What's the difference ...between a Forward and a Wing?

[hoophuskee]

A forward is a player on the team. The wing is a position on the floor. Breanna Stewart was a forward, and she sometimes took shots from the wing.

Stewart also played center.

 

[bballnut90]

I think Nicole Powell was known as a point forward, not a point center. She had the vision and passing ability of a point guard, and the body type and physicality of a forward and the shooting touch to hit the 15-foot jumpers.

Sort of interesting how both her and Shekinna Stricklen had 'do a bit of everything' roles in college (albeit Powell carried a much bigger load than Stricklen) and over time they primarily turned into 3 point specialists as pros.

 

[D J B]

Hold on.

I thought the wing was either "Maverick" or "Iceman". "Stewie" would have been a fantastic callsign as well.

 

[Vowelguy]

Can’t get forwards in a bucket at KFC.

 

[willtalk]

Power forward to me is a banger. Someone who has the power to mix it up in the paint. They are less common these days as even some centers are more finesse.
AE is definitely a PF.

Alarie, Collier, Kuier, and Sabally are all 6'4" or taller and are all considered wings. In fact every player on the Dallas team could be considered wings.

 

[Go/huskies]

Maya, Stewie and Napheesa played the PF position at UConn (often the featured position in UConn's offense) while Maya and Napheesa became wings in the WNBA.

I disagree, normally if you can shoot the 3 you are the featured player in a UConn offense. I would say KLS was the featured player at UConn for 3 seasons, and she was more of a guard forward (wing) and not a power forward.

 

[chrissaran]

Stewart also played center.

Morgan was the starting center, and Kiah Stokes was the backup. Did Breanna guard the other team's center? Yes, but not because she was a center; it was on switches.

 

[Reypl21]

I disagree, normally if you can shoot the 3 you are the featured player in a UConn offense. I would say KLS was the featured player at UConn for 3 seasons, and she was more of a guard forward (wing) and not a power forward.

Maya could definitely shoot the 3, and she played at forward for UConn. Stewie could hit some 3's in college, but was exceptional scoring everywhere else. She is the definition of a forward (4). Napheesa was proficient at 3s, but it wasnt her strongest asset while at UConn. During her last 3 years, her and KLS were featured pretty equally (except the year Z was there). I think it was matchup dependent, but for their careers Napheesa and KLS were both featured equally.

Maya and Napheesa are "wings" in the WNBA, but they were "forwards" for Uconn.

 

[chrissaran]

Alarie, Collier, Kuier, and Sabally are all 6'4" or taller and are all considered wings. In fact every player on the Dallas team could be considered wings.

The guard from Notre Dame is a wing? Give me a break!

 

[jcoton56]

When your alma mater knows you can’t donate an entire building they are still forward enough to ask for a wing.

 

[eebmg]

6 scrabble points.

 

[willtalk]

The guard from Notre Dame is a wing? Give me a break!

You realize I was referring to the WNBA team they all play for--- the "Dallas Wings" ?

 

[sivad40]

What's the difference between a lead guard and point guard?

 

[Vowelguy]

What's the difference between a lead guard and point guard?

the lead guard handles vocals on all the groups hits

 

[Mlb0814]

Stewart also played center.

She doesn’t play center a lot but when Stewie does, good things happen. Second half of last nights game against the Liberty had Stewie playing the five. At one point there was a 1 and essentially four 3s on the court and that was their recipe for a comeback.

 

[hoophuskee]

She doesn’t play center a lot but when Stewie does, good things happen. Second half of last nights game against the Liberty had Stewie playing the five. At one point there was a 1 and essentially four 3s on the court and that was their recipe for a comeback.

You could see it very evident when she played some center at UCONN. Especially her senior year - look at those 3 games vs Miss State, Texas, and Oregon State. When McCowan came in for Miss State you could see every time UCONN scored and UCONN set up their defense, it was Stewart guarding her. Same with Texas and Oregon State with their centers.

You could see as clear as day back then (actually before her sr year) that Stewart could easily hold her own at center on defense and on offense none of the three had a prayer to defend her. Matter of fact they often wouldn't. Rather they would defend Tuck instead because Stewie had too much game (she shot much better from 3 than Tuck). This is now highlighted as well in WNBA. Stewie had done it all it with UCONN and still is doing it all in the WNBA.

 

[UConnCat]

I disagree, normally if you can shoot the 3 you are the featured player in a UConn offense. I would say KLS was the featured player at UConn for 3 seasons, and she was more of a guard forward (wing) and not a power forward.

I disagree with this take. Lou was never the featured player in UConn's offense. The featured position for much of Geno's offense over the years has been the PF or 4 player who can initiate the offense from the high post. Maya dominated that position because of the breadth of her skills (shooting, passing and driving). Stewie was the next to dominate that position though she was not the playmaker Maya was. After Stewie it was Gabby. Though she lacked Maya's and Stewie's perimeter shooting skills she was an outstanding driver and passer from the high post and made enough mid-range jump shots to keep defenses honest. It's not always about scoring but about initiating the offense and making decisions with the ball. As a junior and senior Gabby led the team in assists (191 and 190) as a post player! That didn't happen by accident. After Gabby graduated Napheesa more or less took over that spot but she wasn't nearly the playmaker or decision-maker that Gabby or Maya were.

The offense now is different out of necessity. The team's best overall player is the point guard.