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Message: [QUOTE="ucmiami2, post: 5333528, member: 13062"] It is an interesting question. The WNBA is a business and success on the court is an important driver of the popularity of a team, and therefore its cash flow. So she isn't winning a spot based on her stellar play - she has played in 23 games (just over half the season) and averages 10 minutes per game when she plays. She isn't winning games for the team, and also not losing them - basically neutral and likely playing minutes mostly in blow-out wins or losses. She gets 2 pts on 2 shots, 1 reb, 1 asst, and 1 TO per game, while getting 1 steal every 4 games. Again a pretty neutral effect. And not dissimilar to many young end of the bench players. She is 'competent' and the upside is limited. On the plus side of the equation she is a big fan draw - likely equal to any of the teams star players, and has brought into the team's fan base a new ethnic group that represent 27% of the local population, and probably a percentage from outside that local area. That said, what do teams usually get from their tenth, eleventh, and twelfth positions on the roster? It is generally young developmental players who contribute little and are only there for their 'potential.' Their per minute stats are probably very similar as are their usage. And I would suspect none of them have a fan following similar to Chen's. So Chen's roster spot is a 'churn' position as new players join the league and the 'potential' of the previous year's players proves a chimera. She is not going to be expensive to keep, she is a positive teammate, she has a strong fan base some of whom will disappear if she isn't on the team, and her replacement would not be likely to provide anything more than she does. If the positional value for her spot is neutral (guards vs, forwards/centers) why not keep her and keep that 27% of the population engaged. And while I say her potential is limited, it is not 'non-existent' - she is smart, quick, can shot and defend, and knows what 'good basketball' looks like. And she will never be a locker room problem. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach