WNBA Off-Season

[Dillon77]

Whoa. Lynx come back from what once was an 18-pt. deficit to get a 95-93win in OT led by three 20+ pt. performances by Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier. K-Mac carried the Lynx early, Williams helped bring them back in regulation (huge 4-pt. play at end of to take a one-pt. lead) and 'Phee sealed the deal.
Huge win. How huge? Coach Reeve was jumping up and down on the sidelines after the last horn.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I posted this in the playoff thread but I'll put it here too. Some changes for next season. Expanding the schedule to 44 games. First round format will be 1-1-1 instead of 2-1. Finals will be 7 games.

 

[Geew1992]

Is there any reliable confirmation of this Stephanie White rumor? The Hartford Courant did not mention it in their story about Bonner's decision not to retire. If it's definite, why is there a delay in the official announcement?

Nope. There’s been so official announcement

 

[azfan]

Nope. There’s been so official announcement

Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky Fans Vie For Services of Sun Coach Stephanie White

Despite producing a very respectable season, the Connecticut Sun's 2024 campaign came to an end after their bitter defeat to the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Semi

www.si.com

SI. "reporting"? At one time SI had a reputation for reliability ...... Back in the days of print journalism.

 

[oldhusky]

Okay, where do the Aces go from here? Not saying you blow up the team, but standing pat won't be enough. As we say every off season, they need a better bench. Hayes is a keeper, not sure about anybody else. They need a better 5th starter than Stokes. Can Gray return to being the player she used to be? She showed some flashes in the playoffs, but overall wasn't great. 38% shooting, 28% from 3 is not good enough. Clark has her moments, but she's not the player she was when she was helping the Storm win Championships (looking at the roster, she's 37, that surprised me).

As long as they are contenders, I think the Aces will focus more on ring pursuing veterans than draft picks. The money realities of the WNBA shifts priorities to locking up your best players (4-5) with big contracts, and only spend more than the minimum on your next 3 or 4. Every penny spend above the minimum on a player that isn't say in your top 8 of a rotation is inefficient.

It also means the top contenders will probably have 11 not 12 players. that money for a 12th player is better spent on upgrading a player that will get regular minutes. The Aces probably have significant off the court advantages. A nice new practice facility, good attendance, more outside income opportunities, no state income tax etc.

That plus a possible championship means they can frequently get veterans to support the big 4 at less than market value, be that getting a better minimum salary player than other teams, or paying modestly more than the minimum for a player that might command much more from other teams. They got Clark and Stokes relatively cheap, and Parker way under market although that didn't work out due to injuries.

Clark and Stokes have slipped to where they are no longer bargains, but getting players like they were a couple of years ago at less than market value would seem to be a good approach. Spend your money on the top 8, 5 starters, one big, one midsize and one guard reserve, and minimum on everything else. You hope you get something good in the draft, but you can probably pick from the best or top layer of minimum contract players to fill out the roster.

 

[azfan]

Coaching considerations.

I'm wondering if the Mercury has set the bar at a million dollars?

Love to know the details on the Golden State contract.

If Stephanie White does in fact move on I would guess her new deal will or should approach that of the competent Becky Harmon and over the head little Nate. (Is it possible the Mercury owner recognizes the mistake and terminates the million dollar coach? Inquiring minds want to know and Mercury fans have their fingers crossed)

Aside from Stephanie White I'm wondering if the openings around the league will follow the lead of Golden State and look for experience and actually coaching women's basketball as well as female coaches? Hiring early in a coach's career also allows a salary under a million bucks.

Does Cheryl Reeves get a raise to the million dollar level? (Coach of the year?)

I hesitate to speculate about SB given the animosity on this board but does she get a raise?

Dark horse candidate for a franchise looking outside the box.... former ASU coach CTT.

Finally is Kurt Miller done or does he have another run? Really wondering what owners think of a very checkered career. Pretty sure nobody would ever make him a GM again.

 

[JellyBean]

I posted this in the playoff thread but I'll put it here too. Some changes for next season. Expanding the schedule to 44 games. First round format will be 1-1-1 instead of 2-1. Finals will be 7 games.

Glad that they are going with the 1-1-1 format for the mini-series. The best of 7 is a great addition as well.

 

[cancontent]

Glad that they are going with the 1-1-1 format for the mini-series. The best of 7 is a great addition as well.

Agreed regarding 1-1-1. Every team should get a chance to host a playoff game. Fans deserve it too.

 

[JellyBean]

Agreed regarding 1-1-1. Every team should get a chance to host a playoff game. Fans deserve it too.

Totally agree.

 

[Dillon77]

Richard Cohen of Her Hoops Stats Analyzes Connecticut Sun Off-Season Situation

2024-25 WNBA Offseason Guides: Connecticut Sun

Our series breaking down where WNBA teams stand heading into the upcoming offseason continues with the Connecticut Sun

herhoopstats.substack.com

Some Points and Questions:

• As Cohen notes, "The Sun have the most cap space in the league for 2025 at $1,116,264, but that's because they have a grand total of three players currently under contract for next season." Those three, btw, are Marina Mabrey, Tyasha Harris and Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
• The entire Sun front line - Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones and DeWanna Bonner -- are unrestricted free agents and the latter two are "uncoreable." Dijonai Carrington is a restricted free agent.
• Since the CBA will be redone after next season, Cohen thinks most free agents will only want to sign one-year deals. Would Jones. Bonner and -- to an extent -- Carrington, want to do that? And will the Sun want to "go for it" for one more year with the same old gang and then rebuild in 2026, when they'll also have all their draft choices.?
• If so (and in any case), he thinks they'll core Thomas. If Bonner and Jones walk, Mabrey could slide into the wing position, Nelson-Ododa could get Jones' starting spot and Carrington would be able to get more money than if Bonner/Jones were resigned.
• BTW, the Sun still hold the draft rights to two picks from this year's draft, Abbey Hsu and Leïla Lacan. Hsu is playing in Belgium and could offer another long-distance shooter (particularly if Bonner leaves) and Lacan made and played for the French Olympic Team. She's only 20.
• Lastly, crickets on the Steph White situation.

 

[Geew1992]

Richard Cohen of Her Hoops Stats Analyzes Connecticut Sun Off-Season Situation

2024-25 WNBA Offseason Guides: Connecticut Sun

Our series breaking down where WNBA teams stand heading into the upcoming offseason continues with the Connecticut Sun

herhoopstats.substack.com

Some Points and Questions:

• As Cohen notes, "The Sun have the most cap space in the league for 2025 at $1,116,264, but that's because they have a grand total of three players currently under contract for next season." Those three, btw, are Marina Mabrey, Tyasha Harris and Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
• The entire Sun front line - Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones and DeWanna Bonner -- are unrestricted free agents and the latter two are "uncoreable." Dijonai Carrington is a restricted free agent.
• Since the CBA will be redone after next season, Cohen thinks most free agents will only want to sign one-year deals. Would Jones. Bonner and -- to an extent -- Carrington, want to do that? And will the Sun want to "go for it" for one more year with the same old gang and then rebuild in 2026, when they'll also have all their draft choices.?
• If so (and in any case), he thinks they'll core Thomas. If Bonner and Jones walk, Mabrey could slide into the wing position, Nelson-Ododa could get Jones' starting spot and Carrington would be able to get more money than if Bonner/Jones were resigned.
• BTW, the Sun still hold the draft rights to two picks from this year's draft, Abbey Hsu and Leïla Lacan. Hsu is playing in Belgium and could offer another long-distance shooter (particularly if Bonner leaves) and Lacan made and played for the French Olympic Team. She's only 20.
• Lastly, crickets on the Steph White situation.

The Sun need to change something. The core have been together for quite a few years with no championships. I think they need some kind of shake up

 

[Geew1992]

 

[cancontent]

Oh dear. Hoping everything works out.

 

[azfan]

Wasn't sure where to post this and didn't want to start another thread.

Sky star Reese: 'The WNBA don't pay my bills'

Sky forward Angel Reese says her $73,439 annual salary from the WNBA is just a small portion of her income.

www.espn.com

Very common attitude among immature and younger professional athletes regardless of the sport.

If I'm not mistaken Angel is 22 or 23. Same age as my youngest granddaughter. The WNBA salary that Angel is earning would easily pay all the bills for my granddaughter who just graduated from college and is way above the excellent salary she is currently earning as a newly minted college grad.

Now there are a number of issues embedded in Angel's observation or complaint depending on how you would classify her position on her current salary.

I'm reminded of the misconception about public school teachers whose contract of 180 days of instruction usually encompasses 8.5 - 9 months.

Like Angel, rhey are not underpaid by any stretch of the imagination and if you compare and annualize that income to a comparable worker in the US, a college graduate with years of experience they're doing fine and above mean and. median salary

As I head door to help my high school speech and debate team for a speech tournament this weekend I know that the coach who is a comment teacher works extraordinary hard. He is a master's holder with 15 years experience and since the salary schedule is public information I was able to look it up. His base salary of $80,000 is supplemented by his $3,000 stipend for coaching speech today, $3,000 stipend for coaching drama, $5,000 stipend them for acting as department chair. Our high school is on a modified year round schedule and he has a total of 14 weeks off per year.

Oh, he also has a defined benefit retirement plan which no longer exists in the private sector and is a tremendous benefit particularly as one approaches those golden years.

The vast majority of workers would have Masters degree and 15 years worth of experience would take that deal in a New York minute.

Back to Angel. Most female basketball players would take her deal in a New York minute.

 

[Bigboote]

Wasn't sure where to post this and didn't want to start another thread.

Sky star Reese: 'The WNBA don't pay my bills'

Sky forward Angel Reese says her $73,439 annual salary from the WNBA is just a small portion of her income.

www.espn.com

Very common attitude among immature and younger professional athletes regardless of the sport.

If I'm not mistaken Angel is 22 or 23. Same age as my youngest granddaughter. The WNBA salary that Angel is earning would easily pay all the bills for my granddaughter who just graduated from college and is way above the excellent salary she is currently earning as a newly minted college grad.

Now there are a number of issues embedded in Angel's observation or complaint depending on how you would classify her position on her current salary.

I'm reminded of the misconception about public school teachers whose contract of 180 days of instruction usually encompasses 8.5 - 9 months.

Like Angel, rhey are not underpaid by any stretch of the imagination and if you compare and annualize that income to a comparable worker in the US, a college graduate with years of experience they're doing fine and above mean and. median salary

As I head door to help my high school speech and debate team for a speech tournament this weekend I know that the coach who is a comment teacher works extraordinary hard. He is a master's holder with 15 years experience and since the salary schedule is public information I was able to look it up. His base salary of $80,000 is supplemented by his $3,000 stipend for coaching speech today, $3,000 stipend for coaching drama, $5,000 stipend them for acting as department chair. Our high school is on a modified year round schedule and he has a total of 14 weeks off per year.

Oh, he also has a defined benefit retirement plan which no longer exists in the private sector and is a tremendous benefit particularly as one approaches those golden years.

The vast majority of workers would have Masters degree and 15 years worth of experience would take that deal in a New York minute.

Back to Angel. Most female basketball players would take her deal in a New York minute.

My jaw dropped when the article said her WNBA salary doesn’t even cover her rent. Til I saw that she lives in an $8000/mo apartment. The team will put a player up in an apartment rent-free for the season, just not an 8k apartment.

 

[cancontent]

Wasn't sure where to post this and didn't want to start another thread.

Sky star Reese: 'The WNBA don't pay my bills'

Sky forward Angel Reese says her $73,439 annual salary from the WNBA is just a small portion of her income.

www.espn.com

Very common attitude among immature and younger professional athletes regardless of the sport.

If I'm not mistaken Angel is 22 or 23. Same age as my youngest granddaughter. The WNBA salary that Angel is earning would easily pay all the bills for my granddaughter who just graduated from college and is way above the excellent salary she is currently earning as a newly minted college grad.

Now there are a number of issues embedded in Angel's observation or complaint depending on how you would classify her position on her current salary.

I'm reminded of the misconception about public school teachers whose contract of 180 days of instruction usually encompasses 8.5 - 9 months.

Like Angel, rhey are not underpaid by any stretch of the imagination and if you compare and annualize that income to a comparable worker in the US, a college graduate with years of experience they're doing fine and above mean and. median salary

As I head door to help my high school speech and debate team for a speech tournament this weekend I know that the coach who is a comment teacher works extraordinary hard. He is a master's holder with 15 years experience and since the salary schedule is public information I was able to look it up. His base salary of $80,000 is supplemented by his $3,000 stipend for coaching speech today, $3,000 stipend for coaching drama, $5,000 stipend them for acting as department chair. Our high school is on a modified year round schedule and he has a total of 14 weeks off per year.

Oh, he also has a defined benefit retirement plan which no longer exists in the private sector and is a tremendous benefit particularly as one approaches those golden years.

The vast majority of workers would have Masters degree and 15 years worth of experience would take that deal in a New York minute.

Back to Angel. Most female basketball players would take her deal in a New York minute.

It may be a good salary for someone like your daughter but Reese also has other expenses like agents, trainers, etc., that need to be factored in her situation. Not to mention, the cost of living in Chicago could be very different compared to where you live.

And nowadays that salary doesn't go as far as some believe. I know for myself, mine is within range of what Reese makes and it doesn't give me as much flexibility as you'd believe once my mortgage, insurance, retirement savings and other expenses are factored.

 

[Zanzman]

If it’s not enough money she could always change careers.What was her major in college?

 

[GamecockFam]

My jaw dropped when the article said her WNBA salary doesn’t even cover her rent. Til I saw that she lives in an $8000/mo apartment. The team will put a player up in an apartment rent-free for the season, just not an 8k apartment.

I just did a quick search and the average rent in Chicago is around $2000/month. With an approximately $70k salary, she could make ends meet but she would have to be extremely frugal and love in an average or less than average rental. We also have to consider her safety as a famous person, so she probably needs to live in a gated community, or somewhere with staffed security where she can feel safe. I doubt she can find those accomodations in the average rental around Chicago but I bet there are many places less than $8k that would meet her needs.

In my perspective, her complaint is both valid and invalid factoring in all the above. Yes, her salary is probably not enough to meet her basic living and safety needs, but $8k is a little excessive and she could probably meet her minimum needs with a less expensive rental.

 

[cancontent]

I just did a quick search and the average rent in Chicago is around $2000/month. With an approximately $70k salary, she could make ends meet but she would have to be extremely frugal and love in an average or less than average rental. We also have to consider her safety as a famous person, so she probably needs to live in a gated community, or somewhere with staffed security where she can feel safe. I doubt she can find those accomodations in the average rental around Chicago but I bet there are many places less than $8k that would meet her needs.

In my perspective, her complaint is both valid and invalid factoring in all the above. Yes, her salary is probably not enough to meet her basic living and safety needs, but $8k is a little excessive and she could probably meet her minimum needs with a less expensive rental.

And are we factoring the costs for athletes associated with being a professional? Agents get a cut of that salary, along with others who may be on staff like security.

I agree that her statement is both valid and invalid, but for us to assume that there aren't other factors in play isn't fair. And if this was enough to survive on, why are these athletes playing in leagues like Unrivaled, Athletes Unlimited or overseas to make a decent living?

 

[diggerfoot]

Wasn't sure where to post this and didn't want to start another thread.

Sky star Reese: 'The WNBA don't pay my bills'

Sky forward Angel Reese says her $73,439 annual salary from the WNBA is just a small portion of her income.

www.espn.com

I'm reminded of the misconception about public school teachers whose contract of 180 days of instruction usually encompasses 8.5 - 9 months.

Like Angel, rhey are not underpaid by any stretch of the imagination and if you compare and annualize that income to a comparable worker in the US, a college graduate with years of experience they're doing fine and above mean and. median salary

As I head door to help my high school speech and debate team for a speech tournament this weekend I know that the coach who is a comment teacher works extraordinary hard. He is a master's holder with 15 years experience and since the salary schedule is public information I was able to look it up. His base salary of $80,000 is supplemented by his $3,000 stipend for coaching speech today, $3,000 stipend for coaching drama, $5,000 stipend them for acting as department chair. Our high school is on a modified year round schedule and he has a total of 14 weeks off per year.

I worked for three years as a high school teacher and that was enough. It was decades ago, but searching the web comes up with a current range of $17,000 - $120,000. This varies by experience, degrees, state and duties of course, but the 90th percentile for all according to ziprecruiter is $71,000.

My first year as a dedicated but inexperienced teacher required 80 hours per week of my time in and out of the classroom. I cut this down to 60 hours per week by year three of being dedicated, though I witnessed a few burned out teachers very experienced but no longer dedicated who probably spent far less.

For the time my pay was less than average despite having a Masters, but even if was average or slightly above I would not have stayed much longer. It was by far the most demanding, stressful and sickness-inducing job I’ve had, ranging from a machinist to GIS Manager. I also taught at the university level, but that was a cakewalk compared to high school teaching.

 

[Geew1992]

Wings fire Trammell as coach after 9-31 finish

The Wings have fired coach Latricia Trammell after the team went 9-31 and missed the postseason for the first time since 2020.

www.espn.com

 

[cancontent]

Wings fire Trammell as coach after 9-31 finish

The Wings have fired coach Latricia Trammell after the team went 9-31 and missed the postseason for the first time since 2020.

www.espn.com

Trammel is now out at Dallas, per EPSN's report.

The coaching carrousel this year is a wild ride. Think this makes it 5 WNBA coaching jobs that are open now.

 

[cancontent]

Wings fire Trammell as coach after 9-31 finish

The Wings have fired coach Latricia Trammell after the team went 9-31 and missed the postseason for the first time since 2020.

www.espn.com

Jinx, we owe each other a virtual coffee or other beverage of choosing

 

[12au]

I don't have an opinion on Trammell, but seems like Greg Bibb is the bigger problem in Dallas. So many odd personnel decisions over the years

 

[Geew1992]

I don't have an opinion on Trammell, but seems like Greg Bibb is the bigger problem in Dallas. So many odd personnel decisions over the years

Agreed. I can see TSpoon going there