Players Cut by WNBA Teams

[Shades]

I was very sad when Natalie Butler was cut from Dallas. I was really rooting for her. I guess with Elizabeth Cambage back, Dallas couldn't use Natalie and Azura both.

They also kept second year player Breanna Lewis and Plaisance.

 

[Jlong231]

Ooops. Couple hours later and the axe fell on Kat Westbeld and Brooke McCarty in Los Angeles. Kat should hop a plane back to South Bend and be able to join graduation ceremonies this weekend. If she wants to try to pursue a pro career and look for an overseas opportunity, this extended tryout could help.

No news is good news for Karlie Samuelson and the Sparks.

Well karlie is at the sparks media day today, I don’t know if that means anything, considering cuts have to be made by Thursday what would be the point of her at media day if she didn’t make the team right?

 

[Shades]

Well karlie is at the sparks media day today, I don’t know if that means anything, considering cuts have to be made by Thursday what would be the point of her at media day if she didn’t make the team right?

Doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Some teams hold media day early and in that case all the camp players are involved.

I have the Sparks at 17, which means they have at least 5 cuts left, depending on their cap situation.

 

[wallman]

Sparks will not have Lav back in time for first game if her team goes to the third game in Turkish finals. Reisengerova (spelling?) is not coming over and Dabovic has not been playing, could be injured. Vadeeva still needs a visa.

 

[Bigboote]

They also kept second year player Breanna Lewis and Plaisance.

I'm still a little confused by Plaisance being on the roster. She tore her ACL in October. I really like her game, but I can't imagine she'll be contributing an awful lot7-8 months out from reconstructive surgery.

Lewis looks like she had a good season overseas.

 

[Jlong231]

Sparks will not have Lav back in time for first game if her team goes to the third game in Turkish finals. Reisengerova (spelling?) is not coming over and Dabovic has not been playing, could be injured. Vadeeva still needs a visa.

Yea, I saw from one of the reporters that Julie reisen wasn’t playing over here, and I was wondering about dabovic because I’ve heard nothing lately about her, I forgot all about lavender lol, from what it looks like sparks have at best 2 available slots right?

 

[Geew1992]

Shoni alert. Las Vegas signs her. She'll be in Mohegan Sun on Sunday

This is interesting...how many guards does Vegas need??

 

[Dillon77]

This is interesting...how many guards does Vegas need??

Remember, Bill Laimbeer brought her aboard to NYC when he was running the Liberty. But, like you said, just how many shooting guards do you need?

 

[shizam]

They also kept second year player Breanna Lewis and Plaisance.

Way to go B Lewis!! K State!

 

[shizam]

This is interesting...how many guards does Vegas need??

I will be surprised if Shoni does much though I like her

 

[MilfordHusky]

Indiana waived Jeanette Pohlen-Mavunga (her sister-in-law is still active), Alexis Peterson, and Bashaara Graves today.

Pohlen-Mavunga has played several years, but Peterson played only 1 year. Her 'Cuse teammate Sykes caught on much better.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Recent cuts include Kelly Faris (damn!), Westbeld, Graves, and McCarty.

Kiah Stokes, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, and Jewell Loyd all got contract extensions.

 

[MilfordHusky]

What a waste of a pick with Akhator at 3. Had many better options available and now she’s out of the league after 1 year.

Makes KML look like a great selection at #3. BTW, KML just signed a contract extension in Seattle.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Speaking of players being "cut" each year, I did some research and looked at the WNBA draft class of 2013. This class included notables Brittany Griner, Elena Delle Donne and Skylar Diggins. That was 5 seasons ago. Of the 36 players that were drafted, only 13 are still active.
1st round = 9 still active
2nd rd = 3
3rd rd = 1

With the influx of new talent coming into the league each year, rosters are turning over faster than ever.
As of today 5/15/18 - 2 first round players from last year's draft are no longer active. Evelyn Akhator (3rd over all by Dallas) and Tori Jankoska (9th over all by Chicago).

The WNBA salary structure seems to be rather seniority based. The teams will cut a borderline $75-$80K player who has been around 4-5 years in favor of a $45K rookie.

 

[Shades]

This is interesting...how many guards does Vegas need??

They have a guard shortage to start the season. Jefferson is still rehabbing, and Plum & McBride are still playing overseas.

 

[Geew1992]

They have a guard shortage to start the season. Jefferson is still rehabbing, and Plum & McBride are still playing overseas.

Welp...that explains it

 

[bballnut90]

Makes KML look like a great selection at #3. BTW, KML just signed a contract extension in Seattle.

Comparatively, yes, but KML has been pretty underwhelming for a #3 pick. Both 2015 and 2017 had weak draft classes. I think KML needs to make big strides or she’ll have a hard time keeping her roster spot next year.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Comparatively, yes, but KML has been pretty underwhelming for a #3 pick. Both 2015 and 2017 had weak draft classes. I think KML needs to make big strides or she’ll have a hard time keeping her roster spot next year.

I think Kaleena has done at least as well as AZB, who went #2. I agree that it was a weak year. I hope--and think--that Kaleena can step up her game with the new coach. She just signed a new contract.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Recent cuts include Kelly Faris (damn!), Westbeld, Graves, and McCarty.

Kiah Stokes, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, and Jewell Loyd all got contract extensions.

So sad to see Kelly Faris get cut. I thought she was playing the best basketball of her pro career this pre-season. Was really rooting for her!!

 

[UConnCat]

Faris, Pohlen-Mavunga, Hightower, Westbeld, Graves. Lots of additions to the not-a-good-player list.

 

[Orangutan]

I'm still a little confused by Plaisance being on the roster. She tore her ACL in October. I really like her game, but I can't imagine she'll be contributing an awful lot7-8 months out from reconstructive surgery.

Lewis looks like she had a good season overseas.

It's on the low end but people can come back from ACLs as soon as 6 months nowadays.

 

[Orangutan]

I think Kaleena has done at least as well as AZB, who went #2.

And neither have done nearly as well as Elizabeth Williams who went #4.

 

[Shades]

It's on the low end but people can come back from ACLs as soon as 6 months nowadays.

Maybe if they’re Adrian Peterson.

 

[bbsamjj]

Comparatively, yes, but KML has been pretty underwhelming for a #3 pick. Both 2015 and 2017 had weak draft classes. I think KML needs to make big strides or she’ll have a hard time keeping her roster spot next year.

Akhator does look like a wasted pick, but if they wanted a post player, the pickings were slim. Brionna Jones & Nia Coffey could improve, but both had unremarkable rookie seasons. The big miss of the draft was Brittney Sykes, who fell to 7th. Buy the Wings drafted ROY Grey at #4, so it's not like they completely flubbed.

 

[Orangutan]

Maybe if they’re Adrian Peterson.

The pro wrestler Seth Rollins tore his ACL, MCL, and medial meniscus on 11/4/2015 and returned to the ring on 5/22/16. A bit different since it's not a sport and he doesn't have to worry about his on-court performance suffering as he gets back to 100%. But still, it happens.

Whether it's good idea to come back that quickly is another question entirely - Are NFL Athletes Playing a Dangerous Game with Too-Fast ACL Returns?