WNBA News, (Post-) Game Comments for June

[nwhoopfan]

What a turnaround for NY the last couple weeks. Went from possibly worst team in the league to solidly middle of the pack and being able to go toe to toe with anybody.

 

[azfan]

What a turnaround for NY the last couple weeks. Went from possibly worst team in the league to solidly middle of the pack and being able to go toe to toe with anybody.

I am impressed with Xu, great movement for a big and tremendous defense.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Candace is so hard to figure. The talent/skill is undeniable, but she's always been prone to these total dud games like today. 4 pts/4 reb in 21 minutes.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Sloot w/ a 3 under 1 second left to put Chicago up by 2!

edit--game winner

 

[jonson]

I know Graves was in NYC for the previous Liberty game and hope he was/is for this one: a past (Gonzaga) great (of his) vs. a more recent Oregon version.

 

[Kaizen]

Bird doesn't look like a 41 years old player. She has so much energy just amazing.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I missed it, but Arike got ejected just before halftime for punting the ball into the stands. Oops.

Back and forth game, always seems to be between these 2 teams.

 

[eebmg]

Came back from the Liberty / Sky game. That was really high level. Sabrina is phenomenal. In the top 3 quad discussion imo. I really liked how Crystal played. Besides making her 3pt shots now, she is going for her mid range jumpers / floaters with confidence.

Unfortunately, we lost that game down the stretch with Meeseman doing lots of damage in the paint and drew so many players on defense, the last second 3 was wide open.

All in all, Liberty look dangerous and I imagine they will be in the playoffs.

 

[Dillon77]

I missed it, but Arike got ejected just before halftime for punting the ball into the stands. Oops.

Back and forth game, always seems to be between these 2 teams.

And Sabally left the game with an injury, not to return. Mabrey out 2nd game in a row with health and safety protocol.
With that in mind, Arike's got to keep her head together because the other top scoring options for the team are out. She just made it the top three. Credit to Grey and others for keeping this close to the end.

Me thinks Greg Bibb and VJ need to have a chat with the player they signed to a long-term deal (And this is an Irish fan typing...) about keeping it together.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Poor Sabally just can't stay healthy. I think she got hurt on back to back offensive possessions. Fell awkwardly and was holding her wrist, moments later appeared to have hyper extended her knee.


Anyway Seattle held on down the stretch. Too much Stewie and Loyd. When did Ezi turn into such a shot blocking machine? She's leading the league at over 3 per game. I don't remember that being a big part of her game in previous seasons. It's been interesting these last 2 games seeing both Magbegor and Kuier on the floor at the same time, that's a lot of length between the 2 of them.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Me thinks Greg Bibb and VJ need to have a chat with the player they signed to a long-term deal (And this is an Irish fan typing...) about keeping it together.

I was watching on a local station w/ pro-Storm announcers. They were talking about Arike issuing a statement, she said she grew up playing soccer and she likes to stop the ball when it's rolling with her foot and then pop it up in the air, like you would do w/ a soccer ball. They weren't buying it, pointed out that doesn't explain how the ball ended up 5 rows deep into the stands.

 

[Kaizen]

 

[The deacon]

I've been singing her praises since 2014

Thanks, triaddukefan... go, Deacs!

 

[nwhoopfan]

Ha ha, yeah, I gotta think soccer players are laughing at that, trying to "control" the ball with her foot.

 

[azfan]

GOAT put the Mercury on her back and with two minutes remaining attempting to pull out a victory. Even without Della Donne the Mystics have exploited the porous Phoenix defense. Phoenix has no answer for Akins so she's abusing the Phoenix guards particularly Peddy.

 

[baggerbob]

GOAT put the Mercury on her back and with two minutes remaining attempting to pull out a victory. Even without Della Donne the Mystics have exploited the porous Phoenix defense. Phoenix has no answer for Akins so she's abusing the Phoenix guards particularly Peddy.

With 24 seconds left game tied, and you have the ball. You throw a guick lob pass to Turner.
That's the worse play in the world,you are on the road last play run clock. Then either Skylar or Dee take the last shot with time running out.
They need a new coach immediately.

 

[Bigboote]

I was watching on a local station w/ pro-Storm announcers. They were talking about Arike issuing a statement, she said she grew up playing soccer and she likes to stop the ball when it's rolling with her foot and then pop it up in the air, like you would do w/ a soccer ball. They weren't buying it, pointed out that doesn't explain how the ball ended up 5 rows deep into the stands.

Not too long ago, Arike was teed up for kicking the ball, so the refs may have been alerted to it.

If she was doing the soccer-pick-up thing she would have stuck her hand out reflexively.

 

[Kaizen]

A good coach here,

 

[azfan]

With 24 seconds left game tied, and you have the ball. You throw a guick lob pass to Turner.
That's the worse play in the world,you are on the road last play run clock. Then either Skylar or Dee take the last shot with time running out.
They need a new coach immediately.

Absolutely!!!!!

 

[baggerbob]

Absolutely!!!!!

Can you imagine if Quinn ever said to Stewie, Jewell, and Sue, we're going to have Gabby take the last shot.
You go with your best players in end game situations.
Luckily Skylar bailed them out in OT.

 

[JellyBean]

Man! My Beloved Minnesota Lynx area struggling hard. We lost another one to the Indiana. The ball movement, inability to get stops on the defensive end, and turnovers are hurting the team. But injuries have been the biggest issue. Hard to build or get anything consistently going when players are not available due to those injuries.

 

[Dillon77]

I was watching on a local station w/ pro-Storm announcers. They were talking about Arike issuing a statement, she said she grew up playing soccer and she likes to stop the ball when it's rolling with her foot and then pop it up in the air, like you would do w/ a soccer ball. They weren't buying it, pointed out that doesn't explain how the ball ended up 5 rows deep into the stands.

Ha ha, yeah, I gotta think soccer players are laughing at that, trying to "control" the ball with her foot.

In actuality, Arike was an all-state soccer player in Wisconsin and received numerous D-1 soccer offers. There is/are videos of her corralling basketballs in practice at ND with her foot and doing fun things with them. So, I even get the possible instinctual move to intercept a ball with your foot.

However, as pointed out in my initial posts here and on the Bench, she's got to understand the where- and when-abouts of the situation. And how it (negatively) affects her team (not to mention could hurt someone). I like her intensity but it's got to be harnessed/re-directed a bit to the overall greater good. That's what Coach J is alluding to.

BTW, I might've used a trap maneuver first (says the former travel team soccer coach) ), but I'm a defender at heart and Arike played, what else, forward.

p.s. ND seems to go after/attract soccer players: Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron were also D-1 level soccer players in NJ and NY, respectively. (On the other hand, they're not volleying balls into audiences...)

 

[cancontent]

What happened during that Lynx and Fever game with respect to Powers? I wasn't able to watch the game and saw video clips of what happened. This game seems like it was a little chippy.

 

[MSSportsGuy]

From looking at the stats Vivians is playing well for the Fever. Hull is now on the outside looking in. Minnesota is a disaster with Fowles and McBride out.

Arike needs to keep her cool for sure but I wonder if VJ really knows what she's doing. That team should be better than it is.

 

[azfan]

Can you imagine if Quinn ever said to Stewie, Jewell, and Sue, we're going to have Gabby take the last shot.
You go with your best players in end game situations.
Luckily Skylar bailed them out in OT.

Like Nygaard, Quinn may have a brief run as HC.