2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread (Part 2)

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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#21 » by MrDollarBills » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:02 pm

Ice Man wrote:Oh, boy, time for the conspiracy theorists. Kalani Brown just got hit with a flagrant foul against Clark -- #7 on the year that Clark has suffered, by far the most in the league. The Internet has had a field day with that. But ... this was a pure basketball play, Brown just got carried away after getting beaten on a layup and clocked Clark on the follow through of her attempted block.

On another note, man WNBA players miss a lot of wide open layups. That Hull miss was a shocker. I guess that partly happens because they are under the rim, but still.


I didn't see the play, just got in from traveling but I'll take your word for it.

I think you nail it. There's a huge difference between a hard basketball foul and a flagrant 2. Out of the fouls CC has been hit with this year, while a few of them were clearly dick moves (Chennedy, Deshields), I am trying to think of a play that was so malicious that there was intent to seriously cause her injury.

Regarding the missed lay ups, ever since i started watching the W, that has always been a thing that I have noticed as well.

Now, i have my theory on why that is compared to the NBA, but it's a nuanced discussion that involves a mature conversation discussing actual physical differences between women and men, and I don't wanna engage in it without someone chiming in out of left field with misogynist takes.

So, basically my thought is, because
if my biology class memory serves me correctly, women/female presenting people (I use this language to include our non binary members of the league) have a lower proportion of lean muscle tissue distributed in their upper body, I think that impacts lay ups when you factor in:

A) finishing through contact

B) in game fatigue

Now, this is just my theory, and I would love for someone who actually is well versed in female/male biology to chime in because I think it's a cool discussion to have and I am not sure that I am correct. But it's the one thing that I think of that plays a part in it.

What I do not think however, is that it's a skill issue. I've seen both A'ja and Stewie blow lay ups on traffic plenty of times and they are elite players irregardless of gender. I just think it's just an aspect of the women's game due to just how the players physically are built.

I really hope what I wrote makes sense, and I would love for someone who knows way more than me to add their two cents or say hey MDB you're a moron that has no clue about women's bodies.
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2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#22 » by sikma42 » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:03 pm

DayofMourning wrote:
sikma42 wrote:
Ice Man wrote:Ooh boy. Clark with an otherwise great game, but gave the ball away twice consecutively in the final minute when Indy was trying to nurse the lead. Just yikes. Those were rookie mistakes, big time. Well, they win anyway. Clark with 35 points/8 assists, Mitchell with 30 points, and Boston with 15/6/6. I don't think much of their supporting cast, but that's quite the trio.

The final score of the game was 110-109, which tells you what you need to know about Indy's defense. That's not playoff quality.

This. My takeaway: not a well played game by either team. Just a shootout. Also, Satou is gonna be a key free agent next year.


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Is Satou a free agent after this season ends?

Yup, free agent after this season

Not familiar with the WNBA salary cap but playing w CC would prob get her more than enough in endorsements to make it work out

https://www.si.com/onsi/womens-fastbreak/wnba/indiana-fever-urged-to-pair-top-wnba-free-agent-with-caitlin-clark-01j5xdsk1313#:~:text=Sabally%20is%20currently%20playing%20for,after%20the%202024%20season%20ends.


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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#23 » by hermes » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:08 pm

is there an endorsement boost for fever players this year or just something people are assuming is happening?
like are fever players this year (outside of clark) getting noticeably more endorsements?
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#24 » by MrDollarBills » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:09 pm

sikma42 wrote:
DayofMourning wrote:
sikma42 wrote:This. My takeaway: not a well played game by either team. Just a shootout. Also, Satou is gonna be a key free agent next year.


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Is Satou a free agent after this season ends?

Yup, free agent after this season

Not familiar with the WNBA salary cap but playing w CC would prob get her more than enough in endorsements to make it work out

https://www.si.com/onsi/womens-fastbreak/wnba/indiana-fever-urged-to-pair-top-wnba-free-agent-with-caitlin-clark-01j5xdsk1313#:~:text=Sabally%20is%20currently%20playing%20for,after%20the%202024%20season%20ends.


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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#25 » by cdubbz » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:11 pm

sikma42 wrote:
DayofMourning wrote:
sikma42 wrote:This. My takeaway: not a well played game by either team. Just a shootout. Also, Satou is gonna be a key free agent next year.


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Is Satou a free agent after this season ends?

Yup, free agent after this season

Not familiar with the WNBA salary cap but playing w CC would prob get her more than enough in endorsements to make it work out

https://www.si.com/onsi/womens-fastbreak/wnba/indiana-fever-urged-to-pair-top-wnba-free-agent-with-caitlin-clark-01j5xdsk1313#:~:text=Sabally%20is%20currently%20playing%20for,after%20the%202024%20season%20ends.


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Interesting.

I still don't think current free agents would want to sign a long term deal especially with the new CBA coming after next season where they can potentially make more money, but I could be wrong.
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#26 » by MrDollarBills » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:11 pm

hermes wrote:is there an endorsement boost for fever players this year or just something people are assuming is happening?
like are fever players this year (outside of clark) getting noticeably more endorsements?


I don't know to be honest if there has been an endorsement boost. I would figure that AB has seen some endorsements pick up?

I have no way of telling unfortunately. I see CC's Gatorade commercial all the time though.
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#27 » by MrDollarBills » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:13 pm

cdubbz wrote:
sikma42 wrote:
DayofMourning wrote:
Is Satou a free agent after this season ends?

Yup, free agent after this season

Not familiar with the WNBA salary cap but playing w CC would prob get her more than enough in endorsements to make it work out

https://www.si.com/onsi/womens-fastbreak/wnba/indiana-fever-urged-to-pair-top-wnba-free-agent-with-caitlin-clark-01j5xdsk1313#:~:text=Sabally%20is%20currently%20playing%20for,after%20the%202024%20season%20ends.


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Interesting.

I still don't think current free agents would want to sign a long term deal especially with the new CBA coming after next season where they can potentially make more money, but I could be wrong.


No one should sign a long term deal right now. The league and WNBAPA need to make sure that revenue sharing is right and players are making at minimum six figures.
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#28 » by MrDollarBills » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:18 pm

hermes wrote:
MrDollarBills wrote:
cdubbz wrote:Full lineup today!!

Anyone know any reasoning for the WNBA awful scheduling? Has it always been like this where 1 day there is zero games and the next day every team is playing with several games at the same time?

Read on Twitter


This is embarrassing

Whoever makes these scheduling decisions sucks. I'm sorry, this is unacceptable.

Why is a WNBA game on X? The same X platform that is basically 4chan now full of nazis and literal porn and open prostitution solicitation (i am pro sex work, but not when it involves places where children can see it)???? Is this what we want the brand associated with?

I don't know who else to blame but Cathy for this. I don't have a lot of faith in her. Am I wrong for feeling like this?

i think this is an example of the old way of doing things in the wnba (maybe still the current way), which was mostly just getting by and doing what they could to stay relevant. likely didn't have any pull to get better outcomes because barely anyone used to watch the games.

now that there is more visibility more people are seeing the problems. the league is at an inflection point, and might have a little leverage to get some better outcomes for themselves if they can fight for them. whether the right people are in the right places to do it - i don't know


Well said.

This should be the last year EVER where we see games not being staggered and the tv coverage being this piss poor. It ticks me off, these players deserve so much better.

F*cking X. You think Elon "Hey Taylor Swift let me rape you" Musk cares about the W? Makes me sick..
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#29 » by cdubbz » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:23 pm

MrDollarBills wrote:
cdubbz wrote:
sikma42 wrote:Yup, free agent after this season

Not familiar with the WNBA salary cap but playing w CC would prob get her more than enough in endorsements to make it work out

https://www.si.com/onsi/womens-fastbreak/wnba/indiana-fever-urged-to-pair-top-wnba-free-agent-with-caitlin-clark-01j5xdsk1313#:~:text=Sabally%20is%20currently%20playing%20for,after%20the%202024%20season%20ends.


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Interesting.

I still don't think current free agents would want to sign a long term deal especially with the new CBA coming after next season where they can potentially make more money, but I could be wrong.


No one should sign a long term deal right now. The league and WNBAPA need to make sure that revenue sharing is right and players are making at minimum six figures.


Yeah.

I guess there is the scenario of all UFA just swapping teams and signing 1 year deals. Fever let KM pick her team while they try and get Satou. We could see a 1 year super duper team in the WNBA with all the powerhouse free agents.
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#30 » by hermes » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:24 pm

only commercials with wnba players i can think of right now are:

- cc's gatorade
- that cap app one with bird, sabrina, and a'ja (chiney ogwumike was in one too)
- another one with a'ja dribbling in a gym, don't remember what it's for
- kelsey plum in one with an nba player, something about starting a business i think

there's the skims campaign too
i feel like, at least this season, the increased attention has been a boon for the big names. and really that is probably how it will continue to be - at least at the national level. like nfl role players aren't getting in state farm ads, patrick mahomes is. there might be some more opportunities at the local level though - which we largely won't see unless we're on the ground there. i'm not really plugged in but i haven't seen any lynx players in anything around here
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#31 » by Ice Man » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:25 pm

MrDollarBills wrote:I think you nail it. There's a huge difference between a hard basketball foul and a flagrant 2.


Unfortunately for Brown, this was a hard basketball foul that had to be called a flagrant 2, because of her follow through. It wasn't intentional, but it was reckless. I felt bad for her, but it was the right call.

On a different note, it's so much better listening to the Fever announcers than my Bulls announcers! When calls go against Indy the commentators note their players' frustration but leave it at that. Of course they get excited for their team but they always remain professional. Whereas Stacey King ... moan, whine, complain, rewind the tape three times, outrage. Then of course if the same call happens to the other team he just passes over the incident.

Good job Indy announcers!
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#32 » by hermes » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:31 pm

from the perspective of the tv people, this year probably was a big 'prove it' year as to whether the fans would actually watch wnba games and stick with it through the season

at the end of the day its all about money and wnba isn't getting spots if no one is watching. i think viewership has been good enough to justify better/more tv slots - maybe not the best ones (outside of a cc-angel matchup) but its a process
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#33 » by MrDollarBills » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:36 pm

Ice Man wrote:
MrDollarBills wrote:I think you nail it. There's a huge difference between a hard basketball foul and a flagrant 2.


Unfortunately for Brown, this was a hard basketball foul that had to be called a flagrant 2, because of her follow through. It wasn't intentional, but it was reckless. I felt bad for her, but it was the right call.

On a different note, it's so much better listening to the Fever announcers than my Bulls announcers! When calls go against Indy the commentators note their players' frustration but leave it at that. Of course they get excited for their team but they always remain professional. Whereas Stacey King ... moan, whine, complain, rewind the tape three times, outrage. Then of course if the same call happens to the other team he just passes over the incident.

Good job Indy announcers!


I saw it



This was a legit basketball play, Kalani went for and blocked the shot, but the issue is that after the block occurred the follow through caught Clark in the neck/head area. The officials made the correct call, F1, two FTs and the ball. Any blow to the neck/head area regardless is going to be elevated to a Flagrant 1 and I have zero issue with that.

This wasn't a malicious play at all. I really hope the lames in the media (Stephen A) don't try to make this into more than it is.

Play on. This is grown woman hoops.


Oh, also I like local announcers that remain objective during games. Ian Eagle, Mike Breen...absolutely professional guys.
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#34 » by MrDollarBills » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:39 pm

I'll say one thing, and this goes for both leagues:

A hard foul on a shot block attempt where the defender is going for the ball but inadvertently makes head/neck contact is a much cleaner basketball play to me than someone sliding under an airborn player out side of the restricted circle to try and draw a charge.
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#35 » by cdubbz » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:44 pm

Nike Muhl got 2 early minutes in the game. If Storm keep their big lead at the half I would hope they just give her some bigger minutes.
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#36 » by MrDollarBills » Sun Sep 15, 2024 10:47 pm

hermes wrote:only commercials with wnba players i can think of right now are:

- cc's gatorade
- that cap app one with bird, sabrina, and a'ja (chiney ogwumike was in one too)
- another one with a'ja dribbling in a gym, don't remember what it's for
- kelsey plum in one with an nba player, something about starting a business i think

there's the skims campaign too
i feel like, at least this season, the increased attention has been a boon for the big names. and really that is probably how it will continue to be - at least at the national level. like nfl role players aren't getting in state farm ads, patrick mahomes is. there might be some more opportunities at the local level though - which we largely won't see unless we're on the ground there. i'm not really plugged in but i haven't seen any lynx players in anything around here


The car app commercial with Chiney in the front seat? Oh my god I love that one.

Chiney is...whew. Her husband is a lucky man.

:lol: So yeah there's two WNBA related husbands that I would fist fight out of pure jealousy (I'm joking, I'm very happy that Chiney and Betnijah have themselves good partners that support them and treat them like the queens they are).
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#37 » by cdubbz » Sun Sep 15, 2024 11:00 pm

hermes wrote:from the perspective of the tv people, this year probably was a big 'prove it' year as to whether the fans would actually watch wnba games and stick with it through the season

at the end of the day its all about money and wnba isn't getting spots if no one is watching. i think viewership has been good enough to justify better/more tv slots - maybe not the best ones (outside of a cc-angel matchup) but its a process


I agree.

The NBA needs to market THE CRAP out of the WNBA and the WNBA needs to sell themselves like crazy. NOW IS THE TIME!

Clark, Reese, Brink, Rickea, Paige all need to be marketed like crazy.

I wouldn't dare say this on social media apps, but i'll say it here: Sex sells right? The WNBA has attractive players that could boost viewership to men and casual fans.
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#38 » by MrDollarBills » Sun Sep 15, 2024 11:20 pm

Vegas is smacking CT
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#39 » by zimpy27 » Sun Sep 15, 2024 11:21 pm

cdubbz wrote:
hermes wrote:from the perspective of the tv people, this year probably was a big 'prove it' year as to whether the fans would actually watch wnba games and stick with it through the season

at the end of the day its all about money and wnba isn't getting spots if no one is watching. i think viewership has been good enough to justify better/more tv slots - maybe not the best ones (outside of a cc-angel matchup) but its a process


I agree.

The NBA needs to market THE CRAP out of the WNBA and the WNBA needs to sell themselves like crazy. NOW IS THE TIME!

Clark, Reese, Brink, Rickea, Paige all need to be marketed like crazy.

I wouldn't dare say this on social media apps, but i'll say it here: Sex sells right? The WNBA has attractive players that could boost viewership to men and casual fans.



I don't think they will take that angle, the path to fastest growth is there but I think they've shown that they aren't taking that path at the expense of their moral platform (which I don't blame them).

If they do start complaining about salary again though I don't think NBA players are going to have the same patience with them. They already seem annoyed that they haven't done more with this CC phenomenon.
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Re: 2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread 

Post#40 » by MrDollarBills » Sun Sep 15, 2024 11:55 pm

cdubbz wrote:
hermes wrote:from the perspective of the tv people, this year probably was a big 'prove it' year as to whether the fans would actually watch wnba games and stick with it through the season

at the end of the day its all about money and wnba isn't getting spots if no one is watching. i think viewership has been good enough to justify better/more tv slots - maybe not the best ones (outside of a cc-angel matchup) but its a process


I agree.

The NBA needs to market THE CRAP out of the WNBA and the WNBA needs to sell themselves like crazy. NOW IS THE TIME!

Clark, Reese, Brink, Rickea, Paige all need to be marketed like crazy.

I wouldn't dare say this on social media apps, but i'll say it here: Sex sells right? The WNBA has attractive players that could boost viewership to men and casual fans.


I had to think about this.

If the players want to market off of attractiveness, that is absolutely their right. Personally I think Brink could be fashion model if she wasn't too busy being an elite level shot blocker, but i don't know if she wants to do that. Obviously Angel markets herself as her Barbie nickname and embraces it. She's doing great.

It all comes down to the agency of the players. It should be their call. The reason I say this is because I remember back in the day the players were pressured to be "more feminine" to be appealing. The league should stay out of that and market the hoops aspect, and let the players use their platforms to choose how they market themselves as individuals.

The men of the NBA aren't marketed for being attractive, their athletic prowess and different personalities matter more. The WNBA should focus on that part too.
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