minutes(5 games worth of basketball). Meanwhile A'ja had also scored about 30 points less than lead leading Jewel Lloyd despite anywhere between 100-120 less minutes (3-4 games worth) than Stewie and Jewel. I still hold to this day that the MVP should have been hers and her season was undervalued by the public.

This year, I think she's done much of the same as last year. The only difference is the guards are more inconsistent this year so A'ja is forced to play more out of a necessity instead of comfortable blowouts. While the team record is worse I do think regression of the guard play overall plus no quality consistent contributions from the frontcourt has made this season that much more impressive to me.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Let's look at stats:

*Alltime WNBA Single Season Scoring Record:

*Second (could get to First) WNBA single season rebounding record.

First in Blocks for this season. (Who has the all time seasonal record for blocks?)
Second (tie) in Steals for this season.
Most points in a game for this season

She looks strong on offense and defense. Still, it's going to boil down to opinion. What other players with past super seasons can we compare her to?

The longer season is affecting season records and career records. If A'ja has the highest ppg, breaking the record of Jewell or Diana, and the most rebounds, I'd call it the greatest season. In the middle of last season, I thought Stewie and A'ja were about even. Since then, A'ja has clearly been #1 in the world. Strangely, the team is not as good as last year.

 

[From France]

The MVP, this seson, shoulg go to A'Ja no matter else. I am a big fan of Napheesa Collier but she is second in the rankings IMO

 

[From France]

The MVP, this seson, shoulg go to A'Ja no matter else. I am a big fan of Napheesa Collier but she is second in the rankings IMO

EVEN PERHAPS 3RD? BECAUSE BREANNA STEWART SEASON IS UNDER THE RADAR

 

[JellyBean]

Gift link. SF Chronicle story on new Valkyrie locker room facilities, etc at Chase Center. Valkyrie facilities

“For the Valkyries’ dedicated locker rooms, a 6,800-square-foot space in Chase Center is being renovated and will include a training room, a player lounge and dining space, separate offices for the coaching staff, medical staff and player development staff.

Their practice home, formerly the Warriors training facility for 22 years, will feature two-and-a-half NBA-size practice courts with 17 basketball hoops, a weight room, hot and cold pools and locker rooms. It’s also where the front office will be based.”

This squad coming out the gate with some nice facilities! Love it when I see/hear owners of teams going above and beyond for their teams.

 

[visitingcock]

The longer season is affecting season records and career records. If A'ja has the highest ppg, breaking the record of Jewell or Diana, and the most rebounds, I'd call it the greatest season. In the middle of last season, I thought Stewie and A'ja were about even. Since then, A'ja has clearly been #1 in the world. Strangely, the team is not as good as last year.

So, do we include her Olympic performance in determining “greatest season?” Other players with great Olympic performances? Didn’t Stewie have a year of MVP in the wnba and the Euroleague?

 

[ochoopsfan]

Aailyah Edwards gets the Mystics "Hard Hat" award for her effort in yesterdays win. Karlie had the award in the past game and passed the "hat" on to her in the locker room.

 

[MilfordHusky]

So, do we include her Olympic performance in determining “greatest season?” Other players with great Olympic performances? Didn’t Stewie have a year of MVP in the wnba and the Euroleague?

The Olympics and World Cup are normally in even-numbered years. Maya won all 4 of her WNBA championships in odd-numbered years. In 2012, Maya won the Spanish League and Euroleague Championships, plus an Olympic Gold Medal. From 2003 to 2018, Maya never had a span as long as 2 years in which she failed to win a major championship (AAU, Georgia, NCAA, World Cup, Olympics, Spanish League, Euroleague, Chinese League, and WNBA). The hallmark of consistency.

 

[cancontent]

The Olympics and World Cup are normally in even-numbered years. Maya won all 4 of her WNBA championships in odd-numbered years. In 2012, Maya won the Spanish League and Euroleague Championships, plus an Olympic Gold Medal. From 2003 to 2018, Maya never had a span as long as 2 years in which she failed to win a major championship (AAU, Georgia, NCAA, World Cup, Olympics, Spanish League, Euroleague, Chinese League, and WNBA). The hallmark of consistency.

All true but how does that answer the question though? Should the Olympic portion of this year be considered as part of the exercise in determining whether Wilson's season is the best of all time?

 

[MilfordHusky]

All true but how does that answer the question though? Should the Olympic portion of this year be considered as part of the exercise in determining whether Wilson's season is the best of all time?

It doesn't really answer it. Maya didn't have 3 championships in any one season, but she never went very long without one.

For A'ja, her Olympic MVP performance seemed to be a continuation of her WNBA season. It didn't come out of the blue at all. She had a rough first half in the gold medal game, but kept at it and eventually put up big numbers. Stewie was even with A'ja for the first 4 games in Paris, in my opinion, but A'ja passed her at the end, especially in the finals. Gabby was 1 bucket away from possibly grabbing the MVP award.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Okay, how is Dallas this bad? They started to play well after the Olympic break w/ Sabally's return, but that has gone out the window.