Sun sign Carson, waive Gemelos

[Carnac]

The Connecticut Sun announced Monday that they had claimed guard Essence Carson off waivers. Carson was waived by the Washington Mystics Sunday. As a result of Carson’s signing, guard Jacki Gemelos was waived by the team.

Journal Inquirer

The latest news from Manchester, Connecticut, as well as coverage of Enfield, Vernon, South Windsor, East Hartford and beyond.

www.journalinquirer.com

Your Day in Women’s Basketball, August 20: Liz Camabge to play in Australia

 

[eebmg]

The Connecticut Sun announced Monday that they had claimed guard Essence Carson off waivers. Carson was waived by the Washington Mystics Sunday. As a result of Carson’s signing, guard Jacki Gemelos was waived by the team.

Journal Inquirer

The latest news from Manchester, Connecticut, as well as coverage of Enfield, Vernon, South Windsor, East Hartford and beyond.

www.journalinquirer.com

Your Day in Women’s Basketball, August 20: Liz Camabge to play in Australia

Jacki Gemelos wound up with the Mystics but in her first game, had a rough start.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Sounds like basically a trade, Carson for Gemelos. Essence has had more success in the W, but Jackie has persisted through about 5 knee surgeries. Best wishes to both of them!

 

[willtalk]

The player they should have dumped is KML, but I suspect this will be her last season in the league. I know I have been hard on her but she has been a liability for her team for some time. There are just far to many good catch and shoot players available with out her level of defensive incompetence.

 

[MilfordHusky]

The player they should have dumped is KML, but I suspect this will be her last season in the league. I know I have been hard on her but she has been a liability for her team for some time. There are just far to many good catch and shoot players available with out her level of defensive incompetence.

I think Connecticut signed her to a multi-year contract. She's currently shooting 23% from the arc. She needs to be at 35% or more, ideally the 42% that she shot in 2018.

 

[willtalk]

I think Connecticut signed her to a multi-year contract. She's currently shooting 23% from the arc. She needs to be at 35% or more, ideally the 42% that she shot in 2018.

It's not that unusual for a player to have a cold start and then heat up a bit in the later part of the season. With Her is is not just about her 3 pt percentage but her striking weakness on defense. She really can not guard anyone off the dribble. They just blow by her. Most players have assets the bring to a team and also liabilities. KML was always not a good defender but has gotten worse over her career. Right now her assets, even if she had a good 3pt shooting percentage are not worth the level of her defensive liabilities. I strongly suspect that her team in Seattle was better suited to covering for her defensive issues. There are just too many catch and shoot players in WBB right now that teams do not have to compromise their defense to the degree they do with KML. Teams are catching on an targetng her when she is in the game.

 

[enigmatic]

Speaking of Gemelos, she has been such a trooper and I give her admiration for that she has been able to play professionally despite all those ACL tears and knee surgeries. Kind of still wonder what could have been if she had kept her commitment and took the UCONN route.

 

[ochoopsfan]

Nice Tweet by Jacki Gemelos

 

[eebmg]

Jacki joins Liberty Staff

Liberty Add Jacki Gemelos to 2021 Coaching Staff

NEW YORK – April 26, 2021 –The New York Liberty today announced that Jacki Gemelos has been added as an Assistant Coach to Head Coach Walt Hopkins’ coaching staff, joining Shelley Patterson and Dustin Gray. “We couldn’t be more excited for Jacki to join us in Brooklyn for our inaugural season at...

liberty.wnba.com

 

[willtalk]

What is sometimes forgotten, is that an ACL injury back made it harder on a player to return to their previous level. Now days its almost a given that it will happen. Back then it was not about returning to normal but just getting as close as possible. They also did not have the rehab knowlege that they have to day. Jackie came back without having totally healed and it was obvious by the number of times she had to have it redone that their level of competence was not even close to what it has become. It was not long before that when any ACL injury guaranreed the end of a players career and even normal walking ability.

At their level of expertise then, Jackie came back with far less mobility and quickness than she had before the ACL. In todays reality that would not have been the case. There were people who said he desire to play in the WNBA was unattainable but she did make it. She probably should have made it earlier but bad luck and timing, which is essential for bench players, just didn't work to her benefit.

I don't think her not playing for UConn made much difference. She injured herself in the Cal playoffs and wasn't even able to play in the Mc D AA game. She probably would have had the same problems getting back on the court due to the fact that ACL operations were still in their infancy. In retro spect she stated that her problems stemmed from spending too much time in the gym without strengthening the muscles properly to prevent those injuries. Since she has learned she has been injury free.

The might of beens were her not getting injured in the first place. I do think that injury free she should still have attended UConn. The coach at USC is the one who just retired and he is a good recruiter but not so good coach. Still its a sacrifice to play on the opposite end of the country away from family, but it probabl would have been worth it. If she wanted to play closer to home Cal was an option ( didn't have the grades for Stanford ). Trahk (sp) is a smouth talker and I am sure he fed her full of BS. She would have thrived in Geno's system. Geno and her high school coach were very similar.