WNBA -- 2023 Season

[cancontent]

Here’s a question I’m curious about from the board. When Stewie and A’ja were coming out of college, did you expect them to become the (general consensus) top two players in the league? I didn’t start following ball until ~2016 so didn’t have a frame of reference like when EDD, Griner, Parker came out.

I thought they would be. There's something about them during their college days that had me thinking they'd both be special once in the WNBA.

 

[cancontent]

WOW. Feel for the Sky. Timing couldn't be worse especially with the season they're having with respect to injuries.

https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/news/toronto-raptors-hire-chicago-sky-head-coach-james-wade-to-be-assistant-coach

 

[Bigboote]

Wow, that's kind of bush-league for Wade to leave in the middle of the season, although he could have been working this out with the Sky for several weeks.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

I’m out. Aces are by far the best team in the league and no chance ANY team makes a run against them in the playoffs now hat B. Jones is out. My interest in this season has plummeted and I’ll probably just stick around to catch a few UConn players every now and then. Le sigh… WNBA makes it so hard to be a fan.

 

[bballnut90]

Here’s a question I’m curious about from the board. When Stewie and A’ja were coming out of college, did you expect them to become the (general consensus) top two players in the league? I didn’t start following ball until ~2016 so didn’t have a frame of reference like when EDD, Griner, Parker came out.

Stewart yes--her senior year she was ridiculously dominant, had won 4 titles, 3 straight POY seasons and the consensus was that she'd likely be the next best player in the world (which she has more than lived up to).

Wilson has been better than most people (myself included) thought. She doesn't have the same all around skill set that Stewart/Parker/EDD have but she's a beast inside on both ends and is much quicker than most opposing centers. I thought she'd be a great pro (maybe in the mold of Tina Charles) but didn't expect her to be as good as she's been. Having really good teammates helps a lot too.

Parker coming out of college most predicted would be one of the best ever. No one her size ever showed the overall skill, size and athleticism she brought to the table and she was a top player for team USA at the world championships when she was just a sophomore. She's had an all time great career but in some ways I think we were robbed of seeing her at her peak due to her not being fully healthy from 2009-2011.

Griner similarly had a ton of hype entering the pros. Similar to Parker, no one had the combination of size and mobility that BG possessed at 6-9. She was the most dominant post defender of all time and improved leaps and bounds offensively while at Baylor. She appeared on a great trajectory in Phoenix winning a title her second year but she never evolved into a Wilt Chamberlain type presence that I thought she would and Phoenix has largely underperformed during her tenure there.

EDD there wasn't as much hype on due to lack of exposure in college, but the league was incredibly excited for the "Big 3" of her, Griner and Diggins-Smith. I don't recall how people projected she'd do as a pro, but I think most thought she'd be a great player (which she's lived up to). Coming out of HS she had an insane amount of hype before experiencing burn out and taking a year off to play volleyball.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I’m out. Aces are by far the best team in the league and no chance ANY team makes a run against them in the playoffs now hat B. Jones is out. My interest in this season has plummeted and I’ll probably just stick around to catch a few UConn players every now and then. Le sigh… WNBA makes it so hard to be a fan.

Nothing is a foregone conclusion. We haven't had a back to back Champ in the WNBA in FOREVER. Who saw it coming when the Sky and Mercury met in the Finals a couple years ago?

 

[Dezoworld]

Connecticut Sun should look to add Tina Charles. And they need another consistent scoring guard

 

[nwhoopfan]

That said the Aces look really good so far. Nearly 60 at the half (against a good defensive team) with only 1 made 3. They are getting just about anything they want in the lane.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

Nothing is a foregone conclusion. We haven't had a back to back Champ in the WNBA in FOREVER. Who saw it coming when the Sky and Mercury met in the Finals a couple years ago?

I mean this is. Not only are the Aces the best team, there is a clear officiating bias to protect them as well. Just watching this suns game is absurd.

 

[JDuro]

Here’s a question I’m curious about from the board. When Stewie and A’ja were coming out of college, did you expect them to become the (general consensus) top two players in the league? I didn’t start following ball until ~2016 so didn’t have a frame of reference like when EDD, Griner, Parker came out.

It was pretty obvious to me those two would pretty quickly be the top forces and the future faces of the WNBA, as well as Team USA. What they’re doing is no surprise for me at all.

 

[ochoopsfan]

WOW. Feel for the Sky. Timing couldn't be worse especially with the season they're having with respect to injuries.

https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/news/toronto-raptors-hire-chicago-sky-head-coach-james-wade-to-be-assistant-coach

Dont let the door hit you on the way out!!

 

[bballnut90]

WOW. Feel for the Sky. Timing couldn't be worse especially with the season they're having with respect to injuries.

https://www.si.com/nba/raptors/news/toronto-raptors-hire-chicago-sky-head-coach-james-wade-to-be-assistant-coach

That really stinks. Wade was one of the better coaches in the league IMO. Hate to see coaches leave teams mid year. I know Laimbeer did this in the past and I think Michael Cooper did too. I just pray Becky Hammon isn't next.

 

[bballnut90]

That said the Aces look really good so far. Nearly 60 at the half (against a good defensive team) with only 1 made 3. They are getting just about anything they want in the lane.

With Parker/Plum looking more like their vintage selves they look darn near unbeatable. They're throttling the top teams in the league right now.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Connecticut Sun should look to add Tina Charles. And they need another consistent scoring guard

Nope. When is the last time she actually helped a team? Not Washington, definitely not Phoenix or Seattle. She would be subtraction by addition for the Sun.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Okay...Hammon did a better job at halftime than White did apparently.

 

[bballnut90]

Nope. When is the last time she actually helped a team? Not Washington, definitely not Phoenix or Seattle. She would be subtraction by addition for the Sun.

I've been a Charles skeptic but I think this could be a solid fit. Connecticut needs help inside and Tina would fill in as a 3rd option offensively after Bonner/Thomas. Charles isn't coming in and displacing a proven starter like she did last year (she'd replace Allen), and I'm guessing she comes in a bit humbled and after watching how last year played out. She did burn bridges with the organization 9 years ago when she threatened to sit out if she wasn't traded so I don't think the Sun go for it, but this seems like the only viable option where Charles could play for a potential contender and be of help.

 

[nwhoopfan]

The All Star reserves have been announced. No real surprises. Not sure who might be considered a snub.

 

[nwhoopfan]

The Aces reserves were abysmal again. Clark and Stokes in the regular rotation are fine, Bell looks ok at times, but you put all 5 subs on the floor together and they look just awful. Can't score, turn it over constantly, and can't stop the other team from scoring.

 

[Dezoworld]

Nope. When is the last time she actually helped a team? Not Washington, definitely not Phoenix or Seattle. She would be subtraction by addition for the Sun.

She would help a team who needs size and scoring down low. You maybe right about Washington and Phoenix but she had a decent season with Seattle. The Sun can use her they got dominated on the boards today by Las Vegas. Need a big body Alyssa giving her iq abilities won't get it done alone in the paint

 

[Dezoworld]

Nope. When is the last time she actually helped a team? Not Washington, definitely not Phoenix or Seattle. She would be subtraction by addition for the Sun.

Wait 2021 while on the Mystic she lead the lead in scoring about 24 ppg and average 10 rpg. When she got to Phonix they haven't been good for a while. Landed in a bad situation

 

[baggerbob]

Wow, that's kind of bush-league for Wade to leave in the middle of the season, although he could have been working this out with the Sky for several weeks.

Especially when he traded away all their draft picks to win now.

 

[bbsamjj]

Nothing is a foregone conclusion. We haven't had a back to back Champ in the WNBA in FOREVER. Who saw it coming when the Sky and Mercury met in the Finals a couple years ago?

Aces are definitely the favorite if they stay healthy, but the league is so good any game can be very entertaining (see Seattle v Minnesota the other night).

 

[hoopsnloops32]

Aces are definitely the favorite if they stay healthy, but the league is so good any game can be very entertaining (see Seattle v Minnesota the other night).

Entertaining but ultimately meaningless, which isn’t interesting. With Vegas not having an equal in the league it’s going to be hard to maintain interest through the summer and into the playoffs me thinks. I’ve personally found my interest in games fading as the seasons gone on and contenders started separating themselves from pretenders. Now it feels that much more exaggerated because it’s a one team race. I’ll still watch the Sun and some UConn players teams but other than that it’s starting to feel more like a summer league than THE professional women’s basketball league.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Well, you are speaking only for yourself. I find the Aces very entertaining to watch. There is a lot of talent spread around the league, I'm sure there will be many good games. And the regular season really doesn't matter anyway, hasn't as long as there have been 8 teams making the playoffs. That doesn't change with one team being dominant.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

Well, you are speaking only for yourself. I find the Aces very entertaining to watch. There is a lot of talent spread around the league, I'm sure there will be many good games. And the regular season really doesn't matter anyway, hasn't as long as there have been 8 teams making the playoffs. That doesn't change with one team being dominant.

I disagree that there’s a lot of talent spread around the league, I mean Cheyenne Parker is an all star for crying out loud. The problem is there’s a lot of talent concentrated in a couple of places, which leads to a handful of great teams and then a bunch of mediocre to and basketball everywhere else.

And it’s not that there isn’t a lot of great players that come into the WNBA but the league isn’t set up in a way to develop talent consistently, so if you aren’t ready NOW your really on you own. I’m not sure any professional league squanders talent the way the WNBA does tbh.