Chicago Sky/WNBA thread 2024

[Ice Man]

That was a great, and clutch performance by Angel.

She's been scoring off of rolls and dumps offs as well the last 6 games or so. When she can develop that mid range jumper to work consistently, she's going to really pop off.

I am guessing that by Year 3 Reese and Clark will be each be acknowledged as being the best in the WNBA at their positions, but that could happen as early as next year. What a rivalry this will be!

(Reese already rebounds better than any WNBA #4, defends, and passes well enough. She just needs to make more shots, which she is doing recently. As for Clark, her across-the-board stats are now slightly superior to those of Sabrina Ionescu, who has the highest PER of any WNBA point guard. The only thing holding Clark back, as everybody knows, is turnovers.)

Oh, and for sure both Reese and Clark could play on the Olympic team without that team missing a beat. In fact, I think it would improve, because while Reese and Clark each have a weakness that needs fixing, they also each have a talent that nobody else on the Olympic squad possesses, with Reese being an unmatched offensive rebounder and Clark being the best in-game 3 point shooter. (Ionescu might well be better in a contest, but in a real game, when being pushed out to 28 feet and under defensive pressure, Clark is the best. On an Olympic team, she would be truly deadly, because opponents could never guard her that close, not without opening themselves up to being crushed by her Olympic teammates.)

But I will not re-litigate that decision.

[wojoaderge]

I am guessing that by Year 3 Reese and Clark will be each be acknowledged as being the best in the WNBA at their positions, but that could happen as early as next year. What a rivalry this will be!

(Reese already rebounds better than any WNBA #4, defends, and passes well enough.

I would love that, but don't A'ja Wilson ,Breanna Stewart, and Alyssa Thomas play her position?

[Ice Man]

I am guessing that by Year 3 Reese and Clark will be each be acknowledged as being the best in the WNBA at their positions, but that could happen as early as next year. What a rivalry this will be!

(Reese already rebounds better than any WNBA #4, defends, and passes well enough.

I would love that, but don't A'ja Wilson ,Breanna Stewart, and Alyssa Thomas play her position?

Ice Man wrote that, and I was treating Wilson and Stewart as centers, which is how basketball-reference lists them. But they have Thomas as a #4, so you are right and that was my bad.

On another note, the recent Sky-Fever game set a new WNBA viewership record, with 2.3 million viewers. Nothing close to the NCAA Final 4 numbers, but a lot for the WNBA! For comparison's sake, the average NBA game on TNT last season drew 1.4 million viewers, while the games in the first two rounds of the playoffs averaged 4.0 million viewers.

[Clocian]

Angel is a beast. Just had a 12pt, 19 reb, 2 blk, 3 ast game.

Within the last like 72 hours she's become an All Star, Rookie of the Month, broke the record for consecutive double doubles, and is leading the entire league in rebounds as a rookie....

[Ice Man]

I attended my first WNBA game last night. The NY Liberty hosting the Minnesota Lynx. I was surprised at the size of the crowd, which was just under 11,000, for a Tuesday night game against a very good team, but one without a big-name player. And I was surprised at how LOUD the game was. As in, I don't recall the UC being that loud. My ears were ringing. The audience was a relatively young, there aren't many corporate types there, and the people came ready to yell. A lot.

A well played game, I very much enjoyed it.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Firstly well deserved that Angel Reese and Caitlyn Clark became allstars. Great job.

Some observations: Angel Reese is an absolute beast in terms of rebounding. League leading 11.8 rebs per game. She is a double double machine now and more in the future.

But she really needs to completely change her layup package. She is flat out terrible at it right now. Now I wasn't expecting it this season since rookies don't have an offseason, but if Angel comes back next season being able to confidently finish around the basket and hit a jumper, she has the tools to be an MVP in the league.

I saw the game from Caitlyn last night. While she maybe leading the league in turnovers, her passing is far ahead of her offense/shooting right now. Caitlyn has all the makings of being the leagues best scorers and assist makers. Her vision and passing is savant like in the league. She does make a few really poor decisions but that will improve.

I honestly think Caitlyn could average 10 assists a night right now. But she doesn't have the players, or the game plan/coaching to get the best out of her. I do think Boston is a good running mate. I also think by next season when changes happen, that is when Caitlyn really is going to explode on offense and assists.

Side note: Mainstream media thinks she is a punk because she shoved Caitlyn, but they are missing out. Chennedy Carter is HER! She is a baller. One of the fastest and best finishers in the league.

[Ice Man]

But she really needs to completely change her layup package. She is flat out terrible at it right now. Now I wasn't expecting it this season since rookies don't have an offseason, but if Angel comes back next season being able to confidently finish around the basket and hit a jumper, she has the tools to be an MVP in the league.

Angel Reese is Exhibit #1 that NCAA coaches aren't development coaches. Angel had 4 years to address this issue. Kim Mulkey couldn't be bothered, they were winning games.

I saw the game from Caitlyn last night. While she maybe leading the league in turnovers, her passing is far ahead of her offense/shooting right now.

Caitlin Clark is Exhibit #2 that NCAA development coaches. Caitlin had 4 years to develop a pull-up 2 point shot and a floater. Nope and nope. Lisa Bluder couldn't be bothered, they were winning games.

[Clocian]

HUGE game from Barbie and Ken to win against Seattle and the Refs on the road.

Angel - 27pts (8-13) (2-2 from 3!), 10 reb, 2 blks, 2 asts.
Chennedy Carter - 33pts (15-24), 4 reb, 3 ast

The double-double streak continues for Angel. Definitely in the lead for ROTY

[Betta Bulleavit]

HUGE game from Barbie and Ken to win against Seattle and the Refs on the road.

Angel - 27pts (8-13) (2-2 from 3!), 10 reb, 2 blks, 2 asts.
Chennedy Carter - 33pts (15-24), 4 reb, 3 ast

The double-double streak continues for Angel. Definitely in the lead for ROTY

Reese stepping up and knocking down 4 straight clutch ones without batting an eyelash was a thing of beauty.

[DASMACKDOWN]

HUGE game from Barbie and Ken to win against Seattle and the Refs on the road.

Angel - 27pts (8-13) (2-2 from 3!), 10 reb, 2 blks, 2 asts.
Chennedy Carter - 33pts (15-24), 4 reb, 3 ast

The double-double streak continues for Angel. Definitely in the lead for ROTY

If Angel can start hitting mid range jumpers and 3s, we are looking at future MVP.

The ROY race is super close. Its one of those things were in reality, both fully deserve to win.

Both Angel and Caitlyn are having historic seasons as rookies. I originally thought this was Caitlyn's award to lose (and it still is) but Angel said hold my lashes.

I still do think Caitlyn is the betting favorite but only slightly. To me Angel has to completely impress the masses that its undeniable her greatness. Games like last night where even Angel's biggest haters are like 'respect'. I think if Angel can get the Sky to the playoffs, that may ultimately be her best chance.

[Shill]

If voting for ROY ended today, I'd give it to Clark, but Reese, to her credit, has put herself in the conversation by leading the W in rebounding.

The big differentiator for me is the defensive attention that Clark gets. Teams are gearing up to stop her.

She IS the offense. Lexie Brown of the Sparks talked about how she's "number one on the scouting report."

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I don't think I'd ever seen somebody not shoot the second free throw because of concern about getting back on defense.

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Rebecca Lobo also talked about how a rookie has never been picked up 94 feet and face-guarded 40 feet away from the basket.

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Despite all of that, she's gaining on Alyssa Thomas for APG leader.

Reese's offensive game is still raw, but she's been pretty good at drawling fouls, and she knocks down her FTs.

[jc23]

I guess it makes sense if you are on a bad team that your opponent will focus on you like that. Being the primary ball handler makes it that much easier. Mitchel (who is on the Fever) is equally as adept a scorer (imo) and is constantly left wide open. In watching most of the Fever games the game plan is to play deny on CC and then never help off her during the play. Basically how teams play Curry; except Caitlin is not Curry. Curry wasnt even Curry as rookie.

Ultimately its on Caitlin and her coach to figure things out and counter. In the NBA when you are face guarded off ball; you back cut . I have not seen alot of that in the wnba. So im not sure if its a Fever issue or a wnba issue.

[Shill]

I guess it makes sense if you are on a bad team that your opponent will focus on you like that. Being the primary ball handler makes it that much easier. Mitchel (who is on the Fever) is equally as adept a scorer (imo) and is constantly left wide open. In watching most of the Fever games the game plan is to play deny on CC and then never help off her during the play. Basically how teams play Curry; except Caitlin is not Curry. Curry wasnt even Curry as rookie.

Ultimately its on Caitlin and her coach to figure things out and counter. In the NBA when you are face guarded off ball; you back cut . I have not seen alot of that in the wnba. So im not sure if its a Fever issue or a wnba issue.

One counter is for the bigs to be good decision-makers in middle of the floor off the PnR action.

Boston and Smith have been hit-or-miss.

[DuckIII]

It’s just one quarter of basketball, but is anyone watching the Fever/Liberty game right now? Clark is basically single-handedly kicking their ass.

[DASMACKDOWN]

It’s just one quarter of basketball, but is anyone watching the Fever/Liberty game right now? Clark is basically single-handedly kicking their ass.

But what gets me mad is she literally stops shooting. She has that Lebron type Im making the right play type of thing..and she does. But also she has to keep the foot on the gas of always being a scoring threat.

[DASMACKDOWN]

And even me picking her game on improvement, she still gets a triple double. That just shows you how different she is.

As I have said, Angel and Caitlyn are babies in this league and are probably at the greenest part of their careers. Yet are still breaking records. I can see them both being an MVP at some point, maybe sooner than we think.

[dice]

Angel is a beast. Just had a 12pt, 19 reb, 2 blk, 3 ast game.

Within the last like 72 hours she's become an All Star, Rookie of the Month, broke the record for consecutive double doubles, and is leading the entire league in rebounds as a rookie....

she is a beast...as a rebounder

[Clocian]

Angel is a beast. Just had a 12pt, 19 reb, 2 blk, 3 ast game.

Within the last like 72 hours she's become an All Star, Rookie of the Month, broke the record for consecutive double doubles, and is leading the entire league in rebounds as a rookie....

she is a beast...as a rebounder

Dang, people in here hating, for a player playing for Chicago nevertheless. I see what it is though.

[dice]

HUGE game from Barbie and Ken to win against Seattle and the Refs on the road.

Angel - 27pts (8-13) (2-2 from 3!), 10 reb, 2 blks, 2 asts.
Chennedy Carter - 33pts (15-24), 4 reb, 3 ast

The double-double streak continues for Angel. Definitely in the lead for ROTY

If Angel can start hitting mid range jumpers and 3s, we are looking at future MVP.

The ROY race is super close. Its one of those things were in reality, both fully deserve to win.

Both Angel and Caitlyn are having historic seasons as rookies. I originally thought this was Caitlyn's award to lose (and it still is) but Angel said hold my lashes.

I still do think Caitlyn is the betting favorite but only slightly. To me Angel has to completely impress the masses that its undeniable her greatness. Games like last night where even Angel's biggest haters are like 'respect'. I think if Angel can get the Sky to the playoffs, that may ultimately be her best chance.

what in holy hell is going on here? angel reese has outright sucked offensively and not been particularly active defensively. so far, she rebounds. that is it. was andre drummond ever a potential mvp candidate?

[dice]

Angel is a beast. Just had a 12pt, 19 reb, 2 blk, 3 ast game.

Within the last like 72 hours she's become an All Star, Rookie of the Month, broke the record for consecutive double doubles, and is leading the entire league in rebounds as a rookie....

she is a beast...as a rebounder

Dang, people in here hating, for a player playing for Chicago nevertheless. I see what it is though.

you just posted a stat line that is entirely unimpressive for a big other than the rebounding number

telling the truth and not being a flagrant homer is not "hating"

bizarrely, i once got chewed out by a mod for calling someone a hater

anyway...if angel was not famous for being an allergen to caitlin clark, nobody would be talking about her