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Message: [QUOTE="BRS24, post: 4655301, member: 197"] As the WNBA rosters are trimmed and the season gets underway, a few comments weeks ago of in regards to rookies and preparation came to mind. Who is responsible for preparing rookies for the W, whether it be daily routines, style of play, getting and staying in W shape, rehab, regimens, you name it? I am not the only one who believes that UConn is one of the best programs to prepare players for the next level. W coaches have stated that they know what they are getting when they draft a UConn player. This started with a [URL='https://twitter.com/espnW/status/1652498153822715906?s=20'][B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)][U]quote[/U][/COLOR][/B][/URL] and video from Alexis Morris, [I]“In order to grow the league, you have to prep the players for what’s to come … So that the adjustment and transition for women’s college players to the WNBA won’t be so difficult.”[/I] I wasn’t the only one that thought, hmmm, so is this a generic statement felt by some rookies that they are not ready? Is the short timeframe from the NCAA tourney to the draft to training camp a bigger challenge than realized? Is there or should there be a 1-1 mentor match to make the transition easier? Or, were her comments specifically related to where she went to college and what kind of prep was provided by the coaching staff? Morris’ comments may have instigated a[B] [/B][URL='https://twitter.com/savvyfive/status/1658505429830234112?s=20'][B][U]twitter poll[/U][/B][/URL] by a former SC player, in regards to who is responsible for player prep for the W. There were a few thoughtful responses, with 79% saying it was both the player and coaches responsibility. [I]“Alrighttttt let’s talk about it! If WBB players have aspirations to play professionally (WNBA, Overseas, etc.) Whose responsibility is it to prepare that player for the process to become a professional?”[/I] A few days after Morris was cut from the Sun, she [B][U][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]tweeted[/COLOR][/U][/B] [I]“If we can’t make roster spots for the rookies, cut the vets”[/I]. Satire or serious? It was deleted, however, brought in some interesting dialogue, from current, former players, fans, others. Kelsey Bone [URL='https://twitter.com/kelseybone3/status/1659227309969219587?s=20'][B][U][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]pointed out[/COLOR][/U][/B][/URL][B] [/B]something that Geno has opined for years, that HS players are different today, and some not as prepared for college as in years past: [INDENT][I]"I hope there’s expansion in the W soon, but I also hope somebody steps in and brings back TRUE player development in grassroots and college basketball! There’s a trend with these top picks getting cut in the last 5/6 years that expansion won’t help.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT][I][/I][/INDENT] [INDENT][I]You used to walk into these Summer tourneys and know immediately who would play in the W in the future. NOW you’d be lucky to see one! These kids aren’t ready or prepared for pro life and that’s why they are getting cut not because it’s not enough teams or spots.[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT][I][/I][/INDENT] [INDENT][I]They just aren’t good enough and in most cases shouldn’t have been drafted where they were!"[/I][/INDENT] Lastly, a UConn fan posted a [URL='https://twitter.com/UConnWBBy90/status/1659160345510920194?s=20'][B][U][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]video[/COLOR][/U][/B][/URL] of Sue and Diana, I think during the pandemic, where D said [I]“every time you played rookies, you wanted to kill them,”[/I] and I get this mentality. Pro athletes only have a certain window of time to make money. The W is D’s job, and it’s her job to keep her job, no matter what, and if rookies aren’t ready, then so be it. And after last night’s opening games, there were some tweets referencing Bonner’s stats, D’s plays, making the case for vets to be on rosters. [/QUOTE]

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