May 2024 WNBA Thread, part II

[hoopsnloops32]

I don't think they waived Vivian's, I think it was Menjiadieu. Vivians played tonight.

I’m talking about the Fever not the Storm. The Fever had her under contract this year and then parted ways with her and are still paying her 90k. The storm signed her during the off-season st the vet minimum.

 

[packwrap]

I’m talking about the Fever not the Storm. The Fever had her under contract this year and then parted ways with her and are still paying her 90k. The storm signed her during the off-season st the vet minimum.

oops, wow are the Fever stuck with her on their 2024 salary cap? Her play with the Storm has certainly been competent.

 

[cancontent]

Alyssa Thomas had an off-night. Was Liya partly responsible?

Good question. Obviously, I'm biased and would like to think Aaliyah did.

 

[cancontent]

No nonsense and gimmick free is underrated unfortunately.

Maybe so, but it does translate to a long career if she maintains this consistency, which is what I'm hoping for in her case.

 

[Geew1992]

In the heart of baseball season, the NBA Finals, the Lord Stanley Finals, and ESPN hosts getting heated talking about the WNBA...the WNBA is getting some major press...I love it!!

No, the W is NOT getting press. Clark is. All the press is about her, the W players are targeting her, and they need to protect her. There is ZERO conversation about the Sun being undefeated, Wilson having a monster year, MVPhee or DT scoring 30 multiple times at the age of 40 something. Those things are about the WNBA. Not Clark

 

[azfan]

How about 13 and 4 on 6-6 shooting?

Yep, the Merc matador defense seems to be quite tasty particularly when a w team well coached gets to host the Merc.

Looked like an exhibition practice against a division 3 team as the Storm took turns slashing to the hoop

I suspect the Mercs million dollar coach will return to the drawing board to tweak both the interior and perimeter defense. Perhaps ongoing conversations about the rotation? I listened to the game on the local ABC affiliate and it was amusing to hear the hometown announcers for the Merc try to find something positive to say.

What the announcers settled on was the million dollar coach's record in the game of winning challenges. Yep that's why he's earning a million bucks a year.

If this performance sets the June standard the dumpster fire in Phoenix will have no problem losing their last two games of the month to the Spark and the Fever.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

No, the W is NOT getting press. Clark is. All the press is about her, the W players are targeting her, and they need to protect her. There is ZERO conversation about the Sun being undefeated, Wilson having a monster year, MVPhee or DT scoring 30 multiple times at the age of 40 something. Those things are about the WNBA. Not Clark

While the league isn't completely in control of the narrative they do have some responsibility. They need to step up and tell their story regardless of the talking heads.

 

[azfan]

DT in particular and the Merc in general are in the running for the most bizarrely hot and cold shooting of all time. They are either sizzling or absolutely horrible. No in between.

Most often icicle cold and don't forget the complete and utter indifference to defense. The matador defense installed by the million dollar coach is second to the Fever in points allowed.

 

[Rb335]

Ms. "people are coming to watch me too" was shooting 35% from the floor coming into today, and was 3-12 tonight. I don't see much if any talk about this. For a player that shoots almost exclusively from point blank range, that is awful. She's a good rebounder. Otherwise she has A LOT of work to do.

To me it looks like she is always way more concerned with trying to draw a foul than actually trying to get the ball in the basket. A lot of her attempts aren’t even remotely close to going in. She’s an elite rebounder, and made a living at the FT line in college. If she would just work on her shot mechanics she could actually be infinitely better.

 

[Dillon77]

To me it looks like she is always way more concerned with trying to draw a foul than actually trying to get the ball in the basket. A lot of her attempts aren’t even remotely close to going in. She’s an elite rebounder, and made a living at the FT line in college. If she would just work on her shot mechanics she could actually be infinitely better.

@nwhoopfan

I've watched a number of Chicago Sky games and agree that many - so many -- of her follow-up shots are off base. Initially, she does a good job crashing when coming from the weak-side to grab the rebound. For whatever reason -- rushed, poor mechanics, try to draw fouls -- the follow-up/put-back is off. Sometimes so far off, that Reese is the perfect person to grab the rebound, shoot and miss again. I'm amazed at how many of her offensive rebounds are off her own missed shots.

None of these teams have down or practice time, but Reese would very much benefit from some coaching/advice and practice on this aspect of her game. Once again, her ability to get to the first rebound is beyond reproach. But the next step ....

 

[Geew1992]

While the league isn't completely in control of the narrative they do have some responsibility. They need to step up and tell their story regardless of the talking heads.

Not disagreeing at all. And Monica McNutt shutting down Stephen A Smith was what it needed. And it left him speechless which was fantastic!

 

[Vowelguy]

No, the W is NOT getting press. Clark is. All the press is about her, the W players are targeting her, and they need to protect her. There is ZERO conversation about the Sun being undefeated, Wilson having a monster year, MVPhee or DT scoring 30 multiple times at the age of 40 something. Those things are about the WNBA. Not Clark

Does Clark play in the WNBA?

 

[Geew1992]

Does Clark play in the WNBA?

The W is more than Clark. If the media is only talking about her, that is NOT covering the W

 

[Vowelguy]

The W is more than Clark. If the media is only talking about her, that is NOT covering the W

Clark is the supernova, bringing in zillions of new eyeballs. Rather than see it as this great opportunity/gateway to broader viewership/gains/$$$, all anyone can do is whine and try to kill the golden goose (sometimes literally). Great strategy.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

i am confused why the Fever got rid of Vivian’s. A good defender and shooter, seems she’d make the Fever substantially better and is better than any of their current 3s. Weird decision there considering they are still paying her this season.

I don't think she was a good fit there honestly. She wasn't really that great offensively or defensively at Indiana. But I also don't think the organization exactly put her in the best position to succeed either.

It seems like they brought KLS to fill her spot as a better shooter but she's a worse defender than Vivians. But it seems almost always like leaving Indiana is a blessing for the players. Look no further than Betnijah Laney, Teaira McCowan and Alanna Smith who all start having better careers once leaving.

 

[azfan]

None of these teams have down or practice time, but Reese would very much benefit from some coaching/advice and practice on this aspect of her game. Once again, her ability to get to the first rebound is beyond reproach. But the next step ....

On point analysis.

This is illustrative of the reason that Geno coached players are valued in the w. Contrast the deficiencies in Reese's game which have not been addressed with the performance of Edwards.

One can think of a number of solid or excellent college players that have been in Kim's program and compare those with similar players in the Connecticut program. Coaching matters. Now it may well be that Reese is less coachable than Edwards but the fact remains that the formative program in college in which you play can make a big difference.

 

[Kaizen]

Honestly I don't watch WNBA often but CC - CC elbow case makes me spending the last 2 hours in googling WNBA.
Is it good or bad?

 

[Bigboote]

To me it looks like (Reese) is always way more concerned with trying to draw a foul than actually trying to get the ball in the basket.

Reese is not alone in that, and I find that style very unpleasant to watch. Some of McGraw's teams seemed to always play like that if they faced any competition/defense. The Connecticut "And one!" Sun have often been guilty of it, although I think White is making progress getting them away from it.

After years of complaining about it, I finally heard an announcer, I think during the NCAA tournament earlier this year, say "They're trying to draw fouls, they'd be better off trying to make shots." I don't remember what team it was, nor what announcer it was, but I was so pleased to hear it that I still remember it.

 

[bballnut90]

Honestly I don't watch WNBA often but CC - CC elbow case makes me spending the last 2 hours in googling WNBA.
Is it good or bad?

I don't love it but in reality I think it's good overall. One of the best catalysts for growth in the past couple of years came from the fall out of Angel Reese taunting Clark at the end of the 2023 championship game. Controversy brings more eyes to the sport, which in turn creates more fans/haters and ultimately helps grow the game.

 

[azfan]

I don't love it but in reality I think it's good overall. One of the best catalysts for growth in the past couple of years came from the fall out of Angel Reese taunting Clark at the end of the 2023 championship game. Controversy brings more eyes to the sport, which in turn creates more fans/haters and ultimately helps grow the game.

ABSOLUTELY

 

[cancontent]

This had me in tears laughing. The video clip that follows this tweet, hilarious.

 

[cancontent]

This had me in tears laughing. The video clip that follows this tweet, hilarious.

 

[Bigboote]

I just love the Kate Martin story! And you know her Aces' teammates wouldn't do that if 1) they didn't love her, and 2) they didn't know she has a sense of humor that would "get it". I take that as a very good sign for her and the Aces.

And a Hello Kitty backpack??? Priceless.

 

[The deacon]

"The Glue" on several years of outstanding Iowa teams, my favorite Hawkeye player during that stretch, and a future coach, for sure... as long as Kate is playing, I'm a fan!

 

[nwhoopfan]

Someone is really laughing hard in that clip. I'm not sure, but in my mind it's A'ja.

 

[cancontent]

Someone is really laughing hard in that clip. I'm not sure, but in my mind it's A'ja.

Apparently it's Kiersten Bell if you look at the caption posted. Who knows for sure?

 

[cancontent]

 

[nwhoopfan]

Looks like Hayes has made her debut for the Aces. Have they been off for about a week? They've played about half as many games as the Fever. The scheduling so far is just DUMB.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Aces have been a bit Jekyll and Hyde. Another monster game for Wilson. Young and Plum had a much better outing tonight than the previous game. Double digits from Hayes off the bench.

Ogunbowale w/ another 30 point game but it wasn't enough to prevent a fairly comfortable win for LV.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Despite being winless, I don't know that Washington is that much worse than LA and Indiana. LA, especially, is absolutely horrible and does not have the right coach for what should be the current mission.