2024 WNBA Discussion Thread

Horston has made some really good moves in the 4th and has back to back baskets. Russell and Horston have 14 points combined on a combined 5 for 5 from the court.
Happy for them. Storm is really rolling, should make a deep playoff run.

Fever get a win in spite of a big 2nd half comeback by the Dream. And in spite of one of CC's worst games, 7 pts on 3-11 shooting and 7 t.o.s. But Boston had a huge game, 27 pts 13 rebs. Really glad for her, she needed that.
 
Boston looked like a new player against Atlanta, or like her old self. 27 and 13 and made huge baskets down the stretch. Great crowd and win for the Fever.

Seattle could be dangerous come postseason. Nneka, Russell, and Magbegor make a good inside trio. Plus Diggins and Llyod, with Horston playing an important role from the bench.
 
They did not limit tickets. There was not demand for them so they didn’t sell them. This narrative is idiotic.

Not sure why everyone feels the need to bring Angel up every time Clark is mentioned. They have nothing to do with each other. Most people would have no idea who Angel is if not for Caitlin.

And don’t even start with “but she has more followers” 90% of those are bots.
A few entries back, Volfaninfl2 posted some WNBA attendance figures which, at the time appeared harmless enough. But, numbers can be so cruel; they can make, or literally break you, and this attendance report must have hit a nerve.

Anyhow, here's what I'm seeing:
Last season the Sky averaged 7,000-something fans.
Last season the Fever averaged 4,000-something fans.
Of course, it's relatively early, but:
This season, the Sky are upwards of 8,000 fans. So, more fans. Growth! That's good!
This season, the Fever are upwards of 16,000 fans. So, more fans. Growth. That is also good!

Can we logically extrapolate that Angel Reese is the primary reason for the increase in attendance in Chicago?
And that Miss Clark is the primary reason for such new-found interest, in Indiana?
Are we leaving anything out?
The game is growing in general, but exploding in growth in Indiana ...where Caitlin Clark plays.
The Sky were also around 7,000 in 2022, so a thousand-plus this season, over the past two seasons.
And, in Indiana, the Fever drew 1,700-plus in 2022; then in 2023, 4,000-plus; and now the mind-blowing 16,000-plus. So, let's stipulate that Aliyah Boston, whom appears to be a fantastic player and person, helped jumpstart Indiana's upward trajectory, because the 2023 fever ratioed more than 2-to-one over 2022.
But, however this is spun, the Caitlin Clark effect is, to now at least, undeniable.
There's simply nothing else, or no one else, to reasonably contrast or compare.
Those attendance figures, for Indiana, are staggering!

Meanwhile, there's a disturbing pattern. Whenever somebody, somewhere has the audacity to say something good about Miss Caitlin Clark, without fail, there's a response that suggests ...something? Maybe that Caitlin is receiving uwarrented praise, while Angel Reese is unfairly receiving less praise?

Where this relates to your post, VolBall09, is that, based on what I've seen - and common sense - I agree with you that the thought of intentionally holding back ticket sales is counterintuitive. It's just bad business logic. And why? So Clark will look better on paper, all the while the team, and in fact, the League as a whole are still in some danger of sinking? Besides, would the sugar daddy - NBA - actually tolerate such a scheme? It just makes no sense.

In full disclosure, I've seen only parts of the WNBA games of either of the two "attractions" - Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark; actually just some highlights, and particularly in Clark's case, several lowlights, all those flops and other antics; some of them, her drama, others the result of poor sportsmanship. Regardless, somebody needs to put this embarrassment to bed, and hurry up with it.

Of course, Clark's behavior does little to help her cause, but, after what happened to our Candace a couple seasons back, and, more recently with A'ja Wilson, it's astounding that this kind of play is still being tolerated. From my limited point-of-view, some of them are behaving like pre-teen brats. Be that as it may, this "teach her a lesson" thing should have, by now, run it's course. My fear, however, is that Clark will continue to fail to see how utterly ridiculous she looks.

If this were a beauty contest, Angel probably wins in a landslide. And that's it. She is a very good basketball player known primarily for her rebounding. Regardless of her good looks, her wardrobe, etc., there's simply little to suggest that she is having a significant, positive effect on attendance. Yes, LSU won a title, and, in so doing they beat Clark and Iowa.
Caitlin's team obviously didn't. In fact, they lost the title game, twice. But Clark carried an average team to two consecutive championship games; the first of which included a semi-final win over South Carolina, the team that had just weeks previous whipped LSU. And, this season, they beat uconn. This two-year Iowa story, to most fans, is much more impressive, but takes nothing away from Angel's accomplishments.
 
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Sparks are having one of those games where you wish it would just end after the first quarter but in a good way. Ahead of the Lynx 25-14 at the end of the first. Rickea has 6 pts on 2-3 shooting and 2-2 ft, an assist, a rebound, and compliments from the announcers on her D. Not likely to get much better than this.

I really compliment Curt Miller (who's wearing a mask tonight?) for not really showing confidence in Rickea. She probably had her worse game and played the less mins last game, but he started the game running plays for her and she's responded well. Played the whole first quarter.
 
Cam Brink is never not going to be plagued by foul trouble. And sharp a girl as she seems to be, so many are dumb, worthless fouls far from the basket. It's really hurting her development.

Sparks hanging on at halftime but Collier is coming on and the Lynx are closing. Rickea has 9 pts, her avg.

Looks like the Mystics have led throughout the first half against the Sky. Impressive since they're once again wo Sykes. Their second win?
 
Nurse and Clarendon will NOT pass Rickea the ball. Just went and got the oboard off Nurse’s brick instead ☠️☠️☠️☠️

I know that little smirk she gave.
 
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What a game for the Sparks and Rickea! Yes, feels like a moral victory. Lynx have only lost one game at home. Sparks came out ready, no slow first quarter. Rickea was the Sparks high scorer, took a charge near the end of the game that gave the Sparks the ball instead of 2 free throws for the Lynx, which was first called. The announcers said Rickea played fearlessly, making really tough/contested shots at the end of the game, and basically said it took guts for a rookie to play the way Rickea did tonight.

Thrilled to see that last game flushed, and a double double for Rickea tonight!
 
The announcers said Rickea played fearlessly, making really tough/contested shots at the end of the game

Tough is the word. Tough and active. She had a couple of mid range baskets, but most of her points were tough drives and finishes at the rim in traffic. Also 7-8 fts, 3 assists, a steal, took that huge charge at the end. Played 30 mins. RIckea always plays best against the best teams.

Have to give Miller credit, he actually ran plays for Rickea fm the first play of the game, which she scored on. She's such a rhythm and flow player, that made a huge difference. Espec coming off a bad last game. Thought he kept her out too long in the second qtr, she came back in and immediately made 2 turnovers. If Cam Brink is always going to foul (and she apparently is) RIckea is always going to make casual passes that get picked off. Had 4 t.o.s, the one bad aspect to her game.

Sparks hang in there, never quit, always dangerous. If they had gotten anything out of Brink, who's in a slump lately, they might have won. But dang man, Naphessa Collier is just a great, great player. I hope the Lynx win it all.

Sparks play at Atlanta Sunday with a real chance for a win. And they better, bc then it's NY x 2, the Sun, and the Mercury all on the road.
 
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The Lynx are championship contenders this season and Collier is in MVP mode (8 steals!). LA might suck but at least our rookie is up to the challenge, pulling down boards, getting assists, and becoming a go-to scoring option for that team.
In spite of their record, the Sparks have only been blown out wire to wire once, and that was to the Lynx the first time. The Mercury game got away fm them late but other than that they're always in the game and always play hard. They're about two good guards away from being a really good team.

Mystics beat the Sky tonight for their second win. They are really improving and the Sky is pretty good too. Diamond D continues to struggle, just can't find her footing. Just 2 pts and only 9 mins. Not sure how much longer she starts over Carter. Izzy had a decent game, 7 pts, 3 rebs in 18 mins. But she's going to have a very hard time displacing Angel or Kamilla.
 
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Tough is the word. Tough and active. She had a couple of mid range baskets, but most of her points were tough drives and finishes at the rim in traffic. Also 7-8 fts, 3 assists, a steal, took that huge charge at the end. Played 30 mins. RIckea always plays best against the best teams.

Have to give Miller credit, he actually ran plays for Rickea fm the first play of the game, which she scored on. She's such a rhythm and flow player, that made a huge difference. Espec coming off a bad last game. Thought he kept her out too long in the second qtr, she came in and made 2 turnovers. If Cam Brink is always going to foul (and she apparently is) RIckea is always going to make casual passes that get picked off. Had 4 t.o.s, the one bad aspect to her game.

Sparks hang in there, never quit, always dangerous. If they had gotten anything out of Brink, who's in a slump lately, they might have won. But dang man, Naphessa Collier is just a great, great player. I hope the Lynx win it all.

Sparks play at Atlanta Sunday with a real chance for a win. And they better, bc then it's NY x 2, the Sun, and the Mercury all on the road.
Can’t say I want anyone to win it all, other than the Sparks. Hey, there’s a lot more games to play. The Sparks are improving, especially Rickea, and they did beat the Aces. 🙂
 
Nurse and Clarendon will NOT pass Rickea the ball.
I don't worry too much about Nurse and Clarendon bc both are on their way to more and more bench time. Can't keep Ari McDonald off the court, and though Rae got almost no time last night, I think Miller likes her alot.

Sky have that problem too, and along w Mabry's inability to hit a clutch free throw, cost them the game last night. Look how open Angel is:

Not only was the player who took this shot 1-3 fm 3 for the night, she's 1-9 for the whole season fm 3 and a career 20 ish % 3 pt shooter!

I wonder if this is a bit of a quiet protest against the attention given the rookies. Not overtly knocking them down, but subtly ignoring them, If so it's totally on the coaches to put a stop to it esp when it cost a game.

TSpoon, for all her good points, is struggling right now. She stormed out of her presser last night after being asked for about the 8th time about changing her starting lineup. Meaning taking Diamond out and putting Carter in. I get she was mad about the game and tired of the questions, but she needs to be more professional.
 
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Can’t say I want anyone to win it all, other than the Sparks. Hey, there’s a lot more games to play. The Sparks are improving, especially Rickea, and they did beat the Aces. 🙂
LOL of course the Sparks would be my first choice but realistically the Lynx have a better chance.

I wonder what the Sparks will look like when Azuri Stephens comes back. I don't know anything about her at all, don't know if she's any good.
 
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