2025 WNBA Regular Season | Page 79 | The Boneyard

2025 WNBA Regular Season

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EricLA said:
You would think with the roster that Seattle has (all stars, Olympians), plus with the addition of Sykes, that they would be a top 4 team. Instead they are barely hanging on for a playoff spot. Never been a fan of Quinn as a coach, and maybe the finger needs to be pointed at her. She seems to be doing less with more than any other coach in the league.
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The irony for me is that their social media team put out a post hyping several players for end of season awards the day before. Not exactly a great game to use as a reference point.
 
The Sparks are second in the league in PPG and dead last in opponent PPG. In the pros, very few teams can get away with just outscoring opponents. It’s slightly more passable in college ball and is exactly how Utah played, which is why Lynne Roberts was an odd coaching hire to me.
 
nwhoopfan said:
Is she on @azfan 's hit list? I've been questioning her coaching ability for most of her tenure.
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Quinn in my view is an average coach slightly above 500. With players it's difficult to determine how coaches will mature and evolve but she's had five years with teams that have had more than average potential.

While I would take her over the million dollar coach my preference would be to have neither.
 
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This ESPN article is only peripherally related to the current WNBA season but is certainly provocative.

Titled 25 under 25 the authors rate Malonga above Reese?!?!?

Now that's a hot take

www.espn.com

25 under 25: Ranking the WNBA's best young players

Which WNBA players have the most future potential? Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese make our list.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Authors not listed so I'm assuming some of them were aware there would be some heat attached to the analysis
 
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GamecockFam said:
I'm getting a headache just trying to figure out who will be MVP and which teams will make the playoffs.

Confused Always Sunny GIF by It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
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Tie between AT and Wilson.

I think the who is clear....the question is seeding.
 
azfan said:
Quinn in my view is an average coach slightly above 500. it's difficult to determine how coaches will mature and evolve but she's had five years with teams that have had more than average potential.

While I would take her over the million dollar coach my preference would be to have neither.
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FYI - While I agree with the sentiment of your first sentence, I believe there's a typo in it.
 
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azfan said:
This ESPN article is only peripherally related to the current WNBA season but is certainly provocative.

Titled 25 under 25 the authors rate Malonga above Reese?!?!?

Now that's a hot take

www.espn.com

25 under 25: Ranking the WNBA's best young players

Which WNBA players have the most future potential? Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese make our list.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Authors not listed so I'm assuming some of them were aware there would be some heat attached to the analysis
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Like any list, it is all subjective. Most of us don't get too caught up in where a player is ranked. The Malonga over Reese, by one spot. Not a hot take. Now if it would have been 5 or more spots, might be a hot take. But one spot, on a list that is subjective? Not even a warm take.
 
JellyBean said:
Like any list, it is all subjective. Most of us don't get too caught up in where a player is ranked. The Malonga over Reese, by one spot. Not a hot take. Now if it would have been 5 or more spots, might be a hot take. But one spot, on a list that is subjective? Not even a warm take.
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Love your reaction. Angel Reese clearly has demonstrated considerably more than Malonga on the court which is understandable as she has one more year in the w.

Average fans may not get caught up in a list like this as you indicate its subjective. I'd love to see what GM's think about not only this list but the specific comparison. For them these kinds of considerations are career enhancing or ending.

Would the two teams trade the two players straight up..... Interesting mind experiment.

Since we're talking about the future anything could be said .......
 
GoChips20 said:
The Sparks are second in the league in PPG and dead last in opponent PPG. In the pros, very few teams can get away with just outscoring opponents. It’s slightly more passable in college ball and is exactly how Utah played, which is why Lynne Roberts was an odd coaching hire to me.
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Yeah, the D is terrible. I think they have a number of players who individually can be good defensively, but as a whole they just cannot get stops with any kind of consistency.
 
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azfan said:
Love your reaction. Angel Reese clearly has demonstrated considerably more than Malonga on the court which is understandable as she has one more year in the w.

Average fans may not get caught up in a list like this as you indicate its subjective. I'd love to see what GM's think about not only this list but the specific comparison. For them these kinds of considerations are career enhancing or ending.

Would the two teams trade the two players straight up..... Interesting mind experiment.

Since we're talking about the future anything could be said .......
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I just don't get caught up in these lists. As for the GMs. They have to do what they think is best for their team and get players that fit their roster. As for would the two teams trade the two players straight up? That would be interesting and quite possible.
Who Knows Whatever GIF by Paul McCartney
 
nwhoopfan said:
Yeah, the D is terrible. I think they have a number of players who individually can be good defensively, but as a whole they just cannot get stops with any kind of consistency.
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Watching them play just reminds me of when I was younger and watching the Denver Nuggets games of the 80s. Check out the Pistons/Nuggets game back in '82/'83.
 
azfan said:
This ESPN article is only peripherally related to the current WNBA season but is certainly provocative.

Titled 25 under 25 the authors rate Malonga above Reese?!?!?

Now that's a hot take

www.espn.com

25 under 25: Ranking the WNBA's best young players

Which WNBA players have the most future potential? Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese make our list.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Authors not listed so I'm assuming some of them were aware there would be some heat attached to the analysis
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The author is listed after each write-up. Malonga has a world of upside.
 
Looks like the Aces, and A'ja, are telling the basketball community, "Hey! Don't forget about us." A'ja with another powerful game, is making the conversation very interesting for MVP. I still say Napheesa got it on lock but we shall see what develops. AT is in the conversation as well. Great game by the Aces.
 
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Ever since the Aces chose to give Malonga to Seattle in exchange for Loyd in a three way instead of just taking Malonga for Plum, I felt they would severly regret it very soon. Malonga is the player the Aces really needed much more than Loyd who just did not fit in with their other guards. The Aces issues this season are a lack of height in the post so much so that they often have to play Gray on post players. They would not even of had to trade for Smith, who did turn out to fill a need. In their last game against Atlanta, they really got killed on the boards with Atlanta getting far too many offensive boards.

loyd is not a good defender and is far too streaky on offense. It has only been since she is coming off the bench that she is being productive. She knows she does not fit in, expecially since Young is so ball dominant. She puts up stats but makes far too many mental errors to be handling the ball as much as she does. The reason they are on their winning streak is that they have improved their ball movement. But in the third quarter in their game against Atlanta they went back to hero ball and blew a big lead.
 
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MilfordHusky said:
Lelia Lacan has really impressed me of late.
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I was thinking the exact same thing last night (but was too tired to post) as I watched the 2nd half of that game off and on.

Her stat line is now up to;: 10.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.9 assists per game and 2.4 steals per game, which now puts her in the league lead, a nudge in front of Gabby Williams (the only two players with more than 2 per game).

What I like is how smooth -- even fluid -- her stride is, with or without the ball in her hands, and her confidence to make a move.
 
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willtalk said:
Ever since the Aces chose to give Malonga to Seattle in exchange for Loyd in a three way instead of just taking Malonga for Plum, I felt they would severly regret it very soon. Malonga is the player the Aces really needed much more than Loyd who just did not fit in with their other guards. The Aces issues this season are a lack of height in the post so much so that they often have to play Gray on post players. They would not even of had to trade for Smith, who did turn out to fill a need. In their last game against Atlanta, they really got killed on the boards with Atlanta getting far too many offensive boards.

loyd is not a good defender and is far too streaky on offense. It has only been since she is coming off the bench that she is being productive. She knows she does not fit in, expecially since Young is so ball dominant. She puts up stats but makes far too many mental errors to be handling the ball as much as she does. The reason they are on their winning streak is that they have improved their ball movement. But in the third quarter in their game against Atlanta they went back to hero ball and blew a big lead.
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Although I don't disagree with your analysis of Loyd, I think some rewriting of history is going on here. Seattle got the #2 pick from LA, not Vegas - it wasn't a guarantee it was Malonga at that time. And what spurred the trade was Loyd. The Aces are in "win now" mode and I'm not sure I see them giving away a star guard (Plum) for a prospective chance at center who could develop in a year or two.
 
willtalk said:
Ever since the Aces chose to give Malonga to Seattle in exchange for Loyd in a three way instead of just taking Malonga for Plum, I felt they would severly regret it very soon. Malonga is the player the Aces really needed much more than Loyd who just did not fit in with their other guards. The Aces issues this season are a lack of height in the post so much so that they often have to play Gray on post players. They would not even of had to trade for Smith, who did turn out to fill a need. In their last game against Atlanta, they really got killed on the boards with Atlanta getting far too many offensive boards.

loyd is not a good defender and is far too streaky on offense. It has only been since she is coming off the bench that she is being productive. She knows she does not fit in, expecially since Young is so ball dominant. She puts up stats but makes far too many mental errors to be handling the ball as much as she does. The reason they are on their winning streak is that they have improved their ball movement. But in the third quarter in their game against Atlanta they went back to hero ball and blew a big lead.
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Think you have your quarters confused. The third quarter is when they went on a 21-6 run.
 
TheFarmFan said:
Although I don't disagree with your analysis of Loyd, I think some rewriting of history is going on here. Seattle got the #2 pick from LA, not Vegas - it wasn't a guarantee it was Malonga at that time. And what spurred the trade was Loyd. The Aces are in "win now" mode and I'm not sure I see them giving away a star guard (Plum) for a prospective chance at center who could develop in a year or two.
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While true, Vegas ended up having to trade for Smith to improve their post play situation as the options they went with haven't produced as they hoped. Hindsight is 20/20, but if the Aces had a shot at Malonga, it would have been one heck of a pairing with Wilson.
 
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It’s worth pointing out that as inept as the Aces front office has been, they did secure a quality big to pair with Wilson in Cheyenne Parker-Tyus who is just two seasons removed from an All-Star nod. Even if she returns for the playoffs it’s too late to learn what that can look like, but it’ll be something to watch if she sticks with the Aces next year.
 
TheFarmFan said:
Although I don't disagree with your analysis of Loyd, I think some rewriting of history is going on here. Seattle got the #2 pick from LA, not Vegas - it wasn't a guarantee it was Malonga at that time. And what spurred the trade was Loyd. The Aces are in "win now" mode and I'm not sure I see them giving away a star guard (Plum) for a prospective chance at center who could develop in a year or two.
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The entire three way trade was triggered by LA wanting Plum and LV wanting to replace Plum. Loyd wanted out of Seattle and chose to send LA compensation of their number two pick to Seattle for Loyd. They could have just taken the pick for Plum without involving Seattle.

What was unknown was that Malonga would be picked at the two postition, but with Bueckers availabe it was unlikely she would be picked number one. Malonga did rise towards the potential pick late, but anyone with half a brain could see she was potentially a star and some one with her abilities at her height does not come along very often.
 
GoChips20 said:
It’s worth pointing out that as inept as the Aces front office has been, they did secure a quality big to pair with Wilson in Cheyenne Parker-Tyus who is just two seasons removed from an All-Star nod. Even if she returns for the playoffs it’s too late to learn what that can look like, but it’ll be something to watch if she sticks with the Aces next year.
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Of course, gosh knows what members of the Aces will be returning, with seemingly the majority of vets in the league being UFAs!
 
willtalk said:
. The Aces issues this season are a lack of height in the post so much so that they often have to play Gray on post players. They would not even of had to trade for Smith, who did turn out to fill a need. In their last game against Atlanta, they really got killed on the boards with Atlanta getting far too many offensive boards.

loyd is not a good defender and is far too streaky on offense. It has only been since she is coming off the bench that she is being productive. She knows she does not fit in, expecially since Young is so ball dominant. She puts up stats but makes far too many mental errors to be handling the ball as much as she does. The reason they are on their winning streak is that they have improved their ball movement. But in the third quarter in their game against Atlanta they went back to hero ball and blew a big lead.
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I've thought about this observation and been amazed at how well the Aces have overcome their lack of height. And yes you're right Grey is demonstrating remarkable willingness to defend the paint.
 
The Sky roll into the valley of incredible heat as a 12-point dog sporting the worst point differential in the w. The abysmal point differential suggests that they're offense must be worse than that of Dallas given the pathetic nature of the schemes being run in Texas.

I'm really looking forward to the contest particularly AT whose MVP year is being overshadowed by Wilson's MVP year and Angel and Cardoso.

Oddly enough this may be the Sky's best opportunity to get a 10th victory as the schedule to the end of the season is brutal for Chicago.
 
azfan said:
This ESPN article is only peripherally related to the current WNBA season but is certainly provocative.
.
Titled 25 under 25 the authors rate Malonga above Reese?!?!?

Authors not listed so I'm assuming some of them were aware there would be some heat attached to the analysis
Expand ...
Over the past 15 games, Malonga has averaged 12.7 points and 7.5 rebounds (up from 4.3 ppg and 2.8 rpg across the first 22 games) in just over 20 minutes per game.
She is also just 19 years old. Malonga does not turn 20 until November, so she is the age of the average rising college sophomore.
By comparison, Angel Reese turned 22 at the start of the 2024 WNBA season, her rookie campaign.
 
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