May 2024 WNBA Thread, part II

[Baller29]

The 3 v 3 challenge was interesting to say the least... without Howard it was tough for that group

 

[JDuro]

Allisha Gray with a coming out party tonight. Skills Challenge and 3 point shooting competition champion. First to ever pull off the double. Also got to exhibit how much of a lovable sweetheart that she is.
She should be headed to Paris on that USA 3x3 team to repeat the gold but, oh well.

 

[The deacon]

The 3 v 3 challenge was interesting to say the least... without Howard it was tough for that group

Allisha Gray with a coming out party tonight. Skills Challenge and 3 point shooting competition champion. First to ever pull off the double. Also got to exhibit how much of a lovable sweetheart that she is.
She should be headed to Paris on that USA 3x3 team to repeat the gold but, oh well.

Agree with you both.

Can someone please explain to me why (other than that she's been on some previous 3x3 teams) how Van Lith is on our USA team? There have to be plenty of others who'd bring more to it than she does. I've never understood the Van Lith allure that so captivates media.

 

[Baller29]

Agree with you both.

Can someone please explain to me why (other than that she's been on some previous 3x3 teams) how Van Lith is on our USA team? There have to be plenty of others who'd bring more to it than she does. I've never understood the Van Lith allure that so captivates media.

Hailey Van Lith certainly isn’t a bad 3v3 player, she has a lot of experience with team USA (which is why I think she got selected) but there were def some players on the U23 team that impressed me much more, Mikaylah Williams looked pretty good for me.

I’m sure there are other options in the W who could have complimented this particular team better. Maybe it was just a bad game but it was rough for sure…

 

[JstVisiting]

Agree with you both.

Can someone please explain to me why (other than that she's been on some previous 3x3 teams) how Van Lith is on our USA team? There have to be plenty of others who'd bring more to it than she does. I've never understood the Van Lith allure that so captivates media.

Just speculating, but maybe 3 on 3 had an earlier roster deadline? So all the WNBA players who felt like they had a shot at the full team passed, and Hailey Van Lith was chosen for experience over those available. Only way it makes anything close to sense for me.

Regardless, Team USA should probably announce the full squad before choosing 3 on 3 from whoever is left. Hold off on submitting officially til the last day for injuries, but let everyone know so the 3 on 3 program and players can have full information. I would have loved to see Boston and CC in 3s after missing out on the full team.

 

[cancontent]

Agree with you both.

Can someone please explain to me why (other than that she's been on some previous 3x3 teams) how Van Lith is on our USA team? There have to be plenty of others who'd bring more to it than she does. I've never understood the Van Lith allure that so captivates media.

This was discussed in a different thread when the teams were announced. There is a points system used and her totals ranked among the highest this year. Also believe athletes had to participate as part of the FIBA 3X3 circuit as well. Can't recall whether Gray did the last few years.

 

[cancontent]

Just speculating, but maybe 3 on 3 had an earlier roster deadline? So all the WNBA players who felt like they had a shot at the full team passed, and Hailey Van Lith was chosen for experience over those available. Only way it makes anything close to sense for me.

Regardless, Team USA should probably announce the full squad before choosing 3 on 3 from whoever is left. Hold off on submitting officially til the last day for injuries, but let everyone know so the 3 on 3 program and players can have full information. I would have loved to see Boston and CC in 3s after missing out on the full team.

Hasn't the team been announced for some time? The only change was Hamby for Brink due to the injury.

 

[JDuro]

$110,000 in 90 minutes.

This was discussed in a different thread when the teams were announced. There is a points system used and her totals ranked among the highest this year. Also believe athletes had to participate as part of the FIBA 3X3 circuit as well. Can't recall whether Gray did the last few years.

Gray was eligible as she participated in the 3x3 tournament at the HOF in Springfield on the 2nd American entry team called “Springfield”. They only won one game while 1st entry USA won it and they’re the team representing inthe Olympics with Hamby moving up from the Springfield team replacing Brink.

 

[GamecockFam]

I forgot Gray has a thick country accent. It was on display in those interviews!

 

[cancontent]

A very insightful response to why Clark declined to be in the 3 point shooting contest.

 

[cancontent]

I forgot Gray has a thick country accent. It was on display in those interviews!

I find it adorable. It goes with her down to earth demeanour. We have some interesting accents in different parts of Canada, but nothing like that.

 

[cancontent]

Gray's reaction when Jones missed was awesome.

 

[ochoopsfan]

The 3 x 3 team that went to Tokyo, in the last Olympics, appears to be much more talented than the current team. Plum, Gray, Dolson, and Young/Samuelson vs Burdick, Van Lithe, Hamby and Howard.

 

[GamecockFam]

I find it adorable. It goes with her down to earth demeanour. We have some interesting accents in different parts of Canada, but nothing like that.

I would describe her accent as "black country". She is from Greenwood, SC which is about an hour west of Columbia and is in a rural area of SC that is pretty much an hour drive from any more populous areas in the region (Greenville, Columbia, Augusta, etc.). I would describe it as a small town with a predominantly black community. Because of that, there is a melting pot of African slave and low country accents that merged into a beautiful black country dialect that permeates throughout that region and many areas in the south. If you want another great example, check out some Xavier Legette interviews. He was just recently drafted by the Carolina Panthers and his accent has even more of that Southern drawl.

 

[cancontent]

I would describe her accent as "black country". She is from Greenwood, SC which is about an hour west of Columbia and is in a rural area of SC that is pretty much an hour drive from any more populous areas in the region (Greenville, Columbia, Augusta, etc.). I would describe it as a small town with a predominantly black community. Because of that, there is a melting pot of African slave and low country accents that merged into a beautiful black country dialect that permeates throughout that region and many areas in the south. If you want another great example, check out some Xavier Legette interviews. He was just recently drafted by the Carolina Panthers and his accent has even more of that Southern drawl.

Cool. Appreciate the additional context. There are parts of the East Coast in Canada that were predominantly black as well due to the Underground Railroad. Their accent/dialect, along with the Acadian French influence is pretty interesting.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I would describe her accent as "black country". She is from Greenwood, SC which is about an hour west of Columbia and is in a rural area of SC that is pretty much an hour drive from any more populous areas in the region (Greenville, Columbia, Augusta, etc.). I would describe it as a small town with a predominantly black community. Because of that, there is a melting pot of African slave and low country accents that merged into a beautiful black country dialect that permeates throughout that region and many areas in the south. If you want another great example, check out some Xavier Legette interviews. He was just recently drafted by the Carolina Panthers and his accent has even more of that Southern drawl.

What a weird way of describing Greenwood.

 

[JellyBean]

I remember watching this episode when it was originally aired. Still get a good laugh watching it on reruns. . Pretty cool they crossed paths again.

Same here. I remember watching that episode and remembering the build up. Martin gave these ladies and the WNBA, at the time year one of the W, a huge boost. Gave them another platform and the ladies did well. Pretty awesome moment for both and for us fans.

 

[baggerbob]

An excellent post, girlboo1020... same thing goes for college ball. I'm a fan of Caitlin Clark but some of her assists wouldn't have been a decade ago. One could say the same for many of Nika's assists at UConn, or for pretty much anyone who's among the leaders in assists.

The problem is, if someone tries to regiment it somehow, it'd become even more subjective than it is now. For the moment, I have no clue how to modify what is the given assist now, and understand anything that creates bigger numbers (in pretty much any sport) is what the media and probably most fans want... more, more, more.

Years ago when Oscar Roberson was playing in the NBA he averaged a triple double, but you only got an assist she the shot was taken after the pass, no dribble.

 

[GamecockFam]

What a weird way of describing Greenwood.

Yeah I severely simplified the image of the area so the history behind the accent could be understandable by someone who has never traveled to the Southern US. I was more or less speaking on its historical roots and not considering it's modern landscape. It's probably more akin to a very small city than what I have burned into my memories of visiting there. In middle and high school I would vacation in some random suburb of Greenwood every summer while visiting a friend who moved there.

 

[The deacon]

Years ago when Oscar Roberson was playing in the NBA he averaged a triple double, but you only got an assist she the shot was taken after the pass, no dribble.

Yup, Robertson was a brilliant player, IMO should be in the conversation as the GOAT but sadly is virtually ignored by this generation of 'experts.'