***official 2024/25 women’s college bball thread*** paige gets her title and will soon be beat up and abused in the wnba (1 Viewer)

[pollardsvision]

Yeah, it was a rough one.

Storm are just the model of how a bunch of vets come together to gel and bring young players along. Madame President (Nneka) is in her twilight and decided to come to Seattle to finish her career. She spent the off-season working with young Horston, and that's certainly paying off.

Fever, man, God bless'em. They desperately need this Olympic break. I don't know if they need to spend it in the gym or the bar. They've found just enough offensive chemistry where they can gun it against young teams. But any veteran team that's on the same page is going to make them hate the game for a night.

And you just have to have some grace with them. They are going through something that I have never seen in sports.

Sky, Sparks, and Mystics (and any WNBA team) can all go through their growing pains with the luxury of most of the world not paying attention or caring.

For the Fever, it's like suddenly bringing a Lakers level of scrutiny to a local high school women's team in Wisconsin with no off-season to prepare for it. There's no blue print for this.

Not to mention that most of the scrutiny is from people that won't watch the game now, and certainly won't be 3 years from now when Caitlin is ready to win titles. It's likely just going through media hell for nothing.

 

[pollardsvision]

In case anyone forgot, Sunday afternoons are W TIme, and they are at it again tomorrow.
More kids getting a crack at the vets

Fever-Mercury at 3:00.
You can't stand Diana Taurasi? Here's your chance to see Caitlin drop 40 on her.
Although I assume it'll be Tash Cloud and Copper mostly guarding Caitlin. Taurasi ain't played defense in a decade.

Sky-Lynx also at 3:00.
Sky probably about to get taken to school again. Reese just got some lessons from the likely MVP. Now, she's about to get some lessons from Phee, who I think would be #2 in the MVP voting right now.
Lynx might be the best team in the league and they are salty after falling asleep at the wheel against the WIngs.
Although, like the WIngs, the Sky have the size and rebounding to take advantage of the Lynx' only weakness.

It's going to be a clash of some of the most beautiful offensive basketball you'll see in the Lynx, and whatever the hell it is the Sky do on offense (although I can't help but enjoy their brand of ugly basketball).

 

[pollardsvision]

Oh crap, @SWC I forgot the most important part.

Tomorrow, Caitlin finds out what it's like to go in the paint right after Griner just let one rip.

 

[massraider]

I wonder if this thread will be a microcosm of the Clark influence and progression for the WNBA. By that I mean, I have a lot less interest in visiting this thread as it is WNBA based than the Clark thread thinking there will be more interesting discussion about impact, treatment, fluctuation etc caused by her hype. It's a more interesting discussion point to me.

I will be interested to see if this fizzles out to just the few posters that have dominated the posts so far or if there will still be a wider audience.

To harken back to this, I think we have the answer now.

When the Caitlan Clark thread was active (before it was renamed the wnba thread shortly before it was locked as a courtesty to this one), the last two weeks or so of it had like 13 pages of activity.

This thread is over two weeks old now and has 4 1/2, and it's basically one person talking to himself about the WNBA.

Like I said in that thread, they'll move on to be outraged about the next thing.

Well, most of them

 

[pollardsvision]

Angel busting her Reese's Pieces shoes today

To add a little extra to an already fascinating matchup with Napheesa Collier, Phee's Twitter handle is "pheesespieces"

Phee about to go 35-12 and demand Angel remove those shoes at half court after the game.

 

[Gally]

Phee's Twitter handle is "pheesespieces"

I gotta say that is a terrible Twitter handle. That is just setting yourself up for ridicule

-

 

[pollardsvision]

Phee's Twitter handle is "pheesespieces"

I gotta say that is a terrible Twitter handle. That is just setting yourself up for ridicule

-

It pains me since she's such an awesome person and player, but agreed, it is pretty terrible.

 

[pollardsvision]

Here's more of noted, despicable absolute Caitlin Clark hater Diana Taurasi just ripping on Clark

It fits in with all the other "evidence" of Taurasi being a hater.

But at least the manufactured drama should be good for ratings.
Hopefully people will watch and realize they are watching something even more awesome than a made up media grudge.

A great rookie and the future of the league doing battle with an aging legend that she's always looked up to.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

This is an offensive foul? WTF?

x.com

x.com

 

[pollardsvision]

Maybe Orlando Magic fans can help me with this, but Nate Tibbetts seems to be really committed to his point guard guarding 4's and 5's.

I'm not the smartest basketball fan in the world. Can anybody explain the strategy behind this?

I assume it's what he had to do to get Copper on Clark (which does seem like a good decision). But I still don't get it

 

[pollardsvision]

This is an offensive foul? WTF?

x.com

x.com

Yeah it was a bad call (assuming we're all okay with the Harden-style launching into a defender once they are up in the air trying to draw a foul).

But yeah assuming that it was bad.. So we got bad officiating just like we do it every league in America.

 

[pollardsvision]

GD Clark is so good.

 

[belljr]

Here's more of noted, despicable absolute Caitlin Clark hater Diana Taurasi just ripping on Clark

It fits in with all the other "evidence" of Taurasi being a hater.

But at least the manufactured drama should be good for ratings.
Hopefully people will watch and realize they are watching something even more awesome than a made up media grudge.

A great rookie and the future of the league doing battle with an aging legend that she's always looked up to.

That was from 2 years ago, she didn't hate her yet

 

[pollardsvision]

What an effing game

 

[pollardsvision]

I hope Clark "fans" are watching this masterful performance..

I know it's tough because it means watching women's basketball.

 

[pollardsvision]

I know even Caitlin Clark can't compete with the NBA's greatest franchise bringing in a nepotism baby and a podcaster as a coach.

Us W people actually like basketball.

But we know it can't compete with a reality show.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

I hope Clark "fans" are watching this masterful performance..

I know it's tough because it means watching women's basketball.

I’ve been watching the game. Some horrible officiating down the stretch. But a fun game overall.

 

[bigbottom]

That was an entertaining game. Huge swings back and forth in that second half.

 

[bigbottom]

I hope Clark "fans" are watching this masterful performance..

I know it's tough because it means watching women's basketball.

Felt like half the fans in Phoenix fit that bill.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Did I hear that right? Clark came up one assist shy of having the WNBA's first triple-double EVER. WOW.

Anyway, huge win in front of the biggest crowd for a WNBA game in Phoenix in 27 years (wonder why that was??).

This is why so many are fans of Clark. She is that good and she makes those around her better (which is what most great players do in team sports).

 

[bigbottom]

Did I hear that right? Clark came up one assist shy of having the WNBA's first triple-double EVER. WOW.

Anyway, huge win in front of the biggest crowd for a WNBA game in Phoenix in 27 years (wonder why that was??).

This is why so many are fans of Clark. She is that good and she makes those around her better (which is what most great players do in team sports).

Would have been the first rookie with a triple double.

 

[TennesseeJed]

Did I hear that right? Clark came up one assist shy of having the WNBA's first triple-double EVER. WOW.

Anyway, huge win in front of the biggest crowd for a WNBA game in Phoenix in 27 years (wonder why that was??).

This is why so many are fans of Clark. She is that good and she makes those around her better (which is what most great players do in team sports).

1 rebound short.

 

[TennesseeJed]

Interesting stat line comparison between Taurasi and Clark in this game

Taurasi: 19 pts, on 5-14 shooting, 2-10 from 3, 3 Reb, 3 *** and 5 TO

Clark: 15 pts on 4-14 shooting, 2-10 from 3, 9 Reb, 12 *** and 6 TO




But sure, lets send the 42 yo to another Olympics instead of the rookie drawing huge crowds.


Season stats:

Taurasi: 16.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.5 APG
Clark: 16.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.6 APG

Oddly short-sighted move by USA basketball.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Did I hear that right? Clark came up one assist shy of having the WNBA's first triple-double EVER. WOW.

Anyway, huge win in front of the biggest crowd for a WNBA game in Phoenix in 27 years (wonder why that was??).

This is why so many are fans of Clark. She is that good and she makes those around her better (which is what most great players do in team sports).

Would have been the first rookie with a triple double.

Ah, okay. I was like, that can't be right. That makes a lot more sense.

 

[pollardsvision]

Just a great afternoon of basketball. NFL probably ought to look at moving even more of their games to other days of the week. I don't know how they can compete with the W on Sunday afternoons.

The Lynx-Sky game was a lot of fun too.
Lynx were just ultimately too much, but that 1st half is the best the Sky have looked all season.

 

[pollardsvision]

Speaking of Sunday's, July 14 will be big one.

Clark's first trip to Minnesota.
As any young Iowa kid would, she grew up a Minnesota Lynx fan loving the Maya Moore dynasty.

Target Center only holds 20K, which isn't nearly enough.

I wonder if there's enough time to put a basketball court in US Bank Stadium.

 

[Chadstroma]

Interesting stat line comparison between Taurasi and Clark in this game

Taurasi: 19 pts, on 5-14 shooting, 2-10 from 3, 3 Reb, 3 *** and 5 TO

Clark: 15 pts on 4-14 shooting, 2-10 from 3, 9 Reb, 12 *** and 6 TO




But sure, lets send the 42 yo to another Olympics instead of the rookie drawing huge crowds.


Season stats:

Taurasi: 16.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.5 APG
Clark: 16.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.6 APG

Oddly short-sighted move by USA basketball.

I am not going to lie.... I grined when I saw the state line earlier due to Taurasi's comments.

My thought was.... who had the reality check now?

 

[SWC]

clark not being on the olympic team is one of the stupidest decisions ive ever seen from a player personnel standpoint and also from a marketing lets all get paid more standpoint take that to the bank brochachos

 

[DA RAIDERS]

We need to send this thread to the W They’d be crazy not to hire @pollardsvision

 

[pollardsvision]

I can understand why it would've made some sense to put her on the Olympic team, but it's far from the land of stupid.

There were/are ton of reasons that it didn't make sense to put her on the team. I can happily explain those, but I doubt anybody cares.

Where I could see the case is that part of USA Basketball's mission, aside from the primary mission of winning, is to grow the game. And the team is pretty old, so some youth just for the experience would be good too.

On the growing the game thing.......you and I both know it probably won't happen anyway. I hold out hope, but as I'm sure you guys have noticed, I'm an idiot.

Just look at this thread, or any discussion of women's basketball among most people. Even in this beautiful moment, most people still don't care. Just discussing the game even in the WNBA thread seems to irritate a lot of people that don't actually believe the game is interesting.

We're a couple months into this WNBA season with all the hoopla. Ratings and attendance are up, but by and large, the mainstream doesn't really care. With or without the Olympics, Caitlin will bring eyeballs. Whether the WNBA really grows or not depends on whether or not people like what they see. And at some point, Caitlin Clark will not be playing basketball.

Is Caitlin Clark riding the pine for a couple of weeks in Paris really going to be the difference between mainstream people caring about women's basketball or not?

 

[pollardsvision]

Actually, sorry, that was negative. I actually do think it will happen. Just anybody that is turned off of women's basketball or the WNBA because Caitlin is not on the Olympic team was never going to be a fan anyway.

Caitlin is bringing the eyeballs already, so that really wouldn't have been a reason to do it.

Not a reason not to do it either, but again, these were some incredibly tough decisions for USA Basketball. I suspect that if Caitlin were able to participate in Olympic trials, she'd probably be on the team.

 

[PlayaHata]

We need to send this thread to the W They’d be crazy not to hire @pollardsvision

As an Indy resident, I am a newly converted Fever and CC fan who has never really followed the WNBA until this season. I for one love reading this thread. Thanks and keep it up, @pollardsvision!

 

[pollardsvision]

We need to send this thread to the W They’d be crazy not to hire @pollardsvision

As an Indy resident, I am a newly converted Fever and CC fan who has never really followed the WNBA until this season. I for one love reading this thread. Thanks and keep it up, @pollardsvision!

Thank you.

For the Caitlin and the Fever, the Olympic break could be so awesome.

They are in the thick of trying to get into the Playoffs. They don't have anybody going to the Olympics (Boston was a consideration too, and she's played a decent amount with Team USA).

Many of the other top teams have a lot of players going. Aces have 2/3rds of their rotation that won't get that month off (and their schedule will be brutal when they get back). Liberty and Mercury both have 3. Storm only have 1 for USA, but a couple for Australia. Same deal for Minnesota.

Coming back from the break, the teams fighting to get into the last couple of spots of the playoffs will be rested/practiced, and all the top teams will not be. There's already a lot more competitive balance than the league normally has.

But this is setting up for a young, rested team to get into the Playoffs and do some damage a year or 2 ahead of schedule.

 

[pollardsvision]

Although, speaking of the Storm, I may just be trying to speak it into existence because I love them, but if anybody is betting, they are great bet, IMO.

+1000 to +1200 to win it all.

They've got the vets with championship experience. They are getting acclimated faster than expected. Young Ezi is 2 years away from winning an MVP, but most don't know it yet. Horston is the most athletic player in the league and can come as close to shutting down your best wing as anybody in the league.

During the Olympic break, Nneka and Skylar will get some rest. The most notable veterans getting rest during that break.

They could maybe use a tad more outside shooting, but I just can't understand why the odds are that long.

 

[pollardsvision]

Hate on DT all you want, but but those of us that love Clark have wanted to see this sort of laugh all season long

We can only hope it was a joke about Griner's farts.

 

[pollardsvision]

All-star roster will be announced tonight on WNBA Countdown just before Caitlin does battle with the back-to-back Champs.

Game has been moved, of course, to T-Mobile Arena that holds 18,000. Aces normally play in a 12,000 person arena (and I believe all their home games sold out for the season a couple weeks ago).

I assume Jackie Young will mostly guard Caitlin.

I think a big part of the Mercury win was that the Mercury had their best offensive player guarding Caitlin. Mercury have to have a big game from Copper to win and she was probably exhausted chasing Caitlin around.

Aces have a deep offensive arsenal. Heck, they can even call up Caitlin's bestie off the bench to get some buckets.

 

[SWC]

i honestly hope that clark just sticks it to the olympic team including a logo three that would warm the cold dark recesses of my faithless heart take that to the bank bromigos

 

[pollardsvision]

Oh, and congrats to the June Rookie of the Month, Angel Reese.

 

[pollardsvision]

I don't think she will, but it would be awesome if Dijonai made the All-Star game.

Tore both ACL's before age 25. Finally healthy and a dominant defensive force for one of the league's best teams.

 

[pollardsvision]

I do have to apologize in advance.

If Ezi somehow doesn't make it, I'm going on a drunken rant.

It's tight for the AS game, and some of the rookies and young'ens gotta get in. Some really awesome players are going to get squeezed out. But it just can't be Ezi.

Should be defensive player of the year. 6'4" with a 7 foot wingspan. Anchoring one of the best defenses in the league. But now running the floor like a guard, dishing and finishing. Shooting 3's now too.
An Aussie project getting to this amazing place after 5 years grinding it out and getting better.

There's an MVP campaign in this kid very soon.

 

[pollardsvision]

That's just assuming Hamby and Nneka make it. But nothing can be assumed in this year.

If either of them don't make, it was good knowing you guys and I'll go have a good season.

 

[pollardsvision]

Such a fun game between Chicago and Atlanta.

Tina Charles banging with the young twin towers in Cardoso and Reese. First play of the game, Charles swatted Cardoso's shot, and Charles went down the court explaining to Cardoso how she could have put that shot up without getting it blocked.

And Chennedy just taking it to the team that draft her #4 overall 2 years ago. Yeah, that's Chennedy's fault, but man, you just love to see a kid get it together.

I doubt Chennedy will make the All-Star game, but it won't be because I didn't vote for it. She was on all of my ballots. If she's not an All-Star then Iverson never was. She's a female Iverson.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Clark's passing is fantastic. When she gets the ball she is immediately double-teamed. She senses in a split second where the open player is and finds her in perfect stride.

 

[pollardsvision]

Can't argue with the All-Star roster too much. Everybody on it deserves to be there, and there are just so many good players.

Ezi didn't make it, but Brionna Jones is great too.

Probably even more surprised Skylar didn't make it. It never occurred to me that she wouldn't. And as far as winning the game goes, a veteran PG like her could have really helped.

It wouldn't have happened, but Ezi and Alanna Smith would have been great. The anchor's/rim protectors for the 2 best defensive teams in the league, and can both stretch the floor.
They also happen to be teammates for Australia (who I'd imagine can make Team USA sweat).
Lynx or Storm should have had more than 2 All-Stars.

It's also a little bit odd to see an All-Star team with 7 of the 12 players on losing teams. Not that it's right or wrong.

 

[pollardsvision]

Chennedy Carter down the stretch was something else last night. She carried them to that road win.

And good for her doing it in Atlanta. Atlanta drafted her #4 in 2020.
I don't know the details of how it ended poorly, but it did and Chennedy surely has a checkered past.

But you have to love a redemption story. Something about Coach Spoon and the Sky seems to be a good place for Chennedy to write one.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

@pollardsvision As a fellow compulsive, I admire you’re dedication.

I don’t even have to watch!

 

[SWC]

las vegas changed thier venue for the clark fever game and drew 20366 the most for a wnba game since 1999 it is mind bogglingly stupid that she isnt on team usa this is a chance to expand womens basketball worldwide and raise the stakes and salaries of everyone but some jealous aholes are keeping her down and thats just stupid take that to the bank brohans

 

[pollardsvision]

Clark's passing is fantastic. When she gets the ball she is immediately double-teamed. She senses in a split second where the open player is and finds her in perfect stride.

It really is. The final score got out of hand, but they played the Champs to a near draw for almost 3 quarters. Looked like it was going to get out of hand in the 3rd, and then the Fever went on a great run.

But there's a lot of great players in the league.................and then there's A'ja. It's like if TIm Duncan was also faster, with a great handle, a better shot, and played a little bit pissed off. Best low post player in the game, but if she's got the ball at the top of the key, you're pretty much effed. She'll either drain the jumper or be at the rim in 2 dribbles.

And it's unfair that she plays with Young and Plum. They can all drop 15 in a quarter at any time.
A'ja and Plum had the big scoring nights, but I'm always so impressed with Young. As always, she's tasked with chasing the other teams best perimeter player around. Especially hard when it's Clark she's chasing around. Did a great job on defense and still put in a quiet 15-10.

The Fever are coming together though, and the future is so bright. Such a great game they played at the end of a tough road trip. But the Champs are the Champs for a reason.

 

[pollardsvision]

las vegas changed thier venue for the clark fever game and drew 20366 the most for a wnba game since 1999 it is mind bogglingly stupid that she isnt on team usa this is a chance to expand womens basketball worldwide and raise the stakes and salaries of everyone but some jealous aholes are keeping her down and thats just stupid take that to the bank brohans

I thought we were past this, but I guess everybody still wants to go there.

1. It's not a WNBA decision. As far as I can tell, game attendance in the WNBA is not a factor for the US Olympic committee.
2. She missed the Olympic trials.
3. No experience with USA Basketball since U19 in 2021.
4. Almost no international experience. Most players in the WNBA play in international leagues in the off-season to make extra money.
5. No experience with any of the veterans on the team.
6. They have 5 practices before the games, so experience is a pretty big deal.
7. I know nobody cares, but Team USA is loaded.

I must preface the next part by saying (again and again and again) that Clark is amazing. She's having an amazing rookie year and will have an amazing WNBA career. For a Seinfeld reference, I absolutely wear the ribbon.

8. Probably the only way Team USA loses is because of turnovers..........Want to know who leads the WNBA in turnovers by a massive margin?
Again, that's not a knock on her. She's a young guard with the ball in her hands a lot. There's going to be a lot of turnovers. But for Caitlin to be Caitlin, she has to be fast and loose with the ball. Entering new competition with people she's never played with before, that's going to lead to a lot of turnovers. On a team where you've got months and years to get on the same page, it's going to lead to dominance when it comes together. The Olympics do not provide that sort of timeline.

9. The other way they lose is because they don't play good enough defense. Caitlin is not a good defender yet. Pretty awful really. Which is to be expected from a rookie.
Cheryl Reeve is the coach and she preaches defense. Just look at what the Lynx are doing right now with a bunch of players most have never heard of.

Taurasi is also not a great defender at age 42. As I said in the other thread, she's obviously a legacy pick. Like it or not that happens. She provides a ton of international experience and she can shoot (hitting 3's at a higher clip than Caitlin even as a 42 year old).

People can keep calling it jealousy or whatever, without any evidence, all they want, but there are plenty of other good reasons she's not on the team.

 

[BassNBrew]

Interesting stat line comparison between Taurasi and Clark in this game

Taurasi: 19 pts, on 5-14 shooting, 2-10 from 3, 3 Reb, 3 *** and 5 TO

Clark: 15 pts on 4-14 shooting, 2-10 from 3, 9 Reb, 12 *** and 6 TO




But sure, lets send the 42 yo to another Olympics instead of the rookie drawing huge crowds.


Season stats:

Taurasi: 16.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.5 APG
Clark: 16.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.6 APG

Oddly short-sighted move by USA basketball.

Geez that is some horrendous shooting