Gabby in the Gold Medal Game vs US

[From France]

With the way the current WNBA rules work, I suspect Gabby will never play again in the W. I am sure she makes more playing in Europe for the full season and has her summers free for French National Team commitments and rest.

I understand the W trying to force players to commit fully to the league, and it is opening more roster spots for Americans, but it is also keep some great talent from playing in the US. Messeman, Williams, etc aren't leaving their European teams before their championships get played and those happen after the W deadline for reporting.

Now that she has signed with Fenerbahce, it should be easyer for her to play in the WNBA next season, the Turkish League has adapt a schedule to permit its players to finish before WNBA training camps

 

[Dugway]

I've read on a Seattle site that, (by at least a couple posters) Gabby is still tied to the Seattle Storm, so if she were to come back this season it would be with them. I don't know if this is accurate. There was further speculation that to make that happen, the Storm would need to release Joyner Holmes and/or Victoria Vivians to accommodate Gabby's salary.

If the Storm could bring Gabby in to finish the season it would be huge for their chances to compete for a title this season. Adding her to any WNBA roster would be a game changer! The other thing I've read is that she has signed with a Turkish league team for the winter and that that leagues season end would not present a problem for her availability at the start of the 2025 WNBA season.

I would love to see her back in the W. She is such an amazing player and just a joy to watch playing the game.

Related to the stuff I highlighted in red above, and I recognize these are discussions of other people not necessarily #12 in 21; I don't know that the Seattle Storm has the option to release two players to pick up Gabby Williams. Whether Gabby is a free agent or still contractually tied the Storm, I don't think the Storm can release two. The league has a requirement of a minimum of 11 players on each team, and Seattle is currently at that minimum roster. Releasing two and adding one would reduce their roster size down to only 10 players.

And, there is the Team Salary Cap that must be attained to. With that regard, I believe the Seattle franchise was pretty darn close to spending every dime possible on the eleven players they have on the current roster. In essence, it would have to be a one for one; someone on the current roster out, with Gabby not being paid any more than that current player's salary.

If Gabby demanded the equivalent of a $200,000 salary (I say equivalent because half the season is already over), then the team would have to cut Jewell, Nneka, or Skylar to open up that $200K. Would the Storm even consider that? What does the word "Protected" mean contractually in the WNBA - is it possible to just cut a protected player and not pay them their salary? If not possible, would Gabby accept considerably less; they only pay Vivians $76K, would that be enough to entice Williams? What are the possible 'trade' or 'release' options for Gabby to get out of Seattle? How does she just become a free agent? And of course, virtually every other team is going to be in the same boat as the Storm, right? There is at least one that she would not consider even if it were a league maximum contract, given that they previously "did her dirty!"

 

[mainerhuski]

Gabby was the MVP of the gold-medal match, despite France's loss.

 

[Scud49]

Some more Gabulous:

x.com

x.com

 

[OldSchooler]

Most athletic women's baller I ever saw at UConn. I always felt she would have been a great hurdler.

 

[Scud49]

Candid shot after the title game, I can feel her pain...

 

[From France]

Would like to see photos of Stew and Phee embracing Gabby in the post game line up

 

[Dugway]

I just read an article about opportunities / decisions she has available:

Winsidr analyst Rachel Galligan reported that there is a legitimate chance she (Gabby Williams) could end up back in the WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury is one of the teams to watch.

“Gabby Williams is weighing her WNBA options but is also considering remaining in France for the rest of the summer to rest and capitalize around her momentum, sources tell Winsidr,” Galligan said on X/Twitter. “Her decision will likely come down to whether she will be cored or not. A central issue will be the team’s commitment to NOT core her. Teams in play are the Seattle Storm, New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury.”

What the heck is "cored" or the concept of "to NOT core her" mean?

 

[Linart]

Every time I see Gabby with her armful of tats, I have to laugh. I remember the days when CD made a player (KJ??) wear a bandaid over an itty bitty tattoo that she had on her upper arm.

 

[cancontent]

Every time I see Gabby with her armful of tats, I have to laugh. I remember the days when CD made a player (KJ??) wear a bandaid over an itty bitty tattoo that she had on her upper arm.

It's amazing how things change over time.

 

[Lynx23]

I just read an article about opportunities / decisions she has available:

Winsidr analyst Rachel Galligan reported that there is a legitimate chance she (Gabby Williams) could end up back in the WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury is one of the teams to watch.

“Gabby Williams is weighing her WNBA options but is also considering remaining in France for the rest of the summer to rest and capitalize around her momentum, sources tell Winsidr,” Galligan said on X/Twitter. “Her decision will likely come down to whether she will be cored or not. A central issue will be the team’s commitment to NOT core her. Teams in play are the Seattle Storm, New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury.”

What the heck is "cored" or the concept of "to NOT core her" mean?

I'm very old school but I think this is what it means......

 

[RockyMTblue2]

It's amazing how things change over time.

I don't believe that has changed at UConn though I don't think Nika had to cover a small tat for a family member (or am I confusing someone else?).

Being old school I have no use for tats on females.

 

[cancontent]

I don't believe that has changed at UConn though I don't think Nika had to cover a small tat for a family member (or am I confusing someone else?).

Being old school I have no use for tats on females.

Meh. I still find it funny how things have changed overall, regardless what UConn does with respect to how they deal with it as a team. That's their choice as it should be.

 

[MSGRET]

“I always make the joke I had no idea how to play basketball when I got to UConn,” she laughed. “I was just athletic and when I got there I didn’t know how to play basketball and it was a rude awakening for me.” -Gabby Williams to Kurt Schroeder KOLO News 8, Reno, Nevada.

As someone noted earlier, in High School although she did played basketball, she split her time with another sport; she was really more of a Track star (Reed High School is a Track and Field powerhouse here in Nevada). When a girl can walk under the high jump bar upright and then go jump over it, it is pretty impressive. But she wasn’t just a high jumper, she ran All American level high hurdle times as well. She was a gazelle!

Geno didn’t recruit her because of her extensive basketball skills. Rather, that she had the ability to transition her skills into something really special.

Actually her track and field season was over before the basketball season even started. She would miss some of the basketball practices, but did participate in basketball regular season. Because of her tearing her ACL in her Junior year, she stopped participating in track because it was over before she could get clearance to participate. Below is both her basketball and track high school achievements.

Basketball​

Williams attended and played basketball at Edward C. Reed High School[6] in Sparks, Nevada. As a sophomore she averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, and seven steals per game in leading Reed to the Class 4A state title. Williams had 15 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists in a semifinal win over Foothill, then had 24 points, four rebounds, and four assists in the championship game win over Reno and was named the Las Vegas Review-Journal Class 4A state Player of the Year. During her junior year, Williams was averaging 30 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and seven blocked shots per game when she suffered a completely torn anterior cruciate ligament and partially-torn meniscus in her right knee on Jan. 19 just 30-seconds into a game against rival Reno High.[7] She had season-ending surgery Feb. 11 and was cleared to return to full basketball activity Oct. 10.

Track and field​

Williams was a very accomplished multi-event track and field athlete. She was named the Gatorade Nevada Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year, honoring the best track and field athlete in high school while still a freshman. She competed in the state meet, finishing second in the 100 meter hurdles and third in the 300 meter hurdles as well as helping the 4 x 400 meter relay team finish second. She cleared 5'8" in the high jump, which ranked number 36 among all high school players in the nation. As a sophomore, she repeated as the Gatorade Nevada Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. At the state championships, she won the 100 meter hurdles as well as the 300 meter hurdles and cleared 5'11" to win the high jump. At a regional meet she cleared 6 feet 1.5 inches, which ranked as the top performance among high school competitors at the time and was second best among all of Division I. At the Olympic trials in 2012, she cleared 6 feet 2+1⁄4 inches to finish in fifth place among all competitors, while still too young to be eligible for the US world Junior team, although she qualified as an alternate for the 2012 London Olympics

 

[MilfordHusky]

Most athletic women's baller I ever saw at UConn. I always felt she would have been a great hurdler.

Gabby ran both the 100 meter and 300 meter hurdles in high school. Her best event, of course, was the high jump.

 

[CL82]

I recently told someone that if given the choice of watching Caitlin Clark or Gabby Williams, I would choose Gabby every day and twice on Sunday. And I'm not a Clark hater. I love watching Gabby play on both ends of the court.

I used to rewatch UConn games and just focus on Gabby. It never disappointed. She routinely made plays so athletic that my draw would drop. She is an amazing athlete.

 

[Geew1992]

Related to the stuff I highlighted in red above, and I recognize these are discussions of other people not necessarily #12 in 21; I don't know that the Seattle Storm has the option to release two players to pick up Gabby Williams. Whether Gabby is a free agent or still contractually tied the Storm, I don't think the Storm can release two. The league has a requirement of a minimum of 11 players on each team, and Seattle is currently at that minimum roster. Releasing two and adding one would reduce their roster size down to only 10 players.

And, there is the Team Salary Cap that must be attained to. With that regard, I believe the Seattle franchise was pretty darn close to spending every dime possible on the eleven players they have on the current roster. In essence, it would have to be a one for one; someone on the current roster out, with Gabby not being paid any more than that current player's salary.

If Gabby demanded the equivalent of a $200,000 salary (I say equivalent because half the season is already over), then the team would have to cut Jewell, Nneka, or Skylar to open up that $200K. Would the Storm even consider that? What does the word "Protected" mean contractually in the WNBA - is it possible to just cut a protected player and not pay them their salary? If not possible, would Gabby accept considerably less; they only pay Vivians $76K, would that be enough to entice Williams? What are the possible 'trade' or 'release' options for Gabby to get out of Seattle? How does she just become a free agent? And of course, virtually every other team is going to be in the same boat as the Storm, right? There is at least one that she would not consider even if it were a league maximum contract, given that they previously "did her dirty!"

From what I read, the reason she can return is because she is a free agent. I don't know about the Storm releasing 2 though.

 

[UcMiami]

What the heck is "cored" or the concept of "to NOT core her" mean?

The 'Core' designation can be used for one free agent by a WNBA team. It changes that free agent to an 'exclusive rights' free agent and guarantees a one year 'Super Max' contract though the team and player can negotiate a longer term deal.

I believe her position is that she is happy to come in for half a season as a 'hired gun' for some team, but wants to be sure to revert to being a free agent for next season.

I think it means that she is committed to her Euro team and will not be reporting to a WNBA training camp next year and doesn't want to be in the same situation she was in with Chicago where she was barred from playing in the WNBA because she was still playing in Europe past the WNBA deadline. I think if she continues to play on a one year contract without a core designation each year, she can return to the W each year whenever her Euro commit ends.

 

[robert]

Congrats to the US for battling it out to get a historic gold medal. It was not an easy task to be down by 10 in the 3rd and having the crowd be (mostly) against you.

Congrats to Gabby for putting it all on the line and absolutely balling out. France played tough and should feel proud about being only inches away from OT.

UConn players once again representing well on the biggest stage.

I just read an article about opportunities / decisions she has available:

Winsidr analyst Rachel Galligan reported that there is a legitimate chance she (Gabby Williams) could end up back in the WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury is one of the teams to watch.

“Gabby Williams is weighing her WNBA options but is also considering remaining in France for the rest of the summer to rest and capitalize around her momentum, sources tell Winsidr,” Galligan said on X/Twitter. “Her decision will likely come down to whether she will be cored or not. A central issue will be the team’s commitment to NOT core her. Teams in play are the Seattle Storm, New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury.”

What the heck is "cored" or the concept of "to NOT core her" mean?

I guess Liberty is the best fit for Olympic MVP…