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Message: [QUOTE="NOI33, post: 1990002, member: 5730"] Although it wasn't the key point of your response, you hit the nail on the head concerning her WNBA prospects. I would hate to think that WNBA draft position and marketability have any influence on the Awards committees, so we will pretend they don't. Just from a skills/position standpoint, Gabby is in a weird dilemma. At her size and length, she will not succeed as a post player in the league. Any team that is planning on drafting her knows this. Anyone who has even a minimal understanding of the WNBA as it stands, knows this. I recall a few members on this board (who were ostracized for having an opinion) pointing this out too. Many will point to the success of Danielle Adams (Stars) or Alicia Clarke (Storm) as examples of undersized college post players who made a smooth transition to the league. Adams is a significantly wider player than Gabby, has immense physical strength, and has 1 or 2 inches on her. Adams developed a wide offensive repertoire at TA&M, and was therefore utilized by her WNBA team as a three-point threat. That's the key: SHE HAD A RELIABLE SHOT. Same thing goes for Clarke. Great midrange shooter and slasher (with both hands), but a very solid three-point shooter to boot. Clarke no longer plays the post, but if you watch the Storm, she often posts her man up down-low. She is a match-up problem for many teams. As athletically gifted as Gabby Williams is, once in the WNBA, the margin of difference (athletically) between her and the other players won't be as significant. Doesn't take away from her sheer strength and ability; she is a freak of nature. However, we need to be realistic with our appraisals, and I think that's what [B]Los24 [/B]and others are getting at. At the end of the day, as valuable as she is to UCONN, she is not a consistent offensive threat...and a lot of her production comes from the fact that the defense has to focus more on the threats posed by Lou, Kia, and Pheese. Gabby is amazing nonetheless, and her determination to be great will hopefully facilitate the development of a more dynamic offensive skill-set in her senior year. [/QUOTE]

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