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WNBA draft results

Just read the Seattle times article about Seattle’s draft picks… Head Coach Noelle Quinn said they’re likely to start the season with 11 players so there’s 6 players (Cunane, Westbrook, Melbourne, Manis, Herbert-Harrigan, and Prince) fighting for one spot. They have 6 guaranteed contracts and she said Magbegor, Burke, Talbot, and Lavender all figure prominently for them. I thought I also read that Prince is retiring after this season so she probably has the inside track on that last spot but here’s hoping Mama E gets it!
 
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Byukiok808 said:
Just read the Seattle times article about Seattle’s draft picks… Head Coach Noelle Quinn said they’re likely to start the season with 11 players so there’s 6 players (Cunane, Westbrook, Melbourne, Manis, Herbert-Harrigan, and Prince) fighting for one spot. They have 6 guaranteed contracts and she said Magbegor, Burke, Talbot, and Lavender all figure prominently for them. I thought I also read that Prince is retiring after this season so she probably has the inside track on that last spot but here’s hoping Mama E gets it!
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Prediction: Evina has a solid WNBA career, great European career, and is a college coaching star. Her knee will likely slow down and reduce her pro career but her diverse skills and knowledge will be great assets for the future whatever she chooses.
 
bballnut90 said:
It's a deep class but I think it will be tough for a lot of draftees to make a roster. I think anyone outside of the top 5 is at risk of getting cut. For example, you look at a player like Veronica Burton at 7...she's a good player but is headed to Dallas where she'll be competing with Ty Harris and Moriah Jefferson, plus they have Arike/Marina Mabrey who play PG as needed too. And last year's #5 pick, Chelsea Dungee will fight for her life to keep a roster spot. The front court has an overwhelming number of former top 5 picks too with Collier (1), McCowan (3), Kuier (2), Sabally (2), and Harrison. Plus there would've been Alarie (former #5 pick) who decided to sit out this year.

Rae Burrell at 9 is also tough. She didn't play at a WNBA caliber level this year but if she can play like she did as a junior, she could stick. Might be too big of a turnaround to expect over a month long period though.

I find Egbo/Hull as compelling picks but could see both getting cut. I hope the league expands in the next couple of years--there's a lot of big name star power entering the league the next couple of drafts and a ton of talented kids who we'll miss out on seeing. In today's day and age there is enough talent to field 16 strong teams.
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Good post. There are just so few spots available ... and the percentages keep dropping for a chance of sticking, let alone succeeding, for so many talented athletes.
Just a few thoughts on a few of your insights (and another...):

- Vickie Johnson is a defensive-minded coach with a lot of offensive-driven guards.
Burton led the country in steals per game for the second straight year. She is the only player to average three steals a game each of the last three seasons. Seems like Vickie wrote Burton's name on this envelope. If I'm Dungee, I'd really be bending those knees and sliding those feet.

- Indiana seems to be one of those teams that can handle a number of the picks sticking. Hull can add long-range shooting and, if memory serves, she's pretty good at stealing the ball, too.
i
Egbo's known for her defense and rebounding, but Her Hoop Stats points out that she "has made exactly half of her two-pointers both this season and last."

- Brittany Griner's detainment in Russia might open a temporary slot for one of the forwards Phoenix drafted: Maya Dodson or Macee Williams. Hopefully, it won't come to that.

- Of the three UConn players, I think Ms. Williams is in the best possible position with the Mystics. Coach Thibault usually knows what he's after and he mentioned Williams' defense and knowing when not to (try to) score. She can learn and contribute when needed.
 
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Fairfield Fan said:
The drafting of Cunane, one of the premier posts in college basketball late in the second round was very surprising. Anything wrong that I/we don't know? I'm shocked.
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she's not all that athletic and has had some consistency issues but players that big with some skills are not that easy to come by.......Hillman is simply a tweener......great effort player but not sure how effective she will be at the pro level.....
 
Fairfield Fan said:
The drafting of Cunane, one of the premier posts in college basketball late in the second round was very surprising. Anything wrong that I/we don't know? I'm shocked.
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Cunane has always struck me as a solid, workmanlike player, but not an exceptionally athletic post. She will be going up against great post players every night in the W. Cunane is very similar to Iowa’s Megan Gustafson, the 2019 NPOY, who was drafted in the 2nd round by Dallas, 17th overall, but was then released prior to the start of the season. Subsequently Dallas resigned her, released her again after the 2020 season, and then she was signed by Washington.

If Cunane is lucky, she will be a capable reserve in the W, like Gustafson. But I don’t see her becoming a starting post for any team on a regular basis.
 
Westbrook and ONO are preseason cuts. Not enough open slots. WNBA is almost a closed shop. Both will find success in life. Westbrook will turn to a media career. Liv will play overseas...
 
I didn't really pay attention to the draft overall but believe it's a pretty shallow one for impact players. The competition for roster spots is so tough and the talent pool seems to get deeper each year. When I say shallow, I just think of how many of these players could realistically make a roster and stick. The top 4/5 players will get opportunities but beyond that I just don't see much room to hang around.

Indiana to me drafted some weird players again. The Fever will again be win challenged but maybe Dunn can put some stability on the franchise.
 
Charliebball said:
she's not all that athletic and has had some consistency issues but players that big with some skills are not that easy to come by.......Hillman is simply a tweener......great effort player but not sure how effective she will be at the pro level.....
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A bit surprised as well. She does most things well, but nothing exceptionally...and I am not sure she can guard most WNBA post players. Rebuilding teams with the early picks are likely looking for individuals that can take over a game...or at least change its' trajectory. I thought she might go to Indiana, which needed help at the 4 and 5 and had the 2, 4, 6 and 10 picks. Instead they went with kids (women) with high motors that can run and play defense. Smith, Engstler, Hull and Ebo.
 
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oldude said:
Cunane has always struck me as a solid, workmanlike player, but not an exceptionally athletic post. She will be going up against great post players every night in the W. Cunane is very similar to Iowa’s Megan Gustafson, the 2019 NPOY, who was drafted in the 2nd round by Dallas, 17th overall, but was then released prior to the start of the season. Subsequently Dallas resigned her, released her again after the 2020 season, and then she was signed by Washington.

If Cunane is lucky, she will be a capable reserve in the W, like Gustafson. But I don’t see her becoming a starting post for any team on a regular basis.
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Gustafson is more like a last off the bench reserve than a rotation player. Cunane is a better prospect. She's taller, longer, and a much better defender even if Gustafson is better offensively. She negated Aliyah Boston in both matchups the last 2 years which no one else has done. That said, I don't think Cunane will ever be more than a backup post. She's solid in most areas but exceptional in none. Should be a serviceable backup and have an opportunity over the next couple of seasons to prove if she's capable of sticking in the league.
 
bballnut90 said:
Gustafson is more like a last off the bench reserve than a rotation player. Cunane is a better prospect. She's taller, longer, and a much better defender even if Gustafson is better offensively. She negated Aliyah Boston in both matchups the last 2 years which no one else has done. That said, I don't think Cunane will ever be more than a backup post. She's solid in most areas but exceptional in none. Should be a serviceable backup and have an opportunity over the next couple of seasons to prove if she's capable of sticking in the league.
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This speaks to the fact that the W is the most elite WBB league in the world. With only 144 players, it takes tremendous talent to earn a roster spot, and even greater talent to stick. Great UConn players like KML, Lou, Gabby and others have only been able to establish themselves as role players, fighting every season to stay in the league.
 
bballnut90 said:
Gustafson is more like a last off the bench reserve than a rotation player. Cunane is a better prospect. She's taller, longer, and a much better defender even if Gustafson is better offensively. She negated Aliyah Boston in both matchups the last 2 years which no one else has done. That said, I don't think Cunane will ever be more than a backup post. She's solid in most areas but exceptional in none. Should be a serviceable backup and have an opportunity over the next couple of seasons to prove if she's capable of sticking in the league.
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She gives Seattle another big body inside, and a center who can score, which Russell doesn't do. It also allows Ezi to play more with Stewie, and not worry about picking up fouls.
It also should allow Stewie to sit more, and not get worn down like last year.
Evina might end up making the team as a backup to Loyd, she gives Seattle size st the guard spot.
I wouldn't expect Melbourne to come until next year, just as Ezi didn't come until a year later. She is on the Opals national team, and they host the World Cup this year. I'm sure Seattle talked to Laureen before they made the pick.
 
baggerbob said:
She gives Seattle another big body inside, and a center who can score, which Russell doesn't do. It also allows Ezi to play more with Stewie, and not worry about picking up fouls.
It also should allow Stewie to sit more, and not get worn down like last year.
Evina might end up making the team as a backup to Loyd, she gives Seattle size st the guard spot.
I wouldn't expect Melbourne to come until next year, just as Ezi didn't come until a year later. She is on the Opals national team, and they host the World Cup this year. I'm sure Seattle talked to Laureen before they made the pick.
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and when Sue retires and Stewie comes to the Liberty with Dolson, more room. :D
 
Fairfield Fan said:
The drafting of Cunane, one of the premier posts in college basketball late in the second round was very surprising. Anything wrong that I/we don't know? I'm shocked.
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Charliebball said:
she's not all that athletic and has had some consistency issues but players that big with some skills are not that easy to come by.......Hillman is simply a tweener......great effort player but not sure how effective she will be at the pro level.....
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oldude said:
If Cunane is lucky, she will be a capable reserve in the W, like Gustafson. But I don’t see her becoming a starting post for any team on a regular basis.
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Hmmm. Being an ND fan, I watch a lot of ACC Basketball and that includes NC State and Cunane.
I'm not shocked that she wasn't drafted in the 5-6-7 range, but am a bit surprised that she lasted into the 2nd.
  • While she's not a stellar athlete, she's not a plough horse, by any means. She can get up and down the court and I've seen her hit the floor for loose balls...and come away with them, then get on her feet and hustle the other way.
  • oldude. The Gustafson analogy is interesting, perhaps, in that the results might be the same, but I think they're different. Gustafson was a back to the basket post player that Jan Jensen developed at Iowa, She needed to expand her range and develop some attack modes from mid-range. The fact that Thibault has resigned her shows me she's made progress.

As Charliebball points out. Cunane has special skills on the offensive end. Like Megan G, she can seal and get off a positively lethal hook. However, she can also drill the mid-range jump and even the three. That helps big time.

If she can work on her agility and defensive help skills, she could spell Mercedes Russell, another center who improved in the pro's.

It might not be with Seattle (a la Gustafson, this could take a few tries), but I think she'll stick at some point. 6'5" with skills, smarts and good attitude. We'll see.
 
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upick.u
eebmg said:
and when Sue retires and Stewie comes to the Liberty with Dolson, more room. :D
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Actually Stewie is about championships, and with the additions and youth Seattle has accumulated, I believe Stewie will stay in Seattle. Prince, January retire along with Sue. Westbrook will be a good backup, Melbourne is a great young PG, playing alongside Loyd will ease the transition.
Sue might stay one more year to help or be an assistant.
 
Cunene can maybe be a better 4 in the pros than a post. She has skill and can shoot an outside shot. She’s fairly mobile but maybe that’s the biggest problem. I can see her as part of a 2 big lineup. When someone achieves at her level of excellence they are a good investment going forward.

The league is probably due for an expansion probably even next year. There is money to be made.
 
About Gustafson, she would post up, receive a pass, and faster than immediately put up a shot off the glass that was successful a high percentage of time. Really impressed me in college.
 
MooseJaw said:
Warms my heart, Mamma E deserves this recognition for all she has given to the game and UCONN. I hope she has a storied career and achieves her dreams.
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Looking at the Seattle camp roster, 9 players are very certain to stick.
Russell-c, Cunane-c,Magbegor-c/f, Stewart-f,Talbot-f,Williams-f, Bird-g, January-g, Loyd-g.
Melbourne will stay overseas this year like, Ezi did, so need 2 guards Prince-g, and Westbrook-g. Hard cap and price for 2nd rounders should work in Evina's favor.
 
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baggerbob said:
Looking at the Seattle camp roster, 9 players are very certain to stick.
Russell-c, Cunane-c,Magbegor-c/f, Stewart-f,Talbot-f,Williams-f, Bird-g, January-g, Loyd-g.
Melbourne will stay overseas this year like, Ezi did, so need 2 guards Prince-g, and Westbrook-g. Hard cap and price for 2nd rounders should work in Evina's favor.
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Unfortunately, according to statements made by management to the Seattle Times, the cost of re-signing Bird, Stewie and Jewell Lloyd, severely limits their roster this year and they plan on carrying only 11 players. Cunane, Evina and 4 others will be fighting for one spot-- unless management makes some other adjustment and they decide to carry a 12th player. The Storm is not committed to Cunane although they liked her game.
 
Notyetready said:
Unfortunately, according to statements made by management to the Seattle Times, the cost of re-signing Bird, Stewie and Jewell Lloyd, severely limits their roster this year and they plan on carrying only 11 players. Cunane, Evina and 4 others will be fighting for one spot-- unless management makes some other adjustment and they decide to carry a 12th player. The Storm is not committed to Cunane although they liked her game.
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They have 2 spots open Burke has no value and costs more the either of the 2 second round picks, and I gave the 9 players who are going to stay. If you want to add Prince that would be 10, but the still need 5 guards.
Bird took a lot less in order to save money.
 
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