2025 WNBA Pre-Season Thread | The Boneyard

2025 WNBA Pre-Season Thread

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Dillon77

Dillon77

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Hi everyone:
With the entry into the portal (finally) closing down, I'm starting to receive stories on the upcoming WNBA season, including this one by HerHoopStats' Richard Cohen.
In this, he reviews the current rosters and salary caps for half of the teams.

I'll post the second one on the other teams when it comes in.

herhoopstats.substack.com

2025 WNBA Training Camp Previews and Roster Breakdowns: Part One

With WNBA training camps opening this weekend, it's time to take a look at where all the teams stand and where the battles will be fought before opening day
herhoopstats.substack.com herhoopstats.substack.com

Figured we could have a pre-season thread up to the start of the season in which we can post comings, goings, predictions, then morph into a season thread.

Enjoy!
 
Here's Richard Cohen's Part 2 of the Pre-Season Round-up for HerHoopsStats.
One note of his at the very bottom is worth keeping in mind:
"As always, bear in mind that none of these rosters will be final beyond opening day. Contracts that are non-guaranteed in camp remain non-guaranteed until the midpoint of the regular season, so there will still be plenty of roster moves. You just have to be down to a legal 11- or 12-player roster by opening day. Enjoy the 2025 WNBA season, everybody."

herhoopstats.substack.com

2025 WNBA Training Camp Previews and Roster Breakdowns: Part Two

Completing our team-by-team examinations of where all the WNBA rosters stand heading into 2025 training camps
herhoopstats.substack.com herhoopstats.substack.com
 
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Thanks for sharing these roster previews, @Dillon77.

Man, it's going to be hard for some of the draftees to crack some of these lineups. Then again, I'm always fascinated by who "sticks" in the WNBA and who doesn't. On the one hand, you have the no-brainers like A'ja Wilson and Stewie, but then you have players like Natasha Cloud, Alysha Clark, and Dijonai Carrington who way overperform their draft pick (or lack thereof). I wonder who the surprises will be from this draft class.
 
MilfordHusky said:
The last time I looked, Golden State had a roster of 18 and Minnesota had a roster of 21 or 22, including Christyn Williams and Aubrey Griffin. Lots of cuts will be made, and rosters could be fluid for a while.
Expand ...
Just as a FYI to all, Griffin is not on the training camp roster—she won’t report for training camp this year. I‘m assuming due to still coming back from injury.
 
.-.
rubymae4 said:
Just as a FYI to all, Griffin is not on the training camp roster—she won’t report for training camp this year. I‘m assuming due to still coming back from injury.
Expand ...

Yes, I believe that Minnesota likes Aubrey, but is interested in her for next year and beyond. As Geno noted, she is not 100%.
 
Jonathan14 said:
Thanks for sharing these roster previews, @Dillon77.

Man, it's going to be hard for some of the draftees to crack some of these lineups. Then again, I'm always fascinated by who "sticks" in the WNBA and who doesn't. On the one hand, you have the no-brainers like A'ja Wilson and Stewie, but then you have players like Natasha Cloud, Alysha Clark, and Dijonai Carrington who way overperform their draft pick (or lack thereof). I wonder who the surprises will be from this draft class.
Expand ...
I hope it's Aaliyah Nye.
 
Maddy Siegrist seems like an afterthought in Dallas. They literally brought in 3 players that play the same position. I think the other teams in the wnba should be calling up the wings and making trade offers to try and test her availability.
 
Stagnant said:
Maddy Siegrist seems like an afterthought in Dallas. They literally brought in 3 players that play the same position. I think the other teams in the wnba should be calling up the wings and making trade offers to try and test her availability.
Expand ...
I agree! 2026 1st round pick and Kierstan Bell for Sister Siegrist.
 
Dillon77 said:
Hi everyone:
With the entry into the portal (finally) closing down, I'm starting to receive stories on the upcoming WNBA season, including this one by HerHoopStats' Richard Cohen.
In this, he reviews the current rosters and salary caps for half of the teams.

I'll post the second one on the other teams when it comes in.

herhoopstats.substack.com

2025 WNBA Training Camp Previews and Roster Breakdowns: Part One

With WNBA training camps opening this weekend, it's time to take a look at where all the teams stand and where the battles will be fought before opening day
herhoopstats.substack.com herhoopstats.substack.com

Figured we could have a pre-season thread up to the start of the season in which we can post comings, goings, predictions, then morph into a season thread.

Enjoy!
Expand ...
Thanks for this, @Dillon77. What's your take on Mai Yamamoto on Dallas? Does she have a shot, or is she sure to be cut?
 
Stagnant said:
Maddy Siegrist seems like an afterthought in Dallas. They literally brought in 3 players that play the same position. I think the other teams in the wnba should be calling up the wings and making trade offers to try and test her availability.
Expand ...
I feel like her talent will be wasted in Dallas but if she can get to Minnesota she'll thrive. Just feels like a Reeve player.
 
.-.
bballnut90 said:
I feel like her talent will be wasted in Dallas but if she can get to Minnesota she'll thrive. Just feels like a Reeve player.
Expand ...
Well, Reeve does seem to enjoy allowing [her] recent draft picks to collect splinters on their rear ends. So yeah, I agree.
 
bballnut90 said:
I feel like her talent will be wasted in Dallas but if she can get to Minnesota she'll thrive. Just feels like a Reeve player.
Expand ...
Who would you replace on that roster to open up a spot for Siegrist? That's the first thought that came to mind.
 
cancontent said:
Who would you replace on that roster to open up a spot for Siegrist? That's the first thought that came to mind.
Expand ...
Not this year but maybe after the dust settles with the wild 2026 offseason coming
 
Bone Dog said:
Thanks for this, @Dillon77. What's your take on Mai Yamamoto on Dallas? Does she have a shot, or is she sure to be cut?
Expand ...
Based on the depth chart Cohen supplied, she's the third guard behind Paige B and Tyasha Harris, who Curt Miller wanted back in the organization he's running. Those are two pretty "solid" (if not way more) options, right? Sure, she could blow people away. As noted, Dallas does have room to keep 12, but it has to be the right 12 salaries to jigger.

My gut is nope...maybe best bet is to perform really well and get picked up by a team that has lots of flexibility with the lower-paid personnel.
 
cancontent said:
Who would you replace on that roster to open up a spot for Siegrist? That's the first thought that came to mind.
Expand ...
Agreed. Richard Cohen was mulling it in the article. It might be reasoned that Siegrist is a Reeve type of player, but we know Reeve thinks Bridget Carleton is the ultimate Reeve player and she just traded for Karlie Samuelson.

This team is now run by Curt Miller who runs a different show than the previous Dallas regime. I could see Siegrist subbing in for Carrington when they want to emphasize half-court sets. Heck, I could even see her being a small-ball 4 when they want to run.
Remember, the ball is going to be in Paige's hands a lot....;)
 
.-.
bballnut90 said:
Not this year but maybe after the dust settles with the wild 2026 offseason coming
Expand ...
I could see that. To be more convinced, I'll have to see what her plan is for Diamond Miller.
 
bballnut90 said:
Not this year but maybe after the dust settles with the wild 2026 offseason coming
Expand ...
FWIW, Maddy's (still) under contract in 2026 and then a restricted free agent in 2027 under the current CBA. We'll see what holds up during negotiations. That said, more than half the team are unrestricted free agents so it might be a totally different team in Dallas (not to mention most places). Wild times.
 
cancontent said:
Who would you replace on that roster to open up a spot for Siegrist? That's the first thought that came to mind.
Expand ...
I would think Siegrist could spell Alanna Smith off the bench as another big that can facilitate at the elbow on offense, taking and making outside shots and running screens, while also providing mobility, rim protection, and shot blocking on D. Come to think of it, they have fairly similar games.

Edited to add: although wow, Seigrist plays bigger than 6'1", but that does make her quite a bit shorter than 6'4" Smith, and so maybe a better bench sub comp is Bridget Carlton. That might explain why she hasn't had as much success in the W, because 6'1" is short for a shooting forward. Phee and Nneka get away with it at 6'2" but they are generational talents.
 
rubymae4 said:
Just as a FYI to all, Griffin is not on the training camp roster—she won’t report for training camp this year. I‘m assuming due to still coming back from injury.
Expand ...

She may not be on the roster but per her IG she’s in Minnesota
 
Dillon77 said:
Agreed. Richard Cohen was mulling it in the article. It might be reasoned that Siegrist is a Reeve type of player, but we know Reeve thinks Bridget Carleton is the ultimate Reeve player and she just traded for Karlie Samuelson.

This team is now run by Curt Miller who runs a different show than the previous Dallas regime. I could see Siegrist subbing in for Carrington when they want to emphasize half-court sets. Heck, I could even see her being a small-ball 4 when they want to run.
Remember, the ball is going to be in Paige's hands a lot....;)
Expand ...
It will be interesting - Arike has had the ball in her hands a lot in the past. I do wonder, given her game, how long it will take to find the groove. This season will hinge on the adaptability of the high scoring NDer.
 
.-.
TheFarmFan said:
I would think Siegrist could spell Alanna Smith off the bench as another big that can facilitate at the elbow on offense, taking and making outside shots and running screens, while also providing mobility, rim protection, and shot blocking on D. Come to think of it, they have fairly similar games.

Edited to add: although wow, Seigrist plays bigger than 6'1", but that does make her quite a bit shorter than 6'4" Smith, and so maybe a better bench sub comp is Bridget Carlton. That might explain why she hasn't had as much success in the W, because 6'1" is short for a shooting forward. Phee and Nneka get away with it at 6'2" but they are generational talents.
Expand ...
I went through somewhat the same exercise, but realized that Siegrist -- much like Alyssa Ustby -- is shorter than one thinks, just adept at getting to the ball and spots in which she/they can do something with it. The players who will back up Smith are either Dorka Juhasz or Jess Shepard, back from two solid winters of Euro ball. Both have height and inside-out games. Shep is still an absolute stellar rebounder and outlet passer, while Dorka is great with the pick and pop.
 
Dillon77 said:
I went through somewhat the same exercise, but realized that Siegrist -- much like Alyssa Ustby -- is shorter than one thinks, just adept at getting to the ball and spots in which she/they can do something with it. The players who will back up Smith are either Dorka Juhasz or Jess Shepard, back from two solid winters of Euro ball. Both have height and inside-out games. Shep is still an absolute stellar rebounder and outlet passer, while Dorka is great with the pick and pop.
Expand ...
Yeah, forgot about Shep. You're right, they're nicely loaded at the 4.
 
Weekend Update (no, not SNL, but WNBA....:cool:)

  • Julia Ayrault is out for the 2025 season due to a Personal Decision. (Mercury)
  • Morgan Maly was waived by the Conn. Sun on Saturday...or a day before the workouts started.
  • DeYona Gaston signed a Rookie Scale Contract with the Atlanta Dream.
 
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