I thought that there were several visible areas of improvement and one very noticeable area of no improvement in the returning players. I also was thought that there were very unexpected positives in the new players.
Nika- More muscular, greater strength and stamina, looking up court whenever she gets the ball, passing with a purpose, much stronger on drives, better stroke, a true point guard.
Azzi - Smarter and stronger, stroke is even better, moving better without the ball to get open, can do yeoman's work as a substitute PG.
Dorka- Smoother stroke, about to emerge as a true star underneath.
Liya- Developed that quick drive move to the right, great free throw form, seems much smarter as a basketball player out there with much better court sense and sense of where she should be in a given set, more athletic.
Aubrey- We really did miss her. No one causes chaos and confusion like her, went to the hole strong, just needs some games to get her timing back . Seems leaner and stronger and not hesitant.
Amari- Just disappointed. No real change in strength or skill in this game today and hopefully she will work really hard from now on or she will be a 3 minute player like last year.
Lou- Smart, complete offensive player, a bona fide scorer with every shot there is and moves well without the ball. Blends in seamlessly.
Ines- Surprisingly stronger than the film I saw of her. Has the European glide speed which has to be quickened but is not afraid (behind the back pass in front of Geno). Kid is a player. Good passer with strength and zip on the passes right or left and can go to the hoop.
Ayanna- As billed. She will have to adjust to bigger players than today but having an underneath power player is a great addition. A double double in her first outing is very promising.
All in all, there are a lot of weapons on this team and with CD coming back, it can be an offensive juggernaut. We will be very up tempo, with 3 dead eye 3 point shooters in Azzi, Lou and CD, of whom Lou and CD are nose for the basket type scorers, and a variety of low post scorers in Ay and Liya and an inside out threat in Dorka. Nika and Aubrey have stronger drive moves too.
The defense? Ay, there's the rub but the defense has some genuine stars in Nika and Aubrey and of course Liya. That will be a work in progress more so than the offense but as was posted several times, that's the February metamorphosis, not the November live birth.