2025 WNBA Regular Season

[bballnut90]

The actual quote from her interview on ESPN, per this Sports Illustrated article. On one hand it can sound like the Fever are better without Clark. On the other it can sound like the team can survive while she gets healthy as they don't have to be dependent on Clark.

People are going to take it the way they want to.

ESPN Analyst Claims Fever Are 'More Dangerous' Without Caitlin Clark

The Indiana Fever blew the Las Vegas Aces out on July 3, beating them by a score of 81-54 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse Arena. This marks the second consecutive

www.si.com

""I think that Indiana is even more dangerous when Caitlin Clark doesn't play," Peck said during a July 3 episode of SportsCenter, per an X post from Ken Swift. "Because she's a ball-dominant guard. The ball is in her hands a lot, so you know what you need to try to take away. But when you look at Indiana now, they've got so many weapons.

"When you have a point guard like Kelsey Mitchell, and Aari McDonald making plays on the perimeter, and a post like Aliyah Boston, I'm gonna tell you: Indiana, they are a threat. And it's specifically on the defensive end," Peck added."

Peck's follow up where she basically doubles down. FWIW, she's always had pretty blatant SEC bias in her announcing. If she wants to give credit to the Indiana players, then give credit without undermining Clark. As an announcer she should know that she doesn't have to go out of her way to diminish CC to give her teammates some shine.

Side note: I don't think anyone who follows the Fever under value what Boston and Mitchell bring to the table. They get a lot of love from fans, and McDonald is deservedly getting a lot of attention and props for her play with Clark out. Here's a great article where the author shows you can build up someone without throwing shade elsewhere.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/basketball/wnba/fever/2025/07/05/indiana-fever-guard-aari-mcdonald-midseason-addition-caitlin-clark-sue-bird-aliyah-boston/84474010007/

 

[cancontent]

Peck's follow up where she basically doubles down. FWIW, she's always had pretty blatant SEC bias in her announcing. If she wants to give credit to the Indiana players, then give credit without undermining Clark. As an announcer she should know that she doesn't have to go out of her way to diminish CC to give her teammates some shine.

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Side note: I don't think anyone who follows the Fever under value what Boston and Mitchell bring to the table. They get a lot of love from fans, and McDonald is deservedly getting a lot of attention and props for her play with Clark out. Here's a great article where the author shows you can build up someone without throwing shade elsewhere.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/basketball/wnba/fever/2025/07/05/indiana-fever-guard-aari-mcdonald-midseason-addition-caitlin-clark-sue-bird-aliyah-boston/84474010007/

Doubles down on what exactly? Did I not say that people will interpret the message the way they see it? Where are you getting the impression I'm defending her?

 

[GoChips20]

I’m a South Carolina fan and Peck’s announcing during the college season is still borderline unwatchable to me. She has heavy team/conference biases and makes a lot of mistakes. Nice person and will always be in history for winning the national title at Purdue but not a good broadcaster.

Clark’s having a poor season by her standards and yet her stats would be still be All-W worthy if she hadn’t missed so many games. In no world are the Fever better without her IMO. With her on the court they’re a threat to beat anyone even if the team overall has been very inconsistent and hasn’t met expectations yet.

 

[azfan]

One of the more intriguing pre-all-star games takes place in Phoenix tonight with a 7:00 p.m. tip.

Dallas rolls into Phoenix which will be apparently minus both Cooper and Sabally.(Sounds like a ready-made excuse for the first time women's Coach from South Dakota)

In the previous game on July 3rd Dallas started four rookies and the million dollar coach was able to hold Dallas under 100 although his team did lose 98 to 89.

Winning on the road is a hard thing and Little Nate was unable to lead his team to a hard thing on July 3rd in Dallas. It was more disappointing as Dallas only suited 8 players and started four rooks. Hummmmm...... I guess winning on the road really is a hard thing

So that brings us to tonight a home game which should easily favor the Merc who in fact appear to be between a 9 and 12 point favorite.

One would think for 1.2 million Nate would be able to scheme around the loss of two starters against a team that only suited eight players on July 3rd.

This will be an interesting game particularly in light of the performance last night by the four-time coach of the year and four-time champion from Minnesota.

 

[bballnut90]

Doubles down on what exactly? Did I not say that people will interpret the message the way they see it? Where are you getting the impression I'm defending her?

Wasn’t at all trying to dispute anything you were saying, just adding a follow up to the initial statement that Peck made and adding my own take.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

I’m a South Carolina fan and Peck’s announcing during the college season is still borderline unwatchable to me. She has heavy team/conference biases and makes a lot of mistakes. Nice person and will always be in history for winning the national title at Purdue but not a good broadcaster.

The broadcasting is beyond bad. A post player dribbles up the court, and Peck routinely comments about said player being a point guard or playmaker. Dribbling once past halfcourt does not a point guard make -- yet Peck repeatedly makes this "observation."

 

[WBBTakeover]

Bird was a decent defender, DT not so much. Whenever Clarks lack of D is mentioned, I alway think about Taurasi and laugh.

Im not a Clark apologist or hater. She’s a phenomenal player with range and terrific passing skills. I doubt she ever becomes a lock down defender but she has room to grow. Maybe she will.

I don't think of either Sue or Dee as a good or even decent defender, but I settled on Sue not being one because she couldn't be (small, bad knees) while Dee wasn't one because she didn't want to/didn't have to be. It is what it is.

As a Caitlin fan, I want better for her than for people to constantly make excuses for her being a weaker defender. I would love to see her challenge for "best WNBA player ever" status. This would be hard for her to do if she doesn't improve defensively. She doesn't ever have to win DPOY, but she should be able to hold her own.

And she's not some hopeless case that some on here would want you to believe (because I'm tired of hearing that crap. I know she's a standout offensive talent, but that doesn't preclude her from growing as a defender). She IS capable of being a better defender. First, she's a tall guard (5'11 to 6'0 range). Second, she's already shown some ability as a shot blocker (ability that a player she's mostly compared to, Sabrina Ionescu, has not shown at the same level). If she can transfer some of the anticipatory flashes she's shown in shot blocking into getting into the passing lanes more frequently and really work on becoming a better position defender as well, she's going to improve defensively. When that happens, she's going to be the undisputed best guard in the WNBA.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Jones is having a wonderful season and I would have picked her Iriafen

Same here!

 

[Geew1992]

No real surprise here

Sources: Bonner expected to return to Mercury

WNBA vet DeWanna Bonner, recently waived by the Fever, is expected to sign with the Mercury, sources said, rejoining the franchise with which she won two titles.

www.espn.com

 

[Basingstoke]

No real surprise here

Sources: Bonner expected to return to Mercury

WNBA vet DeWanna Bonner, recently waived by the Fever, is expected to sign with the Mercury, sources said, rejoining the franchise with which she won two titles.

www.espn.com

But, in the meantime, I've read that both Copper and Sabaly are out with injuries tonight...

 

[MSSportsGuy]

Peck routinely comments about said player being a point guard or playmaker. Dribbling once past halfcourt does not a point guard make -- yet Peck repeatedly makes this "observation."

This times 1000. She isn’t the only one who is guilty but Peck does this more often than others.

Her studio work is fine but calling games is not her forte.

 

[GamecockFam]

Who would get your vote for most improved player in the league: Naz Hillmon or Kayla Thornton?

Also, when are we gonna start talking about Allisha Gray being a serious league MVP candidate?

 

[cancontent]

Who would get your vote for most improved player in the league: Naz Hillmon or Kayla Thornton?

Also, when are we gonna start talking about Allisha Gray being a serious league MVP candidate?

Most improved player? Man, that's a toss up. It may be my bias for Hillmon, but man....her range has improved significantly. Shooting 4/7 from the 3 point line tonight? Shooting 3s consistently in games, while still being tough on the boards and a glue player? I thought her range would improve, but not by this much and this quickly.

On the other hand, Thornton was left exposed during the expansion draft, became a starter and earned her first all-star nod this year. Maybe the all-star nod puts her ahead of Hillmon. Wouldn't have an issue with that. They're both deserving if the vote were held today.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Whitcomb going off. She's gotta be approaching a career high by halftime.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Okay, Sami scored 30 in 2021 when she was with the Liberty. 29 at the half on 10-13 shooting and 6-7 behind the arc. Go Sami!

 

[The deacon]

Okay, Sami scored 30 in 2021 when she was with the Liberty. 29 at the half on 10-13 shooting and 6-7 behind the arc. Go Sami!

Meanwhile, AT has a triple-double while the Mercury have made Paige look quite ordinary. Tough one for the Wings after their recent surge.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Sami had 36 thru 3 quarters. Didn't score any more but they probably had her on the bench so the game didn't get any more lopsided. I'm guessing 17 is a new career high for Kiana Williams. She put that in 21 minutes off the bench.

Dallas did get 18 and 15 from Quinerly and James, so maybe a tiny silver lining.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Meanwhile, AT has a triple-double

While she's often flirting with it, I think it's been a while since she's had one. In fact the pace overall has slowed down from a couple seasons ago, seemed like someone was getting one weekly.

 

[Basingstoke]

A major stinker for Dallas all around, but kudos to Whitcomb, AT and the Mercury for really making a statement after their loss in Dallas.

 

[Dillon77]

One of the more intriguing pre-all-star games takes place in Phoenix tonight with a 7:00 p.m. tip.

Dallas rolls into Phoenix which will be apparently minus both Cooper and Sabally.(Sounds like a ready-made excuse for the first time women's Coach from South Dakota)

In the previous game on July 3rd Dallas started four rookies and the million dollar coach was able to hold Dallas under 100 although his team did lose 98 to 89.

Winning on the road is a hard thing and Little Nate was unable to lead his team to a hard thing on July 3rd in Dallas. It was more disappointing as Dallas only suited 8 players and started four rooks. Hummmmm...... I guess winning on the road really is a hard thing

So that brings us to tonight a home game which should easily favor t7e Merc who in fact appear to be between a 9 and 12 point favorite.

One would think for 1.2 million Nate would be able to scheme around the loss of two starters against a team that only suited eight players on July 3rd.

This will be an interesting game particularly in light of the performance last night by the four-time coach of the year and four-time champion from Minnesota.

- Having Sami Whitcomb score 29 points in the first half and 36 overall certainly helped. I don't know if I saw any radical new schemes to free Sami up, but she certainly took advantage of the ones she had. 7-11 shooting from three...whew.
- Obviously, Whitcomb garnered Wing attention in the second half, but to then have Kiana Williams and Kat Williams go for 17 and 14, respectively certainly helped the Mercury orbit. Stanford and ND alum clubs rise up with refreshing adult beverages!

 

[cancontent]

 

[azfan]

- Having Sami Whitcomb score 29 points in the first half and 36 overall certainly helped. I don't know if I saw any radical new schemes to free Sami up, but she certainly took advantage of the ones she had. 7-11 shooting from three...whew.
- Obviously, Whitcomb garnered Wing attention in the second half, but to then have Kiana Williams and Kat Williams go for 17 and 14, respectively certainly helped the Mercury orbit. Stanford and ND alum clubs rise up with refreshing adult beverages!

Dallas "defense" once again revealed. The Merc did what they needed to do at home against a very poor defense team.

Merc break 100 without Cooper and Sabally. My granddaughter might have been able to score 20 against what Dallas was not doing out there. If I were a Dallas fan I would be so frustrated with an absolute disregard for defense..

 

[azfan]

Dallas did get 18 and 15 from Quinerly and James, so maybe a tiny silver lining.

A damning commentary on a team reaching for this silver lining. Dallas needs a major defensive overall beginning with an attitude commitment.

 

[azfan]

Wow-Edwards is looking amazing. Certainly a major difference in trajectory over the recent games for her versus Iraifen. Steph looked really good too in the first half.

 

[cancontent]

@TheFarmFan, just watching a montage of Podz during the Valkryries victory over the Fever during the Sky-Mystics halftime break. Seriously, when is someone going to set up a livestream of him on the sidelines during games? His energy is contagious and would be so much fun to watch while their home games are on TV.