2025 WNBA Regular Season

[MilfordHusky]

Okay...is it too soon to declare Bonner the biggest free agent bust? Bench her and play Hull and Cunningham.

I'm puzzled. She was good last year, but isn't getting any shots now.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Reese still can't shoot. At all. 5-22 to start the season. Better sign up for some more off season work w/ Lisa Leslie.

 

[GamecockFam]

What an oddly officiated game today. I feel like neither Indiana or Atlanta could figure out the reffing because it was so inconsistent. At times they were letting them get physical and at other times they were handing out fouls for breathing on the opponent.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

The officiating has been terrible the first two days imo. No flow to these games. Way too many whistles.

Stagnant- - -The officiating in WBB (college and WNBA) has been awful forever so don't expect any improvements!

 

[cancontent]

Okay...is it too soon to declare Bonner the biggest free agent bust? Bench her and play Hull and Cunningham.

After 3 games? I think so. If this continues by the All-Star game, this would be a fair statement.

 

[Dillon77]

Indiana and Atlanta had another close one. Some odd stats: Bonner 1 point; Boston 4 points; Clark 11/4/6 (no treys); Griner 5 points.

Meanwhile, NY set a record with 19 treys, as they had balanced scoring and won big. Cloud had another good game, with 18/4/8, and Burke had 17. Banham had 5 treys off the bench, but Reese shot 0-8 and 2-6 on FTs.

Apparently, Clark held the longest streak of games with a three-pointer made from the start of a career in league history. It stood at 42 until this game.

 

[Dillon77]

I'm puzzled. She was good last year, but isn't getting any shots now.

You're right. The last two years at Connecticut she was averaging more than 13.0 shots per game. So far, it's just 4 per game, in which she's playing 20 mpg.

As @cancontent noted, it's still really early so I hardly think Bonner has lost her touch entirely. If anything, I think she and Steph White -- who, after all was her coach at Connecticut, too -- have to figure how to get her the ball. Last year, a lof ot Sun distribution went through Alyssa Thomas at the high post. AT would then move it to the point of delivery and, needless the say, she and DB were on the same page for a variety of reasons.

Nobody is AT so there have to be different ways to get her involved...or for her to get involved. Still early yet, but worth watching.

 

[bbsamjj]

You're right. The last two years at Connecticut she was averaging more than 13,0 shots per game. So far, it's just 4 per game, in which she's playing 20 mpg.

As @cancontent noted, it's still really early so I hardly think Bonner has lost her touch entirely. If anything, I think she and Steph White -- who, after all was her coach at Connecticut, too -- have to figure how to get her the ball. Last year, a lof ot Sun distribution went through Alyssa Thomas at the high post. AT would then move it to the point of delivery and, needless the say, she and DB were on the same page for a variety of reasons.

Nobody is AT so there have to be different ways to get her involved...or for her to get involved. Still early yet, but worth watching.

Not exactly the same situation, but when NYL first formed their super team, it took them about half a season to figure out how to get Betnijah Laney (who had been their leading scorer who her last full year of health and a doubel digit scorer the previous year) incorporated into the offense and effective. With Clark, Mitchell and Boston such effective scorers, not surprising Bonner taking a bit of time to find where she fits.

 

[cancontent]

Not exactly the same situation, but when NYL first formed their super team, it took them about half a season to figure out how to get Betnijah Laney (who had been their leading scorer who her last full year of health and a doubel digit scorer the previous year) incorporated into the offense and effective. With Clark, Mitchell and Boston such effective scorers, not surprising Bonner taking a bit of time to find where she fits.

Plus Howard and Cunningham (now that she's available). This team is still adjusting to how this roster operates compared to last season.

 

[GamecockFam]

Apparently, Clark held the longest streak of games with a three-pointer made from the start of a career in league history. It stood at 42 until this game.

Rhyne Howard was a defensive menace. She locked down CC. I think it's interesting that the core three (CC, AB, KM) had fantastic games in the loss, yet struggled in the win. Part of that was the foul trouble woes of Clark and Boston in the rematch but I also think Atlanta put a larger focus on stopping Clark/Boston which allowed for more freedom from the supporting cast.

Both Atlanta and Indiana are going to be dangerous teams in the playoffs after they become more polished.

 

[cancontent]

Rhyne Howard was a defensive menace. She locked down CC. I think it's interesting that the core three (CC, AB, KM) had fantastic games in the loss, yet struggled in the win. Part of that was the foul trouble woes of Clark and Boston in the rematch but I also think Atlanta put a larger focus on stopping Clark/Boston which allowed for more freedom from the supporting cast.

Both Atlanta and Indiana are going to be dangerous teams in the playoffs after they become more polished.

Regarding Atlanta, hoping Griner works out the foul trouble kinks she's experienced so far. Losing her in the 4th didn't help the Dream yesterday.

 

[FormerCTrez]

Congratulations to the Golden State Valkyries on winning their very first game. 76-74 against the Washington Mystics.

 

[bballnut90]

Rhyne Howard was a defensive menace. She locked down CC. I think it's interesting that the core three (CC, AB, KM) had fantastic games in the loss, yet struggled in the win. Part of that was the foul trouble woes of Clark and Boston in the rematch but I also think Atlanta put a larger focus on stopping Clark/Boston which allowed for more freedom from the supporting cast.

Both Atlanta and Indiana are going to be dangerous teams in the playoffs after they become more polished.

Natasha Howard stepped up massively last night and was the difference. It was almost like an inverse of the previous game.

IIRC Clark often struggled playing games with just 1 day of rest in between last year. We'll see if the pattern continues this year, but so far she's been brilliant on 2+ days of rest (first 2 games) and struggled in the game with just one off day in between.

 

[azfan]

On the topic of good-natured reflection, after a couple of days of back and forth on Arike I was thinking of both her and Chennedy Carter in the context of athletics and culture.

Both of these athletes are truly gifted at an elite level. They also engage in the sport with a fierce passion.

Neither has experienced ultimate success in the professional game and there's a certain...... stigma that follows them both. There's been a phrase developed over the years that indicates an athlete is uncoachable. I've been thinking that maybe some athletes are resistant to a culture that emphasizes team over self.

When it comes to team sports a key attribute is the ability to integrate with your teammates. To differing degrees and in different dimensions AO and Kennedy appear to lack the desire or the ability to do that.

I wonder if their past LED them to individual rather than team sport if perhaps their level of success at the pro level might be different.

I fantasize that they were both professional pickleball players and while they might end up being ejected from their matches there would be no question about the consequences of their responsibility or lack thereof.

Dawn Staley Reveals Message to MiLaysia Fulwiley Amid South Carolina Transfer

The women's college basketball community was thrown into collective shock when it was announced that former South Carolins Gamecocks guard MiLaysia Fulwiley was

www.si.com

Dawn's take on Fulwiley hits at the point I was trying to make about AO and Chennedy.

There are givers and takers and team sports reveals wrote clearly who you are.

Paige is a giver and ....... These other folks aren't

 

[azfan]

Natasha Howard stepped up massively last night and was the difference. It was almost like an inverse of the previous game.

IIRC Clark often struggled playing games with just 1 day of rest in between last year. We'll see if the pattern continues this year, but so far she's been brilliant on 2+ days of rest (first 2 games) and struggled in the game with just one off day in between.

Both Howard and DB looked tired and old in their last game

Interesting that on the same amount of rest Howard looked so much more ..... (In the flow?) than CC.

 

[azfan]

Takeaways from the first week of the WNBA

Looking at some of the very early trends around the league to open the season

open.substack.com

Collier's overview of week 1in the w is spot on and a pleasure to read if a bit lengthy. In my view this is the must-read newsletter for both anticipating action in the w and analysis

(My evaluation is certainly shaped by the fact he and I are in alignment on almost all of these week one developments)

Tidbits:

"It’s been two games so pushing a panic button right away doesn’t seem fair. And yet: Dallas, panic! Panic! Panic!"

Lol

"NYL looks the part"
Great analysts of Cloud's impact.

"Williams and Collier are crushing it for the Lynx"


Regarding Chicago

"There is no answer in sight unless______".

I would say fill in the blank with lots of delusion and drugs. The analysis of Chicago is spot on and as a Mercury fan I've seen this story unfold.

Voepel agrees

Best surprises, worst surprises and no surprises: Takeaways from Week 1 of the WNBA

The Mercury's depth is better than expected, and shooting from the Sky and Valkyries has underwhelmed.

www.espn.com

We may not know exactly what Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen are going to be in the WNBA but it was pretty clear in their first three games that they are going to be something.
The Storm have no depth but they’re doing the right thing with Malonga

 

[TheFarmFan]

Hats off to Golden State on their 1st win of the season and to their fanbase. Another packed house!? Well done.

Thanks! I was at the game, and it was probably the best women's basketball game crowd vibe I've ever attended. It was so lit, and our fan-base is so into it that it's almost self-replicating: when everyone else is going wild, you kind of want to too. When Slim missed the first of her two free throws down the stretch, it sounded like we just won the Super Bowl.

I'm viewing this season as an opportunity to audition future free agents who roll through town and hopefully will leave thinking

Genuinely, I have to imagine at least some of the players leave thinking how cool it would be for this to be every home game, and I'm hoping we win just enough games (and keep it close in a number more) to keep the crowd in it. Quality of basketball aside, it's just a really awesome fan experience.

 

[bballnut90]

Both Howard and DB looked tired and old in their last game

Interesting that on the same amount of rest Howard looked so much more ..... (In the flow?) than CC.

May have been motivated due to her awful showing the previous game. At any rate, she stepped up and more than came through for Indiana.

 

[Dillon77]

This is not a game thread, but during a timeout in the Minnesota-Conn. game:

• Saniya Rivers is going to be able to play in this league. Easily.
• The reffing is woefully inconsistent. Bodies flying and nothing, then arbitrary weird "really?" calls.
• Mabrey's first two games are over. She's on all cylinders so far with intensity.
• Phee missed her first free throw of the year?

18-0 run out of nowhere now has Minnesota in front with a three by Heidemann

 

[Dillon77]

Lynx come back to win 76-70, as Sun score 2 points in last five minutes.

As hot as Connecticut was in the first half, they were middlin' in the third and ice cold in the fourth.
Lindsay Allen went out in the first quarter with a leg injury and never returned. She was missed in the fourth when there was no rhyme or reason to the Sun.

Lynx kept their composure until they got it going. Phee went for 33 (!) and Heidemann scored 11 in the fourth quarter.
Shepard had 13 and, amazingly, those were the only three in double figures. They're undefeated and Kayla McBride just showed up on the bench, so they'll only get better.

 

[cancontent]

This is not a game thread, but during a timeout in the Minnesota-Conn. game:

• Saniya Rivers is going to be able to play in this league. Easily.
• The reffing is woefully inconsistent. Bodies flying and nothing, then arbitrary weird "really?" calls.
• Mabrey's first two games are over. She's on all cylinders so far with intensity.
• Phee missed her first free throw of the year?

18-0 run out of nowhere now has Minnesota in front with a three by Heidemann

Entertaining game. First time I've gotten a chance to watch Connecticut play and I liked what they're doing. Unfortunate that they went cold in the fourth. Turnovers didn't help.

While Minnesota's ability to dig in and come back was fun to watch, is it me or this has been their habit so far? Hopefully it's not a habit/trend. They may not be able to make up double digit deficits that easily against the top teams in the lead.

 

[cancontent]

Dang. Talk about uphill battle.

 

[baggerbob]

Entertaining game. First time I've gotten a chance to watch Connecticut play and I liked what they're doing. Unfortunate that they went cold in the fourth. Turnovers didn't help.

While Minnesota's ability to dig in and come back was fun to watch, is it me or this has been their habit so far? Hopefully it's not a habit/trend. They may not be able to make up double digit deficits that easily against the top teams in the lead.

The schedule they have to start the season is the easiest in the league.

 

[AidanFan20]

Tonight, I just bought a ticket to see the Wings play at Golden State. Can't wait...

 

[Dillon77]

Dang. Talk about uphill battle.

And despite this loss, they were winning this game until the last two seconds until Jewell Loyd, who had one shot all game, hit a three to cement a 75-72 win. I thought Coach Johnson should've used his last timeout several times to set up a play, but he relied on Sutton or Sutton to create plays. More often than not, it didn't work. What did work was Iriafen's rebounding and Sonia Citron's overall play.
Coach...next time, set something up for those two to work off each other.