Before the season started somebody on this board had the same opinion. I pointed out it ignored that NY's guards would be no more capable of guarding their counterparts than vice versa. Round 1 solidly in favor of LV, and if you add in the Young-Laney matchup it gets even more lopsided.
They got blown out by Connecticut and Dewanna Bonner went off for 41.
This is one of those "side-margin comments" from a teacher that gives a good grade but has one comment, so please take in context.
Nah. They're a totally different team, regardless of the players they retained in my opinion.
No access to the link, will Gabby finally be able to rejoin the storm ?
Yup. I am right there with ya, on eating some crow. That Minnesota/Seattle game was pretty intense.
This year's Chelsea Gray?
The 35 shots by Loyd is a record, eclipsing 33 by Taurasi (twice) and McCoughtry.
Loyd is really having a spectacular season. I remember she did an interview in the spring where she said she was more than ready to take on the additional responsibility created by Seattle’s departures. She’s played like it. Her FG% percentage isn’t great in isolation but the production is considering she’s drawing the opponent’s best defender each and every trip down the floor.
Huh. Retirement didn't last long. Maybe she was just tired of ASU.Mercury adding former ASU coach Charlie Turner Thorne to staff
Legendary Arizona State coach Charli Turner Thorne is joining the Phoenix Mercury staff as an assistant coach, the team announced Friday.www.espn.com
CTT joins her former assistant.
Some quid pro quo here, with possible benefits: Blue was an assistant for three years at ASU. In fact, she's been an assistant everywhere before being named interim head coach. Thinking Turner Thorne can add some tips on being an HC for Blue as she tries to navigate the Mercury HC role the rest of the season....which might lead to a HC gig somewhere next year (Phoenix or elsewhere). As for Turner Thorne, maybe being at home wasn't everything it was cracked up to be? Or she wanted to get away for the summer?
When they play the Storm in August, I wonder if she will tell Jade Melbourne that she would still be coaching there if Jade had not opted to turn pro instead of heading to Tempe.
Will also be a battle of former UCLA Bruins players turned head coach, I think their careers overlapped there.
The Aces guards were targeting Ionecu early. If you watch the first half especially, Laney's assignment was rarely shooting. Problem is, Laney can't guard Plum, Gray AND Young all at once. Aces were much better at finding the matchup advantages on offense and exploiting them; and on defense, they were much more locked in [and perhaps are just a better defensive team overall.] Quite frankly, the Liberty will never beat the Aces if the Aces are going to shoot 58% for the game. Every Aces starter shot above 50%. Part of that is poor defense on the Liberty, but you have to make choices on defense, and if Parker is going to shoot 3/4 on 3 pointers, there's only so much you can do.
In fairness to Quinn (who I actually think has done a pretty great job in making a clearly rebuilding Seattle team somewhat competitive), is there a better shot for Seattle than letting Jewell create magic?
Since retirement CTT had done some local sports broadcasting. As I understand it she was given a special services contract upon retirement that through 2024 with ASU.