2025 WNBA Off-Season | Page 10 | The Boneyard

2025 WNBA Off-Season

And.......

www.espn.com

Sources: Rockets owners expand talks to buy, move Sun

Rockets ownership is in substantive talks with the Connecticut Sun over the potential purchase and relocation of the WNBA franchise to Houston, sources told ESPN.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

The WNBA previously indicated strong interest in a return to Houston. At the league's three-team expansion announcement in June, commissioner Cathy Engelbert specifically highlighted Houston and Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta as "up next" and "the one we have our eye on."

The Sun have been owned by the Mohegan tribe since 2003, when they bought and relocated the franchise from Orlando, Florida, to Uncasville, Connecticut. A sale to Rockets ownership would mark the latest example of the WNBA moving toward having more teams with NBA owners.
In Sept Wetzel anticipated.....

www.espn.com

Wetzel: WNBA's gold rush leaves Connecticut fans in the dust

The WNBA is repaying Connecticut fans for their loyalty by trying to move the Sun out of state, ESPN's Dan Wetzel writes.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Instead, the league has offered to buy the franchise for $250 million before awarding it to one of the cities that has already gone through the WNBA's expansion application process -- likely Houston.

That would mean the Mohegan tribe would get substantially less return on its investment while the fans would get left to small-market history, the way the NBA once had teams in Fort Wayne and Syracuse.

"The WNBA is trying to strong-arm the [Mohegan tribe] to take a lesser offer,"
 
Last edited:
azfan said:
And.......

www.espn.com

Sources: Rockets owners expand talks to buy, move Sun

Rockets ownership is in substantive talks with the Connecticut Sun over the potential purchase and relocation of the WNBA franchise to Houston, sources told ESPN.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

The WNBA previously indicated strong interest in a return to Houston. At the league's three-team expansion announcement in June, commissioner Cathy Engelbert specifically highlighted Houston and Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta as "up next" and "the one we have our eye on."

The Sun have been owned by the Mohegan tribe since 2003, when they bought and relocated the franchise from Orlando, Florida, to Uncasville, Connecticut. A sale to Rockets ownership would mark the latest example of the WNBA moving toward having more teams with NBA owners.
In Sept Wetzel anticipated.....

www.espn.com

Wetzel: WNBA's gold rush leaves Connecticut fans in the dust

The WNBA is repaying Connecticut fans for their loyalty by trying to move the Sun out of state, ESPN's Dan Wetzel writes.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Instead, the league has offered to buy the franchise for $250 million before awarding it to one of the cities that has already gone through the WNBA's expansion application process -- likely Houston.

That would mean the Mohegan tribe would get substantially less return on its investment while the fans would get left to small-market history, the way the NBA once had teams in Fort Wayne and Syracuse.

"The WNBA is trying to strong-arm the [Mohegan tribe] to take a lesser offer,"
Expand ...
I'm completely bloody sick of this "We'll take your pro teams, and no, you can't join a P4 conference" attitude.
 
I have to say that this senior class has been kind of disappointing. Besides Awa Fam and Olivia Miles (and even then both are not home runs), I don't really see any bonafide stars that you can build a team around, so I am starting to feel like all teams, including lottery teams, should focus on finding great role players instead of all-around great players. Talaysia Cooper is a name to look out for. If she were to forego her senior year, I think she would have a great chance of becoming a lottery pick.

This is kind of how I'm feeling about the best available prospects. Flau'jae has been as high as #3 on my list but I think we have some serious concerns with her processing speeds and basketball IQ. Like Barker, she has all the physical tools but there is just something missing in the basketball smarts.

My current best available prospects lists:

1. Awa Fam
2. Olivia Miles
3. Azzi Fudd
4. Lauren Betts
5. Ta'niya Latson
6. Flau'jae Johnson
7. Gabriela Jaques
8. Gianna Kneepkens
9 Raven Johnson
10. Kiki Rice
 
GamecockFam said:
I have to say that this senior class has been kind of disappointing. Besides Awa Fam and Olivia Miles (and even then both are not home runs), I don't really see any bonafide stars that you can build a team around, so I am starting to feel like all teams, including lottery teams, should focus on finding great role players instead of all-around great players. Talaysia Cooper is a name to look out for. If she were to forego her senior year, I think she would have a great chance of becoming a lottery pick.

This is kind of how I'm feeling about the best available prospects. Flau'jae has been as high as #3 on my list but I think we have some serious concerns with her processing speeds and basketball IQ. Like Barker, she has all the physical tools but there is just something missing in the basketball smarts.

My current best available prospects lists:

1. Awa Fam
2. Olivia Miles
3. Azzi Fudd
4. Lauren Betts
5. Ta'niya Latson
6. Flau'jae Johnson
7. Gabriela Jaques
8. Gianna Kneepkens
9 Raven Johnson
10. Kiki Rice
Expand ...
I'm coming around on Raven as a top ten pick. If she sustains 40% for the year from three and convinces FO's it is legit, I think she's there comfortably.
 
.-.
GamecockFam said:
I have to say that this senior class has been kind of disappointing. Besides Awa Fam and Olivia Miles (and even then both are not home runs), I don't really see any bonafide stars that you can build a team around, so I am starting to feel like all teams, including lottery teams, should focus on finding great role players instead of all-around great players. Talaysia Cooper is a name to look out for. If she were to forego her senior year, I think she would have a great chance of becoming a lottery pick.

This is kind of how I'm feeling about the best available prospects. Flau'jae has been as high as #3 on my list but I think we have some serious concerns with her processing speeds and basketball IQ. Like Barker, she has all the physical tools but there is just something missing in the basketball smarts.

My current best available prospects lists:

1. Awa Fam
2. Olivia Miles
3. Azzi Fudd
4. Lauren Betts
5. Ta'niya Latson
6. Flau'jae Johnson
7. Gabriela Jaques
8. Gianna Kneepkens
9 Raven Johnson
10. Kiki Rice
Expand ...
I see Okot being chosen over Raven as a big with growth potential . And NO. I don’t see her trying for another year of eligibility with no NIL
 
JstVisiting said:
I'm coming around on Raven as a top ten pick. If she sustains 40% for the year from three and convinces FO's it is legit, I think she's there comfortably.
Expand ...
I mostly put her in the top 10 because she is one of the best defensive guards in this draft and she has more basketball smarts that some other prospects. I think teams know that she isn't starter material but that she would make a productive career being a backup PG. Outside the top 5-6 prospects, I don't see any starter potential, so I think teams will focus on players like Raven that have very niche skills that can elevate a team.
 
cancontent said:
Expand ...

Not good. So basically, both sides are going to continue doing what they have been doing since the beginning. Not good especially in terms of timing for the off-season of things like free agency, expansion draft, and the season.
 
JellyBean said:
Not good. So basically, both sides are going to continue doing what they have been doing since the beginning. Not good especially in terms of timing for the off-season of things like free agency, expansion draft, and the season.
Expand ...
Apparently the WNBA notified teams that they weren't going to place a moratorium on free agency. Will be interesting to see if teams make qualifying offers.
 
cancontent said:
Apparently the WNBA notified teams that they weren't going to place a moratorium on free agency. Will be interesting to see if teams make qualifying offers.
Expand ...
Yeah, that is going to be interesting because teams can technically offer a contract, but players probably won't sign any offer while the new salary process is being worked out.
 
.-.
JellyBean said:
Yeah, that is going to be interesting because teams can technically offer a contract, but players probably won't sign any offer while the new salary process is being worked out.
Expand ...
Yeah, nothing like signing a supermax contract for something like 230k and then finding out the new max is a million or more.
 
Bigboote said:
Yeah, nothing like signing a supermax contract for something like 230k and then finding out the new max is a million or more.
Expand ...
For the super max caliber players, I'm sure the lawyers could write a contract where it is super max as eventually negotiated. Its the journeyman players in the middle where it will be impossible because neither side knows what the landscape will be..
 
.-.
azfan said:
Angel to Dream

www.espn.com

WNBA's Sky trade Angel Reese to Dream for 2 first-round picks

The Sky have traded two-time WNBA All-Star and two-time rebounding champ Angel Reese to the Dream for first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
Expand ...
She is much better suited as a Rodman-like hustle bunny role than franchise centerpiece. If she will accept sidekick status, could be a great trade for both sides. If she chafes, could destroy the locker room and franchise momentum.
 
There go my hopes that Chicago would trade Kamilla ( I didn’t see any need to keep both)
 
Did Azzi Fudd play herself out of possibly being the overall #1 pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft with a not so spectacular NCAA Tournament?
 
BRS24 said:
If a GM is going to use a few games to make a serious decision about a draft pick, then they haven't done their job. IMO.
Expand ...
Agree. Ultimately I think it comes down to whether they view having Paige and Azzi together is a bonus or a distraction. There's not such clear differences in upside between Azzi, Fam and Betts that I'd select based on promise rather than fit.
 
I think it has much more to do with how the Wings want to build their team than any individual performance in March. Azzi, Fam, Betts are VERY different players and I don't think there's a clear "best player in the class" that you pick regardless of it.

Fam is young and untested and likely gives you similar to what Malonga gave Seattle last year in short run, but upside is massive. Azzi is a pure shooter, 3 and D, I think projects as good to very good WNBA starter. Betts is more of a risk only because there are so few players like her in the league right now, but no doubt she finds a place.

IMO, the surest best is Olivia Miles, but Wings don't need her with Paige already on the roster.
 
.-.
BRS24 said:
If a GM is going to use a few games to make a serious decision about a draft pick, then they haven't done their job. IMO.
Expand ...
Cautionary tale -- Joe Alexander (West Virginia)
In 2008, Alexander scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to upset Duke in the NCAAT Second Round. This propelled his draft stock, and the Milwaukee Bucks selected him at #8. Alexander played a total of 67 games across two seasons, averaging 4.2 ppg.
 
BRS24 said:
If a GM is going to use a few games to make a serious decision about a draft pick, then they haven't done their job. IMO.
Expand ...
well, my take here is that against consistently top-tier teams, her stats weren't as good. unfortunately, a season worth of big east competition (with an occasional mid-top 25 team) is much different than sweet 16, elite 8, final four, etc. -- and then that's not comparable to wnba teams.
i think she will be fine, but i do think it was a potential red flag regarding the top pick.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,753
Messages
4,594,063
Members
10,498
Latest member
Ghoul


Top Bottom