July WNBA thread

[nwhoopfan]

reports are that she wanted to fight a teammate in Atlanta

Yeah but that was Courtney Williams so it doesn't count, because CW wants to fight everybody. She's had more than her fair share of issues as well.

 

[bballnut90]

Yeah but that was Courtney Williams so it doesn't count, because CW wants to fight everybody. She's had more than her fair share of issues as well.

It's easy to see Williams name and automatically blame her, but that wasn't at all the case according to reports:
Link

"Following the game, Carter approached Williams about playing time and suggested she wanted to fight her teammate, sources told Nusbaum. Williams, who reportedly got into an altercation in 2018 with then-Sun teammate Alex Bentley, made it clear she didn’t want to fight and removed herself from the situation."

 

[nwhoopfan]

Too bad Williams couldn't remove herself from the situation when she got in a brawl at a food truck or something later that same season. Not only declined to remove herself, but bragged about it on social media after the fact. Atlanta/WNBA tried to scrub that clean, but too many people had already seen it. Then they went into damage control mode.

 

[Tangential]

These are among the reasons why I previously mentioned that Wright deserves COY if the Dream make the playoffs. Also 8 wins or fewer each of the last 3 years, Hayes (best player) was injured for a long stretch, 3 coaches last year, relatively new ownership & management. The playoffs are doable as their remaining schedule isn't too onerous, but they are banged up a bit again and they don't have top tier talent. I think that she has Wrighted the ship.

 

[JellyBean]

Did this game change anybody's mind regarding the team to beat this year? Even though Chicago added Meesseman, Allemand, & Gardner to the championship team as well as Parker playing better and Copper's game getting stronger, I think when the Vegas starting 5 is clicking, they are superior. They are going to need tons of minutes from them and Riquana in the semis and finals, but I anticipate that they will be up to the challenge.

If the Aces are making shots, they could run the table and win the Championship. They have that talent. However, like their previous meeting with Chicago and the Aces had a 28-point lead, the Aces started shooting 3s and they did not play defense like they did in this match-up. If the Aces play defense like they did against Chicago, it is a wrap for the League.

 

[Blueballer]

The Storm always look good until their bench gets involved. It's not very good.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I think there have been 6 straight empty possessions combined for Seattle and Connecticut. Stewie has missed 3 shots in that stretch. Sun have a 3 point lead so they can afford to not score, but this has been a horrendously ugly last approximately 2 minutes of the game.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Storm actually had all 5 starters in double figures, but still lost. I think they are 1-2 since Charles entered the starting lineup.

 

[Bigboote]

Sun-Storm turned into a pretty good game. Sue had a pretty good game.

Did I see Kaleena Mosqueda-Louis and Marta Xargay in a crowd shot toward the end?

 

[eebmg]

Stewie had a clean look to tie it at the end but was not close. It felt like Sue would take the shot and have another storybook ending but alas it was not to be.

Gabby had one of her best games all around. I like her improved willingness to drive to the basket, be aggressive on the boards and look more menacing on defense than she has been.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Minnesota got a big win against Atlanta. Powers went off again and Jefferson had her most productive game in probably a couple weeks.

 

[eebmg]

Minnesota got a big win against Atlanta. Powers went off again and Jefferson had her most productive game in probably a couple weeks.

Since her Triple Double.

But Moriah had 8 TO's.

Did not see the game but Reeve must have been apoplectic. Almoist gave up a 20 pt lead entering the 4th until Powers heroics.

 

[eebmg]

McGowan having one of her best games in a game Dallas is getting blitzed with Mabrey and Arike throwing contested bricks. Just needs to get a bit better at FT line (8-14) and some more conditioning.

 

[socal613ws]

this game I think shou;ld put to rest that Seattle is not a title contender, they can win a few playoff games, but they're clearly not better than Connecticut, Chicago, or Vegas.

 

[baggerbob]

Stewie had a clean look to tie it at the end but was not close. It felt like Sue would take the shot and have another storybook ending but alas it was not to be.

Gabby had one of her best games all around. I like her improved willingness to drive to the basket, be aggressive on the boards and look more menacing on defense than she has been.

Seattle won't get out of the first round, their new lineup can't stop anyone. In the playoffs you have to be able to play defense.

 

[nwhoopfan]

McGowan having one of her best games in a game Dallas is getting blitzed with Mabrey and Arike throwing contested bricks

The 2 chuckers combined for 9-32, McCowan was 9-11. Hmm...maybe they win if Teira gets more shots? She had 27 points. Washington manages to pick up a road W w/out EDD. Back home for a pair of games against Seattle. Big games for both teams for playoff positioning.

edit--Storm and Mystics currently tied for 4th

 

[nwhoopfan]

The Sun were hot early, right behind Vegas. They went thru a stretch where they were kinda mediocre. Now they've been back to winning consistently again. Storm had passed them, but Sun back up on them by 2 games now and nipping on the heels of Aces and Sky.

 

[Geew1992]

Sun-Storm turned into a pretty good game. Sue had a pretty good game.

Did I see Kaleena Mosqueda-Louis and Marta Xargay in a crowd shot toward the end?

She’s def there. There’s a post huskies forever on the regular board.

 

[baggerbob]

The Sun were hot early, right behind Vegas. They went thru a stretch where they were kinda mediocre. Now they've been back to winning consistently again. Storm had passed them, but Sun back up on them by 2 games now and nipping on the heels of Aces and Sky.

Seattle will end up 5th , and probably lose the 2 games to Washington. The higher seed gets the first 2 home games, if a third game is necessary they go back to the lower seeds home court.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

The Storm would benefit with keeping Ezi in the starting lineup. She was really productive in her role and had good chemistry with Stewie. Having Tina come off the bench could been a huge spark off the bench that teams would have to adjust to.

 

[bballnut90]

Too bad Williams couldn't remove herself from the situation when she got in a brawl at a food truck or something later that same season. Not only declined to remove herself, but bragged about it on social media after the fact. Atlanta/WNBA tried to scrub that clean, but too many people had already seen it. Then they went into damage control mode.

Agree with this--but to say Carter's attempted fight doesn't count because it was with Courtney Williams is simply inaccurate. You can't give Carter a pass and come down on Williams for it when all reports are that Carter was the one who created the situation while Williams was playing peacemaker.

 

[bballnut90]

The 2 chuckers combined for 9-32, McCowan was 9-11. Hmm...maybe they win if Teira gets more shots? She had 27 points. Washington manages to pick up a road W w/out EDD. Back home for a pair of games against Seattle. Big games for both teams for playoff positioning.

edit--Storm and Mystics currently tied for 4th

Didn't see the game but 9-16 on free throws indicates she got plenty of touches. 16 free throws = 8 extra shots she was fouled on, so getting effectively 19 shots on basket is a massive number for any post player. Big T appears to have had a big game, but at the same time she needs to hit her free throws. The rest of Dallas shot horrendously, 19-61 outside of McCowan, good for 31%.

 

[bballnut90]

The Storm would benefit with keeping Ezi in the starting lineup. She was really productive in her role and had good chemistry with Stewie. Having Tina come off the bench could been a huge spark off the bench that teams would have to adjust to.

Magbegor has become completely ineffective off the bench. She isn't the overall offensive threat that Charles is but I thought she was flourishing as a starter this year and the team looked best with Tina coming off the bench. Seattle has a tough stretch the rest of the way, they'll need to pull off some big wins if they're going to sneak into the top 3 where the path through the playoffs is far easier.

 

[nwhoopfan]

but to say Carter's attempted fight doesn't count because it was with Courtney Williams is simply inaccurate. You can't give Carter a pass and come down on Williams for it when all reports are that Carter was the one who created the situation while Williams was playing peacemaker.

Perhaps I was engaging in a bit of hyperbole. IIRC Carter didn't play for the rest of the season after that, but she was far from the only problem for the Dream. They kinda cleaned house at the conclusion of the season.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Diggins-Smith and Taurasi are in a groove lately. They're outscoring LA just between the 2 of them at the half. 36 combined, Merc up by 22.