WNBA Off-Season

[nwhoopfan]

Okay, Vegas officially has NO bench now. Clark and Hayes gone, nothing left. They have their Big 4 and nothing else. If they don't make some significant moves, they are in trouble.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I really like Indiana's moves. However...while they are developing a nice young core, with Howard and especially Bonner they kind of accelerated into "win now" mode.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Good moves for the Valkyries. While still lacking star power, added a couple of nice veterans in Hayes and Billings.

 

[cancontent]

I really like Indiana's moves. However...while they are developing a nice young core, with Howard and especially Bonner they kind of accelerated into "win now" mode.

"Kind of"? They're all in if you ask me.

 

[CBus13]

I really like Indiana's moves. However...while they are developing a nice young core, with Howard and especially Bonner they kind of accelerated into "win now" mode.

I think it's the nature of this off-season and the end of the current CBA. Players can take a chance on a team they may not have tried if they felt forced to sign for longer than one season. Next season only Clark and Boston are confirmed to be on the team. So, I'd imagine Kelly wanted to make a splash and prove to players they are committed to continued success and bringing in good players to support the core.

 

[cancontent]

Okay, so was there ever an issue with Quinn? If Ogumike, Williams are willing to return, plus Clark is onboard to come back to Seattle, maybe the situation was overblown?

 

[Dillon77]

Okay, Vegas officially has NO bench now. Clark and Hayes gone, nothing left. They have their Big 4 and nothing else. If they don't make some significant moves, they are in trouble.

And Colson, who could give an occasional flash and always solid locker-room leadership, is out the door, too.
And, of course, one of the core 4 left voluntarily.

Hmm, maybe the bright lights are losing a bit of allure? And, if so, why?
Any thoughts why?

 

[GCKSFN4L]

And Colson, who could give an occasional flash and always solid locker-room leadership, is out the door, too.
And, of course, one of the core 4 left voluntarily.

Hmm, maybe the bright lights are losing a bit of allure? And, if so, why?

Kelsey had a very public divorce and has accomplished basically everything possible as a pro in Vegas. Not exactly shocking she would want a new change of scenery that happens to be much closer to home.

As for everyone else, I think money is the prevailing answer. Syd was promised 90k to go to Indiana and Tip was promised 200k and will likely be a starter as well. Vegas is not in the financial position to make those same offers to keep them, especially after taking on Jewell supermax salary.

Alysha, if the DT rumors are true, will become the oldest player in the WNBA. Much like Tina Charles, I can see her attempting to end her career where it all started.

Vegas still has a top tier core in the league, but signing someone like Cheyenne Parker is a step in the right direction in filling out the roster. There's still plenty of time to build a bench, something they have lacked since becoming a contender.

 

[Geew1992]

And Colson, who could give an occasional flash and always solid locker-room leadership, is out the door, too.
And, of course, one of the core 4 left voluntarily.

Hmm, maybe the bright lights are losing a bit of allure? And, if so, why?
Any thoughts why?

Hmmm… maybe the hamby situation has some legs

 

[cancontent]

 

[Dillon77]

Wasn't working for either side in Chicago so it was time for both Sky and Evans to move on.
Bit surprised Vegas gave up two #2's for her, though: Evans really didn't have a good season at all in 2024.
Initially, Witherspoon started Evans; then cut her minutes drastically until the Mabey trade.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

Love this pick up, we need youth and PG depth. 2024 wasn't a good year for her but she has shown promise. Vegas is unlikely to keep more than one rookie, so I'm not mad at losing the later picks. She fills in the Syd role pretty nicely.

 

[Dillon77]

Love this pick up, we need youth and PG depth. 2024 wasn't a good year for her but she has shown promise. Vegas is unlikely to keep more than one rookie, so I'm not mad at losing the later picks. She fills in the Syd role pretty nicely.

...whereas Chicago needs someone to spell/run with/eventually take over from Vandersloot.
They may fill it with a free agent for just one year or could see who is available in the draft. If Miles isn't chosen by then, she'll take a short drive west from South Bend, me thinks. Or, given her recent play, would the Sky go for Georgia Amoore, who is the same size as....Dana Evans.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

...whereas Chicago needs someone to spell/run with/eventually take over from Vandersloot.
They may fill it with a free agent for just one year or could see who is available in the draft. If Miles isn't chosen by then, she'll take a short drive west from South Bend, me thinks. Or, given her recent play, would the Sky go for Georgia Amoore, who is the same size as....Dana Evans.

I would have loved a Dana/Sloot reunion in Chicago but it was pretty obvious she didn't like the new direction of Chicago. Chicago still has Moriah to help in that role as well, but I do agree that Olivia would be perfect for the Sky but I don't see her being available at 3. I'm interested which direction they choose.

 

[Dillon77]

Two notations from the WNBA transaction page that caught my attention:

- Grace Berger was picked off waivers by the Minnesota Lynx.
Now I know Berger spent years in Bloomington, then played in Indy for two seasons, but I can't think of a better team for her to be given her next chance.

- Hey UConn fans! Ann Makurat signed a Rookie Scale Contract with the Phoenix Mercury. She's been in the Lega Basket Femminile for a few years.

 

[cancontent]

 

[cancontent]

 

[cancontent]

Hope others get a chuckle out of this like I did just now.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Evans and Mitchell decent signings for the Aces, but I still think they need more than that from their reserves. And re-signing Egbo doesn't move the needle, they didn't use her at all last year.

Wow, she played for 3 teams in 2024. 8 games total. 12 points.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

I'm excited after these Vegas signings. They aren't the sexy choices but they are solid picks with potential and cheap. Our guard rotation improves quite a bit defensively, one of Vegas biggest flaws last season. We've also have solid two way post in Cheyenne, something we've lacked since Candace Parker in the first half of 2023.

Queen is signed to a training camp contract, so the jury is still out on if she makes the team, but it is promising that they asked her to comeback after coming in late last season.

This is slowly looking like the Aces best team in terms of depth since moving to Vegas with still a few rosters spots to fill and decent cap space left.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I'm not convinced Evans and Mitchell is an improvement over Hayes and Clark. Not even close to convinced.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

I'm not convinced Evans and Mitchell is an improvement over Hayes and Clark. Not even close to convinced.

Not my goal, I think those are two good younger depth pieces that provide more defensively as a whole. I don't think Vegas has found a Clark replacement yet, she played more a 3/4 role. As I said the roster isn't complete but I think we're moving in the right direction with potentially a good bit of money left over to attract more.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Not my goal, I think those are two good younger depth pieces that provide more defensively as a whole. I don't think Vegas has found a Clark replacement yet, she played more a 3/4 role. As I said the roster isn't complete but I think we're moving in the right direction with potentially a good bit of money left over to attract more.

Okay. Parker could be a good signing, but otherwise I think they are treading water. If Gray doesn't go back to pre-2024 form I don't think it really matters who they add, they're going nowhere. I'm also very much in wait and see mode if Loyd will fill the same role as Plum as well as Plum did.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

Okay. Parker could be a good signing, but otherwise I think they are treading water. If Gray doesn't go back to pre-2024 form I don't think it really matters who they add, they're going nowhere. I'm also very much in wait and see mode if Loyd will fill the same role as Plum as well as Plum did.

I guess the same could be could be said on any essential player on any team. But I guess time will tell.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I guess the same could be could be said on any essential player on any team. But I guess time will tell.

Who else had such a dramatic down turn from 2023 to 2024? I can't think of anyone else who was remotely close.