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They better hope Kitley can bring something. They should cut ties w/ Bell. Martin was a pleasant surprise early in the season, but disappeared by the end. I think she's a fairly marginal WNBA player, despite the feel good nature of her making a roster. I know they like Colson, but there's gotta be better options for your second guard off the bench. Gustafson didn't do much. Every year they try another big, and it never really works out. I'd gladly take Plaisance from several years ago over George or Gustafson. I kinda wondered about Dyasha Fair. She didn't get much of a chance before they cut her. She wasn't particularly efficient in college, but obviously had some skills and was a scorer.
 
@nwhoopfan : I've noted your comments on what the Aces need to do and how the might do it. So, I though you might be interested in Richard Cohen's Off-season primer on Her Hoops Stats, which I've cut and pasted below.

His core points (to my mind):
  • Chelsea Gray need to continue to return to pre-injury ability and he's pretty convinced something was off physically with Jackie Young from the Olympics. If that's even somewhat true, it could be a relief for Aces, because Young is critical.
  • As is, of course, Kelsey Plum, who he thinks should be cored ASAP.
  • He tipped his hat to the Aces for trying to see if Gustafson could give something to take pressure off Wilson, but Megan never gained Hammons' trust. Gustafson and Kiah Stoke are on unguaranteed contracts so they could be let go in pursuit of yet another big.
  • Hayes was a find. Question marks on Clark and Colson.
  • Will Kitley get a chance?
and
My questions:
  • Now that the three-peat of not happening, can Hammons settle down a little and develop some of her new/younger players or is that simply not going to be her modus operandi? Will she just go after vets to with her core 4?
  • And does Ms. Vargas and the front office -- per @cancontent -- have it in them to start getting some players that Hammons will use/develop? Seems like awhile ago that Bill Laimbeer and Dan Padover were putting the basis of this team together. Yes, they were #1 picks, but -- hey -- they made 'em.

With the expansion draft, this will be interesting to see who frees up.

herhoopstats.substack.com

2024-25 WNBA Offseason Guides: Las Vegas Aces

Our breakdowns of where WNBA teams stand heading into the offseason continue with the latest team to be eliminated from the playoffs, the former back-to-back champs
herhoopstats.substack.com herhoopstats.substack.com
 
Dillon77 said:
@nwhoopfan : I've noted your comments on what the Aces need to do and how the might do it. So, I though you might be interested in Richard Cohen's Off-season primer on Her Hoops Stats, which I've cut and pasted below.

His core points (to my mind):
  • Chelsea Gray need to continue to return to pre-injury ability and he's pretty convinced something was off physically with Jackie Young from the Olympics. If that's even somewhat true, it could be a relief for Aces, because Young is critical.
  • As is, of course, Kelsey Plum, who he thinks should be cored ASAP.
  • He tipped his hat to the Aces for trying to see if Gustafson could give something to take pressure off Wilson, but Megan never gained Hammons' trust. Gustafson and Kiah Stoke are on unguaranteed contracts so they could be let go in pursuit of yet another big.
  • Hayes was a find. Question marks on Clark and Colson.
  • Will Kitley get a chance?
and
My questions:
  • Now that the three-peat of not happening, can Hammons settle down a little and develop some of her new/younger players or is that simply not going to be her modus operandi? Will she just go after vets to with her core 4?
  • And does Ms. Vargas and the front office -- per @cancontent -- have it in them to start getting some players that Hammons will use/develop? Seems like awhile ago that Bill Laimbeer and Dan Padover were putting the basis of this team together. Yes, they were #1 picks, but -- hey -- they made 'em.

With the expansion draft, this will be interesting to see who frees up.

herhoopstats.substack.com

2024-25 WNBA Offseason Guides: Las Vegas Aces

Our breakdowns of where WNBA teams stand heading into the offseason continue with the latest team to be eliminated from the playoffs, the former back-to-back champs
herhoopstats.substack.com herhoopstats.substack.com
Expand ...
Thx..... This is an outstanding source with thoughtful analysis
 
azfan said:
Thx..... This is an outstanding source with thoughtful analysis
Expand ...
You're welcome. I enjoy Cohen's analysis. As you said, thoughtful but doesn't overburden with stats and "what if's."
 
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Reports are that Stephanie White isn't returning to Connecticut next year.

Some rumors (likely unwarranted, but maybe not) that she's interested in coaching the Fever, or that she's shopping for a better pay day via Atlanta or Chicago.

Her going to the Fever would be a home run match IMO considering she's an Indiana native, won a championship at Purdue, played for the Fever and coached them to a finals appearance in 2015, and they have arguably the best young core in the league to build around and should be title contenders in the next couple of years. Owners should also have money to burn riding the success of this season. Question is would Indiana can Sides to pave way for White?
 
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Well, there could be some severe inbound and outbound travel patterns along I-95 in eastern Connecticut, with the news that
Stephanie White won't be coming back to be the Sun's head coach.

On top of that, the entire front line -- the aforementioned DeWonna Bonner, her partner Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones -- are all unrestricted free agents.

So, does the front office -- now that this gang, with a traded-for Marina Mabrey -- bring back all, some or none of the front line?
Their salaries were all over $200,000 per, so the Sun could go hunting for players to go with their backcourt of Mabrey, Carrington, Harris and Burton. And Olivia Nelson-Ododa is signed as well and could slip into the front court.

If memory holds, Thomas (while drafted by NY) has never played anywhere but Connecticut. Ditto for Jones.

BTW, Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times seemed to break this story, which is interesting. She's pretty wired in the W, but to have a Midwest-based reporter break a piece about the most Eastern of W franchises makes one wonder about possible interest for White in the Windy City and/or Indiana, depending on whether Sides is retained. The MSN article linked below uses Costabile information.

 
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bballnut90 said:
Reports are that Stephanie White isn't returning to Connecticut next year.

Some rumors (likely unwarranted, but maybe not) that she's interested in coaching the Fever, or that she's shopping for a better pay day via Atlanta or Chicago.

Her going to the Fever would be a home run match IMO considering she's an Indiana native, won a championship at Purdue, played for the Fever and coached them to a finals appearance in 2015, and they have arguably the best young core in the league to build around and should be title contenders in the next couple of years. Owners should also have money to burn riding the success of this season. Question is would Indiana can Sides to pave way for White?
Expand ...
That would be a plot twist I didn't see coming but there already have been a lot of plot twists in this young off-season, so I wouldn't be shocked. I really like Stephanie White as a coach, so she'll land somewhere. Wouldn't it be funny if Fever hire White and the Sun hire Sides? :p
 
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bballnut90 said:
Reports are that Stephanie White isn't returning to Connecticut next year.

Some rumors (likely unwarranted, but maybe not) that she's interested in coaching the Fever, or that she's shopping for a better pay day via Atlanta or Chicago.

Her going to the Fever would be a home run match IMO considering she's an Indiana native, won a championship at Purdue, played for the Fever and coached them to a finals appearance in 2015, and they have arguably the best young core in the league to build around and should be title contenders in the next couple of years. Owners should also have money to burn riding the success of this season. Question is would Indiana can Sides to pave way for White?
Expand ...
Wheels in motion now in LA (thanks @cancontent for reminding me that post is open), Chicago, Atlanta and, now, Connecticut.
Lots of action here, Jackson ,,,stay tuned.
 
bballnut90 said:
Reports are that Stephanie White isn't returning to Connecticut next year.

Some rumors (likely unwarranted, but maybe not) that she's interested in coaching the Fever, or that she's shopping for a better pay day via Atlanta or Chicago.

Her going to the Fever would be a home run match IMO considering she's an Indiana native, won a championship at Purdue, played for the Fever and coached them to a finals appearance in 2015, and they have arguably the best young core in the league to build around and should be title contenders in the next couple of years. Owners should also have money to burn riding the success of this season. Question is would Indiana can Sides to pave way for White?
Expand ...
I think Steph White did a really good job with the Sun this year. They needed more offense but I don’t think that’s totally on White given their roster construction. Bri Jones is a traditional center who’s effective almost exclusively in the lane and that caused spacing issues. Carrington and Harris are quality two-way guards but neither are the shooters or scorers you need as starters to truly be a championship team in the league. The Mabrey addition had instant impacts and should age well though. Yeah, the team no-showed in game 5 but they were still a win away from the Finals.

I say all that to pose that perhaps White has already been in talks with the Fever front office and that’s why she’s not returning to the Sun. It would seem like a messy order of operations with Sides still on payroll but there have been a lot of management surprises so far this year. The Fever did improve this season but I think most would agree they could have done even better with different coaching. Ultimately the Fever have limited guaranteed time with Clark and Boston together so they need to capitalize and I’d be really surprised if Christie Sides could coach Indiana to a title in the next two years.
 
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
JoePgh said:
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?
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Nope. There’s been so official announcement
 
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nwhoopfan said:
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).
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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.
 
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.
 
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Richard Cohen of Her Hoops Stats Analyzes Connecticut Sun Off-Season Situation

herhoopstats.substack.com

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 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.
 
Dillon77 said:
Richard Cohen of Her Hoops Stats Analyzes Connecticut Sun Off-Season Situation

herhoopstats.substack.com

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 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.
Expand ...

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

www.espn.com

Sky forward Angel 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 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.
 
azfan said:
Wasn't sure where to post this and didn't want to start another thread.

www.espn.com

Sky forward Angel 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 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.
Expand ...
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.
 
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