2025 WNBA Regular Season | Page 21 | The Boneyard

2025 WNBA Regular Season

Dallas was very competitive against Seattle last night and this was without Bueckers and Harris running the point. No one saw this team being an upstart underdog. Carrington showed why she was Most Improved last season. They didn't need Ogunbowale to be the leading point scorer. They killed Seattle on the offensive glass when they have a size deficit.

Even if the coach is fired mid-season, how will that improve things? And who is available to take over that would make a significant impact at this point of the season?

Like I've said before in previous posts, this is very similar to what Indiana went through last year. There were complaints about the roster, coaching, etc. Sides did just enough to make the team more competitive for the second half finding gems in Hull and Temi (now at GS), when they hadn't been seen as key pieces before. The off-season is going to be wide open for free agency. Dallas should have an easier time attracting free agents.

There is talks that Lisa Leslie was turned down. Idk if she's available now. I don't even know if she would be any better. She has no experience at all but people think she should've been the choice.
 
There is talks that Lisa Leslie was turned down. Idk if she's available now. I don't even know if she would be any better. She has no experience at all but people think she should've been the choice.
And that's the conundrum we're dealing with here. For all we know Koclanes may get the ship righted, Miller finds some great free agents during the off-season and Dallas has a team similar to what Indiana has this year.

I appreciate that UConn fans want the best situation for Paige, but nothing was going to change in Dallas overnight. Patience is needed (yeah - I know... that's a tough sell on this board ;))
 
Investigation by “the WNBA and league security.” I have no idea what would lead to this.
Agreed, which is why I said details are unclear. This could be totally different than the previous investigation.
 
Dallas was very competitive against Seattle last night and this was without Bueckers and Harris running the point. No one saw this team being an upstart underdog. Carrington showed why she was Most Improved last season. They didn't need Ogunbowale to be the leading point scorer. They killed Seattle on the offensive glass when they have a size deficit.

Even if the coach is fired mid-season, how will that improve things? And who is available to take over that would make a significant impact at this point of the season?

Like I've said before in previous posts, this is very similar to what Indiana went through last year. There were complaints about the roster, coaching, etc. Sides did just enough to make the team more competitive for the second half finding gems in Hull and Temi (now at GS), when they hadn't been seen as key pieces before. The off-season is going to be wide open for free agency. Dallas should have an easier time attracting free agents.
I see your point. And while I don’t like to see people losing their jobs, I believe something needs to be done about the Dallas Wings. I also realize that this is (probably) the coach’s first position as a head coach, so lots of growing pains will present themselves. Additionally, there needs to be a better assembly of players, who can complement each other. But, it may be too late now to make such changes.
 
Who gets shown the door first - the 1.2 million dollar coach or the Dallas coach
Won't be Tibbetts unless Satou, Kah, or AT absolutely hate his guts.
 
Really? 5-3 is .500? Not sure why you have like 4 posts on here ridiculing him - I think Phoenix is doing incredible given they are without Copper AND Alyssa Thomas not to mention back up center Mack...

I'll be curious to see how good they are when they got Thomas and Copper back. And for the record, I do think WNBA coaches should be paid good salaries. As should the players, which is apparently changing in the very near future...
Career record in the W. lol


19-21 last year as a head "coach" in Phoenix and as you point out 5-3 this year with wins over Sparks, Mystics and Sky *( by 5 points) and is under .500 against the Lynx 1-5 last year and 0-2 this year. Against the Liberty 1-2 last year and . . . well we know how the 1.2 million dollar coach will fare against the Liberty this year)

Hope spring eternal . . .

I agree on salaries

Sandy Brondello - coach of defending W champs - 500,000
Cheryl Reeves 4 WNBA championships 650,000

If Nate Tibbets is a 1 million dollar coach, those two champs are worth 4 million.

Nate Tibbets in his first head coaching job and first time coaching women with a career record as a head coach of .500 - 1.2 million

I would like to see compensation that reflects results.

As a Mercury fan I expect that the highest paid coach in WNBA history, the first coach to "earn" 1.2 million, a coach who makes more that every WNBA championship coach in history - well I expect more than a .500 team. A team that consistently losses to the elite teams and coaches in the league.
 
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I see your point. And while I don’t like to see people losing their jobs, I believe something needs to be done about the Dallas Wings. I also realize that this is (probably) the coach’s first position as a head coach, so lots of growing pains will present themselves. Additionally, there needs to be a better assembly of players, who can complement each other. But, it may be too late now to make such changes.
@cancontent

Exec. Point to Leave Behind: Yup, it's too late to do anything (whatever that may be) in 2025 given the personnel.
And given the circumstances -- stay with me a bit -- that is probably the way to go for the 2026 season.

Context:
Former President and GM Greg Bibb finally kicked himself upstairs and hired Curt Miller, who was primarily responsible for the version of the Connecticut Sun that rocked, bumped and rolled into semifinals for years but were never able to win the big ones.
Miller had quite a task with Satou Sabally demanding a trade and a team that was anchored/chained to their erstwhile shooting guard. He moved a lot of players, bringing in players he knew (Carrington, Harris) and those whose style of play he knew and conceivably liked (Hines-Allen). And to coach them, he hired his longtime Conn. Sun assistant Chris Koclanes. Yes, he's very much a rookie coach and while I think no one would call this a "practice" year (heck, they are pro's), he can get the ya-ya's out because...

...Most of the team, as we know it, will be UFA's after this season, including one Arike Ogunbowale, Hines-Allen, Carrington, Big T McCowan and Ty Harris. Who will be back?
  • Maddy Siegrist and Lou Lopez-Senechal (Remember her? She's taking the year off).
  • And the rookies who made the squad will almost certainly be back: Paige Bueckers, Aziah James and JJ Quinerly.

In short, GM Miller will have a lot more flexibility to construct the roster the way he wants to; whether it's with a few folks who played for the Wings this year or a whole slew of pinpointed talent that can mesh with Bueckers, James, Siegrist, etc. Unless Koclanes completely deep sixes, I suspect he'll be back for a mulligan.

Like @cancontent , I thought the Wings hung in there pretty well against the Storm until they couldn't....Carrington is still rough around the edges but keeps coming and Hines-Allen, a very undersized paint player, grabbed 12 rebounds in 23+ minutes against some height.

Getting one/both point guards will help a bunch this season, but make no mistake....a lot of these Wings will fly out of Dallas before next season.
 
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I see your point. And while I don’t like to see people losing their jobs, I believe something needs to be done about the Dallas Wings. I also realize that this is (probably) the coach’s first position as a head coach, so lots of growing pains will present themselves. Additionally, there needs to be a better assembly of players, who can complement each other. But, it may be too late now to make such changes.
This roster will change over time. Miller did what he could for his first year, including a trade for last year's MIP and executing the 4th year option on Siegrist. He's taking a chance on Smith, in my opinion, which doesn't hurt for one season.

Miller unfortunately has more focus on his front office decisions because of Bueckers being on the roster. Personally, I don't know how much better he could have made the roster. When I look at teams like LA, Connecticut, and GS, the same could be said about each team to an extent.
 
Career record in the W. lol


19-21 last year as a head "coach" in Phoenix and as you point out 5-3 this year with wins over Sparks, Mystics and Sky *( by 5 points) and is under .500 against the Lynx 1-5 last year and 0-2 this year. Against the Liberty 1-2 last year and . . . well we know how the 1.2 million dollar coach will fare against the Liberty this year)

Hope spring eternal . . .

I agree on salaries

Sandy Brondello - coach of defending W champs - 500,000
Cheryl Reeves 4 WNBA championships 650,000

If Nate Tibbets is a 1 million dollar coach, those two champs are worth 4 million.

Nate Tibbets in his first head coaching job and first time coaching women with a career record as a head coach of .500 - 1.2 million

I would like to see compensation that reflects results.

As a Mercury fan I expect that the highest paid coach in WNBA history, the first coach to "earn" 1.2 million, a coach who makes more that every WNBA championship coach in history - well I expect more than a .500 team. A team that consistently losses to the elite teams and coaches in the league.

Doesn't Becky Hammon make about $1 million per year? She left the NBA (and its pay scale) for the WNBA.
 
Just give me 40 minutes of Pheesa. No BS. Teamwork. All aspects of the game. makes every teammate better. & wins!
A'ja Wilson, too. Just compete & win.

WNBA becoming a laughingstock. Promoting drama! Becoming unwatchable.
 
Jewell Loyd was very unhappy and eager to get out of Seattle. This week, Li Yeuru asked to be traded.
Same store, but think there's a case of apples and oranges:
- Loyd -- who had only spent her entire career there -- wanted out because of a culture of administrative intimidation. The Storm's own investigation -- surprise, surprise -- didn't find this to be the case but traded her to a Western rival. Why is it not a surprise that the alleged incident took place between the Aces (where Ms. Loyd currently plays) and a coach from the Storm. On the same staff that was investigated? And Ms. Quinn says we all learn and take it forward. Yeah, right.

- The Sonics -- if I have the time order right -- picked up Li Yeuru in a trade with Sparks and probably intended here to be a prime backup in the paint. Then, in no short order, Olivia Miles decides to go pro -- but in college -- and doesn't enter the draft; thereby having the Storm pick up Ms. Malonga, who just happens to play the same position.

So, will the Storm respect this request and ship her out? Don't hear about these kinds of trades often, but is there a player that the Storm might want to get for either this season and/or would be able to hold onto in 2026? Here's a thought: Ezi Magbegor is an unrestricted free agent (like so many players), while Li Yeuru is an ERFA (exclusive rights). Magbegor seems to have hit a Plateau-like season. Malonga - Magbegor look like the same player from a functional standpoint at this time in their careers. Perhaps the Storm could see what deal would help most. Yeuru can play....look at her work for the Chinese National Team. But does anyone want to put the time into it in a condensed season?

Well, at least she's not accusing the coaching staff of intimidation....:rolleyes:
 
Jewell Loyd was very unhappy and eager to get out of Seattle. This week, Li Yeuru asked to be traded.


Those situations are separate from the investigation. Per ESPN, it's not focused on the Storm specifically.

And to top up on the Yeuru trade, per sources it's due to playing time, which makes sense considering the roster this season. Playing time isn't an unusual reason.

"Li, 26, is an important part of the Chinese national team. She led China in scoring (17.7) and rebounding (11.0) at the Paris Olympics last year. According to the source, the Chinese federation prefers Li get more playing time if she is to remain in the WNBA."
 
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Same store, but think there's a case of apples and oranges:
- Loyd -- who had only spent her entire career there -- wanted out because of a culture of administrative intimidation. The Storm's own investigation -- surprise, surprise -- didn't find this to be the case but traded her to a Western rival. Why is it not a surprise that the alleged incident took place between the Aces (where Ms. Loyd currently plays) and a coach from the Storm. On the same staff that was investigated? And Ms. Quinn says we all learn and take it forward. Yeah, right.

- The Sonics -- if I have the time order right -- picked up Li Yeuru in a trade with Sparks and probably intended here to be a prime backup in the paint. Then, in no short order, Olivia Miles decides to go pro -- but in college -- and doesn't enter the draft; thereby having the Storm pick up Ms. Malonga, who just happens to play the same position.

So, will the Storm respect this request and ship her out? Don't hear about these kinds of trades often, but is there a player that the Storm might want to get for either this season and/or would be able to hold onto in 2026? Here's a thought: Ezi Magbegor is an unrestricted free agent (like so many players), while Li Yeuru is an ERFA (exclusive rights). Magbegor seems to have hit a Plateau-like season. Malonga - Magbegor look like the same player from a functional standpoint at this time in their careers. Perhaps the Storm could see what deal would help most. Yeuru can play....look at her work for the Chinese National Team. But does anyone want to put the time into it in a condensed season?

Well, at least she's not accusing the coaching staff of intimidation....:rolleyes:

I think you mean the Storm, not the Sonics. ;)
 
I shout profanity at my TV all the time and TV security isn’t investigating me. As far as I know. :oops:
im watching you look at me GIF by I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia
 
Jewell Loyd was very unhappy and eager to get out of Seattle. This week, Li Yeuru asked to be traded.
Li Yeuru is asking for a trade because the Chinese National team, which has a lot of influence on how their players are utilized in the WNBA, wants more playing time for their players. Pretty much the same thing happened in Chicago. Her stint in LA was a combination of things.
 
Li Yeuru is asking for a trade because the Chinese National team, which has a lot of influence on how their players are utilized in the WNBA, wants more playing time for their players. Pretty much the same thing happened in Chicago. Her stint in LA was a combination of things.
She can go as far as I'm concerned. She's not terrible, but not great either. You don't like the minutes you are getting in the league? Get better. Honestly I hope no one wants her. Let her go back to China.
 

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