2024 WNBA Discussion Thread

[Volfaninfl2]

Did you see that Rickea and Cameron made ESPN Sportscenter for throwing out the first pitch, actually pitches, at the Dodgers game. [Hate to say it but Cameron had the better throw].

The Sparks have the promotion side down with their rookie stars. Now, the coach just needs to giver R.J. more minutes (would not mind seeing Rae get more time as well).

This is what sweet Rickea said at the Dodger game.

"It's been amazing," Jackson added. "I feel like it's about time. It's just going to keep growing, but I feel like I'm more happy for the vets, they're the ones that deserve it all."

 

[chuckiepoo]

I only watched the Sparks vs Aces, Rickea and Brink have their own supporters that only care for them, so it’s best to keep all of that separate, it has nothing to do with.Clark.

Imma kinda rooting for all four of the top rookies. I hate to admit this but AR is doing work. I can tell you’re a big fan.
Brinks has the East Euro tall blonde model look.

 

[glv98]

 

[glv98]

How it started:

How it went:

Let's just say softball was most def not RJ's sport. Said it was the first time she'd ever thrown a baseball and yeah, I can see that. Nice reaction by her catcher to save the other guy from getting hit in the face!

The Sparks are not unaware of their marketing opportunity.

 

[glv98]

Now, the coach just needs to giver R.J. more minutes (would not mind seeing Rae get more time as well).

Rae is listed as questionable due to illness.

Big chance for Sparks to pick up a win at home.

 

[madtownvol]

How it started:

How it went:

Let's just say softball was most def not RJ's sport. Said it was the first time she'd ever thrown a baseball and yeah, I can see that. Nice reaction by her catcher to save the other guy from getting hit in the face!

The Sparks are not unaware of their marketing opportunity.

RJ is not likely to be the first women signed by the Dodgers.

I have seen worse first pitches, though. She sort of got the ball in the general vicinity of home plate, rather than throwing it into the ground 20 feet short. Cam said she practiced a bit for the moment.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

For the people on here that Hate Her, I’m waiting on your negative comments.

 

[knoxvol52]

RJ is not likely to be the first women signed by the Dodgers.

I have seen worse first pitches, though. She sort of got the ball in the general vicinity of home plate, rather than throwing it into the ground 20 feet short. Cam said she practiced a bit for the moment.

Yamamoto shouldn't worry about Rickea taking his spot in pitching rotation.

 

[knoxvol52]

Imma kinda rooting for all four of the top rookies. I hate to admit this but AR is doing work. I can tell you’re a big fan.
Brinks has the East Euro tall blonde model look.

Brinks with a little Marilyn Monroe look.

John F. Kennedy would approve, if he was alive.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

How it started:

How it went:

Let's just say softball was most def not RJ's sport. Said it was the first time she'd ever thrown a baseball and yeah, I can see that. Nice reaction by her catcher to save the other guy from getting hit in the face!

The Sparks are not unaware of their marketing opportunity.

Look at their eyes before they threw, looks like Rickea was aiming at the wrong guy.

 

[glv98]

Look at their eyes before they threw, looks like Rickea was aiming at the wrong guy.

Then her aim was true, bc that's where it went. But like madtowne said, at least it didn't bounce.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Caitlin Clark signs a endorsement contract with Wilson.

She’s getting her own line of basketballs. COOL!

 

[knoxvol52]

She’s getting her own line of basketballs. COOL!

Yea living the dream.

 

[Amb3096]

I am not sure what you are saying exactly. That Brittany Griner was responsible for the WNBA being less popular than it is now? {She is still in the league and remains a high profile player BTW).

FYI, I don't think Griner looked the way she looks to push a gay agenda in your face. She sort of is who she is.

Candace was also in the league before it had a take-off phase last season and this current Caitlin Clark boom period (as was Sue Bird). So, are you saying the visual appeal of CP3 and Kim Bird was single handedly cancelled by BG?

The fact is that all women's sports have seen a big uptick in popularity in the last few years. The growth in women's soccer has matched that of Women's basketball.

Also, women's tennis has had a long run of popularity even when the sport was once was dominated by Martina Navratilova, who was quite open about her lifestyle preferences and did not try to conform to conventional standards of female beauty.

I think the WNBA viewership went up last season BECAUSE of Griner, not in spite of. Lots of curious eyes because of the whole drama surrounding her Russian imprisonment.

RE: Navratilova, sadly...she missed out on a lot of endorsement deals at the height of her dominance because she was openly gay. She had a couple, like Rolex and AMEX, but there was a point where she was top 3 in the world and didn't have racquet or clothing endorsement, so she launched her own line. She's a perfect example of one who took it for the team to pave the way for more open acceptance.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

 

[glv98]

I've failed to fully appreciate Brink's D. She was awesome tonight even before the two blocks that ended the game. And on Austin no less., and without fouling. Very impressive.

Breakout game for Rickea, even though she only scored 9 pts and had 5 turnovers. Played 31 mins, basically the whole game except the first few mins of each half. They've clearly decided their best lineup is Rickea at 3 and Claradan on the bench. RJ had 7 quick pts when she came in and then they pretty much forgot her on offense, though she did have a key basket in the second half. But she was completely comfortable and in the flow for the first time. They have to keep playing RJ and Brink together; they're both too talented to waste on the bench.

Defense was RJ's main contribution tonight, believe it or not. Announcers called it out several times and she really dd play sturdy D. Fun to watch she and Edwards mix it up. Edwards had a nice game, she's going to be a great compliment to Austin.

No Rae tonight, she was on the bench but didn't get in. Next up Sparks play the Fever and You Know Who Friday night.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Another wild Sparks game, this time they won. Rickea played 31 minutes and was in the game in crunch time. There was one sequence where she was guarding Edwards, I think, and Rickea was on her like glue, blocked her shot and came up with the ball.

Still, they had Rickea out in the corner, I love the way she works on offense anywhere near the basket. Sometimes she was totally open but wasn’t thrown the ball. Would like to see her shoot/score more, but her defense is definitely improving.

Rickea had +2 for the game, and that’s how much they won by.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Another wild Sparks game, this time they won. Rickea played 31 minutes and was in the game in crunch time. There was one sequence where she was guarding Edwards, I think, and Rickea was on her like glue, blocked her shot and came up with the ball.

Still, they had Rickea out in the corner, I love the way she works on offense anywhere near the basket. Sometimes she was totally open but wasn’t thrown the ball. Would like to see her shoot/score more, but her defense is definitely improving.

Rickea had +2 for the game, and that’s how much they won by.

Frustrating for me to watch these guards not pass her the ball, even when on her side of the court and she’s open they just avoid passing to her, same issues she had with out Pg that was here. She just can’t catch a break. ShaKira Austin is suffering the same fate in Washington, she’s their best player and can get a bucket at will and they don’t pass her the ball until the shot clock is winding down and a bad pass.

 

[glv98]

Next Rickea has to tighten down the handles. Had a late t.o., one of her patented dinky ass little passes, that could have cost the game. Would have been a real shame since she had played so well, fortunately the Mystics didn't score. She still dribbles way too hard and way too high.

Still a breakthru game for her, she may not start but will play lots from now on.

It will really help the Sparks when they get their center back from injury.

On another note, the Mercury, still minus BG, beat the Aces by 10 in Las Vegas. Didn't see that coming.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Next Rickea has to tighten down the handles. Had a late t.o., one of her patented dinky ass little passes, that could have cost the game. Would have been a real shame since she had played so well, fortunately the Mystics didn't score. She still dribbles way too hard and way too high. Still a breakthru for her, may not start but will play lots from now on.

It will really help the Sparks when they get their center back from injury.

She’s going to have to work on that in the off season, thats one of her flaws. She also need to work on her footwork, moving her feet quicker laterally, I notice she doesn’t move that well when guarding on the perimeter. Even at this level nobody can stop her from getting her shot off, she needs to be more aggressive and demand the ball, it that’s what I’ve been asking her to do when she was here.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

She’s going to have to work on that in the off season, thats one of her flaws. She also need to work on her footwork, moving her feet quicker laterally, I notice she doesn’t move that well when guarding on the perimeter. Even at this level nobody can stop her from getting her shot off, she needs to be more aggressive and demand the ball, it that’s what I’ve been asking her to do when she was here.

I don’t think that’s her personality, and as a rookie you have to be nice to the vets, not demanding. They’re all new together, eventually the vets will trust her more, but she must be more careful in her passing, although she made several really sharp passes tonight.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I don’t think that’s her personality, and as a rookie you have to be nice to the vets, not demanding. They’re all new together, eventually the vets will trust her more, but she must be more careful in her passing, although she made several really sharp passes tonight.

I agree that’s not in her personality, the good thing is the coach gave her more mins so that’s a good start. But the next step would be to call plays for her in her spots, help your best players be successful.

 

[lvocd]

Next Rickea has to tighten down the handles. Had a late t.o., one of her patented dinky ass little passes, that could have cost the game. Would have been a real shame since she had played so well, fortunately the Mystics didn't score. She still dribbles way too hard and way too high.

Yes! I was so darn happy when they won because I kept thinking if they lose, that late-game, terribly timed hiccup by Rickea would have haunted her. She caught a Brink Break!

Love how much more comfortable she's already looking out there after I kinda worried after one of the pre-season games because she'd looked lost. Of course, she is still in the early going of learning all new things, but she's definitely looking better already.

 

[VolBall09]

I've failed to fully appreciate Brink's D. She was awesome tonight even before the two blocks that ended the game. And on Austin no less., and without fouling. Very impressive.

Breakout game for Rickea, even though she only scored 9 pts and had 5 turnovers. Played 31 mins, basically the whole game except the first few mins of each half. They've clearly decided their best lineup is Rickea at 3 and Claradan on the bench. RJ had 7 quick pts when she came in and then they pretty much forgot her on offense, though she did have a key basket in the second half. But she was completely comfortable and in the flow for the first time. They have to keep playing RJ and Brink together; they're both too talented to waste on the bench.

Defense was RJ's main contribution tonight, believe it or not. Announcers called it out several times and she really dd play sturdy D. Fun to watch she and Edwards mix it up. Edwards had a nice game, she's going to be a great compliment to Austin.

No Rae tonight, she was on the bench but didn't get in. Next up Sparks play the Fever and You Know Who Friday night.

I thought the Sparks looked much better last night, they are figuring it out. I’m not crazy about how much stuff the run for Hamby. To me she’s a player that should earn her living on the boards.

Rickea has a much smoother touch around the basket and is a more natural scorer. I suspect we see them run more and more of their offense through Kea as she gets better with the play calls. You can tell that’s been an adjustment for her.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

I thought the Sparks looked much better last night, they are figuring it out. I’m not crazy about how much stuff the run for Hamby. To me she’s a player that should earn her living on the boards.

Rickea has a much smoother touch around the basket and is a more natural scorer. I suspect we see them run more and more of their offense through Kea as she gets better with the play calls. You can tell that’s been an adjustment for her.

Interesting you mentioned “smoother touch”. Candace was the smoothest basketball player I ever saw, and (not comparing), but Rickea‘s smoothness when she moves and shoots, gives me Candace vibes.