2025 WNBA Regular Season | Page 62 | The Boneyard

2025 WNBA Regular Season

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azfan said:
With just under 5 weeks remaining in the season, and with apologies to the million dollar coach, the three candidates for COY in what I expect to be a very close ballot

Cheryl Reeve (presumptive)

Karl Smesko ( a close second)

Natalie Nakase


The WNBA Coach of the Year (COY) award is given annually to the league's top coach, selected at the end of the regular season. The award winner is chosen by a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from the United States.
Voting process
  • Each voter casts a ballot for their top three choices.
  • Points are awarded as follows:
    • First-place vote: 5 points
    • Second-place vote: 3 points
    • Third-place vote: 1 point
  • The coach with the highest point total wins the award, regardless of the number of first-place votes received.
Criteria and considerations
While there are no explicitly stated formal criteria for the award, coaches who win the award often exhibit one or more of the following characteristics:
  • Leading a team to a dominant or league-leading record: This is a common factor, as evidenced by past winners like Becky Hammon, who guided the Las Vegas Aces to the best record in 2022.
  • Significantly improving a team's performance from the previous year: Coaches who take a team with low expectations and lead them to a strong record or playoff berth are often recognized.
  • Effectively managing player development and team chemistry: The ability to cultivate a healthy team culture, overcome adversities like injuries or roster changes, and make successful in-game adjustments are all important considerations for voters.
  • Demonstrating strong leadership and motivational skills: Coaches who can inspire and get the most out of their players are highly valued.
For example, Cheryl Reeve, a four-time winner, led the Minnesota Lynx to a franchise-record 30-10 season and the second-best record in the league in 2024, leading to her being named Coach of the Year.
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Honestly, I am starting to feel like Coach Reeve is going to run away with it. The Lynx have been the only consistent team this season. If they can survive these next two weeks without Collier, I think it'll become a no contest.

Lynne Roberts is starting to make some noise with the hottest team in the league right now. Her name may enter the conversation soon if she stacks this 80% win rate in the last 10 games for the remaining games (i.e., 13-3 or 12-4 in remaining games). I think that would move the Sparks to #6.

The Valkyrie seemed to have peaked early, and with the injury to Thornton I think they're trending downward and probably will not make the playoffs. While they exceeded expectations, I wonder how many coaches have won COY and not made the playoffs...
 
GamecockFam said:
The Valkyrie seemed to have peaked early, and with the injury to Thornton I think they're trending downward and probably will not make the playoffs. While they exceeded expectations, I wonder how many coaches have won COY and not made the playoffs...
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10 of our last 12 games have been away games on a particularly brutal travel schedule. And with a insane number of absences between injuries and Eurobasket. We have started 14 different lineups featuring 19 different players. 7 players on our current roster joined after training camp. Tell me how many coaches get that team to .500.
 
TheFarmFan said:
10 of our last 12 games have been away games on a particularly brutal travel schedule. And with a insane number of absences between injuries and Eurobasket. We have started 14 different lineups featuring 19 different players. 7 players on our current roster joined after training camp. Tell me how many coaches get that team to .500.
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I know this is an unpopular opinion on this board, sorry, but giving a COY to someone who led a team to a .500 record, no matter the context, feels like the equivalent of handing out participation trophies.

Also, the volume of Valkyrie players who left for EuroBasket was completely in the control of the Valkyrie organization. It can easily be recontextualized as an oversight. So to answer your question about other coaches doing better in the same scenario, I would argue that they would have picked different rosters which would have circumvented that problem in the first place.

Look I certainly understand the love for Coach Nakase, she looks like a winner, but let's not give her flowers before she earns them. If she is as good as we think, there will be plenty of other opportunities for her to win COY when she actually has a roster that is in the top of the league.
 
GamecockFam said:
Honestly, I am starting to feel like Coach Reeve is going to run away with it. The Lynx have been the only consistent team this season. If they can survive these next two weeks without Collier, I think it'll become a no contest.
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If the Lynx finish up by five games, then it's hers. Last season there were four teams within five games. It's not like the Lynx have that much more talent than any other team, it's teamwork and that starts with the coach.
 
I think it's Reeve in a runaway (though it irks me she left Collier in a game up 43 when she got injured). Looking at their roster, they really have no business being as good as they are. The only top 5 draft pick on their roster is Kayla McBride and most of their rotation players were second round draft picks or players who were out of the league completely (Jessica Shepard, Natisha Heideman, Alanna Smith, Bridget Carleton). Courtney Williams was a very good player when they picked her up last season, but her game has gone to new heights under Reeve. And Collier has improved every year and developed into one of the best players in the world under Reeve. No one has done a better job of developing talent and putting a really good product on the floor like Reeve has.

Compare the talent level of the Lynx to the other top teams in the league:
Liberty: Sabrina/Stewart were former #1 picks, picked up a former MVP (Jonquel Jones) in free agency last year, picked up Cloud who was an established championship level PG this year. They're effectively a super team.

Dream: Two #1 draft picks (Howard/Griner), 3 other former top 5 draft picks

Mercury: Sabally/Thomas/Copper were bonafide stars in the league when they signed in Phoenix. Also landed Bonner who is a consistent seasoned vet and former #5 draft pick.
 
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Well, I think this trade makes sense for Washington. Aaliyah had totally fallen out of the rotation there. And they are stacked at her position. Jacy Sheldon is one of the better 3 point shooters in the league. And that is a major weakness in Washington.

Also, I think Jacy is better than Georgia. I know Georgia is basically a stash while she recovers this season. But I am not sure she will make it in the wnba; despite the hype. Her size and her ability to defend make me concerned about her. Jacy is at least a wnba player; good enough to have a 10 year career as a backup imo.
 
On the surface level, this is about two players taken relatively high in the first round (Sheldon, 5th and Edwards, 6th, who are coming off the bench for teams with losing records. Hence, the Mystics get a 40%+ shooter from three and a first-round draft choice for a forward who wasn't getting minutes. On the hand...drum roll please....

- Should Aaliyah Edwards be as buried as she should be (particularly after her season in Unrivaled) or is this a Sidney Johnson choice or a decision to go with the mercurial Ms. Austin at the expense of a hard-working player?

Candidly, I think neophyte Mystics general manager Jamila Wideman decided she was going to trade Edwards and time was a tickin' on the trade deadline. Sun general manager Morgan Tuck -- undoubtedly advised by Jen Rizotti -- waited this one out and got a proven UConn presence to put up front. The draft choices they'll give up are both deep in the first round, so this looks like a plus value to me for the Sun.

- I like Sheldon's smarts, hustle, do-the-right-thing in all aspects of her play. Plus, she can stroke the three and get out on the break. She should work very well with Sonia Citron (then again, who doesn't?) and by sympatico with Lucy Olsen and Jade Melbourne.

But, I don't see her as a point guard that can break down teams, score and/or dish. Regardless of what people think, we'll have to see if Georgia Amoore can fill that role. Sheldon will help...

However, I still think Edwards had a higher ceiling and Wideman should've held her cards to get more.
 
Dillon77 said:
On the surface level, this is about two players taken relatively high in the first round (Sheldon, 5th and Edwards, 6th, who are coming off the bench for teams with losing records. Hence, the Mystics get a 40%+ shooter from three and a first-round draft choice for a forward who wasn't getting minutes. On the hand...drum roll please....

- Should Aaliyah Edwards be as buried as she should be (particularly after her season in Unrivaled) or is this a Sidney Johnson choice or a decision to go with the mercurial Ms. Austin at the expense of a hard-working player?

Candidly, I think neophyte Mystics general manager Jamila Wideman decided she was going to trade Edwards and time was a tickin' on the trade deadline. Sun general manager Morgan Tuck -- undoubtedly advised by Jen Rizotti -- waited this one out and got a proven UConn presence to put up front. The draft choices they'll give up are both deep in the first round, so this looks like a plus value to me for the Sun.

- I like Sheldon's smarts, hustle, do-the-right-thing in all aspects of her play. Plus, she can stroke the three and get out on the break. She should work very well with Sonia Citron (then again, who doesn't?) and by sympatico with Lucy Olsen and Jade Melbourne.

But, I don't see her as a point guard that can break down teams, score and/or dish. Regardless of what people think, we'll have to see if Georgia Amoore can fill that role. Sheldon will help...

However, I still think Edwards had a higher ceiling and Wideman should've held her cards to get more.
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Agree Edwards has a higher ceiling, but I think Edwards lost trade value the minute Washington made it public they were shopping her around. I think it's a good trade for both franchises, but I am surprised Dallas didn't make a massive push for her.

They have a lot of great assets 1-3 they could offer up for Edwards:
-Vegas's 2027 pick
-Or Dallas's 2026 2nd round draft pick next year plus one of Aziaha James, Haley Jones, Diamond Miller, JJ Quinerly and Maddy Siegrist

Edwards defensively would be a huge upgrade from Geiselsoder/Yueru and has the tools to be an excellent 4 if she continues to expand her range. She also has great chemistry with Paige.
 
This wasn't just a Wideman decision. The Mystics are following President of operations Winger in "kicking the can down the road" gameplan he already instilled with the Wizards. Trade veterans ( Sykes) for future draft capital. Also, trade players who don't fit their future plans (Edwards) who they feel will. (Sheldon). That is Monumntal sports under Winger m.o. right now.
 
TerpWomenFan said:
This wasn't just a Wideman decision. The Mystics are following President of operations Winger in "kicking the can down the road" gameplan he already instilled with the Wizards. Trade veterans ( Sykes) for future draft capital. Also, trade players who don't fit their future plans (Edwards) who they feel will. (Sheldon). That is Monumntal sports under Winger m.o. right now.
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Ugh.................the Wizards have been languishing for some time. :(
 
TerpWomenFan said:
This wasn't just a Wideman decision. The Mystics are following President of operations Winger in "kicking the can down the road" gameplan he already instilled with the Wizards. Trade veterans ( Sykes) for future draft capital. Also, trade players who don't fit their future plans (Edwards) who they feel will. (Sheldon). That is Monumntal sports under Winger m.o. right now
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I get that these are organizational decisions (I'm aware of the levels in Washington) in the same way that Morgan Tuck in no way made this trade without input from President Rizzotti.
And the strategy on Sykes makes all the sense in the world; in part because Sykes is a "rent-a'-player" for Seattle and the Mystics got a draft choice while allowing the Storm to shed Cooke and Clarke.

But Edwards is a different matter to me. She's under her initial contract so they didn't have to drop her, unless she wasn't going to be in the protected player list when the Portland/Toronto dispersal draft takes place. I see @bballnut90 's point about (possibly) losing leverage when it leaked they were trying to unload her.

FWIW, I think the Mystics should've gotten more for Edwards, but perhaps there weren't as many bites around the league as they thought (for whatever reason). My other caveat...I'm still not certain Austin has proven that she's someone that will be in the lineup on a consistent basis. Until that point, I liked having Edwards. Moving on....

BTW, besides shooting and smarts, one element Sheldon will help the Mystics with is defense. She is dogged.....
 
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Adding some cuteness to the thread. This will be a moment this family will remember forever.
 
Some thoughts as I'm watching Atlanta take care of Chicago.

This game may set a record for two players on the floor who scored 110 points in their highest college scoring efforts. Not sure that's even come close other than previous previous Sky Dream matchups

Mark Smesko is chill... I like his mellow attitude seems like he's on his way to get an ice cream cone.

Coffey is absolutely humiliating Maddie no way she can stay with her.

Elizabeth Williams one of my favorite players is having a really tough shooting night the lid is on the hoop for her.

Wonder why Marsh isn't encouraging perimeter defense on Grey
 
bballnut90 said:
Phoenix thrashes the Fever by 35 led by AT's triple double and Bonner's 23. I wonder what the "Indiana is better without Clark" crowd has to say about tonight's game.
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Yes, similarly curious about the silence lately of the criticism of the "million dollar coach," what with AT setting a WNBA record third-straight triple double in that 35-point win, Phoenix's third in a row. Phoenix is now 19-11 and has already matched last season's win total.
 
bballnut90 said:
Phoenix thrashes the Fever by 35 led by AT's triple double and Bonner's 23. I wonder what the "Indiana is better without Clark" crowd has to say about tonight's game.
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I'm not in that crowd but I'm giving the Fever some grace on this one. Not to toot my own horn but I predicted this exact scenario earlier in this thread. That's what you get when the WNBA crams 4 away games in 7 days. They haven't been home in over a week...it's just flying between games to the next destination. They also haven't had more than 1 day of rest between games since their last game against the Mercury.

It was very apparent that the major players on the Fever squad were fighting tired bodies. Boston and Mitchell were not making the easy shots or playing as aggressive.
 
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Meanwhile...LA Sparks have won 7 of 8, and 8 of their last 10. And are now tied in the standings with Golden State for the last playoff spot. And guess what? Their next game is against each other this Saturday, though with 15 games to go, anything can happen.

Seems like it took LA a minute to gel, and they're quite frankly just...outscoring most teams. Plum is having her best season since 2022, and arguably her best ever. I'd say Hamby is having her best season ever, and shooting an absurd 56% from the field (Though that FT shooting needs to go up). Azura is likely the runaway most improved player in the WNBA this year--shooting over 50% from FG and 40% from 3-pt range while being a top 5 rebounder in the league. Rickea has been hot lately, and establishing herself as one of best pure scorers in the league. Meanwhile, Allemand seems like the perfect fit for them at PG.

Brink is working her way back, but has been promising so far, and just her presence on the floor makes people think twice before shooting near the rim.

Their defense keeps them back from being a true contender right now, but a team with that many scorers will always be dangerous if they get hot.
 
bballnut90 said:
Phoenix thrashes the Fever by 35 led by AT's triple double and Bonner's 23. I wonder what the "Indiana is better without Clark" crowd has to say about tonight's game.
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Seriously? It’s just arithmetic. They had a losing record with her and a winning one without her. It’s not that hard to grasp. Why don’t you tell everyone how you run the numbers.

Or do you mean to suggest that Indiana was better with Bonner? It’s hard to make sense of your obsession otherwise. You’re the only one who keeps harping on this. So make your case that every off night is a sure sign that someone is a superstar. I’ll wait.
 
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bballnut90 said:
Phoenix thrashes the Fever by 35 led by AT's triple double and Bonner's 23. I wonder what the "Indiana is better without Clark" crowd has to say about tonight's game.
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I do wish that AT's Triple Double achievement got a little more attention. That is historic! When you think about the legends of the women's game that came before AT. What AT did and will probably continue to do as long as she can play. Is historic.

After watching the replay of the Fever/Mercury game, my heart goes out to Colson and McDonald as well as the whole Indiana franchise. They are going through some things with these injuries! Holy smokes!! Now they have to adjust to another point guard and vice versa. With 12-13 games left in the season. Best of luck for the Fever down the stretch.
 
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bballnut90 said:
Phoenix thrashes the Fever by 35 led by AT's triple double and Bonner's 23. I wonder what the "Indiana is better without Clark" crowd has to say about tonight's game.
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I don't think they are better without her. But I do believe they are a better team than many give them credit for without her as well. Now with all 3 point guards likely out for the rest season (2 for sure), the Fever is likely going to look more like a more overall talented version of the 2023 team. A competitive team that is hindered by their lack of quality point guard. All these injuries are so heartbreaking.
 
Bone Dog said:
Seriously? It’s just arithmetic. They had a losing record with her and a winning one without her. It’s not that hard to grasp. Why don’t you tell everyone how you run the numbers.

Or do you mean to suggest that Indiana was better with Bonner? It’s hard to make sense of your obsession otherwise. You’re the only one who keeps harping on this. So make your case that every off night is a sure sign that someone is a superstar. I’ll wait.
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I was mostly saying it tongue in cheek because I think it’s silly to claim a team is better without their star than with it when the numbers and eye test don’t support it (or at best, very loosely do). With the same logic, one could argue that Minnesota is just as good without Collier since they’re 4-1 in games she’s missed this season which is almost identical to their W-L percentage with her in the lineup. It’s a weak argument to make and is based on discrediting a player rather than highlighting that other players are stepping up. The anti-Clark narrative is effectively the same.


Also, your numbers are wrong, Indy is 8-5 with Clark and 10-9 without. Strictly going on W-L numbers (and point margin), both say Indy is a better team with Clark.
 
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GCKSFN4L said:
I don't think they are better without her. But I do believe they are a better team than many give them credit for without her as well. Now with all 3 point guards likely out for the rest season (2 for sure), the Fever is likely going to look more like a more overall talented version of the 2023 team. A competitive team that is hindered by their lack of quality point guard. All these injuries are so heartbreaking.
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I actually think most acknowledge Indiana has been a very strong team even without Clark in the lineup—McDonald has been getting a lot of deserved love, and Boston/Mitchell/Cunningham have too for their play this season. The latest injuries are particularly brutal since Indiana basically has to implement a brand new PG with just 1/3 of the season to go and there’s no timeline on Clark’s return. PGs have been cursed in Indy this year between these 3 plus Halliburton on the men’s side.
 
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With Indiana’s retooled roster this year, I didn’t think they’d have six or seven losses in the first third of the season, but even when Clark was playing I’m not sure how healthy she was (she missed one of their preseason games to injury as well). At this point she’s missed so much time that it’s hard to fairly assess Indy’s season even if it’s a much weaker record than I expected. I do think not protecting Temi Fagbenle in the expansion draft was a mistake. She’s exactly what they needed to backup Boston. They have enough shooters and didn’t need Dantas for that.

Whether the Fever are better with our without Clark day in day out, I think it’s pretty much a consensus that their ceiling is much higher with her, and with her healthy they’re a threat to beat anyone in a series of any length.
 
I wonder who Indiana will grab if Caitlin is out. Odyssey Sims, Grace Berger (wait a few extra days for her contract with the Wings to expire), and Serena Sundell are the names being thrown around. I doubt they take Sundell because of the experience gap. My bet is on Sims.
 
GamecockFam said:
I wonder who Indiana will grab if Caitlin is out. Odyssey Sims, Grace Berger (wait a few extra days for her contract with the Wings to expire), and Serena Sundell are the names being thrown around. I doubt they take Sundell because of the experience gap. My bet is on Sims.
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My thoughts too were Sims or Berger. I don't know how Sims isn't in the league right now. Her numbers the last two seasons are stellar and for some reason she keeps getting waived.
 
The number of triple doubles this season has suddenly increased dramatically. In addition to AT's streak of them, Allemand also got one.
 
GamecockFam said:
I wonder who Indiana will grab if Caitlin is out. Odyssey Sims, Grace Berger (wait a few extra days for her contract with the Wings to expire), and Serena Sundell are the names being thrown around. I doubt they take Sundell because of the experience gap. My bet is on Sims.
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I believe Sims is out for personal reasons. I'm sure she would have already been picked by another team if she was available.
 
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