Nika's first WNBA basket

[CL82]

Of course it was off of a steal!

 

[RoadMaster]

Different angle..

 

[DEpup]

They should have played her more.... it wouldn't have taken 40 games....

 

[DEpup]

Hopefully she can get out of there quick and on to a team who will play her.

 

[REB1094]

Very fitting it was on a steal! Congrats Nika!

 

[stamfordhusky]

Hopefully she can get out of there quick and on to a team who will play her.

I seriously doubt at this point that there is any team that would play her more. At present she is a very borderline WNBA player. Hopefully she will continue to improve.

 

[JoePgh]

I seriously doubt at this point that there is any team that would play her more. At present she is a very borderline WNBA player. Hopefully she will continue to improve.

I don't know what empirical data you are basing that assessment on, given that you presumably don't have access to Storm practices, and her public performances in games have been so limited in minutes as to be insufficient for evaluation.

The case of Jade Melbourne is instructive. When she was in Seattle, she played almost as few minutes as Nika and was considered expendable. Then she was traded to the Washington Mystics, where she has been a regular part of their back court rotation and has played a lot of minutes -- and has done well, certainly well enough to establish herself as a bona fide WNBA player. Who knows whether Nika could be as good as Jade if given the same opportunity?

 

[Topdawg]

I hope she plays in Europe or Asia and gets enough playing opportunity to make the case for more playing time in the W.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I don't know what empirical data you are basing that assessment on, given that you presumably don't have access to Storm practices, and her public performances in games have been so limited in minutes as to be insufficient for evaluation.

The case of Jade Melbourne is instructive. When she was in Seattle, she played almost as few minutes as Nika and was considered expendable. Then she was traded to the Washington Mystics, where she has been a regular part of their back court rotation and has played a lot of minutes -- and has done well, certainly well enough to establish herself as a bona fide WNBA player. Who knows whether Nika could be as good as Jade if given the same opportunity?

Jade was also good in the Olympics.

 

[Blond D.]

Different angle..

SO happy she finally got some points. She could have had more before this game but shes just not looking for a shot. She always passes. She needs to be more offensively aggressive. But I love her anyway!!!!

GO NIKA!!!

 

[Bald Husky]

Our girl-beautiful, sweet, and a dawg on the court. I think she will be fine next year, no matter where she ends up.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

This is very emotional to see her have the season she's had and never complain and love every second of this experience!
We BYers know what she's capable of and with her work ethic she'll be better next year!
They do love her in Seattle!

 

[Scud49]

I seriously doubt at this point that there is any team that would play her more. At present she is a very borderline WNBA player. Hopefully she will continue to improve.

Stop with the negative waves Moriarity..! Now this is our Friday night Nika party, and we are liking it.

 

[Cuango]

I seriously doubt at this point that there is any team that would play her more. At present she is a very borderline WNBA player. Hopefully she will continue to improve.

Not sure how you can determine she’s “borderline” when she just scored her first points? She has had no play in the league and has been unable to show what she might be capable of. I don’t buy the argument that “if she were any good, she’d be playing”! There are lots of reasons why she might not get on the floor besides “she just isn’t any good” Better players in front of her, the coach doesn’t like her, she doesn’t fit the coaches style of play, etc….! I have no idea if she will have a career in the W but I can point to multiple players in the W who have, that are clearly no better than Nika.

The truth is, unless you are one of the top players, your success is mostly predicated on whether you can get on the right team, get an extended chance to perform, and a coach who will (and can) give you that chance!
There is no doubt in my mind that Nika could be a solid player in the W! She is unlikely to be a big star in the league but is perfect as one of the unsung workers who support the stars. As Will Rogers famously said, “ Not everyone can be a hero, someone has to sit on the curb and wave as the parade goes by!”

I just hope she can get a chance to show what she can do. Her teammates clearly like her and wish her well which is already a step in the right direction. She needs a little luck and a coach who understands how to use her. I’m pretty sure many of the players who wash out of the league did so not because they weren’t good enough, but rather due to some of the above mentioned reasons. They too, needed a little luck and the right situation. Here’s hoping our Nika gets her chance and is able to take advantage of it!

 

[JoePgh]

I think Nicole Quinn just made the decision that she had enough proven guards ahead of Nika on the depth chart that it was more sensible to invest in reps for them (to get Seattle's offense and defense to the "well-oiled machine" stage) than to develop Nika (admittedly a speculative venture).

I would draw an analogy between how Quinn handled Nika and how Geno handled Ines Bettencourt during the past season. I think Ines could have borne a heavier load for UConn, but with KK and Ashlynn having a higher ceiling, Geno chose to focus his attention on them, and Ines got very few minutes. And with two more freshmen guards (Allie and Morgan) coming in this year and another in 2026, that was not likely to change.

So Ines (I'm sure quite reluctantly) decided to change schools, and transfer to Gonzaga. By the way, I got one of those unlinkable emails from The Next with an article about Ines earlier this week. I was surprised to read that Ines told the interviewer that when she considered her options, she was trying to find a program that most resembled UConn, particularly in its openness to non-American players. That is what she thinks she found at Gonzaga. Clearly she had no negative views towards UConn, other than the fact that she wished she could have played more.

I will be very pleased (but not very surprised) if Ines turns out to be a great acquisition for Gonzaga, and maybe even shows enough to be drafted by the WNBA in two years.

 

[Dogdude]

Stop with the negative waves Moriarity..! Now this is our Friday night Nika party, and we are liking it.

Nice Kelly's Heroes reference...

 

[JellyBean]

Congrats, Nika!! The fans and players reactions is what sealed it. Nika is well loved by many!

 

[topogigio]

A trade is in order! You don't drive the bus in CT for 4 seasons, and then sit the pines in the WNBA!

 

[Bone Dog]

Geno and CD being at the game, the image of Geno congratulating Nika afterwards, these are wonderful for recruiting. How many coaches fly all the way to Arizona just to see a former player on the off chance it might be a special moment? How many of her games have Geno and CD been going to? How many prospects might have seen the highlights of this game and noticed Geno there?

 

[hoopsdiva]

Geno and CD being at the game, the image of Geno congratulating Nika afterwards, these are wonderful for recruiting. How many coaches fly all the way to Arizona just to see a former player on the off chance it might be a special moment? How many of her games have Geno and CD been going to? How many prospects might have seen the highlights of this game and noticed Geno there?

I'm pretty sure they were actually there to see DT, but witnessing Nika's first WNBA basket and Geno's reaction to it was a nice extra and a heartwarming moment.

 

[Bone Dog]

I'm pretty sure they were actually there to see DT, but witnessing Nika's first WNBA basket and Geno's reaction to it was a nice extra and a heartwarming moment.

I figured that too. I was merely thinking how prospects might see this when the clips of “the moment” inevitably show up on their social media.

 

[cancontent]

Not sure how you can determine she’s “borderline” when she just scored her first points? She has had no play in the league and has been unable to show what she might be capable of. I don’t buy the argument that “if she were any good, she’d be playing”! There are lots of reasons why she might not get on the floor besides “she just isn’t any good” Better players in front of her, the coach doesn’t like her, she doesn’t fit the coaches style of play, etc….! I have no idea if she will have a career in the W but I can point to multiple players in the W who have, that are clearly no better than Nika.

The truth is, unless you are one of the top players, your success is mostly predicated on whether you can get on the right team, get an extended chance to perform, and a coach who will (and can) give you that chance!
There is no doubt in my mind that Nika could be a solid player in the W! She is unlikely to be a big star in the league but is perfect as one of the unsung workers who support the stars. As Will Rogers famously said, “ Not everyone can be a hero, someone has to sit on the curb and wave as the parade goes by!”

I just hope she can get a chance to show what she can do. Her teammates clearly like her and wish her well which is already a step in the right direction. She needs a little luck and a coach who understands how to use her. I’m pretty sure many of the players who wash out of the league did so not because they weren’t good enough, but rather due to some of the above mentioned reasons. They too, needed a little luck and the right situation. Here’s hoping our Nika gets her chance and is able to take advantage of it!

There are so many examples of players who didn't get much opportunity as a rookie who end up blossoming over time. Lexie Hull, Bridget Carleton, Marina Mabrey are great examples of this. Like you've said, Nika needs some time and luck. This is year 1 of her journey. No reason to think it's over yet.

 

[cancontent]

A trade is in order! You don't drive the bus in CT for 4 seasons, and then sit the pines in the WNBA!

There are a lot of players who led their teams, including recent NCAA championship winning programs who are sitting on the bench or getting minimal minutes. Which team would take her in a trade considering the current landscape of the WNBA? She could end up with a team where the situation is much worse for her.

Like in AAU, high school and college basketball, sometimes going to a team for playing time isn't always the best solution. In Seattle, she's getting mentored by some of the best guards in the game while waiting for her opportunity. This will serve her well as she continues her professional career.

 

[Jackalope]

There are a lot of players who led their teams, including recent NCAA championship winning programs who are sitting on the bench or getting minimal minutes. Which team would take her in a trade considering the current landscape of the WNBA? She could end up with a team where the situation is much worse for her.

Like in AAU, high school and college basketball, sometimes going to a team for playing time isn't always the best solution. In Seattle, she's getting mentored by some of the best guards in the game while waiting for her opportunity. This will serve her well as she continues her professional career.

The WNBA expansion will open up some opportunities.

 

[cancontent]

The WNBA expansion will open up some opportunities.

And even if that's the case, where would you want Nika being mentored in the meantime? Seattle is a good fit as any from that perspective.