WNBA Off-Season

[Dillon77]

Regarding Christie Sides, she goes from 13-27 to 20-20. Yes, She had Caitlin Clark, but yes, she had Caitlin Clark and everything that came along with it. The writing on the wall -- with the new president and GM -- was not particularly subtle, but it looked like she might get a year to get them further ahead. I thought Sides adjusted well to "Clark-world" as the season progressed, moving Hull into the starting lineup and using back-up forwards to good effect.

However, other things have started percolating, namely the alleged Steph White Derby. So, did Indiana want to make itself a more attractive destination by having an "open" position or are they further along with White?

In any case, I think Sides will now also be considered a candidate for other open positions.

 

[GamecockFam]

I can almost bet you that Coach Sides will land on her feet. She didn't lose her job because she was bad, she lost it because someone with more experience and a better fit for the future of the organization came into the picture. I think she would be a good fit for the current personnel at many places... Chicago, Connecticut, and Atlanta come to mind.

 

[Stagnant]

Also, fans shouldn’t run the team. But they should have a voice. And I think it seemed like the Fever fans wanted a new coach.

 

[Dillon77]

I can almost bet you that Coach Sides will land on her feet. She didn't lose her job because she was bad, she lost it because someone with more experience and a better fit for the future of the organization came into the picture. I think she would be a good fit for the current personnel at many places... Chicago, Connecticut, and Atlanta come to mind.

Sides was an assistant coach at Atlanta, right?
While Chicago has some talent, for sure, not certain that it's a primo destination, even with Reese and Cardoso.
Infrastructure? Top management?
Connecticut? All depends on who comes back on the front line. All the guards will be back.

 

[GamecockFam]

Sides was an assistant coach at Atlanta, right?
While Chicago has some talent, for sure, not certain that it's a primo destination, even with Reese and Cardoso.
Infrastructure? Top management?
Connecticut? All depends on who comes back on the front line. All the guards will be back.

Correct. Yeah, I don't think Chicago would be anyone's top pick because of the lack of infrastructure. But I think Sides could take that core talent and turn them into a top half of the league kind of team. Those players would be a better fit for her style of coaching.

 

[cancontent]

Also, fans shouldn’t run the team. But they should have a voice. And I think it seemed like the Fever fans wanted a new coach.

That may be the impression, but there's no way to prove this was due to the fanbase.

 

[JellyBean]

Regarding Christie Sides, she goes from 13-27 to 20-20. Yes, She had Caitlin Clark, but yes, she had Caitlin Clark and everything that came along with it. The writing on the wall -- with the new president and GM -- was not particularly subtle, but it looked like she might get a year to get them further ahead. I thought Sides adjusted well to "Clark-world" as the season progressed, moving Hull into the starting lineup and using back-up forwards to good effect.

However, other things have started percolating, namely the alleged Steph White Derby. So, did Indiana want to make itself a more attractive destination by having an "open" position or are they further along with White?

In any case, I think Sides will now also be considered a candidate for other open positions.

That is what impressed me about Coach Sides her ability to adjust to the skills and talents of Caitlin Clark and given the pace of the season in terms of preseason games and games and player strengths and weaknesses. Those little details will help Coach Sides land a coaching job soon. Same for Coach Spoon as well. Those two won't be out of coaching for too long, if GMs are smart.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

Also, fans shouldn’t run the team. But they should have a voice. And I think it seemed like the Fever fans wanted a new coach.

I think many of the fans weren't exactly WNBA fans or well versed in the league to have a voice. They were calling for her job 2 games into the season.

Sides took a historically bad team for the better part of a decade from 5 to 20 wins in 2 seasons, all while being under the microscope of the Clark fandom. I hope she gets another opportunity, perhaps at the collegiate level.

 

[Stagnant]

sides took them there or they drafted Boston and Clark back to back and naturally improved? Coaches get too much blame sometimes. But they also can get too much credit.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

2 things can be true. The Fever have lived in the lottery for years but the previous coaches were unable to build off the talent they had. Kelsey Mitchell has grown into an All Star caliber player these past two seasons and I believe Sides is partially responsible.

 

[Zanzman]

White is still considered the Suns coach isn't she

 

[Dillon77]

White is still considered the Suns coach isn't she

Well, yes. According to this almost two-week post from Chicago Sun-Times beat wrtier, Annie Costabile:



Hence:

• Could White/her agents be using all of this to get a lucrative contract extension from the Sun or a new one from the Fever or Sky?
• If the latter, since the Sun hold the rights to White until the end of next season, could the Sun office extract something from a team that most wants her: a player? a draft choice?

For instance, maybe the Sun could demand the Fever's #1 pick and a player? Indiana could send Nalyssa Smith, who clearly needs a change of scenery to Connecticut (who could possibly use a front-court player and, btw, dates Ms. Carrington of the Sun) or KLS who could come back to be in UConn territory and shoot much-needed three's and a draft choice for rights to White?
This play can go both ways....

 

[cancontent]

Coach White officially no longer with the Sun. What a ride this off-season is going to be.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Huh. Well, I guess I can't say I'm surprised White will no longer be coaching the Sun, but I am a little surprised they canned her before she left of her own accord. Are WNBA team owners / managers taking crazy pills?

White out as Sun head coach after two seasons

Stephanie White is out as head coach of the Connecticut Sun after two seasons, the team announced Monday.

www.espn.com

 

[Dillon77]

Well, yes. According to this almost two-week post from Chicago Sun-Times beat wrtier, Annie Costabile:



Hence:

• Could White/her agents be using all of this to get a lucrative contract extension from the Sun or a new one from the Fever or Sky?
• If the latter, since the Sun hold the rights to White until the end of next season, could the Sun office extract something from a team that most wants her: a player? a draft choice?

For instance, maybe the Sun could demand the Fever's #1 pick and a player? Indiana could send Nalyssa Smith, who clearly needs a change of scenery to Connecticut (who could possibly use a front-court player and, btw, dates Ms. Carrington of the Sun) or KLS who could come back to be in UConn territory and shoot much-needed three's and a draft choice for rights to White?
This play can go both ways....

Well, bag that....The Sun just announced they've "parted ways," White is free to go where she wants with nothing back in return.
Press announcement in Indy or Chicago? Me thinks the former.

White out as Sun head coach after two seasons

Stephanie White is out as head coach of the Connecticut Sun after two seasons, the team announced Monday.

www.espn.com

 

[Geew1992]

Well it’s official now

WNBA coaching changes for 2025: Seventh position opens as Sun, White part ways

Connecticut and Stephanie White parted ways Monday, leaving seven head-coaching positions open in the WNBA.

www.espn.com

 

[Dillon77]

We interrupt the exodus of WNBA coaches to include one of Richard Cohen's off-season previews; this one on the Minnesota Lynx.

Here is the summary of who can go, who can stay, who could come back and draft picks, etc.:

Free agents: Myisha Hines-Allen (unrestricted free agent), Natisha Hiedeman (unrestricted free agent), Cecilia Zandalasini (reserved), Olivia Époupa (reserved).

Under contract for 2025: Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith, Bridget Carleton, Diamond Miller, Alissa Pili, Dorka Juhasz.

Possibilities: "Minnesota also still hold the suspended rights to Jessica Shepard, who could help deepen their post rotation if she wants to return, and the draft rights to French big Maïa Hirsch."

2025 Draft Picks: "The Lynx still have all their own picks in the 2025 draft, with their first-rounder falling at No. 11 overall," plus Chicago's 2nd round pick, which they Sky gave up for moving up to choose one Angel Rees.

And here's Cohen's entire article, which makes for good reading, as per usual:

2024-25 WNBA Offseason Guides: Minnesota Lynx

Our series detailing where each franchise stands heading into the WNBA offseason continues with the team that came desperately close to another title, the Minnesota Lynx

herhoopstats.substack.com

 

[cancontent]

Monumental Sports Network Celebrates Record-Setting Washington Mystics Viewership During 2024 WNBA Season - Monumental Sports

Network registered its best-ever linear and streaming viewership for Mystics games this past season Washington, D.C. (October 31, 2024) – On the heels of the conclusion of the 2024 WNBA season earlier this month, Monumental Sports Network (MNMT) today announced several viewership records set by...

monumentalsports.com

Came across this via Twitter/X. Considering the Mystics broadcast the majority of their games via Monumental's digital service, these numbers look impressive to me.

 

[Geew1992]

Sabrina has a UCL tear in her right hand. Happened in game 4.

Sources: Ionescu hurt hand in G4 of WNBA Finals

New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu suffered a high-grade UCL tear on her right, shooting hand during Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, a source familiar with the situation told ESPN on Thursday.

www.espn.com

 

[Dillon77]

Apparently, Patrick and his wife, Brittany, are interested in bringing women's basketball to Kansas City. Specifically, a WNBA team.

Mahomes, who has an ownership stake in the Kansas City Current (NWSL), Royals (MLB) and Sporting KC (MLS), said bringing a WNBA team to the city is "kind of a no-brainer."

Here's an ESPN article on said interest. Kansas City? Hmm. Kind of open territory, but they do support their sports teams.

Mahomes eyes WNBA team; 'No-brainer' for K.C.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who is part of the ownership group for the NWSL's Current, said bringing a WNBA franchise to Kansas City would be a "no-brainer"

www.espn.com

 

[cancontent]

Apparently, Patrick and his wife, Brittany, are interested in bringing women's basketball to Kansas City. Specifically, a WNBA team.

Mahomes, who has an ownership stake in the Kansas City Current (NWSL), Royals (MLB) and Sporting KC (MLS), said bringing a WNBA team to the city is "kind of a no-brainer."

Here's an ESPN article on said interest. Kansas City? Hmm. Kind of open territory, but they do support their sports teams.

Mahomes eyes WNBA team; 'No-brainer' for K.C.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who is part of the ownership group for the NWSL's Current, said bringing a WNBA franchise to Kansas City would be a "no-brainer"

www.espn.com

Plus if the Dick's Sporting Goods ads hold true, he can save a roster spot for his daughter when she's draft eligible.

 

[azfan]

Apparently, Patrick and his wife, Brittany, are interested in bringing women's basketball to Kansas City. Specifically, a WNBA team.

Mahomes, who has an ownership stake in the Kansas City Current (NWSL), Royals (MLB) and Sporting KC (MLS), said bringing a WNBA team to the city is "kind of a no-brainer."

Here's an ESPN article on said interest. Kansas City? Hmm. Kind of open territory, but they do support their sports teams.

Mahomes eyes WNBA team; 'No-brainer' for K.C.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who is part of the ownership group for the NWSL's Current, said bringing a WNBA franchise to Kansas City would be a "no-brainer"

www.espn.com

Interesting..... It is more than a no-brainer but I think as the W looks for further expansion opportunities Patrick Mahone and his group are naturals.

Areas to consider perhaps concurrent with or before KC would be

Florida

Tennessee

Edit Washington (Seattle)

 

[nwhoopfan]

Washington (Seattle)

Did something happen to the Storm?

 

[cancontent]

And in other news, water is wet.

 

[Dillon77]

And in other news, water is wet.

I'm still perplexed. Was White under contract to the Sun for one more season, as reported by Annie Costabile a few weeks back? (Costabile usually gets her p's and q's right.) While I understand, White was dealing with personal issues (hope they work out), this is still a business and the Fever wanted her to join them. Hence, why didn't the Sun hold out for some form of compensation? While I could understand not wanting to play hardball, some form of compensation would seem almost to be a professional courtesy (a second rounder?).