2024 WNBA Discussion Thread

[glv98]

Phoenix shot 1 of 27 from the 3. Taurasi went 0 for 7. Only scored 47 points.

Good. Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch.

Rae!!! What she did was so much more incredible considering she's barely played this year at all, and was the only Sparks player not to play in the first half. Talk about making the most of an opportunity. She had 2 huge 3s and a spectacular block. Had 8 pts, 2 steals and a block and really was the difference when the Fever got close. So happy for her.

Hard to imagine RIckea ever not starting now. Still didn't get enough touches but absolutely makes something happen when she gets the ball. I thought she also played good D, had 2 steals. Love when she and Brink are in together, Cam actually passes to Rickea.

Too bad it took injuries to Clarendon and Brown to get the line up right. Nice win for the Sparks.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

Rae, what a surprise! Haven’t seen her play since she was in college, and she came in and made 3s and made a big block and stole the ball and was the boost one would dream of, off the bench, in a close game. Good for her!

I thought Rickea got more passes from her teammates this game, which is encouraging. Rickea started, scored 12 points, and played well.

Another nerve wracking, nail biting ending, but the Sparks hung on for the win. Cheering on my Tennessee players, and Brink, on the Sparks team, they’re fun to watch, and getting better. Nurse had a great game, too.

Next game Thursday at 8 against Chicago.

Nice to have a sport I like, to look forward to watching over the summer months.

 

[glv98]

Cheering on my Tennessee players, and Brink, on the Sparks team, they’re fun to watch, and getting better. Nurse had a great game, too.

Next game Thursday at 8 against Chicago.

Nice to have a sport I like, to look forward to watching over the summer months.

Big challenge for the Sparks at Chicago Thursday, can they win two in a row? Claredon didn't make the trip due to concussion protocol so reasonable to think Rickea will start again. Hard to see her out of the starting lineup any more. Sure hope that's also true for McDonald at point; Lexie Brown is a huge drag on the team. The Sparks are fun to watch, every game has been close. All the up and coming teams are fun, I enjoy them much more than powerhouses like the Aces and bully ball teams like the Sun.

Quiet night for Jordy w Seattle at Chicago, her pt is going down for some reason. Played 9 mins and didn't score, did have 3 rebounds and a block. Whitcomb and Vivians are getting the mins Jordy was getting previously. Also not a great night for Diamond or Mercedes. Good to see Izzy H at least back on the court.

I looked at attendance and everyone is settling in at around 7K per game except the Fever who drew 16K. Saw Fever tickets on resell for future games for as little as 5$ so it looks like the bottom may soon fall out of that attendance juggernaut. The Fever are not only not fun to watch, they're painful to watch. I guess if someone just enjoys watching CC score (inefficiently and w turnovers) it's still a good time.

 

[glv98]

Indy coach was not happy w CC getting a tech and said so:

To be fair the whole league spends way too much time talking to officials. STFU and get back on D.

Interesting that Clark got 30 and Boston played much better and they still lost. That team has less than zero chemistry.

 

[madtownvol]

Good. Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch.

Rae!!! What she did was so much more incredible considering she's barely played this year at all, and was the only Sparks player not to play in the first half. Talk about making the most of an opportunity. She had 2 huge 3s and a spectacular block. Had 8 pts, 2 steals and a block and really was the difference when the Fever got close. So happy for her.

Hard to imagine RIckea ever not starting now. Still didn't get enough touches but absolutely makes something happen when she gets the ball. I thought she also played good D, had 2 steals. Love when she and Brink are in together, Cam actually passes to Rickea.

Too bad it took injuries to Clarendon and Brown to get the line up right. Nice win for the Sparks.

Yep, injuries forced Miller to play his best line-up. He is a bad coaching fit for this team. At Conn. his team played 1980's style bully ball and I don't think he really knows how to utilize skilled, finesse players, like Rickea, Camerson, or Rae.

This team has no chemistry and no trust. There offense seems to be let's hope that one of our "ball hogs" gets hot.

Major props to Rae for coming locked and loaded despite being an after thought all season. People now have to be asking why she has played so little.

Management needs to step in and get a better coach for this team. They have the talent to make the play-offs but right now, they are going to be in the lottery (with the Fever).

 

[Volfaninfl2]

ESPN doing it again, giving so much coverage to one player, you get sick of the player. For all of CC’s arms out ‘why didn’t you call a foul’ looks to the refs (which I get sick of), almost half of her 30 points came from foul shots, she got 15, made 13. She also had 7 turnovers.

On 3s, (CC’s specialty), the Fever shot 33.3%, while the Sparks shot 60.1%. Spark’s Nurse made 5 of 6, not much mention of her, while CC made 3 of 10.

Rickea made 7 of 10 foul shots, I hope her Coach puts her in position to make more. I’m fine with Cardoso still being out for the next Chicago game.

Rickea is in the talk on top rookies every time this article comes out, I’m glad, and happy for her.

WNBA rookie tracker: How Caitlin Clark's season ended, and what's next

Following a historic regular season from the entire rookie class, Caitlin Clark left her mark with a strong pair of.playoff performances.

www.espn.com

 

[glv98]

ESPN doing it again, giving so much coverage to one player, you get sick of the player. For all of CC’s arms out ‘why didn’t you call a foul’ looks to the refs (which I get sick of), almost half of her 30 points came from foul shots, she got 15, made 13. She also had 7 turnovers.

My sports hatred for CC is totally irrational, but it's there. It's on court only; off court she seems a good kid and I actually feel sorry for her for the ridiculous expectations. But oncourt, it's the theatrical flops and that so punchable face that gets me. Everyone flops, but CC takes it to new level, knees buckling into complete collapse, head lolling, arms flailing. I always hope she misses every shot and they lose every game. Thank you sports for making this an ok way to feel.

Rickea made 7 of 10 foul shots, I hope her Coach puts her In position to make more

I saw his postgame, he mentioned her getting to the line and said he called those early plays for her. OK, call more.

 

[glv98]

Biggest game of the season so far coming up tonight at 8 on league pass. Minnesota Lynx vs LV Aces.

Go Lynx, my fave team to knock off the superteams and win it all. Collier is my favorite non LVFL player. Should be good!

 

[lvocd]

Indy coach was not happy w CC getting a tech and said so:

To be fair the whole league spends way too much time talking to officials. STFU and get back on D.

Interesting that Clark got 30 and Boston played much better and they still lost. That team has less than zero chemistry.

At every level of the sport and among both men and women, the carping to the officials has become nearly constant and is definitely taking away from the game for this sports fan.

Back in my day it was unheard of. It was actually somewhat rare even for coaches to complain, but players NEVER did. We'd talk about bad calls among each other after the game, but we players never even thought about approaching officials.

I really, really dislike all the complaining and wish everyone could get together and agree to taking drastic measures to stop it. Like maybe a player gets one or two warnings if they get mouthy, but the next time the do it they're automatically ejected.

I'm sick of it.

 

[madtownvol]

My sports hatred for CC is totally irrational, but it's there. It's on court only; off court she seems a good kid and I actually feel sorry for her for the ridiculous expectations. But oncourt, it's the theatrical flops and that so punchable face that gets me. Everyone flops, but CC takes it to new level, knees buckling into complete collapse, head lolling, arms flailing. I always hope she misses every shot and they lose every game. Thank you sports for making this an ok way to feel.

I saw his postgame, he mentioned her getting to the line and said he called those early plays for her. OK, call more.

CC does have a Reggie Miller quality-- another player with a punchable face who everyone loved to hate.

In fairness, she is by far shouldering more responsibility than any other rookie. Her TOs are just a cost of this on-the-job-training.

She is finding ways to score despite not shooting well from outside and she makes some passes that are just elite. An her defense has been better than expected. She's a baller for sure.

She remains mired in a 3-pt. shooting slump that began during the Big 10 conference. Right now, a lot of her shots are hitting the front rim which is usually a sign of tired legs.

She needs an actual off season to recharge and put in some strength and conditioning work. I think she will light the WNBA up next season.

Rickea is playing like a rookie (no shock) in terms of being deferential on offense, though I like how she has been initiating drives to the hoop in these last two games. It does not help that she is playing on a team that seems to believe it is a mortal sin to pass her the ball.


Defensively, she is good as a one-on-one defender but is a little slow to react on screens and double teams, But, she just needs court time to figure out these switching defense schemes.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

CC does have a Reggie Miller quality-- another player with a punchable face who everyone loved to hate.

In fairness, she is by far shouldering more responsibility than any other rookie. Her TOs are just a cost of this on-the-job-training.

She is finding ways to score despite not shooting well from outside and she makes some passes that are just elite. An her defense has been better than expected. She's a baller for sure.

She remains mired in a 3-pt. shooting slump that began during the Big 10 conference. Right now, a lot of her shots are hitting the front rim which is usually a sign of tired legs.

She needs an actual off season to recharge and put in some strength and conditioning work. I think she will light the WNBA up next season.

Rickea is playing like a rookie (no shock) in terms of being deferential on offense, though I like how she has been initiating drives to the hoop in these last two games. It does not help that she is playing on a team that seems to believe it is a mortal sin to pass her the ball.


Defensively, she is good as a one-on-one defender but is a little slow to react on screens and double teams, But, she just needs court time to figure out these switching defense schemes.

I don’t agree that she’s shouldering more than any other rookie, she plays with 2 All Stars from last year and the reigning rookie of the year and Nalyssa Smith as well. Angel Reese plays with absolutely no help on the inside, and with horrible guard play.

 

[madtownvol]

I don’t agree that she’s shouldering more than any other rookie, she plays with 2 All Stars from last year and the reigning rookie of the year and Nalyssa Smith as well. Angel Reese plays with absolutely no help on the inside, and with horrible guard play.

This is not an Angel versus Catlin debate nor a discussion of who has better teammates. CC is the starting PG and leads her team in all major offensive categories including minutes played.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

This is not an Angel versus Catlin debate not a discussion of who has better teammates. CC is the starting PG and leads her team in all major offensive categories including minutes played.

You compared all rookies by brining them up. She’s the Pg so she decides if she’s going to shoot or pass, so leading in offensive categories are easy when you’re the primary decision maker, that along with playing the most mins which helps as well. I know you can’t compare a post player playing out of position to a Pg.

 

[madtownvol]

You compared all rookies by brining them up. She’s the Pg so she decides if she’s going to shoot or pass, so leading in offensive categories are easy when you’re the primary decision maker, that along with playing the most mins which helps as well. I know you can’t compare a post player playing out of position to a Pg.

What part of "responsibility" don't you understand? Notice your own point about Clark being "the primary decision maker" and "playing the most minutes."

 

[DarkPhoenix]

What part of "responsibility" don't you understand? Notice your own point about Clark being "the primary decision maker" and "playing the most minutes."

I just think Reese’s responsibility is harder, she doesn’t have all star teammates to help is all I’m saying.Reese has to go against MVPs in the post while she’s playing out of position, that’s a harder task.

 

[chuckiepoo]

This is not an Angel versus Catlin debate nor a discussion of who has better teammates. CC is the starting PG and leads her team in all major offensive categories including minutes played.

It’s always AR vs CC, duh.

 

[glv98]

She remains mired in a 3-pt. shooting slump that began during the Big 10 conference. Right now, a lot of her shots are hitting the front rim which is usually a sign of tired legs.

I think the "slump" is partially due to just playing against better players, esp in the NCAA tourney and in the WNBA.

Fatigue has to be a huge factor for all the rookies. I know the W has to fit their season in when they can, but the schedule is just insane for new players coming fm college. It's even worse this year bc they have extra games stuffed in now and then later due to the Olympics. It's just crazy how few actual practices they've had w their new teams, and how few they get now with games and travel so frequent.

There's a month off fm mid July to mid August and it's a break all of them will badly need.

 

[glv98]

Wow, things keep going from bad to worse for the Fever. Temi had really been playing well.

Also, Nylissa Smith and her media mad Mom are at it again, liking social media posts that criticize their coach. Went thru this last year when they got mad over Boston.

That team is a total mess.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

These 2 have come a long way, their 1st pro matchup is tonight.

 

[glv98]

Jordy guarding CC. Storm ahead in 2nd qtr by 5 pts.

 

[glv98]

All grown up.


Rickea is starting again tonight.

 

[glv98]

I don't think I've ever seen a player directly hurt their team as much as Lexie Brown does. She is flat out awful on both ends.

 

[LVsinceJV]

 

[VolBall09]

Hamby really needs to get hers on fewer attempts. Idk why Miller is trying to run so much through her. She’s most def not my cup of tea.

Jackson is so much smoother. Sooner they start feeding her the ball the better they will be.

Said it before, but Hamby needs to make her living on the o-boards. They do not need to be running plays for her.

Brink is a considerably better offensive option as well imo.

 

[glv98]

What an ugly mess of a first half. Never thought I'd miss Curt Miller but whoever his standin is tonight has zero clue and zero control. Hamby in total ball hog mode, Brown in turnover and can't guard a flea mode. No flow at all, once again RJ sent to corners and used as screener. Brown absolutely refuses to pass to her, or almost anyone except Hamby. RJ finally got a putback score at the end of the half but that was her only shot.

All the rookies had a rough first half, Brink has just 3 pts, does have 4 reb but also 2 t.o.s. Angel also struggling, has 2 pts on 1-4 shooting, 3 reb and also 2 t.o.s. Just an awful, sloppy excuse for a game so far, no one could do much with this muck. May the 2nd half be better.