WNBA News

[Geew1992]

 

[eebmg]

Strong words by Kayla and I hope it works for her but she is so streaky.

 

[Dillon77]

Strong words by Kayla and I hope it works for her but she is so streaky.

K-Mac doesn't vent often, but when she does, "boom!" The interesting part of this is one can interpret it is potentially aimed at her former coach, Bill Laimbeer, who also happens to be a fellow ND alum.
Bill, as his wont, never got the backcourt rotation down last year. Danielle Robinson's arrival kicked Jackie Young out to off guard position, which took steady minutes from K-Mac. That didn't help her shooting because Kayla likes to get in a groove (plus, she never adjusted to the Bubble). K-Mac also probably saw Kelsey Plum was arriving back from injury and said "I'm outta here."

And she landed in a great place. Cheryl Reeve is admired for a lot of reasons, but is known as a straight shooter with her players, but one who will be there for you. K-Mac thrived with that approach under Muffet McGraw. K-Mac is a very hard worker, clever driver and, of course, can heat up from three, which will help the Lynx inside game. Good teammate, too.

 

[eebmg]

K-Mac doesn't vent often, but when she does, "boom!" The interesting part of this is one can interpret this is potentially aimed at her former coach, Bill Laimbeer, who also happens to be a fellow ND alum.
Bill, as his wont, never got the backcourt rotation down last year. Danielle Robinson's arrival kicked Jackie Young out to off guard position, which took stead minutes from K-Mac. That didn't help her shooting (she never adjusted to the Bubble). Kayla probably saw Kelsey Plum was arriving back and said "I'm outta here."

And she landed in a great place. Cheryl Reeve is admired for a lot of reasons, but is known as a straight shooter with her players, but one who will be there for you. K-Mac thrived with that approach under Muffet McGraw. K-Mac is a very hard worker, clever driver and, of course, can heat up, which will help the Lynx inside game. Good teammate, too.

So what does the starting rotation look like?. Sims, Dangerfield, McBride, Collier, Fowles ??

 

[MSSportsGuy]

I liked KMac at ND and she has the talent when she gets in the groove. Sims isn't a great outside shooter, more of a slasher historically, and if KMac can knock down open shots she will open up the interior more for the inside players.

Still have my fingers crossed Maya will come back and be good as ever.

 

[Dillon77]

So what does the starting rotation look like?. Sims, Dangerfield, McBride, Collier, Fowles ??

Lynx also have Bridget Carleton coming back at the wing postion, as well as Rachel Banham at the #2.
Up front, Damaris Dantis started every game (Fowles was only around for 7 games). Collier is super flexible and could see her playing the 3 (in a big lineup) or 4 (most of the time). That approach could be made possible by the return of Jess Shepard.

Lots of options. Don't know who will start, but K-Mac has a way of being in at crunch time

 

[WFFL]

Minnesota reportedly signing Ariel Powers & Natalie Achonwa as well !

Chelsea Gray to Vegas

Alysha Clark close to signing with Washington.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Chelsea Gray to Vegas

Okay, I gotta hope Kelsey Plum goes elsewhere. More juggling around of the rotation and not having a defined roll is not what she needs. Anyway she's the only reason I like Vegas, and w/ them adding Gray it's even harder to root for them (sorry @triaddukefan but I just don't like her).

 

[CTisballers]

So is Maya done??? Would be fun to see her back on this squad

 

[MSSportsGuy]

Gray to Vegas is interesting. KMac departs but the backcourt stays crowded. I would think Plum winds up elsewhere but who knows.

LA will be almost starting over.

 

[bballnut90]

Minnesota reportedly signing Ariel Powers & Natalie Achonwa as well !

Chelsea Gray to Vegas

Alysha Clark close to signing with Washington.

Gray to Vegas is huge. Gives them a legit title shot and a huge upgrade at PG. LA is gonna be much weaker this year without her and Parker.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Gray to Vegas is huge. Gives them a legit title shot and a huge upgrade at PG. LA is gonna be much weaker this year without her and Parker.

Gray was awful in the playoffs 2 years in a row. I have a hard time believing she makes anyone a legit contender at this point in her career. She has a lot of proving to do. I know she's a multiple time All Star, but I've never loved her game. Ball dominant PG who looks for her own too much, and always tries to make the highlight reel play rather than the good play.

 

[Carnac]

Good for K-Mac. While never a Notre Dame fan, I've always liked her (and I wish her well this season and beyond). I think a change of scenery is just what the Doctor ordered and she will benefit greatly by it.

She'll love playing for Cheryl Reeve, and with her new teammates Napheesa Collier, Crystal Dangerfield, Ariel Powers & Natalie Achonwa.

Wow!!! Reeve is putting together quite a squad for the upcoming season. McBride and Achonwa (along with Sylvia Fowles) will also enhance the overall veteran leadership there.

 

[DeeHusky]

I liked KMac at ND and she has the talent when she gets in the groove. Sims isn't a great outside shooter, more of a slasher historically, and if KMac can knock down open shots she will open up the interior more for the inside players.

Still have my fingers crossed Maya will come back and be good as ever.

I don’t think Maya will return to the lynx when she does come back. I think she will go home to Georgia and play for the Dream.

 

[Dillon77]

Good for K-Mac. While never a Notre Dame fan, I've always liked her (and I wish her well this season and beyond).
I think a change of scenery is just what the Doctor ordered, and she will benefit greatly by it.

She'll love playing for Cheryl Reeve, and with her new teammates Napheesa Collier, Crystal Dangerfield, Ariel Powers & Natalie Achonwa. Wow!!! Reeve is putting together quite a squad for the upcoming season. McBride and Achonwa (along with Sylvia Fowles) will also impact the overall veteran leadership there.

As an fyi, K-Mac and Natalie (Ace) Achonwa are remarkably tight friends and are probably going crazy right now with the opportunity to play together under Coach Reeve. And they're get to mentor another Domer, Jess Shepard. All while playing with Ms. Collier and Dangerfield. Should be fun! ?

 

[bballnut90]

Gray was awful in the playoffs 2 years in a row. I have a hard time believing she makes anyone a legit contender at this point in her career. She has a lot of proving to do. I know she's a multiple time All Star, but I've never loved her game. Ball dominant PG who looks for her own too much, and always tries to make the highlight reel play rather than the good play.

She was 1st Team All-WNBA in 2019 and has consistently averaged about 14 points and 5 assists for a perennial title threat. She's 28 and still in the prime of her career. I don't see her as a ball dominant PG either, she's been top 6 in assists the last 3 years and has shared ball handling and facilitating duties with Parker.

What do you feel she has to prove aside from showing up in playoffs? Worth noting, she was HUGE in the playoffs in 2016/2017. The last 2 years she had 1 bad playoff game and a bad series vs Connecticut in 2019.

I don't see how she wouldn't be considered a massive upgrade over Plum, Allen, or Robinson.

 

[nwhoopfan]

She was 1st Team All-WNBA in 2019 and has consistently averaged about 14 points and 5 assists for a perennial title threat. I' She's 28 and still in the prime of her career. I don't see her as a ball dominant PG either, she's been top 6 in assists the last 3 years and has shared ball handling and facilitating duties with Parker.

What do you feel she has to prove aside from showing up in playoffs? Worth noting, she was HUGE in the playoffs in 2016/2017. The last 2 years she had 1 bad playoff game and a bad series vs Connecticut in 2019.

I don't see how she wouldn't be considered a massive upgrade over Plum, Allen, or Robinson.

I'm probably on my own here but I just don't like Gray's game. She forces way too many tough shots. She does have an ability to make them, but there's just no reason to consistently take those kind of shots. She might've rounded into shape later but early last year she wasn't making shots and I honestly felt like LA was better when she was on the bench.

Trader Bill can't settle on a PG. This will be the 4th year in a row w/ a different starting PG. Maybe it's not everybody else, it's you Bill...


edit--I know Gray played alongside Parker and Ogwumike the last however many years, but Gray, Wilson, McCoughtry and Cambage (if she plays) is a lot of star players on one team and a lot of egos to manage.

 

[DeeHusky]

Gray was awful in the playoffs 2 years in a row. I have a hard time believing she makes anyone a legit contender at this point in her career. She has a lot of proving to do. I know she's a multiple time All Star, but I've never loved her game. Ball dominant PG who looks for her own too much, and always tries to make the highlight reel play rather than the good play.

You joking right? Def not a ball dominant guard, one of the best passers in the league. Just because she’s capable of getting her own shot and has gotten it doesn’t mean she’s a ball dominant guard. A ball dominant guard is Arike Ogunbowale or Kelsey Mitchell or Chennedy Carter. There are no guards on Vegas’s roster that have done what’s she’s done so she doesn’t have to prove anything.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Like I said, probably on my own, but my opinion of Gray isn't going to change. Some NBA players have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can simultaneously have good assists numbers while still being a ballhog (Westbrook and Harden for starters).

Las Vegas just has to hope they don't run into Connecticut in the playoffs, because they have absolutely destroyed Gray 2 years in a row. Even the Aces' less than stellar PG by committee crew last year did a better job against the Sun than Chelsea has managed in recent years.


edit--and while obviously Gray has had a much better career than Plum, 2019 playoffs Plum was way, way, way better than 2019 playoffs Gray.

 

[eebmg]

Gray has all the talent in the world but she gets into these stretches where she makes silly pass or shot decisions. But definitely an upgrade

 

[triaddukefan]

Okay, I gotta hope Kelsey Plum goes elsewhere. More juggling around of the rotation and not having a defined roll is not what she needs. Anyway she's the only reason I like Vegas, and w/ them adding Gray it's even harder to root for them (sorry @triaddukefan but I just don't like her).

 

[nwhoopfan]

View attachment 64021

I was waiting for that. Sorry, just the way I feel.

 

[oldhusky]

Okay, I gotta hope Kelsey Plum goes elsewhere. More juggling around of the rotation and not having a defined roll is not what she needs. Anyway she's the only reason I like Vegas, and w/ them adding Gray it's even harder to root for them (sorry @triaddukefan but I just don't like her).

I don't see why Gray and Plum cannot coexist. In some ways this appears to be a versatile combo, because both can shoot and pass. Plum is more of a tweener, more of a small shooting guard who had to learn to be a point guard because of her size. Gray is a big point guard who can easily guard the opponents SG, with Plum taking the PG.

Young has some point guard abilities too, as well as being able to fill in at SG and SF, and probably defend all three pretty well. Those three along with Angel can cover most of the minutes from 1-3. Young and McCoughtry for defense, Gray, Plum and Young as passers, Gray and Plum for outside shooting, and McCoughtry, Gray and maybe Young with the ability to create their own offense. Rebounding from that group mediocre, but with the bigs it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I don't see why Gray and Plum cannot coexist. In some ways this appears to be a versatile combo, because both can shoot and pass. Plum is more of a tweener, more of a small shooting guard who had to learn to be a point guard because of her size. Gray is a big point guard who can easily guard the opponents SG, with Plum taking the PG.

Young has some point guard abilities too, as well as being able to fill in at SG and SF, and probably defend all three pretty well. Those three along with Angel can cover most of the minutes from 1-3. Young and McCoughtry for defense, Gray, Plum and Young as passers, Gray and Plum for outside shooting, and McCoughtry, Gray and maybe Young with the ability to create their own offense. Rebounding from that group mediocre, but with the bigs it shouldn't be a problem.

Young's rookie year Plum was moved to off guard and it was a disaster. She was switched back to PG for the playoffs and she was brilliant.

 

[oldhusky]

She was 1st Team All-WNBA in 2019 and has consistently averaged about 14 points and 5 assists for a perennial title threat. She's 28 and still in the prime of her career. I don't see her as a ball dominant PG either, she's been top 6 in assists the last 3 years and has shared ball handling and facilitating duties with Parker.

What do you feel she has to prove aside from showing up in playoffs? Worth noting, she was HUGE in the playoffs in 2016/2017. The last 2 years she had 1 bad playoff game and a bad series vs Connecticut in 2019.

I don't see how she wouldn't be considered a massive upgrade over Plum, Allen, or Robinson.

I think she should be considered a replacement for McBride. Gray and Plum can play together.