2025 WNBA Regular Season | Page 38 | The Boneyard

2025 WNBA Regular Season

Given this performance by Minnesota (dismantling of the Sparks without Phee) and the news that Jonquel Jones is going to miss 4-6 weeks, I think it's safe to say that the Lynx are the best team in the WNBA.
 
Baller29 said:
Aces have one of the worst defenses in the league. Until that changes they aren’t gonna be a threat to make a run
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Kind of surprising considering they have:
A'ja Wilson-2x WNBA DPOY
Jackie Young-known for being an elite defender
Jewell Loyd-known for being a strong defender
Kiah Stokes-known fo being an elite post defender

Chelsea Gray is the only starter who isn't known for her defense
 
Dillon77 said:
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.)

www.espn.com

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 www.espn.com
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Sigh. Happy for Bibby but I still have nightmares about that second half collapse lol.
 
Geew1992 said:
They shouldn’t be. That pick goes to the Lynx
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I did not know that Minnesota had the rights to Chicago's draft pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Things get interesting with Chicago and their play as the season moves along. We, here in Minnesota, could be looking at a top 1-3, maybe 4th, draft pick. All depends on the draft lottery and what teams do moving up or down in the draft positioning.
 
bballnut90 said:
Kind of surprising considering they have:
A'ja Wilson-2x WNBA DPOY
Jackie Young-known for being an elite defender
Jewell Loyd-known for being a strong defender
Kiah Stokes-known fo being an elite post defender

Chelsea Gray is the only starter who isn't known for her defense
Expand ...
I have to disagree with most of this list.

First, Jackie Young is not known to be an elite defender (she's good, but she gets lit up too often for my tastes). She's cited as being a great two-way player (which she is), but her defense is not winning her any awards. She's never made an All-Defense team--ever. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Jewell has never been considered a strong defender. She's been, at best, seen as being above average due to her length and athletic ability (so she's capable physically of doing things defensively that Plum couldn't do). However, she is prone to embarrassing defensive lapses.

Chelsea is actually a better defender than she's given credit for. Her hands are quick and she can cover multiple positions. She's solid.

Kiah is not an elite post defender and hasn't been a good one since 2023. The last time we had an elite one not named A'ja was Candace Parker in 2023 (who was on her way to winning her second DPOY before getting injured). These days, Kiah is closer to average than good.

That said, the defense still should be much better than it is. As A'ja pointed out recently, the defense isn't good because people aren't actually playing defense. It's not an ability issue. It's not a "scheme" issue. It's a willingness issue. If the Lynx players not named Phee or Alanna Smith are physically able to defend the toughest players in the league, so are Vegas' non-A'ja players.
 
azfan said:
Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas play little to no defense. So far the Aces are above that level but not that much.
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We've shown that we can defend (second Seattle game, Minnesota game, Phoenix game). We don't defend consistently, which may be worse than not being able to defend at all.

I'm holding out hope that it'll be straightened out by the end of the season.
 
I bet when ESPN made their schedule for WNBA games, they didn't think today's Aces vs. Fever game would involve teams w/ records of 6-6 and 5-7. This was supposed to be a blockbuster match up, not a game between middle of the pack teams.


Here's an interesting stat they just showed. In their entire history, there have been 32 games for the Fever where a player recorded 10 or more assists. Clark has 16 of them.
 
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Aces avoid a 4 game losing streak. I thought Indiana would get on a roll when Clark came back from injury, but it's just not happening. Can't seem to get in a consistent groove so far this year.
 
visitingcock said:
Another 16 pt game for Tehina off the bench She has been on fire from 3 pint range the last four games with a crazy shooting percentage.
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A little bit tough for you seeing some South Carolina against South Carolina violence today? Boston got the better of it early, but Wilson finished the game strong.
 
Mystics-Wings going OT. Dallas led most of the way, Washington rallied in the 4th quarter and took the lead, Bueckers hit a long 3 w/ 11 seconds left to tie it up.
 
cancontent said:
She got drafted by the right team. Smesko's offence is perfect for her.

Heck that offence seems great for everyone in Atlanta. Who had Naz Hillmon making two 3 pt shots each game? Not I! :eek:
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Of the 2 recent college to WNBA coaching moves, Smesko so far appears to be working out much better than Roberts w/ LA.
 
Wings scored first 4 points of OT, Mystics ended game on 7-0 run. Big game for Citron. Ogunbowale and Bueckers combined for 47 but didn't get enough help.
 
WBBTakeover said:
I have to disagree with most of this list.

First, Jackie Young is not known to be an elite defender (she's good, but she gets lit up too often for my tastes). She's cited as being a great two-way player (which she is), but her defense is not winning her any awards. She's never made an All-Defense team--ever. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Jewell has never been considered a strong defender. She's been, at best, seen as being above average due to her length and athletic ability (so she's capable physically of doing things defensively that Plum couldn't do). However, she is prone to embarrassing defensive lapses.

Chelsea is actually a better defender than she's given credit for. Her hands are quick and she can cover multiple positions. She's solid.

Kiah is not an elite post defender and hasn't been a good one since 2023. The last time we had an elite one not named A'ja was Candace Parker in 2023 (who was on her way to winning her second DPOY before getting injured). These days, Kiah is closer to average than good.

That said, the defense still should be much better than it is. As A'ja pointed out recently, the defense isn't good because people aren't actually playing defense. It's not an ability issue. It's not a "scheme" issue. It's a willingness issue. If the Lynx players not named Phee or Alanna Smith are physically able to defend the toughest players in the league, so are Vegas' non-A'ja players.
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With 2 very good defenders out New York will have a hard time winning any games for awhile . The next 7 games if they can win 3 that will be pretty good. Sabally and Burke are no where near as good as the 2 players missing.
 
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