WNBA -- 2023 Season | Page 18 | The Boneyard

WNBA -- 2023 Season

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Tangential said:
I feel horribly for her and it doesn't seem to be wise, but she has had multiple opportunities in different environments. I'm sure the coaches know her college and overseas attributes as well as her personality -- we are not at practice is the only thing that I can say with a lot of these???

Amazing how there is only 1 starter from the '19 championship team still in the league and she (Kalani) is hanging on by a thread after being waived multiple times.
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I was thinking the exact same thing when I saw the announcement on both points.
 
TheFarmFan said:
The petty part of me feels like this is karma for waiving Dangerfield, a decision that made little sense at the time and only grows worse in retrospect...
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I hear/read you, but Coach Reeve is just blowing through point guards like Lysol Wipes during the early part of the pandemic.

Not everyone is Lindsey Whelan or a player trying out for the U.S. Olympic team and not every off-ball guard can switch over to PG (see Banham, Mitchell). What was the point of keeping Allen if you're not playing her?
Right now, Jess Shepard is the most dependable passer on the team and she's the center/power forward (no issues with 'Phee, Dorka and Jess...at least offensively).

My advice: find a PG (or play Allen) and go with them for at least 20 mpg. (I'd hate to think our U.S. National Team coach is already preparing to dig that tank even deeper for next year's draft.) Just think, I haven't even had my weekend refreshing adult beverage yet....semi-rant over. :rolleyes:;)
 
Very early days, but Alyssa Thomas putting in quite a candidacy for MVP: 14.7ppg; 11.8rpg, 7apg.

Stewart and Wilson are obviously amazing, but they are surrounded by so much talent that if CT continues to perform this well, I would have no issue with Alyssa taking home a top prize.
 
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TheFarmFan said:
The petty part of me feels like this is karma for waiving Dangerfield, a decision that made little sense at the time and only grows worse in retrospect...
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As @Dillon77 posted yesterday, Richard Cohen delineated the problems the Lynx have had with the PG position -- including eyebrow-raising transactions (i.e., releases or refusal to re-sign) -- in recent years:
This chaos for the Lynx at the point guard spot is nothing new. Since Lindsay Whalen's retirement after the 2018 season they've cycled through an array of options, often only finding their way to a choice weeks into the regular season. The chosen player has often gone on to impress - Odyssey Sims made an all-star team in 2019, Crystal Dangerfield won Rookie of the Year in 2020, Layshia Clarendon and Moriah Jefferson had good seasons after being picked up in 2021 and 2022 respectively - but never with any sense that there was a long-term plan. Then again, maybe the plan is to hand the spot over to someone like Caitlin Clark or Paige Bueckers, but that isn't going to help them this season.
 
Dillon77 said:
I hear/read you, but Coach Reeve is just blowing through point guards like Lysol Wipes during the early part of the pandemic.

Not everyone is Lindsey Whelan or a player trying out for the U.S. Olympic team and not every off-ball guard can switch over to PG (see Banham, Mitchell). What was the point of keeping Allen if you're not playing her?
Right now, Jess Shepard is the most dependable passer on the team and she's the center/power forward (no issues with 'Phee, Dorka and Jess...at least offensively).

My advice: find a PG (or play Allen) and go with them for at least 20 mpg. (I'd hate to think our U.S. National Team coach is already preparing to dig that tank even deeper for next year's draft.) Just think, I haven't even had my weekend refreshing adult beverage yet....semi-rant over. :rolleyes:;)
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Just be careful with rants after those weekend refreshing adult beverages. Somebody had too many during a Memorial Day cookout and posted a completely off the topic, full of nonsense rant about Chennedy Carter. How's that saying go? A sober person's thoughts are a drunk person's Boneyard Forum rant?
 
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Dillon77 said:
I hear/read you, but Coach Reeve is just blowing through point guards like Lysol Wipes during the early part of the pandemic.

Not everyone is Lindsey Whelan or a player trying out for the U.S. Olympic team and not every off-ball guard can switch over to PG (see Banham, Mitchell). What was the point of keeping Allen if you're not playing her?
Right now, Jess Shepard is the most dependable passer on the team and she's the center/power forward (no issues with 'Phee, Dorka and Jess...at least offensively).

My advice: find a PG (or play Allen) and go with them for at least 20 mpg. (I'd hate to think our U.S. National Team coach is already preparing to dig that tank even deeper for next year's draft.) Just think, I haven't even had my weekend refreshing adult beverage yet....semi-rant over. :rolleyes:;)
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Allen was originally cut and brought back for hardship. I think this is one of the greatest tank jobs.
 
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bbsamjj said:
Very early days, but Alyssa Thomas putting in quite a candidacy for MVP: 14.7ppg; 11.8rpg, 7apg.

Stewart and Wilson are obviously amazing, but they are surrounded by so much talent that if CT continues to perform this well, I would have no issue with Alyssa taking hope a top prize.
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I think you and I both thought that she was the best player (over the reigning MVP) for the Sun last year. In addition to her stats, her disruptive defense is so valuable.

Still way too early for me to discuss MVP, 50/40/90 club, etc.
 
Dillon77 said:
If I read you correctly:
Arike (Notre Dame) and Big T (Miss. State) played against each other in the 2018 Finals.
Arike (ND) and Kalani Brown (Baylor) played against each other in the 2019 Finals.

I can think of a few semi-final matchups (Lynx: Jess Shepard of ND and Napheesa Collier of UConn), but you're after the NC pairings.
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Almost as if they read your post (only a few hours later).

Btw, I just read on the official WNBA site that Big T was temporarily suspended. Given the misleading nature of some of their transaction terminology, I'm not exactly sure what length of time she will not/cannot be on their active roster.
 
Tangential said:


Almost as if they read your post (only a few hours later).

Btw, I just read on the official WNBA site that Big T was temporarily suspended. Given the misleading nature of some of their transaction terminology, I'm not exactly sure what length of time she will not/cannot be on their active roster.
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Well played, Kalani!
 
Tangential said:
I think you and I both thought that she was the best player (over the reigning MVP) for the Sun last year. In addition to her stats, her disruptive defense is so valuable.

Still way too early for me to discuss MVP, 50/40/90 club, etc.
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She was also really, really good with the USA National team at the World Cup last fall. Barring injury, I'd think she's a lock for the Olympics.
 
TheFarmFan said:
The petty part of me feels like this is karma for waiving Dangerfield, a decision that made little sense at the time and only grows worse in retrospect...
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Not petty at all. She was rookie of the year, her minutes were cut by a third and most of her numbers didn't go down the next year (except for scoring), and she doesn't even make the team in her third year? She was still on her rookie contract, makes no sense to me. My feelings/thoughts are not petty, they're mega.
 
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Both of the first 2 games tonight were 1-pointers. Then Vegas won by a small margin for them (5).
 
Iluvacc2 said:
The wheels have completely fallen off for the Lynx :confused:

Damn, I really wanted AT to get that triple dub.

16 assists is crazy work for a forward :eek:
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Yeah. Not really sure what the Lynx are doing anymore.
 
Geew1992 said:
Stewie for the win

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ESPN, on early morning SportsCenter, reported that's Stewie's first game winner with less than 10 seconds remaining ever (I presume in pro's). Williams played pretty good defense on that (I watched the last quarter), but Stewie is just Stewie. Sloot and Stewie executed a perfect pick and roll just before that, during which Marina Mabrey was shaking her head about; probably having seen it in Europe in the semi-finals.

Chicago seems to ride Mabrey, Copper and Williams hot streaks at differing points in the game. Next step, IMHO, is to mesh a bit better and work together to get the best (better) approach in crunch time, both on offense and defense. Wade's a good coach, I'm sure he'll get them there.
 
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MilfordHusky said:
The Lynx don't look terrible, but their guard play may be. They are the worst team in the league, at 0-6. Coach Reeve, over her Lynx career, is 2 games under .500 without Maya on the roster and 128 games over .500 with Maya. They need more talent, especially at the guard spot.
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I appreciate the positive spin. We got the talent. We just don't have that shot making talent. Or that good shot selection decision makers out there. That is just a whole team problem. Talent helps, you are right about that. Seimone Augustus ain't walking through that door. Or Maya Moore. Or a Lindsay Whalen. Or Taj McWilliams-Franklin. We had a squad! Coach Reeve and her staff will have to figure something out or maybe they have ;):)
 
Dillon77 said:
ESPN, on early morning SportsCenter, reported that's Stewie's first game winner with less than 10 seconds remaining ever (I presume in pro's). Williams played pretty good defense on that (I watched the last quarter), but Stewie is just Stewie. Sloot and Stewie executed a perfect pick and roll just before that, during which Marina Mabrey was shaking her head about; probably having seen it in Europe in the semi-finals.

Chicago seems to ride Mabrey, Copper and Williams hot streaks at differing points in the game. Next step, IMHO, is to mesh a bit better and work together to get the best (better) approach in crunch time, both on offense and defense. Wade's a good coach, I'm sure he'll get them there.
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I don’t remember Stewie ever with a game winner in college.
 
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UConnCat said:
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Update:
sun.wnba.com

Connecticut Sun Sign Liz Dixon

Uncasville, CT (June 3, 2023) – The Connecticut Sun has signed forward, Liz Dixon to a rest of season contract, the team announced today. The 6-5 forward comes to Connecticut after finishing a successful collegiate career at the University of Louisville. Throughout four seasons with the...
sun.wnba.com sun.wnba.com
 
Dillon77 said:
ESPN, on early morning SportsCenter, reported that's Stewie's first game winner with less than 10 seconds remaining ever (I presume in pro's). Williams played pretty good defense on that (I watched the last quarter), but Stewie is just Stewie. Sloot and Stewie executed a perfect pick and roll just before that, during which Marina Mabrey was shaking her head about; probably having seen it in Europe in the semi-finals.

Chicago seems to ride Mabrey, Copper and Williams hot streaks at differing points in the game. Next step, IMHO, is to mesh a bit better and work together to get the best (better) approach in crunch time, both on offense and defense. Wade's a good coach, I'm sure he'll get them there.
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Alanna Smith has been a huge surprise this year, and was on fire last night. Easily an early top candidate for most improved. Was glad Copper could play in second half but she definitely didn't seem the same after Laney stepped on her ankle. Elizabeth Williams played great defense on Stewart on that last shot, but Stewart is Stewart.

This Sky team is gritty--two of their 3 losses are by a combined 3 points where you had late game winners by two of the best shot makers in the WNBA (EDD and Stewart). Hopefully they can get healthy soon too.
 
Tangential said:
The player for whom I was most impressed relative to my expectations, was Lexie Brown. Her shot was so pure in the 1st half that it was barely moving the net and she had a few really nice pick and roll dimes (threaded needle on the bounce and the lob numerous times) and would have had even more but Chiney (who played well) and Dearica (who made some nice passes of her own) missed a few bunnies. She also looked better defensively than I have seen throughout her career. Canada looked great on D, but is still inconsistent on O.
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Last night, Lexie topped that game by a good margin. The hesitation move before the drive to the bucket that knotted the score late in regulation, and draining the dagger contested 3 late in OT from well behind the line, were things of beauty.

Nneka is looking like herself, and even after players like Stevens return, Karlie has earned not only a roster spot, but to be part of the rotation for her increasing number of ways that she positively influences a game as their only true "3."

With Alanna's performance and Haley (part of the unanswered combination to my trivia question) looking more comfortable, Cardinal stock is on a major uptrend.
 
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MilfordHusky said:
Both of the first 2 games tonight were 1-pointers. Then Vegas won by a small margin for them (5).
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Very true, but so far nobody from the bottom 8 has defeated a team from the top 4. If Dallas had a healthy DeShields & Big T and Chicago had a healthy Harrison, Gardner, Bertsch (LA with Stevens & J Thomas???), they could be right there.
 
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Tangential said:
Very true, but so far nobody from the bottom 8 has defeated a team from the top 4. If Dallas had a healthy DeShields & Big T and Chicago had a healthy Harrison, Gardner, Bertsch (LA with Stevens & J Thomas???), they could be right there.
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Points all well taken, but Bertsch's injury has led to time and chances for Smith. If and when Bertsch returns, Chicago can throw two forwards at the situation, depending on what's needed. I think Chicago's still "gellin'," made more difficult by the injuries, to say the least.
 
Is Loyd gonna lead the league in scoring playing for the worst team? It could happen. I think she was at 26 ppg before tonight, and she dropped 37 on the Sparks in a losing effort. Storm are the only team without a win thus far.
 
JellyBean said:
My Lynx got their first win of the year!! Dorka getting minutes and being very skilled in those minutes. Ball screens, rebounding, throwing some nice dimes. Great win, Minnesota!!
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Only saw the last quarter of this one, but I can certainly agree with @Bigboote -- had me on edge of seat!
Lynx got solid contributions from their front line - Dorka, 'Phee and Jess Shepard (particularly late) -- but the key for them was Kayla McBride had a game. K-Mac, too, played in the European Championships and missed a few games for personal reasons and hadn't really had a K-Mac game until now. When she does, it opens things up for everyone else.

On the Mystics side, Della Donne and Cloud were slightly off in shooting percentage, but whew, what a game.
Also noticed Myisha Hines-Allen played a bit. When she revs up, she'll help the team even more.

Here's a summary on the game with box score easily found:

Minnesota Lynx vs. Washington Mystics - WNBA Game Summary - June 3, 2023 | WNBA

Check the game summary of the Minnesota Lynx vs. Washington Mystics WNBA basketball game on June 3, 2023.
www.wnba.com
 
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