2025 WNBA Regular Season | Page 73 | The Boneyard

2025 WNBA Regular Season

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Minnesota is on a two game skid, losing to both the Liberty and the Dream this week. Atlanta seemed keen on letting Minnesota steal the game with how they managed the last 30 - 40 seconds of the game however.

Personally, the Dream fully deserved to lose the game because of how they inbounded the ball and managed the clock. Especially the two half court violations. Sure, just give Minnesota the ball back on their end of the court with a full shot clock. Lovely idea. 🤦‍♀️
 
Aces are beating Phoenix like a rented mule.

Silly when ESPN said earlier today it was unreal to believe Las Vegas could finish top 3. Looks even dumber when they are top 3 sixteen hours later.
 
JstVisiting said:
Aces are beating Phoenix like a rented mule.

Silly when ESPN said earlier today it was unreal to believe Las Vegas could finish top 3. Looks even dumber when they are top 3 sixteen hours later.
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They’re red-hot now with 9 straight wins. Most encouraging from tonight’s blowout is that they did it with a relatively human game from Wilson.

It’s a forgiving schedule the rest of the way for the Aces. Of their 7 games left, they’ll be favored in all but one (Lynx) and possibly the Dream. But 6-1 is doable in which case they’ll wrap at 29-15 and almost certainly nab the #2 seed. Definitely not where anyone saw them a month ago. Hammon rises from the ashes.
 
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Collier’s MVP throne, which seemed anointed until July, is starting to get hot. 9 games missed now on the season. If she misses another and is into double digits it could become a talking point. It’s not helping her cause that the Aces have an inside track for a top-3 seed now.

Collier been the best and most consistent player in the league and the clear MVP if you’re going off impact and production. The best ability is availability though. Minnesota’s lead over the rest of the league is bouying her but it’s fairly close now IMO.
 
I think it’s time to have the conversation about whether Rhyne Howard is truly one of the best wings in the league. Very good defender and has shown some nice playmaking skills this year but her efficiency is really poor. Down to 34% on the season. At 6’2” I’d think that percentage would be respectable just by virtue of being able to post up most guards. Probably not as many opportunities in a system with Griner and Bri Jones though.
 
GoChips20 said:
I think it’s time to have the conversation about whether Rhyne Howard is truly one of the best wings in the league. Very good defender and has shown some nice playmaking skills this year but her efficiency is really poor. Down to 34% on the season. At 6’2” I’d think that percentage would be respectable just by virtue of being able to post up most guards. Probably not as many opportunities in a system with Griner and Bri Jones though.
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She takes a lot of shots that would have me pulling out my hair as a coach. Her biggest weakness this season has been shot selection. To give her some grace though, she has been in and out with injuries and I think it is pretty obvious she is playing through some pain.
 
GamecockFam said:
She takes a lot of shots that would have me pulling out my hair as a coach. Her biggest weakness this season has been shot selection. To give her some grace though, she has been in and out with injuries and I think it is pretty obvious she is playing through some pain.
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Agree her shot selection is maddening. Her efficiency would be so much better if she didn’t force so many threes.
 
GoChips20 said:
I think it’s time to have the conversation about whether Rhyne Howard is truly one of the best wings in the league. Very good defender and has shown some nice playmaking skills this year but her efficiency is really poor. Down to 34% on the season. At 6’2” I’d think that percentage would be respectable just by virtue of being able to post up most guards. Probably not as many opportunities in a system with Griner and Bri Jones though.
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Jumper33 said:
Agree her shot selection is maddening. Her efficiency would be so much better if she didn’t force so many threes.
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I'm not sure Howard is a great fit alongside Jones, Hillmon, and Griner, as you say. This is pushing her out and I understand why she's jacking threes - that's the Simisko system.

And as much as Atlanta has turned it around this season, when you have four multi-time WNBA all-stars, you should expect a solid run. I'm not exactly sure who to blame between the GM and the coach, but the personnel do not match his system, and I feel like Howard is proof positive of this. Gray and Canada, by contrast, have flourished.
 
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TheFarmFan said:
I'm not sure Howard is a great fit alongside Jones, Hillmon, and Griner, as you say. This is pushing her out and I understand why she's jacking threes - that's the Simisko system.

And as much as Atlanta has turned it around this season, when you have four multi-time WNBA all-stars, you should expect a solid run. I'm not exactly sure who to blame between the GM and the coach, but the personnel do not match his system, and I feel like Howard is proof positive of this. Gray and Canada, by contrast, have flourished.
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Funny you should mention this because Howard's name needs to be added to this list. She had input on this coaching hire. I remember hearing this during a game broadcast. Was able to find a link to an article with some quotes.

www.atlantanewsfirst.com

Atlanta Dream star Rhyne Howard refreshed for 2025 season

The two-time All-Star spelled out what she needed, and the front office listened.
www.atlantanewsfirst.com www.atlantanewsfirst.com
 
TheFarmFan said:
I'm not sure Howard is a great fit alongside Jones, Hillmon, and Griner, as you say. This is pushing her out and I understand why she's jacking threes - that's the Simisko system.

And as much as Atlanta has turned it around this season, when you have four multi-time WNBA all-stars, you should expect a solid run. I'm not exactly sure who to blame between the GM and the coach, but the personnel do not match his system, and I feel like Howard is proof positive of this. Gray and Canada, by contrast, have flourished.
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@cancontent

I'm not sure "blame" -- at least for the short term -- is something I'd be looking to point at either GM Dan Padover and/or Karl Smesko, at least this year. Atlanta went 15-25 and was the last team in the playoffs in 2024. While @TheFarmFan expects a solid run with four All-Stars, I'd say that this was the exact idea. The Griner-Jones double signing might've been overkill given Hillmon's improvement. However, the team is doing markedly better.

On one hand, I thought the emphasis on front court may or may not work, but Griner and Jones have always been pretty good at moving the ball inside out.

Is this line-up best for sustainable improvement? I doubt it, but I also think Padover knows it: Griner, Jones, Canada, Walker-Kimbrough and Gray are all UFA's after this year, so expect a different line-up. I suspect that the personnel will match up with Smesko's preferred kind of players. Note, however, that the player in question who started this -- Howard -- is signed.

Should be interesting....


p,s,. My gut is Padover bought time for himself and Snesko. Griner and Jones might be overkill, but with Gray and Howard gave Smesko solid personnel to get his coaching used to the NBA. And it allowed him to now scout and make some major makeovers for 2026.
 
GoChips20 said:
Collier been the best and most consistent player in the league and the clear MVP if you’re going off impact and production.
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A'ja is 1st in player efficiency, 1st in win shares (in 22 wins each), 2nd in rebounds, 2nd in scoring (and closing), 1st in blocks, and the best player.

This has always been Collier's Barkley-esque "she deserves one," perennial All Star, best player on best regular season team MVP. Missing this many games should cost her the trophy. She's pushing a full quarter of the season.
 
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Basingstoke said:
My favorite Aja moment was in this year's All-Star game when she was going from defense to offense along the sideline while KP was comedically hacking her every step along the way and Aja kept calling out "foul, foul, foul, foul" as they both laughed.
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That's in my top 5 for sure for 2025. Another is when she got the text message from her mother because she was wearing a du-rag during a post-game presser. Somebody has to put together a highlight reel at the end of the season because she's had quite a few doozies!
 
triaddukefan said:
My favorite non Duke player. It was announced today that she will be induced into the 2026 Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame.
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nwhoopfan said:
That sounds painful. I would rather be inducted than induced. :rolleyes:
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It does indeed sound painful, nwhoopfan, yet I'm really happy for Dearica, and truly appreciate the support from Triad. She's labored so well, almost unnoticed, throughout her WNBA career, just as she did for a middling to poor Deacon women's program.

By the way, Triad, do you remember Gil McGregor? He was in my class at Wake and, while not a great player, his solid contributions were usually overshadowed by the brilliance of Charlie Davis.

Congrats to all the Deacon inducees, or inductees.😉
 
Bueckers used too much magic the other night, nothing left today. She's struggling and the Wings are getting blown out by the Storm...with Seattle's bench doing most of the work.
 
Hull was going nuts, had 18 at the half and the Fever had a slight lead at the half. She came back to earth, Boston and Howard aren't doing much, McBride having a big game and looking like the Lynx are gonna get back to their winning ways after a little hiccup.
 
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nwhoopfan said:
Hull was going nuts, had 18 at the half and the Fever had a slight lead at the half. She came back to earth, Boston and Howard aren't doing much, McBride having a big game and looking like the Lynx are gonna get back to their winning ways after a little hiccup.
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The way the Liberty are playing Stewie might better wait until she can find a new team next year. Sandy's 5 out offense has become a mess. And the defense is terrible.
I still say Dallas with Paige, Miller, Siegrist, and Lou would be a good place for 3 bigs who can play inside, and out, and are good defenders.
Paige would get Stewie, Emma, and JJ the ball and Paige , Lou, and Siegrist would knock down enough kickout shots to be a very good team.
 
baggerbob said:
The way the Liberty are playing Stewie might better wait until she can find a new team next year. Sandy's 5 out offense has become a mess. And the defense is terrible.
I still say Dallas with Paige, Miller, Siegrist, and Lou would be a good place for 3 bigs who can play inside, and out, and are good defenders.
Paige would get Stewie, Emma, and JJ the ball and Paige , Lou, and Siegrist would knock down enough kickout shots to be a very good team.
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Are you suggesting she leave the defending champs to join a team in the running for worst in the league this year?

With Cloud and Ionescu, guards capable of setting up teammates is not a problem that NY has.
 
nwhoopfan said:
Bueckers used too much magic the other night, nothing left today. She's struggling and the Wings are getting blown out by the Storm...with Seattle's bench doing most of the work.
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First of all, credit to Seattle's defense (particularly Sykes and Diggins), but no one else on the Wings (besides Siegrist cleaning up some messes inside) could hit a shot tonight. Paige didn't even have an assist (& I had a feeling that it was going in that direction in the first quarter, when a beautiful Paige pass put a teammate in position for an uncontested layup - which, of course, was missed).
Paige scored all her points in the first half (6 on free throws) as Seattle's was fouling her virtually every time she touched the ball, and she only put up 2 or 3 shots in the 3rd quarter.
Dallas was brutally bad tonight, and Malonga (in contrast) was excitingly good.
At least Paige got to sit the entire fourth quarter...
 
nwhoopfan said:
Are you suggesting she leave the defending champs to join a team in the running for worst in the league this year?

With Cloud and Ionescu, guards capable of setting up teammates is not a problem that NY has.
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Those two are part of the problem, Sabrina shoots too much and Cloud has had a lot of bad games lately. And I don't see anything changing in that offense. The Liberty don't get many second chance points, and are near the bottom of the league in shooting free throws.
And that is because of Sandy's 5 out offense. Sandy won 1 title in phoenix with Dee, Griner , Bonner, Dupre, and Taylor a couple of years.
 
baggerbob said:
The way the Liberty are playing Stewie might better wait until she can find a new team next year. Sandy's 5 out offense has become a mess. And the defense is terrible.
I still say Dallas with Paige, Miller, Siegrist, and Lou would be a good place for 3 bigs who can play inside, and out, and are good defenders.
Paige would get Stewie, Emma, and JJ the ball and Paige , Lou, and Siegrist would knock down enough kickout shots to be a very good team.
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How exactly do you see this falling into place after this season? In one statement, you have Stewart leaving for Dallas. The next has Messeman and Jones also involved in this move. What am I missing here?

The other question I have is why would Stewart consider moving to Dallas when she's playing for a team and an ownership group who has made significant investments to provide their players with better resources? Dallas hasn't shown that level of commitment yet.
 
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