2025 WNBA Regular Season | Page 38 | The Boneyard

2025 WNBA Regular Season

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GamecockFam said:
I don't see it slowing down either. The 2026 draft class is a who's who of women's NCAA basketball from the past few years. Next season we'll probably have Awa Fam and Lauren Betts battling it out for #1 overall pick. Then we'll also have other first round talent like Olivia Miles, Tania Latson, Azzi Fudd, Flau'jae Johnson, Raven Johnson, Chloe Kitts, Serah Williams, Lalia Phelia, Giana Kneepkins, Cotie McMahon, and Gabriela Jaquez. Plus we have talents which could creep into the first round with a good season like Mariam Dauda and Janiah Barker. Then on top of it all we also have a few others potentially first round draft eligible prospects as redshirt juniors in Ashlyn Watkins and Talaysia Cooper. I also don't know if anyone else (besides Awa Fam) in the international scene will elect for the draft. Anyways, this next draft class will be loaded and there is a chance that first round talent from prior years will be taken in the second round.
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Made all the more interesting because:
  • there will be two teams (Portland, Toronto) drafting.
  • with a lot (majority?) of established players becoming UFA's & (knock on wood) a new collective bargaining agreement, there will be a lot of roster reconstructions, which could lead to players walking into unsettled (and open?) situations.

Of course, there are some teams that will have some key young players (probably) on first contracts, such as Washington and, believe it or not, Dallas.
 
Watching the La-Chi game on espn, I can’t believe how bad the coverage is. The analysts completely neglect to cover the third quarter. For much of the time, it was in split screen with the game action on the smaller screen.
 
GamecockFam said:
I don't see it slowing down either. The 2026 draft class is a who's who of women's NCAA basketball from the past few years. Next season we'll probably have Awa Fam and Lauren Betts battling it out for #1 overall pick. Then we'll also have other first round talent like Olivia Miles, Tania Latson, Azzi Fudd, Flau'jae Johnson, Raven Johnson, Chloe Kitts, Serah Williams, Lalia Phelia, Giana Kneepkins, Cotie McMahon, and Gabriela Jaquez. Plus we have talents which could creep into the first round with a good season like Mariam Dauda and Janiah Barker. Then on top of it all we also have a few others potentially first round draft eligible prospects as redshirt juniors in Ashlyn Watkins and Talaysia Cooper. I also don't know if anyone else (besides Awa Fam) in the international scene will elect for the draft. Anyways, this next draft class will be loaded and there is a chance that first round talent from prior years will be taken in the second round.
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Agreed, the 2026 class looks really exciting. Not sure exactly who will be number one at this point, depends on if the team with the pick really needs a big. I’m glad expansion is coming so more players can stick around. We can definitely expect Betts, Fam, Fudd, Miles, Flau’jae, Latson at the top.

Kneepkens is someone I will really keep an eye on this year. Just a “hot take” prediction, but I think with the right team fit, Kneepkens could be having a rookie season like Citron is having right now, one year from now.
 
Bone Dog said:
Watching the La-Chi game on espn, I can’t believe how bad the coverage is. The analysts completely neglect to cover the third quarter. For much of the time, it was in split screen with the game action on the smaller screen.
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ESPN is, for lack of a more polite phrase, a clown show most of the time.
 
Washington found out the hard way that you can't relax in the WNBA. They were feeling themselves after the Vegas win and thought the wounded Wings would roll over. The joke was on them the entire night. Good for the Wings without Paige!
 
Looks like Reese went off. I thought Plum finally got out of her shooting slump last game. She was right back in it this game. It is UNBELIEVABLE to me how badly so many good shooters are shooting currently.
 
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Observations at the half of the Mercury/Aces game.

To the point about announcing - CTT is "doing the color" and - OMG she is the Natasha Adair of the airwaves. Please mic drop and do not tarnish your reputation.

The play by play (a real pro) talked to the Mer president -Vince Kozar - at the first quarter break - very revealing conversation.

Kozar indicated when he came on board the new management team "understood" that a "significant investment" could be required to take the franchise back to previous success. While he never defined either term then (to use a very overused term that is making the rounds in broadcast and IT DRIVES ME NUTS) he indicated they were very intentional in the search that resulted in the hiring of Tibbetts.

Most useful between quarter interview I've hear.

The Mercury looked solid in the first half which resulted in a 40 all tie at the break. Hard to believe but Mack blocked Wilson not once, but twice!!!!!!!!!
 
OK-exciting end to the Merc/Aces. After scoring 10 points in the 3rd quarter the Mercury ROAR out to start the 4th.

I have heard it said that AT plays with a sneer. I see is as more of a smile.

Anyway, 3 minutes into the 4th (for those of you not watching) AT has a breakaway with Wilson attempting to get between her and the hoop. AT goes through her, puts her down, smiles (sneers over Wilson flat on her bsck) and makes the hoop and harm.
Aces turn the ball over and Sabally brings the ball down and finds a wide open Whitcomb who nails the wide open three! So the Merc are off to a 17-3 run to start the quarter.

What an end: showing that it is indeed hard to win on the road. The Aces do sonething hard.

Hammon > little Nate

Wilson > AT and Aja gets the final laugh (smile? sneer?)
 
The sum of the parts of the Sun is SO MUCH greater than the whole. The Lynx are really good, but the Sun's play is embarrassing, even taking into account they're missing Mabrey.

When is Meziane going to start wearing a bag on his head? Or I guess it would be a sac.
 
Angel Reese has been playing better. I am very curious to see if it is good enough to get her into the all star game or not.

Also, I expect Paige to be selected.
 
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Wilson w/ a huge game and Nye was big off the bench.

Whitcomb has really been ballin' lately. I think this is probably about 4 good games in a row for her.
 
Stagnant said:
I don’t think Seattle is that good. They are worse than their record.
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Of the games I've watched, their front court players seem to struggle against physical post play. In fact, they seem to shy away from it. I am not watching tonight's game, but the Valkyrie are a very physical team, and while I am surprised by the point differential, I'm not surprised that the Storm are struggling to score points in the paint.
 
GamecockFam said:
Of the games I've watched, their front court players seem to struggle against physical post play. In fact, they seem to shy away from it. I am not watching tonight's game, but the Valkyrie are a very physical team, and while I am surprised by the point differential, I'm not surprised that the Storm are struggling to score points in the paint.
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Ballhaaaaaaaaalla. Dawn in the house - she got a long, warm, standing ovation by the fans (including yours truly) for probably 20 seconds. Ballhalla knows our legends of the game and I'm proud we show mad respect even when they have zero local connections.
 
TheFarmFan said:
Ballhaaaaaaaaalla. Dawn in the house - she got a long, warm, standing ovation by the fans (including yours truly) for probably 20 seconds. Ballhalla knows our legends of the game and I'm proud we show mad respect even when they have zero local connections.
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I wonder what she is doing on the West coast. Is it recruiting season?
 
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I am sure Indiana will put up a fight on Tuesday night. But watching my beloved Minnesota squad tonight against Connecticut was a thing of beauty. Great game and we need this same energy on Tuesday against Indiana.
 
TheFarmFan said:
I believe we're 2-4 away from home, and 7-3 in Ballhalla.
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How will they do in their upcoming road games? They are in 6th place, but look like a top 3-4 team right now, at least at home.
 
azfan said:
Anyway, 3 minutes into the 4th (for those of you not watching) AT has a breakaway with Wilson attempting to get between her and the hoop. AT goes through her, puts her down, smiles (sneers over Wilson flat on her bsck) and makes the hoop and harm.
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Uh...no. Watch the clip again.

 
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baggerbob said:
The Aces biggest problem is they need a 4 who can handle out on the floor and also sometimes play inside.
A'ja is a 5 and always will be her best game is 18 ft and in . Drive to the hoop and get fouled. Playing her and Stokes or any center puts too many people inside, with no room for the guards to penetrate.
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I disagree. The Aces have far too many players who want to handle the ball. They need players who can pla without the ball. Yes A'Ja is more effective at the 5 but when Chelsea missed the first half of the season last year the team got out of their winning pattern. AW began to want to handle the ball more while both Young and Plums became more point oriented. All their individual stats improved but the winning suffered. Wilson has become much more of a focus of the offense, but that has hurt team offensive flow.
 
Dillon77 said:
OK, @willtalk , you're making me hit the google wire to call up 2025 draft orders, before and after the actual WNBA draft in April 2025. After ingesting that, a few replies:

- Exec. Summary. You're not happy with Loyd. I can see why on many offensive fronts. Maybe Hammons and the front office thought this would be a case of plug and play, but the way the offense is run seems to have taken away one of the best parts of Loyd's game: the ability to drive and get fouled. She was always a league leader in getting to the line. Now, under 3 FTA's attempted per game!
BTW, Loyd might not be a great -- or at this point, even a very good -- defender, but she was pretty good most of her career. In fact, Dawn Staley used Loyd as something of her stopper on the USA team. That's not the issue to me -- lack of offensive flow and/or general cohesiveness within the offense is.----------------
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I don't care what Dawn Staley did initially for the Olympics. We need to remember she used her far less in the last Olympics. I like to watch individual players on defense when I see something that strikes me about their play. I can not speak for Loyd's early time in Seattle because I did not pay that much attention to her play. I have been watching her with the Aces. She seems to get herself out of position especially on switches or when the team double teams.

One example of this was the last play in their last game. The Aces were up by three with 7 second seconds to play. The defense needed to defend against the three. You play up close becaue it does not matter if they get around you for a drive. However not only did Loyd play off her man on the inbounds but she got caught initially reacting and and going the wrong way then having to recover, leaving her man for a wide open three, which she was missed. That was horrible defense to end the game. She was fortunate she got bailed out.

I have watched her make simular mistakes thoughout the season. She even gets beat quite a bit on the ball. Often fast and quick players never develop good defensive foot work and spacing. Another player who, for a while, had a rep as a good defender but in reality was not was Odyssey Sims. I watched her during her first season with the Sparks and she would constantly lose her man. That was only on switches or inbound plays. I figured out she probably had a peripheral vision issue. When a player got out of her narrow field of vision she lost them. I do not think that is loyds issue though.
 
EricLA said:
Seems like some smart decision making from Tibbetts and U'Ren. Are the people who were down on Tibbets (sarcastically calling him the "million $ coach") coming around, or do you guys still think he stinks?
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In the Mercury Facebook group, I was roasted after saying that letting Griner walk and acquiring Thomas and Sabally was the best thing for the franchise moving forward.
As I pointed out, Phoenix was 28-52 (.350) the last two years of Taurasi and Griner. I understand being loyal to Griner, as she spent over ten years with the franchise, but the team, as constituted, was not winning.
And getting a perennial top-five MVP candidate (Thomas) and the proverbial unicorn (Sabally) to pair with Copper was brilliant.

Notably, the detractors have been remarkably silent.

And let us credit Phoenix's front office for scouting several undrafted players and other older rookies in formulating the roster (to avoid what Ishbia did with the Suns, in terms of having three big-name players but very little quality depth):
  • Kitija Laksa (2020 first round): 9.3 ppg, nearly 40% from three
  • Lexi Held (undrafted): 8.7 ppg, 1.5 spg
  • Monique Akoa Makani (undrafted): 8.2 ppg, 2.5 apg, 46/45/100 shooting splits
  • Kathryn Westbeld (undrafted): 6.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg
That is over 32 points per game from rookies, three of whom were not drafted.
 
bballnut90 said:
Aneesah Morrow quietly is starting to break out as a rookie. The last 6 games she's hit double figures 5x and is putting up big rebounding numbers.
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If I were coaching the CT Sun, I would let her play as many minutes as possible -- along with Saniya Rivers.
Yes, Tina Charles is a future HOF member. But her best playing days are not in front of her. And Bria Hartley is 32, not 22.
Morrow and Rivers are future starters (I would not yet say cornerstones) for the franchise. Let them get acclimated without the pressure of winning right now by playing as many minutes as possible.
 
baggerbob said:
The Aces biggest problem is they need a 4 who can handle out on the floor and also sometimes play inside.
A'ja is a 5 and always will be her best game is 18 ft and in . Drive to the hoop and get fouled. Playing her and Stokes or any center puts too many people inside, with no room for the guards to penetrate.
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This was Laimbeer's problem with playing Wilson next to Cambage. It clogged the lane.
Jackie Young's development under Hammon as compared to Laimbeer is well documented. Her individual improvement was one of the key parts to help Vegas to win two titles.

Not having Candace Parker (a playmaking power forward with shooting range) has really hurt the team. Coupled with Loyd's inability to find her role and fit (the way she was able to in 2018 and 2020, with Bird and Stewart in Seattle), and you see the problems mounting with Las Vegas.

Vegas also suffers from the 2024-25 Phoenix Suns Syndrome - lack of quality depth. Outside of its top players, Vegas has very little depth (especially with Clark signing with Seattle and Hayes signing with Golden State).

On the plus side, Aaliyah Nye looks to be one of the second round steals. While she is only averaging 5.6 ppg, Vegas is 3-2 in games in which she has scored in double figures -- which she has done in three of the last five games.
 
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