Kiah Stokes waived by Liberty | The Boneyard

Kiah Stokes waived by Liberty

Blakeon18 said:
Anyone have insight into the reasoning?
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Despite earning a contract extension before the end of last season, the New York Liberty waived center Kiah Stokes on Wednesday. Stokes is the second rotation player cut by the Liberty this summer after Layshia Clarendon was waived in May. The NY Daily news article below explains it all in detail:

Liberty waive former first-round pick Kiah Stokes

I’ve noticed that she hasn’t played much this season, coming off the bench sparingly with little or no production. The Liberty concluded that she was not worth the salary she was being paid. It will be interesting to see if she gets picked up by another team.

The latest WNBA transactions​

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Nothing specific but in general the new CBA and associated cap rules put the squeeze on veteran role players. They tend to make too much to justify if they aren't big producers.

We just passed a key date after which certain contracts become guaranteed. That's why the Mystics suddenly waived 3 players and opted to play the Sun with only one player eligible off the bench. They need to make sure they have cap to pay "reinforcements" after the Olympic break. I don't know if this was part of the Stokes decision at NYL.
Here's Mike Tibeault explaining:
 
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What I read on ESPN was Kia's performance has taken a serous step downward!
The HC Walt Hopkins said younger players are out-playing Kia as she's had trouble picking up the offensive & defensive plays!
It's not worth paying Kia over $100,000 when a rookie is playing better!
 
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I think this is also the result of overseas commitments - Stokes has only been around for half of the Liberty Games, most recently 'activated' again ten days ago. Hard to sync with a team when you are in and out of the country.
 
RSHERMVIKES said:
What I read on ESPN was Kia's performance has taken a serous step downward!
The HC Walt Hopkins said younger players are out-playing Kia as she's had trouble picking up the offensive & defensive plays!
It's not worth paying Kia over $100,000 when a rookie is playing better!
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Add to it the fact that she has simply never improved her offensive game. Geno tried to get her to do it for 4 years at UCONN. She had flashes in the pros (ie. a few games where she scored a bunch of points), but at only 6'3", being ONLY a defensive specialist, she really has no place in the pros.

I'm bummed for her and bummed as a UCONN fan, but it's her own doing. Maybe she can still earn $ overseas, but like KML, I would say Kiah's days in the WNBA are done.
 
EricLA said:
Add to it the fact that she has simply never improved her offensive game. Geno tried to get her to do it for 4 years at UCONN. She had flashes in the pros (ie. a few games where she scored a bunch of points), but at only 6'3", being ONLY a defensive specialist, she really has no place in the pros.

I'm bummed for her and bummed as a UCONN fan, but it's her own doing. Maybe she can still earn $ overseas, but like KML, I would say Kiah's days in the WNBA are done.
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Kiah has developed a fairly reliable 3-point shot since she left UConn, so I think your statement that she "never improved her offensive game" is an overstatement.

I think this has everything to do with not wanting to guarantee her contract for the rest of the year. I suggest that you listen to Mike Thibault's detailed explanation of his roster moves, including a statement that Megan Gustafson will almost certainly be brought back on one or more 7-day contracts beginning on July 1. All of these players, including Kiah, who have been cut in the last few days will form a pool of "free agents" who will probably be available for short-term service to any team in the league who can use them. And I would expect teams to make full use of that resource.

I don't think by any means that Kiah's time in the WNBA is over. It does make more sense to use her to plug a hole on a contending team rather than on a team such as the Liberty that are not contenders this season and who need to develop their young talent. I think we will see some contending teams that need front-court help in August and September, and in the playoffs as well.
 
Blakeon18 said:
Anyone have insight into the reasoning?
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Not good enough. She is a defensive force, but there isn't enough to her game, beyond that, to contribute at that level. I think the Liberty sees more value in other prospects. She may yet find a spot elsewhere. She is a fine person and everyone wishes her well.
 
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There was a time several seasons ago when Tina and Kiah had a high low thing working very early in the season. Kiah had a double double and I thought she had turned the corner. Alas, this was not a preview of things to come. I always thought the WNBA logo reminded me of Kiah. Too bad, really nice person. Probably will not play professionally in the WNBA again. I think she can still make money overseas. Doesn't she have a passport from Turkey?
 
Because she doesn’t want to shoot or score when she is Capable of scoring and being a force down low.
 
Rixxx said:
There was a time several seasons ago when Tina and Kiah had a high low thing working very early in the season. Kiah had a double double and I thought she had turned the corner. Alas, this was not a preview of things to come. I always thought the WNBA logo reminded me of Kiah. Too bad, really nice person. Probably will not play professionally in the WNBA again. I think she can still make money overseas. Doesn't she have a passport from Turkey?
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Agree on the logo reference. Hope she can hook on with another team. She’s the reason I became a fan and follower of the Liberty. She does need to improve her offensive skills and production.
 
The little I saw it looked like her athleticism has declined. She needed that extra athleticism because she is not a skilled player nor is she a power player.
 
It looks like she was going to miss time if not the rest of the season because of personal problems. I doubt NYL could afford to carry her on the roster and were forced to waive her to create cap space.

But that is just guess.
 
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As Coach Mike noted, anyone on the roster this week required being paid for the rest of the season. Some of the players waived could/will be brought back on short-term contracts. So, we may see more of Kiah. I agree, though, that her impact has waned over the years.
 
DEpup said:
This is why we need an expansion to 14 teams next year and hopefully eventually 16 teams.
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What?! Show me a roster that has more than eight quality pro players. They still have trouble finding 120 who are talented enough to play professional basketball. The talent pool is still not there to support more than 12 teams until there is greater participation from foreign players. Where would the NBA be without its foreign contingent? Using an offensively challenged center who never started for her college team as an example doesn’t change that reality; it only substantiates my point.
 
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Jordy said:
What?! Show me a roster that has more than eight quality pro players. They still have trouble finding 120 who are talented enough to play professional basketball. The talent pool is still not there to support more than 12 teams.
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When you look at how difficult it has become for college players to make rosters and last, I think the quality is there to support a team or two. The only question are the finances around getting an expansion team to survive.
 
zonecoverage.com

It's Officially Time for WNBA Expansion - Zone Coverage

Currently, there are 12 total teams in the WNBA, which is celebrating its 25th year of operation. The WNBA debuted in 1997 with eight teams, eventually
zonecoverage.com zonecoverage.com

I would go with a team in 23 or 24 snd then another in 26. With the Bay and Toronto being the leading contenders, followed by Nash/Memphis, Louisville, and Portland.

Miami is a terrible idea.

I’m down on Charlotte bc it failed once but maybe with some ex-SoCar players ….
 
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Vowelguy said:
zonecoverage.com

It's Officially Time for WNBA Expansion - Zone Coverage

Currently, there are 12 total teams in the WNBA, which is celebrating its 25th year of operation. The WNBA debuted in 1997 with eight teams, eventually
zonecoverage.com zonecoverage.com

I would go with a team in 23 or 24 snd then another in 26. With the Bay and Toronto being the leading contenders, followed by Nash/Memphis, Louisville, and Portland.

Miami is a terrible idea.

I’m down on Charlotte bc it failed once but maybe with some ex-SoCar players ….
Expand ...

I’d like to think that with the new-since-the-Sting light rail having a stop right at the Spectrum Center, a pro team in Charlotte would gain more traction. MJ could put his money where his Jumpman mouth is an make the investment.

FWIW, I’d definitely have season tickets.
 
bbsamjj said:
I agree, I think the league could easily fit 1-2 more teams from a talent perspective.
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If you really believe that, take the first eight players on each team and protect them. Then find two rosters from what remains and tell me that those two teams could beat the Indiana Fever, who currently have won two games. Best of luck.
 
Vowelguy said:
zonecoverage.com

It's Officially Time for WNBA Expansion - Zone Coverage

Currently, there are 12 total teams in the WNBA, which is celebrating its 25th year of operation. The WNBA debuted in 1997 with eight teams, eventually
zonecoverage.com zonecoverage.com

I would go with a team in 23 or 24 snd then another in 26. With the Bay and Toronto being the leading contenders, followed by Nash/Memphis, Louisville, and Portland.

Miami is a terrible idea.

I’m down on Charlotte bc it failed once but maybe with some ex-SoCar players ….
Expand ...
With the popularity of women college basketball in the Carolinas now I think it would be a good time to bring back the Sting.
 
Expansion is a horrible idea when teams lose money, relocation is more successful. Just ask the wings from Tulsa to Dallas, the Aces from San Antonio to Vegas. Fever would be my guess to move but nothing has suggested expansion is gonna help the league
 
Vowelguy said:
zonecoverage.com

It's Officially Time for WNBA Expansion - Zone Coverage

Currently, there are 12 total teams in the WNBA, which is celebrating its 25th year of operation. The WNBA debuted in 1997 with eight teams, eventually
zonecoverage.com zonecoverage.com

I would go with a team in 23 or 24 snd then another in 26. With the Bay and Toronto being the leading contenders, followed by Nash/Memphis, Louisville, and Portland.

Miami is a terrible idea.

I’m down on Charlotte bc it failed once but maybe with some ex-SoCar players ….
Expand ...
I would like to see San Francisco and Toronto expansion in the next year or so.
 
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