2025 WNBA Regular Season | Page 50 | The Boneyard

2025 WNBA Regular Season

Minnesota really embarrassing themselves. Awful show they are putting on for a national audience. Dreadful product for people who are curious about the W to tune in and see.
 
If I am the Las Vegas Aces GM, I might be kicking myself over pulling the trigger on a NaLyssa Smith trade when there might have been an Aaliyah Edwards trade to be had.
Nah, I think they'll be fine with Lyss.
 
Wow! That was... unexpected. I was expecting a loss without Clark on the floor but the Fever defense mixed with a bad shooting night for the Lynx led to the victory over the Lynx.
Without Caitlin, Indiana (Stephanie White) could play the kind of defense that she wants to play. They had an entire kennel of DAWGS out there tonight.
 
Congrats to the Fever, especially Aliyah! She stepped up and didn't let vets like Phee punk her. Maybe this is her turning the corner.
 
That's the thing about that Comissioners Cup game. It's just ONE game and if you have a bad one you just lose. No 3/5 or 2/3. I was starting to think Minn was the team looking most likely to roll through. Now, who knows? It pretty much wide open. Key injuries will probably play a role down the stretch as usual. Could be interesting. Phoenix sure looks good.
 
Logging on to watch some of this game before I start my work day. One thing that I do like about the Fever win is that is was without Clark, with 5 players in double figures. They've shown they have a good squad when she's not available or not having a great game. Hopefully, they continue to leverage this when Clark returns.
 
Here are some random thoughts during the Commissioner's Cup break ...

- It's well known that Caitlin Clark had to reduce her turnovers from last year (5.6/game). She's actually increased her turnovers to 5.9/game. She's dominating turnover statistics. There have been 6 occurrences of at least 8 turnovers in a game this year; CC has half of them. She has an amazing 71.3% more turnovers/game than the player with the second most (Angel Reese; 3.4/game). Furthermore, CC's current trend is not encouraging (see attached).

- While CC's 71.3% more turnovers than the runner up is spectacular, there are other impressive ones. Gabby Williams had 2.6 steals/game, which is 36.4% more than Dearica Hamby (1.9/game). Angel Reese has 4.2 offensive rebounds/game, which is 29.0% more than Brionna Jones (3.3/game). AR also has 12.6 total rebounds per game, which is 26.6% more than A'ja Wilson. Napheesa Collier had 8.9 FG/game, which is 24.7% more than A'ja Wilson.

- The Seattle Storm have the largest difference in 3-point field goal percentage between wins and losses (0.147; 0.417 in wins vs 0.269 in losses). The Washington Mystics are close behind (0.143; 0.427 in wins vs 0.285 in losses). Oddly, the Golden State Valkyries have shot better in losses (0.307) than wins (0.270).

- Dearica Hamby, who shoots a lot of free throws, but it not very good at it (0.602) is leading the league in missed free throws (41) by a lot. The next closest is Brittany Sykes (who has missed a few games) with 25.

- This will not be a surprise for a lot of people: Arike Ogunbowale is leading the league in missed FGs (174), narrowly over Rhyne Howard (170).

- Rhyne Howard, who shoots a lot of 3's but is not very good at it (0.290) leads the league in missed 3 pointers (120) by a wide margin over Kelsey Plum (79).

- Tina Charles leads the league in missed 2-pointers (122), by a wide margin over A'ja Wilson (who has missed a few games; 102).
 

Attachments

Dillon, you clearly know much, much more than I do about Restricted Free Agents in the WNBA and the potential impact of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement on the horizon, but I can't help but ponder why wouldn't a club trade for a player this year in order to have exclusive discussions with her about a long-term contract? Perhaps even build in some clauses that might take into account the upcoming restructuring of the CBA to further entice the targeted player to sign? Kinda like "Cost Plus" contracts the government signs when the need is great and future not set in stone.

In fact, I think that approach would be extremely advantageous for a forward-thinking GM to consider. Said differently, there might be significant merit in taking steps NOW to acquire the talent you are targeting down the road and pursue long-term contracts. Otherwise, the GMs are in the middle of a free-for-all with agents once the new CBA hits the streets and RFAs are rampant. Thoughts?
I like your proactivity, Yukon Cornelius!
And I'll bet that GM's throughout the leagues have been planning (or should be) and plotting for thse various scenarios in regards to the projected CBA and those terms. However, the Players Union has, as well, and I highly doubt that the Union would allow one player to do this at the expense of the others (Why that would be like individual senators taking inducements to vote for a bill helping their state along, right ;) ). Pragmatic, but I think everyone is going to scenario plan as best they can and come out swinging.

Absolutely sure some teams and agents will be talking ahead of schedule. Other teams will be in good shape because they'll have some key players on rookie contracts or extensions.

That said, I still wouldn't make a major trade involving a promising talent who is still on her first contract without getting a similar talent in return and/or a key draft choice.
 


Ah man, not Red Panda. :(

Animated GIF
 
True for almost every team in every sport. There's a reason players start and players come off the bench

Burke had been an outstanding member of the roster and you're absolutely right she's not a starter. She's an excellent bench player and she's done a more than adequate job coming off the bench.

I'm trying to think of another team that losses a starter and would have a bench player available to come off the bench and shoot 50% from the field, 49% from theeland and provide more than adequate defensively.

I think it's important to differentiate between the player and the situation and the performance the over time

I'm wondering if you have any thoughts about what bench player would have performed at a higher level than Burke in a similar situation.

Disaster would be an appropriate descriptor for the Chicago Sky in all phases of the game. Disaster would be an apt and appropriate description for the Connecticut Sun in all phases of the game.

Disaster would be an apt description for the Dallas defense.

I'm not sure disaster is an appropriate descriptor in a discussion of the New York Liberty or Kennedy Burke.

There are at least 7 WNBA teams that would exchange places with the New York Liberty right now. And I can think of 7 teams that would take Kennedy Burke in a New York minute
Look I like Burke as a player as long as she is in the right role. The biggest problem was losing 2 starters, and losing Jones. Sabally is too injury prone, committs too many fouls, and is not or ever will be great. She's on the team because she still is on a rookie contract.
I really haven't seen anything that shows she will ever be anything more then a 7th, 8th or 9th player on a roster.
 
I hear you, but it's great to see King land somewhere after her time with the Sparks.
Wasn't expected to make the team initially and, if memory serves, played in most -- if not, every -- game.
She'll stick in this league as she improves the range on her jumper.
 
That's the thing about that Comissioners Cup game. It's just ONE game and if you have a bad one you just lose. No 3/5 or 2/3. I was starting to think Minn was the team looking most likely to roll through. Now, who knows? It pretty much wide open. Key injuries will probably play a role down the stretch as usual. Could be interesting. Phoenix sure looks good.
Phoenix got to play the Liberty 2 times without 2 starters, who also happen to be along with Stewie the best defenders and rebounder. So they are better but later in the year we will have a better idea.
 

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