WNBA Off-Season

[bballnut90]

Well, re: the Connecticut Sun, I think just about all of us posters here are going to often see a UConn alumni front-court with Tina Charles and Olivia Nelson-Ododa.

As we saw other front courters go here and there, it started making sense that Tina could end up back in eastern Connecticut.
This iteration of the Connecticut Sun -- like many other WNBA teams -- will probably only last one year, but TC will get a chance to have a big year.

It will be really interesting to see if the Sun go after any more big names -- yes, I'm still thinking Emma Meesemman -- or it they fill out the roster with medium- or lesser-known players, along with whomever the draft brings in. Think Charles, Natasha Cloud and Marina Mabrey are going to need some help or their arms are gonna fall off! Stay tuned.

They won’t be a title contender but that isn’t a bad trio to build around. Every team will look markedly different this year besides Minnesota. What a wild offseason

 

[nwhoopfan]

What a wild offseason

Just a warm up for next offseason!

 

[cancontent]

 

[Dillon77]

Sigh.
I will give Diamond DeShields all the credit in the world for coming back from what affected her physically and the emotional toll that had to inflict. But....

She has just not risen back to those one or two good seasons she had. DeShields was given every chance to start at Chicago and saw her minutes diminish pretty quickly.

I know Connecticut needs talent to round out the roster, but IMHO, this could've been a training camp contract.....

 

[Dillon77]

I definitely hope Meesseman decides to come join her Belgian team coach. I've always really enjoyed her game.

I've also been thinking through different permutations of the draft to think about who the Sun might be able to get with the 8th pick—and who fits best with who they have remaining. I don't think Soni Citron will fall that far. Aneesah Morrow? Maddy Westbeld? Azzi Fudd (if she decides to leave school)?

Well, Morgan Tuck just signed Diamond DeShields (a stretch in my opinion...see a separate post), but that tells you that they need to address the small forward/wing position.

Like you, I don't think Sonia Citron will fall to #8, but is she did, Tuck should run as fast as she can to give Citron's name.

My gut? They need people to play power forward. Morrow would be a good tag-team with Charles on the boards, while Westbeld can score, and play some defense but can really add three-level scoring. Would a Kiki Iriafen fall to 8? If so, with TC getting most of the attention, she could rebound and attack the weak side in relative peace and quiet!

 

[GamecockFam]

I found this chart really useful, so I thought I would pass it along!

 

[oldhusky]

I think we are now entering into the middle segment of free agency. Most of the big ticket high salary signings have happened. Now you have a challenging period of teams trying to add a rotation player or two, but often with severe salary cap limitations. The best players left often are facing the choice of going to a bad team with cap room for the most money, or taking far less than market value on a top contender to chase the ring so to speak.

The final segment is filling out the end of the roster with mostly minimum salary contracts. From that perspective the top teams have an advantage. If the only money left is for a minimum, they can frequently get the cream of the players left.

The biggest news is over, but how New York, Vegas, Minnesota and others enhance what they already have will be interesting, because I fully expect a couple of those contenders to add someone that is pretty significant at a substantial bargain price.

 

[cancontent]

I found this chart really useful, so I thought I would pass it along!

Love it. Gives me "The Hangover" vibes when they hit the casino.

 

[Dillon77]

I found this chart really useful, so I thought I would pass it along!

I'm very dizzy now....

 

[cancontent]

 

[GamecockFam]

Aww. I kind of hoped she would make the final roster. She looked pretty good in the few minutes she got off the bench.

 

[GamecockFam]

I looked over the Fever roster and, barring any trades, the only question mark is the status of Erica Wheeler. She is still unsigned.

 

[cancontent]

Aww. I kind of hoped she would make the final roster. She looked pretty good in the few minutes she got off the bench.

I hear you, but gut feeling was this was inevitable from my viewpoint. Personally I wish they had given her more opportunities to compete the last couple seasons. We never got a chance to really see what she could do.

 

[Dillon77]

So, Liz Kitley just signed a rookie contract with the Aces.
She was injured last year and the Aces held her rights...am I remembering this correctly? If so, did the Aces still hold rights to Kitley?
Or could she have signed elsewhere?

The reason I ask is I'd think Kitley might have a better chance to making it with a team that needs bigs, such as the Valkyries or the Sun (even with Tina Charles just signed.)

 

[cancontent]

So, Liz Kitley just signed a rookie contract with the Aces.
She was injured last year and the Aces held her rights...am I remembering this correctly? If so, did the Aces still hold rights to Kitley?
Or could she have signed elsewhere?

The reason I ask is I'd think Kitley might have a better chance to making it with a team that needs bigs, such as the Valkyries or the Sun (even with Tina Charles just signed.)

Saw this article a little while ago that may help provide insight. In how I took the article by Callie Fin, the Aces are looking to ease in Kitley because she's been out for a season. The Aces look to be targetting Parker-Tyus who recently played for the Dream. She'd help to bridge the gap while Kitley gets up to speed.

Aces’ focus shifts toward veterans in WNBA free agency

After their blockbuster trade for Jewell Loyd, the Aces are looking to retain proven talent and add more, including a possible target in Atlanta.

www.reviewjournal.com

 

[nwhoopfan]

The reason I ask is I'd think Kitley might have a better chance to making it with a team that needs bigs

Does anybody need bigs more than the Aces? You have Wilson and...? Stokes doesn't cut it as a starter, Gustafson hardly cut it as a reserve. They need at least one and maybe two serviceable front court players in addition to A'ja.

 

[Bigboote]

I found this chart really useful, so I thought I would pass it along!

That reminds me of the chart that Crow T Robot drew on Mystery Science Theater 3000 to show how the Van Pattens were taking over the world.

 

[Dillon77]

Does anybody need bigs more than the Aces? You have Wilson and...? Stokes doesn't cut it as a starter, Gustafson hardly cut it as a reserve. They need at least one and maybe two serviceable front court players in addition to A'ja.

I just saw @cancontent 's post about plans for Kitley and, perhaps, Parker-Tyus to bridge the gap. Listen, I'm with you on Stokes in the starting lineup. Personally, I thought she had a remarkably short and/or inconsistent leash on Gustafson. If she doesn't want MG, trade her....

 

[nwhoopfan]

I just saw @cancontent 's post about plans for Kitley and, perhaps, Parker-Tyus to bridge the gap. Listen, I'm with you on Stokes in the starting lineup. Personally, I thought she had a remarkably short and/or inconsistent leash on Gustafson. If she doesn't want MG, trade her....

A player needs a chance to make an impact, but they also have to take advantage when they do get time on the floor. Not about Gustafson, but they've given Bell plenty of chances, and I still don't see a WNBA player there.

Anyway in 3 consecutive years they've thrown Plaisance, George and Gustafson into the same role. I liked Plaisance the best of the 3.

 

[Dillon77]

A player needs a chance to make an impact, but they also have to take advantage when they do get time on the floor. Not about Gustafson, but they've given Bell plenty of chances, and I still don't see a WNBA player there.

Anyway in 3 consecutive years they've thrown Plaisance, George and Gustafson into the same role. I liked Plaisance the best of the 3.

Fair enough. I'll take Megan G., but point taken.
As per Bell, maybe the Aces should make a trade with the Dream to see if Karl Smesko wants to get out of her in the pro's what he did in college. Maybe for Haley Jones, another collegian who doesn't quite look ready for the W?

 

[Geew1992]

 

[cancontent]

 

[cancontent]

 

[Dillon77]

So, Which Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA's) Are Still Available?

Leading the list, both in terms of age/experience and salary, is Diana Taurasi. If she decides to come back, one can almost guarantee it's to the Phoenix Mercury.

I've put a link to spotrac (see below). This page has both those free agents that have signed and those available. That said, I'll list a few of said available UFA's and the team they were with last season.

• Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
• Erica Wheeler, Indiana Fever
• Cheyanne Parker-Tyus, Atlanta Dream
• Mercedes Russell, Seattle Storm
• Isabelle Harrison, Chicago Sky
• Aerial Powers, Atlanta Dream
• Brianna Turner, Chicago Sky
• Tiffany Mitchell, Connecticut Sun

Chennedy Carter is a restricted free agent, but Chicago seems to have no interest in resigning her.
Awak Kuier, of the Dallas Wings, who took the year off from the WNBA is also a RFA.

Elena Della Donne is an UFA, as is Emma Meesemman,, but neither played in in the league last year, either.
And, of course, there are the players who were recently waived, such as Grace Berger, Victoria Saxton, etc.

Stay tuned.

2025 WNBA Free Agents

Tracking the status and signings of all WNBA free agents.

www.spotrac.com

 

[cancontent]

Interesting.