WNBA -- 2023 Season

[darrell]

ESPN.com says the MVP race is basically tied between A'ja and Stewie. I may be biased, but I don't see it.

Stewie leads in the following:

PPG 22.9 to 18.6

RPG 10.8 to 9.3

APG 4.2 to 2.0

3-point shooting 39.7% to 0.0%

FT shooting 83.3% to 75.0%

A'ja leads in these:

BPG 2.2 to 1.9

FG shooting 53.5% to 49.4%

Stewie leads by a wide margin in 5 categories; A'ja leads by a narrow margin in 2.

Wilson is really, really good, but I like Stewie's play this year better.

I wonder how much emphasis will be put on team success since both teams are clearly loaded, the Aces being top dogs at the moment and the Liberty looking good, too.

 

[darrell]

Which Croatian guard was Jewell Loyd describing here?

Scouting trip to Europe may have netted Storm point guard of future in Ivana Dojkic

Ivana Dojkic, the third Croatian to play in the WNBA, turned an invite to Storm training camp into the starting point-guard job just seven games into her rookie season.

www.seattletimes.com

Reading this without context, you’d think she was describing Nika Muhl.

 

[Dillon77]

I wonder how much emphasis will be put on team success since both teams are clearly loaded, the Aces being top dogs at the moment and the Liberty looking good, too.

Good point, which I was pondering -- just a smidgen -- while pouting a cup of coffee.
This may be the deciding factor as the season progresses.

 

[FanFromMaine]

Recently, the WNBA site has discontinued listing transactions. Does anyone know why?

 

[TheFarmFan]

Recently, the WNBA site has discontinued listing transactions. Does anyone know why?

Check your ad blockers. This site is up to date as of yesterday (latest is Phoenix releasing Sam Thomas): WNBA Player Movement & Transactions | WNBA

But sometimes it throws up a weird error if your ad blocker/cookie blocker settings are overly aggressive.

 

[cancontent]

The Liberty took em to the woodshed last night this was the first time it looked like Jonquel was in sync with Stewie.

I heard some of the Dream fans were not too pleased with Sabrina

In fairness the fans were already unhappy with the flagrant 1 call on Dolson and the technical Coach Wright incurred arguing the call. Personally, I can see their side because the elbow Amihere took to the face was pretty bad. Heck, I felt the impact watching it in real time and slo-motion.

Ionescu just played up the villian role when she heard the boos while she was shooting. Considering the reason why she was shooting the technical, I didn't find it too becoming of her but it is what it is. If roles were reversed and it was a Liberty player who took that hit, would she tolerate appreciate the opponent doing the same? Fortunately Amihere is okay, but initially it didn't look good when it happened.

 

[baggerbob]

Defensively they just couldn't stop them which I guess can be said about everyone else as well but Indiana has a lot of youth who that is starting to grow a lot.

My only critique is guard play gets kinda spotty at times but team collectively is way better than last season.

For the 1 of 5 good games Mitchell has she has games like last night.
Too many times coming up court at top speed and putting up a bad shot.
While never looking to pass the ball.
They really need a good point guard to take the ball out of her hands.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

Ionescu just played up the villian role when she heard the boos while she was shooting. Considering the reason why she was shooting the technical, I didn't find it too becoming of her but it is what it is. If roles were reversed and it was a Liberty player who took that hit, would she tolerate appreciate the opponent doing the same? Fortunately Amihere is okay, but initially it didn't look good when it happened.

I’m not sure it should have even been a flagrant 1. Not only was a it a normal basketball move, if you watch the video closely Amihere leans in leans in after the first elbow passes in front of her and that’s how she gets caught by the second elbow. It’s rates for the second elbow to be the contact elbow so I watched it a few times to figure out why.

That being said, in regards to Sabrina, Atlanta fans specially have been harassing her on social media since before the season even started. With her team up 30 salute her for silencing that crowd, especially when they are booing about a call already made in their favor down 30.

 

[JellyBean]

Maybe we’ll see her again in a Merc uniform this summer? The fact that she’s practicing with Bridget Pettis should be a good sign. No?

I am not sure about this year but I am hoping that Skylar is able to finish her career with Phoenix. Such a great talent that I would hate to see her bounce from team to team. But again, sometimes, change is good. You gotta go where you are wanted vs tolerated.

 

[KY Card Fan]

Recently, the WNBA site has discontinued listing transactions. Does anyone know why?

"Transactions" has moved from the "News" tab to the "Players" tab on wnba.com

 

[JellyBean]

For the 1 of 5 good games Mitchell has she has games like last night.
Too many times coming up court at top speed and putting up a bad shot.
While never looking to pass the ball.
They really need a good point guard to take the ball out of her hands.

That is why I am surprised, or maybe they did reach out, that no offer to sign a point guard, say a Destanni Henderson, when, as a coach, you know you needed a decent point guard, was made.

 

[Dillon77]

And I'll add that IMO Aja gets incredible deference from the refs. She shoots a ton of free throws every game and gets a LOT of her points that way. In many of the games I watch I just don't see her getting fouled as much as the refs think she is. And I would add to that Stewie gets fouled a lot and it's not called. In fact from what I see Aja seems to get to line more than any player I have ever seen in the WNBA.

This was interesting. So, for what it's worth, I went to the WNBA and ESPN sites and here's what's on the cyber pages. I believe I read these right.

• Stewie and A'ja both take an average of 7.1 free throws per game, with Stewie hitting 5.9 (83 percent) and A'ja 5.2 per game (5.2).

Now, whether you think A'ja should get those calls is an entirely different matter. But they're both getting to the line...equally.

• FWIW, Jewell is next closest at 7.0 attempts per game and she hits 6.0 per game (85.7%).
• Brittany Griner is next at 6.0 attempts per game and 5.0 made (83.3%).

 

[Dillon77]

For the 1 of 5 good games Mitchell has she has games like last night.
Too many times coming up court at top speed and putting up a bad shot.
While never looking to pass the ball.
They really need a good point guard to take the ball out of her hands.

@baggerbob :"That is why I am surprised, or maybe they did reach out, that no offer to sign a point guard, say a Destanni Henderson, when, as a coach, you know you needed a decent point guard, was made."

In this specific case (Indiana vs. Los Angeles), what's interesting is -- as you may recall -- Destanni Henderson was on the Fever team, but they cut her. Instead, they chose to sign Erica Wheeler (who came from Atlanta, along with the new coach) and draft Grace Berger.

So, Lin Dunn, Christie Sides et al seem to have made a decision on who they want distributing the ball. Now whether that's the right decision for now and/or in the future, is another story. As for Ms. Mitchell, she is at her best when she moves downhill, kind of like Arike, but -- like you say -- what you say is what you get.

 

[GamecockFam]

I think Destanni's capabilities are maximized by the Sparks offense. I believe that factors into her career night with the Sparks and why she was let go by the Fever.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

And I'll add that IMO Aja gets incredible deference from the refs. She shoots a ton of free throws every game and gets a LOT of her points that way. In many of the games I watch I just don't see her getting fouled as much as the refs think she is. And I would add to that Stewie gets fouled a lot and it's not called. In fact from what I see Aja seems to get to line more than any player I have ever seen in the WNBA.

That is simply not true. Stewie despite her game not being as post centric as a Wilson gets a much more favorable whistle. She leads the league in FT attempts again this season. In recent years I believe A'ja has gotten more veteran like Stewie type whistle but percentage wise I definitely think it's not the same given the amount of contact she often up against all game.

One of my pet peeves with WNBA officiating is that they often overlook true post players in the physicality they deal with, but they are quick to call those players on much less contact on the other end. Players such as Wilson, Syl, BG, McCowan, Bri Jones and currently Boston all suffer from this.

 

[Geew1992]

 

[psconn]

Ugh! On the brighter side, Stewie and Kelsey Plum had the same injury/surgery and came back better than ever. Best wished to Brionna!

Maybe the best example is Brionna's teammate, friend, mentor and fellow Turtle Alyssa Thomas, who made an amazing recovery from Achilles surgery as documented in NESN's film "The Comeback". You can bet AT will play a large supporting role in Breezy's rehab.

 

[JDuro]

 

[azfan]

Last-place Mercury fire coach Nygaard amid skid

The Mercury have fired head coach Vanessa Nygaard after posting a league-worst 2-10 start to the season and on the heels of a five-game losing streak.

www.espn.com

While this is long overdue and may anticipate the return of the diva from Notre Dame, handling of this shows how dysfunctional and disorganized the Mercury organization is.

This should have happened at the end of last season.

From The Athletic

"However, Nygaard struggled with some of the interpersonal aspects of being a head coach, as prized free-agent signee Tina Charles asked to leave midway through the year, and Diggins-Smith called her coach a clown on Twitter. It’s unclear if Nygaard and Diggins-Smith even have a relationship with the star point guard on maternity leave. Her absence, and the lack of clarity on her return, have been a cloud over Phoenix’s season. — Merchant"

Phoenix Mercury fire coach Vanessa Nygaard after 2-10 start to season: What went wrong?

Mercury lead assistant coach Nikki Blue has been elevated to the role of interim head coach for the remainder of the 2023 season.

theathletic.com

 

[MilfordHusky]

Maybe the best example is Brionna's teammate, friend, mentor and fellow Turtle Alyssa Thomas, who made an amazing recovery from Achilles surgery as documented in NESN's film "The Comeback". You can bet AT will play a large supporting role in Breezy's rehab.

I had forgotten that was AT's injury.

 

[JellyBean]

Gotta admit, I am totally not surprised that this move happened.

 

[Hayven]

The Liberty survive a horrible shooting game and beat the Mystics in OT. The Mystics may have lost more than just the game, as Austin went down a few minutes in the 4th with what they are calling a hip injury.
I’m not sold on this Liberty team. I don’t remember when Jones played well consistently. If only they could manage a trade for a better big, like BG.

 

[JellyBean]

The Liberty survive a horrible shooting game and beat the Mystics in OT. The Mystics may have lost more than just the game, as Austin went down a few minutes in the 4th with what they are calling a hip injury.
I’m not sold on this Liberty team. I don’t remember when Jones played well consistently. If only they could manage a trade for a better big, like BG.

I hope that Austin is okay. She was having a pretty amazing season. As for New York, they still are up there with Las Vegas as the team to beat. Granted Stewie had a horrible shooting game but what makes New York so tough to beat is the many options that they have offensively. Sabrina had a great shooting game. As for Jones, not sure what is going on with that situation, but New York is still pretty solid even with her struggling in that system.

 

[Dillon77]

Reading GM Jim Pitman's comments on her keeping the ship going last year, it's obvious he felt compelled to give Coach Nygaard a reset opportunity after what the entire organization went through in 2022. However, this team just looks ill-prepared and she's just not putting them into positions to succeed. For instance, Brianna Turner -- long Griner's wing man -- went from an all-defensive team member to looking lost coming off the bench.

Skylar Diggins-Smith has been spotted working out recently. Keep an eye to see if she makes her way back now with this specific change in leadership.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I don’t remember when Jones played well consistently.

She was awful today. Looked like she didn't have any idea how to play the game of basketball. Sabrina really bailed them out. Laney was good as well. 3 of 5 starters had fairly poor games.

Cloud and Atkins were great. I kinda can't believe the Mystics lost, they looked so much better most of the game.