2025 WNBA Regular Season

[TheFarmFan]

Golden state has a really good atmosphere. And they are way better than I thought they would be.

Just gonna put this out here.

It was indeed every bit as GLORIOUS being part of it.

 

[cancontent]

Valks win, incredible crowd on hand.

Chloe Bibby in her first game outscored Caitlin Clark head to head. Amihere also with a monster game off the bench, I have no idea how she hasn't seen the floor the last couple of years. She's one of the best athletes in the league and is a solid player. Martin also solid off the bench.

Updated sample size, Clark's productivity/efficiency after getting at least 2 days off between games:
24.8 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.5 blocks, 4.3 TOs, 49.5% FG, 51.2% 3pt, 78.9% FT

Clark's efficiency with just 1 day off in between games :
13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 0 blocks, 6.7 TOs, 34.5% FG, 8.6% 3pt, 80% FT

Because she hadn't shown that she can play the way that she did last night. With a team like Atlanta that shouldn't have been hard to do considering some of the forwards that have been on the roster. There's no way she would have been cut, if she played like she did yesterday consistently. Heck, she hasn't shown this type of energy playing for Canada Basketball the last two Olympics either.

The way I see it is that something finally clicked for her. Maybe she needed to be cut to realize what it truly takes to make it in the WNBA.

 

[cancontent]

Wow, was that @TheFarmFan climbing the rafters out at Golden State?
Golden State outscores Indiana 33-18 to win 88-77. And GS's bench had 40+ pts.

• Tiff Hayes comes back from injury to score 14
• Chloe Bibby in -- I think I'm right here -- her first regular-season WNBA game goes for 12 and plays nearly 24 minutes.
• And Laeticia Amihere scores some some clutch layups en route to 10 points. Perhaps more importantly, 4 blocks.

Well, this was worth staying up for on the East Coast. Now, where's @TheFarmFan now?

Yup. The announcers mentioned it several times. Can't remember when she was first drafted, but damn.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Because she hadn't shown that she can play the way that she did last night. With a team like Atlanta that shouldn't have been hard to do considering some of the forwards that have been on the roster. There's no way she would have been cut, if she played like she did yesterday consistently. Heck, she hasn't shown this type of energy playing for Canada Basketball the last two Olympics either.

The way I see it is that something finally clicked for her. Maybe she needed to be cut to realize what it truly takes to make it in the WNBA.

@GamecockFam @Gamecockfan77 and other Gamecocks, feel free to weigh in here, but Amihere also really seems like an energy player, and she's probably used to sellout crowds and big energy from her time in a South Carolina uniform. She mentioned after the same during the presser (at around the 2:45 mark) that the fans gave her energy when they got down early. So I also wonder if she's just one of those "big shot" players who clicks when she's riding the wave but can also phone it in at times? She's not really a natural shooter or a naturally gifted player at any one phase of the game, but she's kind of a Swiss army knife who can do it all, so when she's high energy around the basket she magically makes things happen on offense, clogs the paint on defense, and is long and agile to disrupt passes. She also did an incredibly funny impression of Caitlin Clark doing one of her trademark face-grimace-flop acting jobs when the replay clearly showed no one touched CC at all, and was clearly riding the fan wave towards the end of the game and hamming it up.

(As an aside, having now seen CC twice in person, I gotta say: she's SUPER whiny. Hardly a possession went by when she wasn't complaining about a no-call on the way back down the sideline. By the end of it, I was pretty much on board with Podz' sideline antics:

 

[cancontent]

@GamecockFam @Gamecockfan77 and other Gamecocks, feel free to weigh in here, but Amihere also really seems like an energy player, and she's probably used to sellout crowds and big energy from her time in a South Carolina uniform. She mentioned after the same during the presser (at around the 2:45 mark) that the fans gave her energy when they got down early. So I also wonder if she's just one of those "big shot" players who clicks when she's riding the wave but can also phone it in at times? She's not really a natural shooter or a naturally gifted player at any one phase of the game, but she's kind of a Swiss army knife who can do it all, so when she's high energy around the basket she magically makes things happen on offense, clogs the paint on defense, and is long and agile to disrupt passes. She also did an incredibly funny impression of Caitlin Clark doing one of her trademark face-grimace-flop acting jobs when the replay clearly showed no one touched CC at all, and was clearly riding the fan wave towards the end of the game and hamming it up.

(As an aside, having now seen CC twice in person, I gotta say: she's SUPER whiny. Hardly a possession went by when she wasn't complaining about a no-call on the way back down the sideline. By the end of it, I was pretty much on board with Podz' sideline antics:

View attachment 110202

There needs to be a live cam of him during the game available for streaming. His energy is genuine and contagious. I'd be willing to take the hit on the USD conversion rate to see how he watches the game.

 

[CalWBBfan]

(As an aside, having now seen CC twice in person, I gotta say: she's SUPER whiny. Hardly a possession went by when she wasn't complaining about a no-call on the way back down the sideline. By the end of it, I was pretty much on board with Podz' sideline antics:

View attachment 110202

I gotta say, I really noticed that too. Meanwhile coach Nakase had drawn up a great defensive plan to thwart her shooting skills and I enjoyed it very much. She's so good... 45 bench points btw! And yes, the wave WAS the bomb. Ballhalla is amazing.

 

[GoChips20]

If the Valks finish in the ballpark of .500 Nakase should be a strong contender for COY. Valks have some nice pieces but still less talented than any team other than maybe Connecticut and Chicago. They don’t have an All-Star unless Thornton somehow makes it this year. They’re punching way above class IMO.

In reality it’s unlikely she’ll win if not in the top third, but I’m really impressed. Didn’t expect the Valks to be anywhere but the cellar of the league as an expansion team.

 

[Dillon77]

Yup. The announcers mentioned it several times. Can't remember when she was first drafted, but damn.

I don't know when she was first drafted either (out of Maryland?), but I can tell you she played in a National Championship game for Miss. State (vs ND) in 2018. Just one minute, but she' in the books. Seven years later, she's a rookie in the W -- as is ND's Kat Westbeld, now on the Mercury. It was a seven-year journey for both Bibby and Westbeld to go from a natty to the W.

BTW, no less than 8 players from that game are in the W: Bibby, Victoria Vivians and Big T from Miss. State and all five ND starters (Ogunbowale, Young, Mabrey, Shepard and Westbeld.)

Notre Dame 61-58 Mississippi State (Apr 1, 2018) Box Score - ESPN

Box score for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs NCAAW game from April 1, 2018 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.

www.espn.com

 

[cancontent]

I don't know when she was first drafted either (out of Maryland?), but I can tell you she played in a National Championship game for Miss. State (vs ND) in 2018. Just one minute, but she' in the books. Seven years later, she's a rookie in the W -- as is Kat Westbeld, now on the Mercury.

BTW, no less than 8 players from that game are in the W: Bibby, Victoria Vivians and Big T from Miss. State and all five ND starters (Ogunbowale, Young, Mabrey, Shepard and Westbeld.)

Notre Dame 61-58 Mississippi State (Apr 1, 2018) Box Score - ESPN

Box score for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs NCAAW game from April 1, 2018 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.

www.espn.com

Just did a Google search and she went undrafted in 2022.

 

[Dillon77]

Just did a Google search and she went undrafted in 2022.

So, like Westbeld (who I believe was drafted by the LA Sparks in '18), she's had to work her way to this point in many places and situations.

 

[visitingcock]

@GamecockFam @Gamecockfan77 and other Gamecocks, feel free to weigh in here, but Amihere also really seems like an energy player, and she's probably used to sellout crowds and big energy from her time in a South Carolina uniform. She mentioned after the same during the presser (at around the 2:45 mark) that the fans gave her energy when they got down early. So I also wonder if she's just one of those "big shot" players who clicks when she's riding the wave but can also phone it in at times? She's not really a natural shooter or a naturally gifted player at any one phase of the game, but she's kind of a Swiss army knife who can do it all, so when she's high energy around the basket she magically makes things happen on offense, clogs the paint on defense, and is long and agile to disrupt passes. She also did an incredibly funny impression of Caitlin Clark doing one of her trademark face-grimace-flop acting jobs when the replay clearly showed no one touched CC at all, and was clearly riding the fan wave towards the end of the game and hamming it up.

(As an aside, having now seen CC twice in person, I gotta say: she's SUPER whiny. Hardly a possession went by when she wasn't complaining about a no-call on the way back down the sideline. By the end of it, I was pretty much on board with Podz' sideline antics:

View attachment 110202

Amihere always plays at a high emotional level and doesn’t phone it in. She would be better off if she could contain her emotions a bit more. I don’t know how many times she pulled down a rebound then ran over her opponent. She is incredibly gigrted as an athlete but still needs some development in her offensive skills.

 

[GamecockFam]

@GamecockFam @Gamecockfan77 and other Gamecocks, feel free to weigh in here, but Amihere also really seems like an energy player, and she's probably used to sellout crowds and big energy from her time in a South Carolina uniform. She mentioned after the same during the presser (at around the 2:45 mark) that the fans gave her energy when they got down early. So I also wonder if she's just one of those "big shot" players who clicks when she's riding the wave but can also phone it in at times? She's not really a natural shooter or a naturally gifted player at any one phase of the game, but she's kind of a Swiss army knife who can do it all, so when she's high energy around the basket she magically makes things happen on offense, clogs the paint on defense, and is long and agile to disrupt passes. She also did an incredibly funny impression of Caitlin Clark doing one of her trademark face-grimace-flop acting jobs when the replay clearly showed no one touched CC at all, and was clearly riding the fan wave towards the end of the game and hamming it up.

(As an aside, having now seen CC twice in person, I gotta say: she's SUPER whiny. Hardly a possession went by when she wasn't complaining about a no-call on the way back down the sideline. By the end of it, I was pretty much on board with Podz' sideline antics:

View attachment 110202

Amihere always gives her all no matter the circumstances. She is never one to phone it in.

Her problems at South Carolina stemmed from her basketball smarts, or lack thereof. She isn't the best at making split second decisions on the court, and when she is struggling, she seems to compound the issue by throwing all strategy out the window and just bullying her way to the basket and forcing a foul. That typically led to bad things happening like turnovers, wild shots, or offensive fouls.

I think her time in the Australian league has led to a lightbulb coming on for her. Maybe the game has slowed down for her and it's starting to show. I also wonder if she tried too hard to be like Boston in college. She played too much with her back to the basket and that isn't her superpower.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Amihere always plays at a high emotional level and doesn’t phone it in. She would be better off if she could contain her emotions a bit more. I don’t know how many times she pulled down a rebound then ran over her opponent. She is incredibly gigrted as an athlete but still needs some development in her offensive skills.

Amihere always gives her all no matter the circumstances. She is never one to phone it in.

Her problems at South Carolina stemmed from her basketball smarts, or lack thereof. She isn't the best at making split second decisions on the court, and when she is struggling, she seems to compound the issue by throwing all strategy out the window and just bullying her way to the basket and forcing a foul. That typically led to bad things happening like turnovers, wild shots, or offensive fouls.

I think her time in the Australian league has led to a lightbulb coming on for her. Maybe the game has slowed down for her and it's starting to show. I also wonder if she tried too hard to be like Boston in college. She played too much with her back to the basket and that isn't her superpower.

Roger. I didn't remember her much from SCAR so I wasn't sure. She's definitely very raw, but Natalie and the coaches love high effort players and they seem to be really good and molding them and getting them confident to take better shots. (honestly Veronica Burton and Mo Billings are practically transformed players compared to what I remember from their prior W performances). Seems like she's landed in the perfect place to utilize her grit and hustle but contain that fuego.

 

[cancontent]

Amihere always gives her all no matter the circumstances. She is never one to phone it in.

Her problems at South Carolina stemmed from her basketball smarts, or lack thereof. She isn't the best at making split second decisions on the court, and when she is struggling, she seems to compound the issue by throwing all strategy out the window and just bullying her way to the basket and forcing a foul. That typically led to bad things happening like turnovers, wild shots, or offensive fouls.

I think her time in the Australian league has led to a lightbulb coming on for her. Maybe the game has slowed down for her and it's starting to show. I also wonder if she tried too hard to be like Boston in college. She played too much with her back to the basket and that isn't her superpower.

Sometimes I wonder if some of this stems from her time with Canada Basketball as a teen. Once she got noticed for dunking, they put more of a focus on her athleticism versus working to round out her skills overall. Losing two high school seasons due to ACL injuries didn't help either.

 

[Dillon77]

Amihere always gives her all no matter the circumstances. She is never one to phone it in.

Her problems at South Carolina stemmed from her basketball smarts, or lack thereof. She isn't the best at making split second decisions on the court, and when she is struggling, she seems to compound the issue by throwing all strategy out the window and just bullying her way to the basket and forcing a foul. That typically led to bad things happening like turnovers, wild shots, or offensive fouls.

I think her time in the Australian league has led to a lightbulb coming on for her. Maybe the game has slowed down for her and it's starting to show. I also wonder if she tried too hard to be like Boston in college. She played too much with her back to the basket and that isn't her superpower.

Good analysis by you and @cancontent.
I remember a very gifted athlete who can soar and glide, but sometimes gets stuck on the concept of only doing just that. I was noting that she was more measured most of the time yesterday, but saw one play where she dribbled out from the baseline and started hooking back towards the lane. At that time, she had both Thornton and Bibby wide open for threes. But she put her head down and kept attacking into the paint and through two defenders for a layup....and an FT. However, it just as easily could've been a charge or TO.

But that ability is great and her shot blocking is a major plus. Will be interesting to see how the next month goes with her, Bibby, etc.

 

[Bigboote]

Just did a Google search and she went undrafted in 2022.

I wonder whether two years at UMD hurt Bibby? I can see how going from a very defense-oriented to more offense-oriented program could expand her game. OTOH, she also went from a very disciplined to much more freewheeling style, which I could see leading to some regression.

I don’t know what went into her decision to go play under Brenda rather than follow Vic to Texas. Could have had more to do with a graduate program than basketball. I’ve always liked her game; maybe a few years of Australian home-cooking has benefitted her.

 

[cancontent]

I wonder whether two years at UMD hurt Bibby? I can see how going from a very defense-oriented to more offense-oriented program could expand her game. OTOH, she also went from a very disciplined to much more freewheeling style, which I could see leading to some regression.

I don’t know what went into her decision to go play under Brenda rather than follow Vic to Texas. Could have had more to do with a graduate program than basketball. I’ve always liked her game; maybe a cew years of Australian home-cooking has benefitted her.

Fair question to ask but don't know if it really made a difference. For contrast, Charlie Collier had the benefit of Schaefer being her coach and was drafted by the Wings. She lasted a year, maybe two in the league?

The Australian league has been great for players like Hillmon, Amihere, and others. Bibby being able to compete there has taken advantage of the opportunity and I'm happy for her.

 

[MilfordHusky]

If the Valks finish in the ballpark of .500 Nakase should be a strong contender for COY. Valks have some nice pieces but still less talented than any team other than maybe Connecticut and Chicago. They don’t have an All-Star unless Thornton somehow makes it this year. They’re punching way above class IMO.

In reality it’s unlikely she’ll win if not in the top third, but I’m really impressed. Didn’t expect the Valks to be anywhere but the cellar of the league as an expansion team.

Golden State seems to be a clear case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. Over time, the individual players may get more recognition.

 

[azfan]

Where's the complaining about the "million $ coach" now? LOL.

Great game by Phx in spite of being without Copper. Their rookies are GOOD. Great game for Stewie, who found her 3 point shot, at least for 1 game. Is she above 15% for the season now?!!

Suddenly Minny and NY don't look so unbeatable. Could we see Indiana and Phx in the finals??

Winning on the road is hard and the Mercury were able to do that. Jonquil Jones I think is critical for the Liberty so her injury did impact the game.

That's said in the third quarter the Mercury picked up two technicals the first by the Cameroonian guard who slammed the hoop stand and the second was originally indicated to be on the million dollar coach but later changed to AT

The momentum immediately swung to the Liberty who made a charge into the fourth quarter. That said the Liberty couldn't overcome the injury to Jones and it's worth remembering that another starter is playing in Europe.

Having said all that the Mercury did accomplish something very hard. Was it worth a million dollars? That remains to be seen.

An answer to your final question Indiana appears to be far out of the hunt. The development of the Mercury throughout the second portion of the season is perhaps one of the more interesting stories in the w.

Will the frenetic 3-point shooting continue to succeed and will the Mercury have the same success defensively in the second half?

If Nate is worth 1.2 million dollars then Cheryl Reeves is worth 2.4 million and Sandy Brondello is worth 2.9 million. The latter two coaches have won championships, the million dollar coach appears to be developing but as of now has won nothing.

If you were a GM or an owner which of those three coaches would be the first on your list? Okay that's obvious. I know that the boneyard as a mixed view of the championship winning coach in New York but I would suspect an owner of a franchise would have the million dollar coach third on that list.

 

[Geew1992]

Golden State seems to be a clear case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. Over time, the individual players may get more recognition.

Gotta give a lot of credit to the coach.

 

[Bigboote]

Gotta give a lot of credit to the coach.

I absolutely agree. I’ll add that I’m sure Lisa Bluder is beaming about Kate Martin’s impact. And I hope the Aces front office is smarting about letting her go.

I’ve loved Kate’s game since her early days at Iowa. She’s one of those who’s not great at any one thing but knows what needs to be done and how to do it to help her team win. She’s a great glue player.

 

[Dillon77]

Atlanta holds on at home to win 92-91, even though they were outscored 31-20 by the visiting Mystics in the fourth quarter.
One of those games in which you wonder what would've happened with 30, 20, or even 10 seconds more.

Still, all power to the Dream: all of their starters were in double figures and got solid contributions off the bench by Coffey, Paopao and Hillmon.

For the Mystics, Shakira Austin was out of her mind, scoring 28 points on 13-17 shooting, while grabbing 10 rebounds. Brittany Sykes had 21, while Sonia Citron scored 17 in another Citronesque all-round game.

 

[GoChips20]

Is it an overreaction to say that Loyd’s time as an All-Star is behind her?

 

[GoChips20]

It’s gone under the radar a bit this year, but the Mystics are fairly stacked in the post with Austin, Iriafen, and Edwards. Only Austin can play C though.

 

[GamecockFam]

It’s gone under the radar a bit this year, but the Mystics are fairly stacked in the post with Austin, Iriafen, and Edwards. Only Austin can play C though.

And Engstler and Dolson...

Speaking of Edwards, after her time at Unrivaled I really thought she would shine this year in the WNBA. I guess her injuries set her back a little and now she is stuck behind everyone on a stacked roster.