2025 WNBA Regular Season

[TheFarmFan]

Siegrist is an interesting paradox. She has wing skills but also scrappy cleverness a 6 footer needs to operate in the paint. I’m not sure Dallas has really found a suitable role for her until recently. I suspect a similar fate would have befallen Lou Lopez Senechal but for that unfortunate surgery at the very start of her time in Dallas. Lou was a better perimeter shooter than Maddy and maybe not quite built for post play even though she’s taller.

Agreed. I will give Dallas a lot of credit for deploying both Siegrist and Haley Jones as quasi power forwards and making it work. They get exposed against the A'ja MVP posts of the world, but against teams without all-star talent at the 5 (like Golden State), it's worked surprisingly well.

 

[cancontent]

I don't think the injury was intentional, but anyone who has played a lot of pickup knows you would occasionally encounter someone who kind of flailed about, hit the deck too easily, and generally threw their body around recklessly. Nothing illegal, just a dangerous player you had to constantly be aware of lest they injure you through unbridled awkwardness.

You shouldn't have to worry about that in a professional game, but that's exactly what I saw in the play. She drove into the paint and just tumbled forward for no real reason. The WNBA has players falling down like this far too often, and increased frequency of lower leg injuries will be the inevitable result.

Are we talking about the same play? I'm not sure how what happened could be seen as flailing when Hartley was bumped by another Fever defender and lost her footing.

 

[cancontent]

 

[JstVisiting]

Are we talking about the same play? I'm not sure how what happened could be seen as flailing when Hartley was bumped by another Fever defender and lost her footing.

Yes, we are. She initiated the contact, shoulder to chest, left her feet for the errant pass, then tumbled forward into SC's legs.

 

[Basingstoke]

+1. They were extremely savvy with their draft picks in grabbing Quinerly and James, but their roster decisions around the power forward/center positions (trading for Smith, totally failing to develop her, then trading her again, resigning McCowan to a crazy vet deal only to release her for nothing) have made no sense to me. At a certain point how many shooting guards (Paige + James, Quinerly, Jones, Carrington) do you need? Even Seigriest feels more in the mold of shooting guard than true forward.

I'm certainly not here to lobby for the management of the Wings, but I wouldn't be so harsh on them for the decisions that you cite.
They obviously had a giant hole to fill at center and power forward and tried to plug them with McCowan (a total misjudgement) and Smith (not good enough to anticipate re-signing but good enough to obtain draft capital in return). Carrington, also at shooting guard/wing didn't work out well as she really pressed within their offense to try and force the issue all too often and is a much more productive fit with the Lynx (brought back an insignificant return from the Lynx, too).
However, as has been noted, their 2025 draft was very good, netting them Paige, developmental pg Quinerly and streaky scorer James - in addition to bringing in Geiselsoder (who I believe can develop into Meeseman-lite in time).
Even though they are a mess this season as currently constituted, they have moved in a positive direction this season by acquiring and developing Li and Jones (while redefining Jones as a player in the W).
I disagree about Siegrist being more of a guard: to me, she is more of an undersized, rugged stretch 4 and is proving her value with a greater role this season.
I completely agree that they really have to figure out the center position (while developing Li, who will be limited by her lack of speed and athleticism, but can still be quite an asset going forward), bringing in a bigger, athletic 4 and a knock-down shooter (ala the Lynx' McBride).
Because of the uniqueness of the range of possibilities going into the 2026 season, I believe that so much will depend on on how well Miller can sell free agents on playing with Paige and playing in Dallas as a city and as a franchise committed to really invested in a winning vision.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Are we talking about the same play? I'm not sure how what happened could be seen as flailing when Hartley was bumped by another Fever defender and lost her footing.

I watched it a bunch of times. MItchell did not cause that. Hartley was leaning in trying to draw contact. Their feet/legs never touched. Hartley 100% initiated any bumping that occurred.

 

[Geew1992]

Sophie's mom and sister are calling out the league and leaving no doubt how they feel about Hartley via twitter.

And before that play, Sophie literally kicked someone in the groin. Maybe her family should worry about Sophie’s dirty plays

 

[Gurleyman]

I don't think the injury was intentional, but anyone who has played a lot of pickup knows you would occasionally encounter someone who kind of flailed about, hit the deck too easily, and generally threw their body around recklessly. Nothing illegal, just a dangerous player you had to constantly be aware of lest they injure you through unbridled awkwardness.

You shouldn't have to worry about that in a professional game, but that's exactly what I saw in the play. She drove into the paint and just tumbled forward for no real reason. The WNBA has players falling down like this far too often, and increased frequency of lower leg injuries will be the inevitable result.

she rolled her ankle when she landed.

 

[TheFarmFan]

I watched it a bunch of times. MItchell did not cause that. Hartley was leaning in trying to draw contact. Their feet/legs never touched. Hartley 100% initiated any bumping that occurred.

I guess I'm just confused because that looked like a basketball play to me and the problem was Cunningham happened to be in the wrong place when Hartley lost her footing. If she'd gone up properly, it very well could have been a foul on either Mitchell or Cunningham if they'd drawn contact once Hartley was in the air.

Totally sucks and I completely agree with critiques the Hartley has taken a really bad turn for the worst, but of all the replays I've seen of her this season, this one really doesn't look very intentional at all.

 

[nwhoopfan]

And before that play, Sophie literally kicked someone in the groin. Maybe her family should worry about Sophie’s dirty plays

On the tie up? I saw a replay of that, but from the wrong angle. I couldn't see the kick.

Cunningham certainly has a reputation for being chippy, going back to college. You would expect her family to back their daughter/sister though, right? Season ending injuries can also bring about an emotional response from people.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I guess I'm just confused because that looked like a basketball play to me and the problem was Cunningham happened to be in the wrong place when Hartley lost her footing. If she'd gone up properly, it very well could have been a foul on either Mitchell or Cunningham if they'd drawn contact once Hartley was in the air.

Totally sucks and I completely agree with critiques the Hartley has taken a really bad turn for the worst, but of all the replays I've seen of her this season, this one really doesn't look very intentional at all.

I'm pretty sure I still haven't said I thought it was intentional anywhere. Just unfortunate, as all injuries are.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Plum and Mitchell both tying on the league leader board at 20.4 ppg begs the question - which Kelsey do you think is better?

The answer might be as simple as they’re just different players. Mitchell is more efficient and better as the player who can get you a clutch bucket, Plum is the more versatile player with her PG skills and has been more accomplished to date.

I do think Mitchell is very close to making her first All-W team this season and she’ll have earned it. Both are candidates though.

Interesting question. We all know who I would pick, but I might be a bit biased.

Rather than comparing the two Kelsey's, lately I've been pondering who a person would choose between Plum and Diggins. Maybe a closer comparison, two PGs with a scorer's mentality. Again, I know which one I would go with.

 

[TheFarmFan]

I'm pretty sure I still haven't said I thought it was intentional anywhere. Just unfortunate, as all injuries are.

I think we're reacting more to "the internets" than to you. And I do think Hartley (rightly) has not gotten any benefit of the doubt given her prior altercations. Just crazy that this would be the one the laimstream is focused on.