The biggest problem the WNBA has had the last 3 years since Hammond came into the league to coach the Aces is the physical defensive pressure. The WNBA used to be a freeflowing beautiful game of basketball. Now it's like the Pistons of the 80's, grab, and push people.
Apparently Piph Prince is employed in the Liberty offices. Yes, Wicks, Cappie, Carson, Prince, etc. represented many years of an RU connection, now it is Benijah. Regardless of anything else, I often heard that Vivian was among the coaches that excelled at having players pro-ready.
Big-time special. I saw a few at that place around 33rd-34th street in Manhattan....
Napheesa: "I think that loss is something I'll never get over," Collier said. "To have it end that way, where it just feels super unjust, I don't think that's something I'll ever be able to get over. It's different if you feel like you lose a game." Uh, I think she might be holding a grudge.
To me the Sun are the team responsible for pushing the boundaries of physicality in the league, been like that for many years. Everybody else responded eventually. Alyssa Thomas is ground zero for over the top physicality, on both ends of the floor.
The game has always been physical. Taking it all the way back to the early days of the NBA. Teams like the Sacramento Monarchs, Cleveland Rockers, Utah Starzz days. The game has always been chippy. The Lauren Jackson/Lisa Leslie days, LA vs Seattle. It just didn't start when Coach Hammon took over the Aces.
Exactly, and the Aces aren't even the most physical team in the league by a mile. The Liberty are far more physical. Minnesota is also a physical team.
Jonquel always gets away with physical play, but no one wants to say anything about it because A'ja is usually on the receiving end. When it happens to a player that people like/feel for, then it becomes an issue.
Agreed. The complaints about physicality confuses me as I don't see a difference.
the reason it’s an issue is because she shoved an already injured player down consistently just because she could.
I agree Jonquel is guilty of being extremely reckless especially when she's frustrated. She is responsible for the injury of both Alanna and Kiah in the playoffs. I also recalling her seriously hurting AT last season and pretty dangerous and elbow to A'jas neck last season. I'm all for thr physicality but she often takes it too far.
Exactly! She nearly concussed A'ja last year with an intentional high elbow--and I don't recall hearing anyone other than Aces fans point out Jonquel's reckless play until now.
What I'm saying is that this is who Jonquel has ALWAYS been. She's doing what she's been allowed to get away with time and time again. People are only waking up to it now because some of their favorites have been on the receiving end in recent moments.
I don’t think it’s ever been this malicious though.
Elbowing an opponent in the head and laughing about it afterwards isn't malicious?
When did the elbow moment happen?Elbowing an opponent in the head and laughing about it afterwards isn't malicious?
I like Alanna Smith (not a super fan) and know of her toughness, so for Jonquel to bring her to literal tears on numerous occasions was...something. My contention is that this is who Jonquel is and has always been.
Thanks for one-upping me and making me feel stupid.
The August 6 game in Brooklyn last year.
Oh no, sorry to hear Napheesa respond that way. Perhaps in the heat of the moment after the game.