WNBA: Final roster cuts today

[VAMike23]

Final rosters must be down to 11 by 5:00 p.m. eastern time today.

Here is a link to the W's player transaction page for those interested in keeping track

 

[EricLA]

Some of the names have surprised me (granted I don't follow the minutia of the WNBA as much as some).

Waived - Alexis Gray-Lawson, Laura Harper, Loree Moore, Nicky Anosike, Natalie Novosel, Shyra Ely, April Sykes, Shannon Bobbitt,Chante Black (the link calls her Chante Blacky - assume it's the same person?)...

Signed - Jessica Moore (Washington), Jessica Adair (Phx)

Most of the players waived were top 10 coming out of HS, stars for their college teams, but just couldn't hang on in the WNBA. Tennessee alums took it in the shorts for sure.

 

[VAMike23]

Some of the names have surprised me (granted I don't follow the minutia of the WNBA as much as some).

Waived - Alexis Gray-Lawson, Laura Harper, Loree Moore, Nicky Anosike, Natalie Novosel, Shyra Ely, April Sykes, Shannon Bobbitt,Chante Black (the link calls her Chante Blacky - assume it's the same person?)...

Signed - Jessica Moore (Washington), Jessica Adair (Phx)

Most of the players waived were top 10 coming out of HS, stars for their college teams, but just couldn't hang on in the WNBA. Tennessee alums took it in the shorts for sure.

I wouldn't mind seeing Minny cut Pepper Wilson (C) 6'6" and Rachel Jarry (F) 6'1" and sign Sugar Rodgers for the season. That would leave them at 10, so they could then also sign Nicky Anosike (erstwhile Lynx player, before WASH and then LAS) if she's available (one would think there are worse spots to land than Minny)........... I just don't see Amber Harris providing enough inside punch and size, and Minny will be lacking in both areas against certain teams in certain matchups. Amber likes facing up but not banging in the post so much, despite being 6'6".

 

[stwainfan]

Shyra Ely has a injury her Achilles is torn.

 

[EricLA]

VA - I have checked the box scores and Sugar has been getting decent minutes and she's been fairly productive. No longer the sheer volume shooter she was at G-town...

 

[Coler]

I don't see the Minn cutting Jerry.

 

[VAMike23]

VA - I have checked the box scores and Sugar has been getting decent minutes and she's been fairly productive. No longer the sheer volume shooter she was at G-town...

Reeve has had good things to say about Sugar......personally I'd have a tough time cutting her, esp given Minny's style.

Given a little time I think she will really shine in the "W"

 

[VAMike23]

I don't see the Minn cutting Jerry.

Despite their lack of size, they will probably cut Pepper before cutting Jerry. Reeve likes her versatility. I just think they need an experienced post more than they need Jarry and I would rather sign Anosike if she's amenable to suiting up.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Some of the names have surprised me (granted I don't follow the minutia of the WNBA as much as some).

Waived - Alexis Gray-Lawson, Laura Harper, Loree Moore, Nicky Anosike, Natalie Novosel, Shyra Ely, April Sykes, Shannon Bobbitt,Chante Black (the link calls her Chante Blacky - assume it's the same person?)...

Signed - Jessica Moore (Washington), Jessica Adair (Phx)

Most of the players waived were top 10 coming out of HS, stars for their college teams, but just couldn't hang on in the WNBA. Tennessee alums took it in the shorts for sure.

Some of the ones you mention were never successful in the WNBA and are being replaced in the hope that the replacement will be better. As noted, with no "injured reserve" injuries can play a part, very few players are good enough to occupy a spot on an 11 player roster and not play.

A secondary issue is clearly that the W is not the NCAA - which isn't high school. Not only does each level mandate better play, but also something of a different skill set.

 

[VAMike23]

Sugar gets the final spot

 

[Coler]

Chicago cut Ruth Riley, so former RU player Michelle Campbell makes the team....I didn't need another reason to love the Sky...but now I love them even more.

 

[stwainfan]

I'm proud for Kamiko. Yes she had some ups and downs at Tennessee. She made it to the WNBA. She has always had the talent. It was just being able to play the way she was capable.

 

[Phil]

J Mo remains as Peddy was their final cut.

 

[ScarlettB]

I was glad to see that Nadirah McKenith made it. I think she was somewhat underrated.

 

[rocky rococo]

Getting tougher to make a WNBA team. Kraayeveld waived.

 

[UCONNfan1]

Kelly Cain (nice drafting Liberty - right up there with worst draft pick ever), Courtney Paris, and Jackie Gemelos also waived...

 

[DobbsRover2]

It's kind of like the old croon "Van Lingo Mungo" of old baseball stars as you work through the names of waived ones and see such UConn nemeses as Ruth Riley (12 years gone) and media trivia points as Drey Mingo (related somehow to Trey Wingo), to the long list of UTenn players we never got to root against since we haven't been in the same neighborhood for a while. You do have to be very good to make the WNBA nowadays, which I guess is a great reason to play for UConn.

 

[littletuxat]

"and media trivia points as Drey Mingo (related somehow to Trey Wingo), to the long list of UTenn players we never got to root against since we haven't been in the same neighborhood for a while."

Maybe I am misreading this, but Drey never attended UTenn... She started at Maryland, played 2 years and transferred to Purdue for more playing time and that is where the illness and the ACL injuries occurred.... She was a Brenda Frese player and one of many in the last few years that have transferred out and at least 3 of them of record have gone to Purdue

 

[DaddyChoc]

Chicago cut Ruth Riley, so former RU player Michelle Campbell makes the team....I didn't need another reason to love the Sky...but now I love them even more.

I like the Campbell crew... dad was a riot at the BET's

 

[jdubct]

I wonder whether a player like Harper could find a roster spot on another team.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

FWIW, I was reading Brian Agler's comments about the final Storm roster, and he commented that there were several positions where they would be evaluating as the season went forward.

I suspect that's the plan for a number of teams.