ESPN's Projected "Protection" Lists for All WNBA Teams
WNBA teams have to submit what players they'll protect (and won't) by Monday and ESPN Senior Writer Kevin Pelton lists which six players each team will want to not make available (and why).
Every WNBA team can protect six players in Golden State's expansion draft on Dec. 6. We project which players will be protected on draft day.
www.espn.com
A few thoughts on various projections:
- Chicago Sky: Dana Evans on the protected list.
Pelton acknowledges Evans had fallen out of favor (I'd say fallen off the court is more accurate.) with former Coach Witherspoon and thinks she might get another shot. I can't see why. Streaky three-point shooter who is not an adept floor general.
I'd keep Lindsey Allen who can hopefully back up another point guard who will be drafted.
- Connecticut Sun: Olivia Nelson-Ododa not on protected list.
Pelton acknowledges Nelson-Ododa might be kept for the same reason I think she will: It's impossible to know what Connecticut will do with DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones being free agents.
- Indiana Fever: NaLyssa Smith on the protected list.
Does incoming management think they can make NaLyssa Smith work? A month ago she was toast. They'd better be sure if they keep her; otherwise I would've kept Dantas or even Saxton.
Minnesota Lynx: Diamond Miller on protected list; Dorka Juhasz and Jessica Shepard on unprotected.
Pelton acknowledges this is a jam-up and thinks it could lead to trades with Golden State so Cheryl Reeve can keep whom she wants.
And she likes both Juhasz and Shepard. If no trade can be made, I think she keeps Juhasz.
New York Liberty: Kayla Thornton and Marine Johannes on unprotected list.
Pelton this could also be a trade scenario in which the Liberty toss a lot of draft picks to keep a few of these players, which also include Rebekah Gardner, Ivana Dojkic and Kaitlin Davis.
Phoenix Mercury: What will Diana Taurasi do?
If she stays, bye bye Celeste Taylor. IF DT has decided retire, Taylor stays.
Seattle Storm: The Clash, so they can play "Should I stay or should I go?"
Who knows what is going on there? Who will call the shots -- owners? Front office? Depending on what that report finds and which players are aligned with whom, this could be a ongoing situation.
Right now, Nika Muhl and Gabby Williams are projected to stay.
Washington Mystics: Stefanie Dolson on unprotected list.
Pelton is giving an edge to both Karlie Samuelson and Emily Engstler staying over Big Mama, in part because Karlie's contract gives flexibility. Dolson added value to the Mystics, imho, and could do so for a start-up team, as well.
