2025 WNBA Regular Season

[WBBTakeover]

How can a generational player be weak on defense? I think a true generational player should be good on both ends of the court.

Seriously?

Would you consider Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi to be generational players? They weren't exactly known for their defense, either.

 

[Bigboote]

The Valks made a game of it, but the Lynx handled them.

Alana Smith was pretty much a punching bag and sat almost the whole second half. Was visibly limping after the game, but I’m more concerned with her head. She took a hard knock and took a couple of minutes to get up, although she played some after that.

 

[Childhood]

Fever killer

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

FaninNC, the only aspect that I would say CC exhibits a "generational talent" is the range in which she can shoot the three. Nobody heretofore has been able to showcase that skill in games. Well....maybe Meadowlark Lemon with the Globetrotters....

Caitlin certainly is fun to watch - no doubt. She has expanded the WNBA fan base to new levels - undeniably so.

But to call her a generational talent from an offensive perspective simply because of her 3pt range would be an example of nit-picking on the other side of the coin, wouldn't you say?

What other aspect of her game supports the "generational talent" wreath?

If she can somehow curb her startling turnover numbers (which are also "generational" from a different lens) then she can be in conversations about the all-time great offensive talents of the WNBA. A little bit premature for that discussion right now, I would say.

Cheryl Miller and Candace Parker were interviewed together by Keyshawn Johnson. Both said she was absolutely, 100 percent a generational talent.

 

[noirwestern]

Who is she??

She's Carolyn Peck. If you like UConn she's usually pecking on your ear drums during games and looks like she's moved up to the big leagues.

 

[bballnut90]

FaninNC, the only aspect that I would say CC exhibits a "generational talent" is the range in which she can shoot the three. Nobody heretofore has been able to showcase that skill in games. Well....maybe Meadowlark Lemon with the Globetrotters....

Caitlin certainly is fun to watch - no doubt. She has expanded the WNBA fan base to new levels - undeniably so.

But to call her a generational talent from an offensive perspective simply because of her 3pt range would be an example of nit-picking on the other side of the coin, wouldn't you say?

What other aspect of her game supports the "generational talent" wreath?

If she can somehow curb her startling turnover numbers (which are also "generational" from a different lens) then she can be in conversations about the all-time great offensive talents of the WNBA. A little bit premature for that discussion right now, I would say.

Watch her passing. Sure she makes turnovers but she’s also one of (if not the) most creative and prolific passer in the history of women’s basketball.




Anyone who doesn’t acknowledge her passing either hasn’t seen her at all (and shouldn’t critique) or is just willfully ignorant and biased. It’s the best part of her game.

 

[cancontent]

Who is she??

Debbie Antonelli

 

[GamecockFam]

Rumor on the street is that Bonner will be signing with the Aces. Honestly not a bad fit considering their desperate need for depth. I could see her starting at the 4 on that squad.

 

[GamecockFam]

Also, for those wondering, I saw coach Sides yesterday on the team Canada squad in the Americup. I believe she was one of the assistant coaches. Who thinks she trying to put in a bid to coach the Toronto Tempo?

 

[Bigboote]

Also, for those wondering, I saw coach Sides yesterday on the team Canada squad. I believe she was one of the assistant coaches. Who thinks she trying to put in a bid to coach the Toronto Tempo?

She can submit her name wherever she wants, but I’d hope there are numerous better options.

 

[Crossover]

Watch her passing. Sure she makes turnovers but she’s also one of (if not the) most creative and prolific passer in the history of women’s basketball.




Anyone who doesn’t acknowledge her passing either hasn’t seen her at all (and shouldn’t critique) or is just willfully ignorant and biased. It’s the best part of her game.

I agree that passing is the best part of CC's game, but in part that is because there are holes in other parts of her game and her shooting does not promote team flow. However I am probably still "willfully ignorant and biased" in your eyes since I can't co-sign the notion that CC is "one of (if not the) most creative and prolific passers in the history of women's basketball". Then again, I don't believe that history began the day CC first walked on water. Ever hear of Ticha Penecheiro? CC is definitely prolific, but I would call her showy rather creative. It's the difference between passing between an opponent's legs because that is the best option and doing so to show that you can.

 

[Dillon77]

The Valks made a game of it, but the Lynx handled them.

Alana Smith was pretty much a punching bag and sat almost the whole second half. Was visibly limping after the game, but I’m more concerned with her head. She took a hard knock and took a couple of minutes to get up, although she played some after that.

Hope she's ok.
Luckily for the Lynx, they've got Jessica Shepard to hop in the lineup; delivering 10 rebounds in 24 minutes.
And no one is going to knock Shep around...

 

[MSSportsGuy]

Would you consider Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi to be generational players? They weren't exactly known for their defense, either.

Bird was a decent defender, DT not so much. Whenever Clarks lack of D is mentioned, I alway think about Taurasi and laugh.

Im not a Clark apologist or hater. She’s a phenomenal player with range and terrific passing skills. I doubt she ever becomes a lock down defender but she has room to grow. Maybe she will.

 

[Dillon77]

Bird was a decent defender, DT not so much. Whenever Clarks lack of D is mentioned, I alway think about Taurasi and laugh.

Im not a Clark apologist or hater. She’s a phenomenal player with range and terrific passing skills. I doubt she ever becomes a lock down defender but she has room to grow. Maybe she will.

Perhaps because she's such a good passer - which requires court vision -- CC is good at jumping passing lanes to steal/deflect cross-court passes. She's got pretty long arms, which help.

 

[my2cents]

In yesterday's WNBA games , 3 out of 4 team's top scorers were UConn grads ( Collier, Hayes and Stevens). Boy, do we represent.

 

[cancontent]

Bird was a decent defender, DT not so much. Whenever Clarks lack of D is mentioned, I alway think about Taurasi and laugh.

Im not a Clark apologist or hater. She’s a phenomenal player with range and terrific passing skills. I doubt she ever becomes a lock down defender but she has room to grow. Maybe she will.

Definitely in the realm of possible, considering this is her second season. Ionescu wasn't seen as much of a defender when she entered the league and she's much better now compared to her rookie days.

 

[EricLA]

Plum's only decent games in recent weeks have come against Indiana...without Clark. Yeah, not so sure about this whole "they are so much better defensively without Caitlin" thing. Also, definitely not buying Carolyn Peck's assertion that they are just plain better without Clark.

Peck actually said that? She's one of the most consistently dumb announcers out there. And my least favorite.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Rumor on the street is that Bonner will be signing with the Aces. Honestly not a bad fit considering their desperate need for depth. I could see her starting at the 4 on that squad.

How long til Smith wants out if that happens?

 

[nwhoopfan]

CC is definitely prolific, but I would call her showy rather creative. It's the difference between passing between an opponent's legs because that is the best option and doing so to show that you can.

To me you just described Chelsea Gray, not CC.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Peck actually said that? She's one of the most consistently dumb announcers out there. And my least favorite.

I think she said more dangerous without Clark, but same gist. Yes, she did say something along those lines.

 

[Stagnant]

I don’t believe Iriafen should have been picked as an all star. It has flown under the radar how much she dropped off in June.

 

[willtalk]

Plum is streaky. She was able to get away with it playing with the other three scoring threats at LV. Not all of the four scoring threats would get cold all at once. It showed up in Vagas when Gray was out and not recovered even when she got back. There is more to basketball than scoring and putting up numbers, but you really have to know the game to recognize those. Unfortunately most fans know very little. Even those that supposidly do still do not pick up the subtle factors that influence a game.

 

[willtalk]

I don’t believe Iriafen should have been picked as an all star. It has flown under the radar how much she dropped off in June.

That is typical. A lot of players will light it up during on part of the season and disappear for the rest. Its just an advantage when the lighting up take place early on in respect to the All Star Voting. It usually too much of a popularity contest. I remember when Shonie Shimmel was voted a starter when she was coming off the bence and not even getting typicle bench minutes. Of course she lite it up in the game because little defense is played and she was a very streaky player who got hot.

 

[cancontent]

Peck actually said that? She's one of the most consistently dumb announcers out there. And my least favorite.

The actual quote from her interview on ESPN, per this Sports Illustrated article. On one hand it can sound like the Fever are better without Clark. On the other it can sound like the team can survive while she gets healthy as they don't have to be dependent on Clark.

People are going to take it the way they want to.

ESPN Analyst Claims Fever Are 'More Dangerous' Without Caitlin Clark

The Indiana Fever blew the Las Vegas Aces out on July 3, beating them by a score of 81-54 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse Arena. This marks the second consecutive

www.si.com

""I think that Indiana is even more dangerous when Caitlin Clark doesn't play," Peck said during a July 3 episode of SportsCenter, per an X post from Ken Swift. "Because she's a ball-dominant guard. The ball is in her hands a lot, so you know what you need to try to take away. But when you look at Indiana now, they've got so many weapons.

"When you have a point guard like Kelsey Mitchell, and Aari McDonald making plays on the perimeter, and a post like Aliyah Boston, I'm gonna tell you: Indiana, they are a threat. And it's specifically on the defensive end," Peck added."

 

[diggerfoot]

Bird was a decent defender, DT not so much. Whenever Clarks lack of D is mentioned, I alway think about Taurasi and laugh.

Im not a Clark apologist or hater. She’s a phenomenal player with range and terrific passing skills. I doubt she ever becomes a lock down defender but she has room to grow. Maybe she will.

? Just the opposite. At one time Taurasi was tenth in career blocks in the WNBA. There are highlights of her blocks. In a college game against Seton Hall a dissatisfied Auriemma challenged Taurasi to get ten rebounds. She got eleven.

This is not to say Taurasi was a great defender, I don’t think she was. Or even a two way player like Moore, Catchings, etc. Between Bird and Taurasi, however, I suspect Taurasi’s defense might be underestimated more.