2025 WNBA Regular Season

[WBBTakeover]

Hot take: Aliyah Boston is an early contender for MVP and is leading the way for MIP. The good sis is EATING right now!!!! I'm so proud of her!

 

[nwhoopfan]

Why is Tina Charles almost always on really bad teams? It's just...weird. Thumped today by an Atlanta team who had Nia Coffey and Maya Caldwell as 2 of their starters. Not exactly all timers, although both were productive and Coffee in particular had a good game.

 

[bballnut90]

I would agree that the Fever got screwed on a couple of calls late, so that was unfortunate. Of course, I also have to point out that Stephanie White just cannot beat the New York Liberty. She's only won what--TWO games against the NYL TOTAL since returning to WNBA coaching in 2023?

The Caitlin Clark turnover issues are just--puzzling. She's a stellar passer, but some of the passes she attempts are just head scratchers. I think the Fever would either benefit from having a better/more reliable back-up PG or, as I've said before, letting some of the offense (especially in the halfcourt) run through Aliyah Boston.

As for the Liberty, it's going to be tough to beat them if you can't stop/slow down Jonquel Jones. They're the best team in the league BY FAR when they realize how important it is to play through her. There aren't many teams in the league who can play straight up against her because she's too big (and gets away with a ton of extra contact--see the first play of today's game where she got away with a moving screen), so you have to hope that she gets into foul trouble or something else to get her off the court. Atlanta has two big All-Star bigs, so we'll see how NYL looks against teams with matching size AND talent.

Agree on JJ-she’s someone who can be a monster when she’s used well and plays aggressively.

For all the talk of Clark needs to be off ball more, if people have been watching games they’ll see she is off ball more this year. We’re seeing Mitchell direct the offense more and Clark is getting breathers. I can’t comment on yesterday’s game since I just caught the ending, but turnovers have looked better through the first 3 games prior to yesterday. She had a 27:10 A/TO going into it.

The clear problem with Indiana so far this year is FTs. They’re shooting 63% from the FT line which is horrendous and are scoring 5.8 fewer points per game than their opponents at the line. The last 3 games in particular they’re -9, -10, and -14 in points from the line. If they hit a couple more FTs each game they’d be 4-0 and everyone would be raving about how good they are.

 

[nwhoopfan]

The last 3 games in particular they’re -9, -10, and -14 in points from the line. If they hit a couple more FTs each game they’d be 4-0 and everyone would be raving about how good they are.

To be fair it's pretty hard to match your opponent's scoring from the charity stripe when they have twice as many attempts. That's what happened against NY.

 

[cancontent]

Why is Tina Charles almost always on really bad teams? It's just...weird. Thumped today by an Atlanta team who had Nia Coffey and Maya Caldwell as 2 of their starters. Not exactly all timers, although both were productive and Coffee in particular had a good game.

Good question, but we can't overlook her challenges over the last five years. She had rough patches with the Mystics and Mercury, missed an entire WNBA season and landed with Atlanta last year.

Atlanta changed head coaches who opted to go in a different direction. Free agency for veterans like her is just as tough as it is for rookies being drafted. The talent pool is deep at both ends of the spectrum. While she had a good season last year, she's battling against other veterans who are still just as competitive as her.

 

[TheFarmFan]

To be fair it's pretty hard to match your opponent's scoring from the charity stripe when they have twice as many attempts. That's what happened against NY.

Well, there should be a "Liberty specific" charity stripe differential calculation and then a separate analysis for the rest of the league. See, e.g.:

 

[nwhoopfan]

Well, there should be a "Liberty specific" charity stripe differential calculation and then a separate analysis for the rest of the league. See, e.g.:

I see you're on a mission this season. Good luck with that!

 

[WBBTakeover]

The training wheels need to be taken off of Liz's bike. Get her a healthy vet mentor and let's go full speed ahead. Can't move forward with Kiah--that's a thing of the past. We are the ONLY team in the WNBA that is forced to play 4 on 5 every single game. A professional basketball player cannot go scoreless for four games while receiving far, far more than token minutes.

Good thing Kiah has a non-guaranteed contract.

 

[TheFarmFan]

I see you're on a mission this season. Good luck with that!

Eh, rooting against and throwing shade at the defending champion is kind of the part-time job of a fan of bottom-feeding team in the same league, especially on days when my team is not playing.

 

[nwhoopfan]

The Storm thrashed the Aces. Maybe a bit of pay back aimed at Loyd for leaving? LA might struggle this year...but Vegas ain't better without her.

edit--looks like Becky gave heavy minutes to the bench, this one was over by halftime; Kitley responded w/ 11 points

 

[cancontent]

The Storm thrashed the Aces. Maybe a bit of pay back aimed at Loyd for leaving? LA might struggle this year...but Vegas ain't better without her.

edit--looks like Becky gave heavy minutes to the bench, this one was over by halftime; Kitley responded w/ 11 points

This is in reference to Plum, correct?

 

[nwhoopfan]

Speaking of LA looks like they're finally gonna get another win. It's against Chicago, but it still counts.

Have Hamby and Stevens both been on in the same game yet this year? Seems like they've been taking turns. That could be a really nice front court combo if they both played well in the same game.

 

[nwhoopfan]

This is in reference to Plum, correct?

You know, in my head I thought I said that, but I guess I did a stream of consciousness thing without making it apparent to everybody else.

 

[cancontent]

Well, there should be a "Liberty specific" charity stripe differential calculation and then a separate analysis for the rest of the league. See, e.g.:

That and it would be nice to have the 2 minute review after these games like in the NBA. Could help clear up why certain things happen and could use the insight. For example, some weren't aware Indiana were out of time outs and couldn't challenge the foul on Ionescu at the end of the game.

 

[nwhoopfan]

That and it would be nice to have the 2 minute review after these games like in the NBA. Could help clear up why certain things happen and could use the insight. For example, some weren't aware Indiana were out of time outs and couldn't challenge the foul on Ionescu at the end of the game.

By some you are including the commentary crew, who suggested White should challenge the call.

 

[WBBTakeover]

It may be time for Chelsea to be held accountable--from the bench. Start Dana and just go with it.

Also, Washington--you have too many bigs and a Sykes problem.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Mystics let a late lead slip away and come up just short again.

I don't remember hearing that Kitja Laksa made a roster this year, she's w/ the Mercury.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Early cellar battle coming up on Tuesday, 0-4 Sun vs. 0-4 Wings. A classic somebody's gotta win game.

 

[baggerbob]

Well, there should be a "Liberty specific" charity stripe differential calculation and then a separate analysis for the rest of the league. See, e.g.:

Minnesota if you go back gets more freethrows then most teams. The same is happening this year.
New York last year shot a lot less free throws then most teams.
This year with a new PG in cloud who forces the action the Liberty are getting to the free throw line a lot more.

 

[cancontent]

By some you are including the commentary crew, who suggested White should challenge the call.

100%!!! Their lack of understanding the game situation caused a lot of confusion which didn't help things.

 

[cancontent]

Oh my word..... Kaleah Cooper's outfit is reminding me of the men suits styles of the 1990s

 

[EricLA]

Just wow on Seattle's smackdown of the Aces. Is Las Vegas no longer a "top tier" team? Not sure really who is besides NY and Minny. I tend to think Indiana may be up there. Seattle and Phoenix are question marks, but if Phx can hang in there before Copper gets back, they could be tough as well...

It's super early and not everyone has played each other, but to see LV in 8th place and Golden State 5th... Not sure anyone would have predicted that, albeit 3-4 games in...

BTW I thought Gabby played great and Nneka was the star of the day. Wheeler was really good off the bench.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Just wow on Seattle's smackdown of the Aces. Is Las Vegas no longer a "top tier" team? Not sure really who is besides NY and Minny. I tend to think Indiana may be up there. Seattle and Phoenix are question marks, but if Phx can hang in there before Copper gets back, they could be tough as well...

It's super early and not everyone has played each other, but to see LV in 8th place and Golden State 5th... Not sure anyone would have predicted that, albeit 3-4 games in...

BTW I thought Gabby played great and Nneka was the star of the day. Wheeler was really good off the bench.

This time last week, people were sure that Seattle was finished (the 81-54 beatdown they experienced at Phoenix wasn't that long ago, you know), Washington was a sure-fire playoff team, Indiana was the odds-on favorite to win it all, and Golden State was the worst team in the league.

Today's game was a drubbing and it stinks to lose in that fashion to anyone. However, the Aces play this very same Storm team in exactly one week--with FAR MORE on the line. If they lose that one as well (especially in similar fashion), then you may want to question what's going on with the team. Winning this game and then losing the Commissioner's Cup game would not have been a satisfactory result, IMO.

Oh, and you may want to revisit the "Minnesota is a top tier" take. They could very well be sitting at 2-2 (which is where Vegas and Indiana are) right now with losses to Dallas and Connecticut (have only played LA, Dallas x 2, and Connecticut so far). Maybe we learn a little more about them on Tuesday.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Gabrielle Williams was, frankly, Gabulous!

Multiple teams--including Vegas--are shooting well under 40% on the season. That's not a playoff stat.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Gabrielle Williams was, frankly, Gabulous!

Multiple teams--including Vegas--are shooting well under 40% on the season. That's not a playoff stat.

So that explains why I feel like all the players in my fantasy league are scoring worse than last season. Definitely feels like there have been few breakout performances apart from Plum, JJ, and Clark.