2025 WNBA Regular Season

[GamecockFam]

I don’t think Seattle is that good. They are worse than their record.

Of the games I've watched, their front court players seem to struggle against physical post play. In fact, they seem to shy away from it. I am not watching tonight's game, but the Valkyrie are a very physical team, and while I am surprised by the point differential, I'm not surprised that the Storm are struggling to score points in the paint.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Of the games I've watched, their front court players seem to struggle against physical post play. In fact, they seem to shy away from it. I am not watching tonight's game, but the Valkyrie are a very physical team, and while I am surprised by the point differential, I'm not surprised that the Storm are struggling to score points in the paint.

Ballhaaaaaaaaalla. Dawn in the house - she got a long, warm, standing ovation by the fans (including yours truly) for probably 20 seconds. Ballhalla knows our legends of the game and I'm proud we show mad respect even when they have zero local connections.

 

[GamecockFam]

Ballhaaaaaaaaalla. Dawn in the house - she got a long, warm, standing ovation by the fans (including yours truly) for probably 20 seconds. Ballhalla knows our legends of the game and I'm proud we show mad respect even when they have zero local connections.

I wonder what she is doing on the West coast. Is it recruiting season?

 

[JellyBean]

I am sure Indiana will put up a fight on Tuesday night. But watching my beloved Minnesota squad tonight against Connecticut was a thing of beauty. Great game and we need this same energy on Tuesday against Indiana.

 

[Stagnant]

I am interested to see how golden state does away from home.

 

[bballnut90]

Aneesah Morrow quietly is starting to break out as a rookie. The last 6 games she's hit double figures 5x and is putting up big rebounding numbers.

 

[TheFarmFan]

I am interested to see how golden state does away from home.

I believe we're 2-4 away from home, and 7-3 in Ballhalla.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I believe we're 2-4 away from home, and 7-3 in Ballhalla.

How will they do in their upcoming road games? They are in 6th place, but look like a top 3-4 team right now, at least at home.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Anyway, 3 minutes into the 4th (for those of you not watching) AT has a breakaway with Wilson attempting to get between her and the hoop. AT goes through her, puts her down, smiles (sneers over Wilson flat on her bsck) and makes the hoop and harm.

Uh...no. Watch the clip again.

 

[willtalk]

The Aces biggest problem is they need a 4 who can handle out on the floor and also sometimes play inside.
A'ja is a 5 and always will be her best game is 18 ft and in . Drive to the hoop and get fouled. Playing her and Stokes or any center puts too many people inside, with no room for the guards to penetrate.

I disagree. The Aces have far too many players who want to handle the ball. They need players who can pla without the ball. Yes A'Ja is more effective at the 5 but when Chelsea missed the first half of the season last year the team got out of their winning pattern. AW began to want to handle the ball more while both Young and Plums became more point oriented. All their individual stats improved but the winning suffered. Wilson has become much more of a focus of the offense, but that has hurt team offensive flow.

 

[willtalk]

OK, @willtalk , you're making me hit the google wire to call up 2025 draft orders, before and after the actual WNBA draft in April 2025. After ingesting that, a few replies:

- Exec. Summary. You're not happy with Loyd. I can see why on many offensive fronts. Maybe Hammons and the front office thought this would be a case of plug and play, but the way the offense is run seems to have taken away one of the best parts of Loyd's game: the ability to drive and get fouled. She was always a league leader in getting to the line. Now, under 3 FTA's attempted per game!
BTW, Loyd might not be a great -- or at this point, even a very good -- defender, but she was pretty good most of her career. In fact, Dawn Staley used Loyd as something of her stopper on the USA team. That's not the issue to me -- lack of offensive flow and/or general cohesiveness within the offense is.----------------

I don't care what Dawn Staley did initially for the Olympics. We need to remember she used her far less in the last Olympics. I like to watch individual players on defense when I see something that strikes me about their play. I can not speak for Loyd's early time in Seattle because I did not pay that much attention to her play. I have been watching her with the Aces. She seems to get herself out of position especially on switches or when the team double teams.

One example of this was the last play in their last game. The Aces were up by three with 7 second seconds to play. The defense needed to defend against the three. You play up close becaue it does not matter if they get around you for a drive. However not only did Loyd play off her man on the inbounds but she got caught initially reacting and and going the wrong way then having to recover, leaving her man for a wide open three, which she was missed. That was horrible defense to end the game. She was fortunate she got bailed out.

I have watched her make simular mistakes thoughout the season. She even gets beat quite a bit on the ball. Often fast and quick players never develop good defensive foot work and spacing. Another player who, for a while, had a rep as a good defender but in reality was not was Odyssey Sims. I watched her during her first season with the Sparks and she would constantly lose her man. That was only on switches or inbound plays. I figured out she probably had a peripheral vision issue. When a player got out of her narrow field of vision she lost them. I do not think that is loyds issue though.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Seems like some smart decision making from Tibbetts and U'Ren. Are the people who were down on Tibbets (sarcastically calling him the "million $ coach") coming around, or do you guys still think he stinks?

In the Mercury Facebook group, I was roasted after saying that letting Griner walk and acquiring Thomas and Sabally was the best thing for the franchise moving forward.
As I pointed out, Phoenix was 28-52 (.350) the last two years of Taurasi and Griner. I understand being loyal to Griner, as she spent over ten years with the franchise, but the team, as constituted, was not winning.
And getting a perennial top-five MVP candidate (Thomas) and the proverbial unicorn (Sabally) to pair with Copper was brilliant.

Notably, the detractors have been remarkably silent.

And let us credit Phoenix's front office for scouting several undrafted players and other older rookies in formulating the roster (to avoid what Ishbia did with the Suns, in terms of having three big-name players but very little quality depth):

• Kitija Laksa (2020 first round): 9.3 ppg, nearly 40% from three
• Lexi Held (undrafted): 8.7 ppg, 1.5 spg
• Monique Akoa Makani (undrafted): 8.2 ppg, 2.5 apg, 46/45/100 shooting splits
• Kathryn Westbeld (undrafted): 6.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg

That is over 32 points per game from rookies, three of whom were not drafted.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Aneesah Morrow quietly is starting to break out as a rookie. The last 6 games she's hit double figures 5x and is putting up big rebounding numbers.

If I were coaching the CT Sun, I would let her play as many minutes as possible -- along with Saniya Rivers.
Yes, Tina Charles is a future HOF member. But her best playing days are not in front of her. And Bria Hartley is 32, not 22.
Morrow and Rivers are future starters (I would not yet say cornerstones) for the franchise. Let them get acclimated without the pressure of winning right now by playing as many minutes as possible.

 

[cancontent]

Just announced in a press conference I think is still going as I type this.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

The Aces biggest problem is they need a 4 who can handle out on the floor and also sometimes play inside.
A'ja is a 5 and always will be her best game is 18 ft and in . Drive to the hoop and get fouled. Playing her and Stokes or any center puts too many people inside, with no room for the guards to penetrate.

This was Laimbeer's problem with playing Wilson next to Cambage. It clogged the lane.
Jackie Young's development under Hammon as compared to Laimbeer is well documented. Her individual improvement was one of the key parts to help Vegas to win two titles.

Not having Candace Parker (a playmaking power forward with shooting range) has really hurt the team. Coupled with Loyd's inability to find her role and fit (the way she was able to in 2018 and 2020, with Bird and Stewart in Seattle), and you see the problems mounting with Las Vegas.

Vegas also suffers from the 2024-25 Phoenix Suns Syndrome - lack of quality depth. Outside of its top players, Vegas has very little depth (especially with Clark signing with Seattle and Hayes signing with Golden State).

On the plus side, Aaliyah Nye looks to be one of the second round steals. While she is only averaging 5.6 ppg, Vegas is 3-2 in games in which she has scored in double figures -- which she has done in three of the last five games.

 

[azfan]

Uh...no. Watch the clip again.

?

 

[azfan]

Just announced in a press conference I think is still going as I type this.

WNBA to add Cleveland, Detroit, Philly by 2030

The WNBA is expanding to 18 teams over the next five years, with Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia set to join by 2030. Toronto and Portland enter next year.

www.espn.com

As I read the ESPN story I was reflecting on the expansion fee. The article points out the 250 million it is five times what the Golden State franchise was charged.

As the new ownership groups for the three expansion teams announced are NBA franchises aren't they in a weird way paying the franchise fee to themselves?

 

[GamecockFam]

Just announced in a press conference I think is still going as I type this.

Great news! My dream is a 20 team league. That feels like a perfect number to get more women in the league without diluting the talent and having enough teams to split it into 4 divisions/2 conferences. With 18 teams, that increases the league to 216 players! Roster sizes also need to increase to 15 but that's another discussion...

 

[Dillon77]

I don't care what Dawn Staley did initially for the Olympics. We need to remember she used her far less in the last Olympics. I like to watch individual players on defense when I see something that strikes me about their play. I can not speak for Loyd's early time in Seattle because I did not pay that much attention to her play. I have been watching her with the Aces. She seems to get herself out of position especially on switches or when the team double teams.

One example of this was the last play in their last game. The Aces were up by three with 7 second seconds to play. The defense needed to defend against the three. You play up close becaue it does not matter if they get around you for a drive. However not only did Loyd play off her man on the inbounds but she got caught initially reacting and and going the wrong way then having to recover, leaving her man for a wide open three, which she was missed. That was horrible defense to end the game. She was fortunate she got bailed out.

I have watched her make simular mistakes thoughout the season. She even gets beat quite a bit on the ball. Often fast and quick players never develop good defensive foot work and spacing. Another player who, for a while, had a rep as a good defender but in reality was not was Odyssey Sims. I watched her during her first season with the Sparks and she would constantly lose her man. That was only on switches or inbound plays. I figured out she probably had a peripheral vision issue. When a player got out of her narrow field of vision she lost them. I do not think that is loyds issue though

Good morning @willtalk :
Reading your posts to @baggerbob and myself, I wondering if you had a dark and/or bitter roast coffee this morning? Certainly gave an edge.

Please note in my overall statement that I acknowledge Loyd isn't the defender she once was. Incidentally, Coach Staley didn't use her much in the last Olympics much in that capacity, because, well, Coach Cheryl Reeve was calling the shots. As the Olympics went on, Reeve increasingly went with Jackie Young over both Loyd and Taurasi, no doubt about it.

Like many, I think Vegas has a flow issue which may or may not get solved by Hammon this year. Aaliyah Nye's solid play once again helps Hammon go with the 1-4 approach, but not certain that will hack it against all teams. I sometimes wonder how much Hammon thinks about development on that squad because that second big slot has been an issue since Parker was injured. Many candidates have not lived up to what she wants and a lot of these folks play pretty well elsewhere. I'm starting to wonder where the issue is....with the players and/or the front office/coaching staff getting/developing the right players. They hit it right with Nye (thus far), but that could've been the luck of the draw.

 

[MilfordHusky]

This was Laimbeer's problem with playing Wilson next to Cambage. It clogged the lane.
Jackie Young's development under Hammon as compared to Laimbeer is well documented. Her individual improvement was one of the key parts to help Vegas to win two titles.

Not having Candace Parker (a playmaking power forward with shooting range) has really hurt the team. Coupled with Loyd's inability to find her role and fit (the way she was able to in 2018 and 2020, with Bird and Stewart in Seattle), and you see the problems mounting with Las Vegas.

Vegas also suffers from the 2024-25 Phoenix Suns Syndrome - lack of quality depth. Outside of its top players, Vegas has very little depth (especially with Clark signing with Seattle and Hayes signing with Golden State).

On the plus side, Aaliyah Nye looks to be one of the second round steals. While she is only averaging 5.6 ppg, Vegas is 3-2 in games in which she has scored in double figures -- which she has done in three of the last five games.

Nye is shooting 40% from deep, roughly what she did in college.

 

[aceboon]

can't believe LV traded a first rounder for Nalyssa, let alone a first rounder in the 2027 draft

 

[aceboon]

alot of handringing on twitter about expanding too soon, but Golden State and Phoenix are showing that there is a ton of talent out there around the globe. just have to invest in scouting and be smart about roster building, stop recycling the same old guard that keep getting moved around from roster to roster.

 

[Bone Dog]

So, Dallas trades Alyssa Smith to Vegas for draft picks. I guess this means a lot more playing time for Li.

 

[OFID]

Prior to this season, the highest percent of games lost by at least 20 points was 30.0% (1998 Washington Mystics). So far his season, the Connecticut Sun have last an astonishing 47.1% of their games by at least 20 points. Their percentages of losses by at least 15 points, at least 25 points, at least 30 points, at least 35 points, and at least 45 points are also higher than any team in history (by much smaller margins). I understand that they trying to best position themselves to draft Juju Watkins in 2027, but do they have to the this bad?

 

[azfan]

Aces make a move!

Aces acquire NaLyssa Smith from Wings in exchange for 2027 first-round pick

NaLyssa Smith heads to Las Vegas after a brief stop in Dallas.

sports.yahoo.com

This appears to be an ideal spot for Smith.