2024 WNBA Season: Playoffs

[GoUconn7961]

What I don't like, especially from what I've seen on social media, this final game has seemed to negate the play by Breanna, Sabrina and the Liberty in the complete series. Just say Congratulation and be gracious. They do not control the refs, and an off shooting night doesn't eliminate everything done by them, and the entire team, to win a championship.

I doubt Napheesa is walking around holding a grudge. She's probably enjoying her life. She'll take that loss like a pro and put it to good use next season.

We could learn from that.

 

[cancontent]

Against a night game that included Aaron Rodgers vs the Steelers, peaking at 3.3M at one point during the game. LOVE LOVE THIS!!!

 

[baggerbob]

Replay clearly showed Smith's hand making contact with Breanna's arm.

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.
Thought when Laimbeer left that style would be gone for good. This year a lot of the games were unwatchable. That needs to be cleaned up or the new fans will quickly leave.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I noticed Sue Wicks and Teresa Witherspoon front and center courtside last night, so the Rutgers/Liberty alums were in full force. With Benijah Laney-Hamilton now on the team, there's been a Scarlet Knight presence on that team.

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.

T'Spoon's early teams, with Wicks, Witherspoon, Lobo and the rest were something special.

 

[Dillon77]

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.

T'Spoon's early teams, with Wicks, Witherspoon, Lobo and the rest were something special.

Big-time special. I saw a few at that place around 33rd-34th street in Manhattan....

 

[UConnCat]

Calls and missed calls by officials have affected a few WNBA playoff games. Didn't the Lynx benefit from a missed back-court violation against the Sparks? Of course, the Lynx will counter that the Sparks and Nneka benefited from a 31-second shot clock. And who can forget A'ja Wilson's many, many steps on her way to the winning basket in Sue Bird's last game.

The officials are as imperfect as the players and coaches.

 

[DRR25]

What I don't like, especially from what I've seen on social media, this final game has seemed to negate the play by Breanna, Sabrina and the Liberty in the complete series. Just say Congratulation and be gracious. They do not control the refs, and an off shooting night doesn't eliminate everything done by them, and the entire team, to win a championship.

I doubt Napheesa is walking around holding a grudge. She's probably enjoying her life. She'll take that loss like a pro and put it to good use next season.

We could learn from that.

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.

 

[nwhoopfan]

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.
Thought when Laimbeer left that style would be gone for good. This year a lot of the games were unwatchable. That needs to be cleaned up or the new fans will quickly leave.

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.

 

[JellyBean]

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.
Thought when Laimbeer left that style would be gone for good. This year a lot of the games were unwatchable. That needs to be cleaned up or the new fans will quickly leave.

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.

 

[Geew1992]

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.

This.... basketball is physical sport.

 

[WBBTakeover]

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.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Lost a lot of respect for Jones this series. The foul that injured Alanna in the first place shows Jones wrapping her arms around Alanna's back and shoving her, not by accident. She shoved Alanna more throughout the series, knowing she was hurt, and put her arms around her to knock her down, because she KNEW she wasn't going to be called for it. Honestly disgusting actions to knowingly hurt a player because you can get away with it. The fall she took in game 5 also shows Jones wrapping her arms around her and knocking her over. Maybe it's controversial, but I have zero respect for her or her FMVP.

I don't care if "she's just being physical," there's a difference between posting up legally, and grabbing your defender to make sure she can't stay in position, and shoving her over. No excuse for that.

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.

 

[cancontent]

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.

This.... basketball is physical sport.

Agreed. The complaints about physicality confuses me as I don't see a difference.

 

[boontonbomber]

I've no problem with physicality. These women are in great shape,are strong. They can handle it. My complaint is with the players dishing out the physical play, and then complaining when a foul is called. I don't understand why the speed and physicality is not recognized by the players. The refs call some, they miss some. So what! That's athletic competition, no matter which sport. I'm so old,old school that I would love to see challenges and reviews of calls eliminated from all sports. So many calls are missed in every game,but the coaches can only challenge a couple. All the other missed calls go unchallenged. Because of that,the challenge system has never made any sense to me.

 

[yhun89]

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.

the reason it’s an issue is because she shoved an already injured player down consistently just because she could.

Physicality itself is fine as long as it isn’t overdone. Jones overdid it tenfold.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

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.

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.

 

[WBBTakeover]

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.

 

[WBBTakeover]

the reason it’s an issue is because she shoved an already injured player down consistently just because she could.

Physicality itself is fine as long as it isn’t overdone. Jones overdid it tenfold.

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.

 

[yhun89]

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.

Smith isnt even a favorite of mine, I like the whole Lynx team sure, but really, I just felt bad for her after JJ assaulted her 6+ times and gave her a back injury.

JJ is one of the most physical players in the league. I’ve watched her before, and I’m fully aware she’s a tank.

 

[WBBTakeover]

I don’t think it’s ever been this malicious though.

Smith isnt even a favorite of mine, I like the whole Lynx team sure, but really, I just felt bad for her after JJ assaulted her 6+ times and gave her a back injury.

JJ is one of the most physical players in the league. I’ve watched her before, and I’m fully aware she’s a tank.

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.

 

[yhun89]

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.

When did the elbow moment happen?


JJ has always been like this, I’d agree yeah.

 

[GoUconn7961]

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.

Thanks for one-upping me and making me feel stupid.

 

[WBBTakeover]

When did the elbow moment happen?


JJ has always been like this, I’d agree yeah.

The August 6 game in Brooklyn last year.

 

[boontonbomber]

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.

Oh no, sorry to hear Napheesa respond that way. Perhaps in the heat of the moment after the game.

 

[CajunHusky]

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.

That's not a grudge .... that is simply stating the obvious.