Chicago Sky/WNBA thread 2024

[Ice Man]

Nobody complains when an NBA player misses 60% of their 3-pointers because the payoff is worth it. I see Clark's turnovers in a similar manner. She creates so many easy buckets that they offset the occasional bad pass.

She is not "actively harming" her team. Total nonsense.

I think that criticism is fair when the team is in the half court, because Clark/Fever are just another good team in that situation. Taking care of the ball is important. When they are in transition, though, you are exactly right. Clark made 4 TOs in the first half yesterday. Bad, right? I mean, that's on pace for 8 TOs in the game. But in truth, that was no problem at all. The Fever scored 55, which is a whole lot in a league when teams average 41 points per half, because the Fever were running and Clark was leading a layup drill.

[Shill]

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[Ice Man]

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She has been almost exactly the professional player than one would expect, given her college stats. Everything has become moderately worse, but not precipitously so --- scoring efficiency, assists per game, turnovers, rebounds, etc. The only thing that has declined more than I expected is shooting attempts, which are down a lot -- from 23 per game as a college senior to 13 this season. But maybe I should have expected that, because while college defenses also targeted her, in the hopes of taking the ball out of her hands, they were far less effective at that task than the WNBA defenses are.

[GetBuLLish]

Somewhat surprised no one has posted about Reese's blatant stat padding to continue her double double streak. Clips of her and her team going well out of their way to keep the streak alive have been all over my X feed. Not sure I've seen worse stat padding since Ricky Davis shot on his own hoop twenty years ago to get a triple double.

[Shill]

Somewhat surprised no one has posted about Reese's blatant stat padding to continue her double double streak. Clips of her and her team going well out of their way to keep the streak alive have been all over my X feed. Not sure I've seen worse stat padding since Ricky Davis shot on his own hoop twenty years ago to get a triple double.

Yeah, it was bad.

I give credit to her teammate that was like, "Nah, not like this."

[Almost Retired]

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She has been almost exactly the professional player than one would expect, given her college stats. Everything has become moderately worse, but not precipitously so --- scoring efficiency, assists per game, turnovers, rebounds, etc. The only thing that has declined more than I expected is shooting attempts, which are down a lot -- from 23 per game as a college senior to 13 this season. But maybe I should have expected that, because while college defenses also targeted her, in the hopes of taking the ball out of her hands, they were far less effective at that task than the WNBA defenses are.

I haven't caught all of her games. But I watch the highlights. She's a gifted passer. I think her turnovers will drop as her teammates learn to be hyper alert and how to attack the basket. Boston is feasting on set ups by Clark. I wish the Bulls had a point guard that could pass like Clark.

[Ice Man]

I haven't caught all of her games. But I watch the highlights. She's a gifted passer. I think her turnovers will drop as her teammates learn to be hyper alert and how to attack the basket. Boston is feasting on set ups by Clark. I wish the Bulls had a point guard that could pass like Clark.

Her logo 3 reputation notwithstanding, she's a better passer than shooter. Maybe she would win a WNBA 3 point content, maybe not. But nobody sees the floor like she does. That said, she always been sometimes sloppy/reckless, so I expect her turnover numbers will always be high. When James Harden was in his prime with the Rockets and had a Clark-like role of being both a scorer and creator, he was making about 5 TOs per game. I imagine that Caitlin will be similar. Her passing style is like Harden's, as opposed to (say) the more careful style of Haliburton.

[Wingy]

I haven't caught all of her games. But I watch the highlights. She's a gifted passer. I think her turnovers will drop as her teammates learn to be hyper alert and how to attack the basket. Boston is feasting on set ups by Clark. I wish the Bulls had a point guard that could pass like Clark.

Her logo 3 reputation notwithstanding, she's a better passer than shooter. Maybe she would win a WNBA 3 point content, maybe not. But nobody sees the floor like she does. That said, she always been sometimes sloppy/reckless, so I expect her turnover numbers will always be high. When James Harden was in his prime with the Rockets and had a Clark-like role of being both a scorer and creator, he was making about 5 TOs per game. I imagine that Caitlin will be similar. Her passing style is like Harden's, as opposed to (say) the more careful style of Haliburton.

I haven’t seen extended Fever play in awhile, but early-ish, a lot of her TOs were of the completely careless variety. The kinds of things that are theoretically way below her talent level, and draw ire for really any player.

Such as just throwing it right within easy reach of the outstretched defender’s hand on an inbounds pass, or post entry pass.

If she has, or can clean up those simple ones, I think the Fever can pretty easily handle the ones that come off a greater degree of difficulty.

[Betta Bulleavit]

Somewhat surprised no one has posted about Reese's blatant stat padding to continue her double double streak. Clips of her and her team going well out of their way to keep the streak alive have been all over my X feed. Not sure I've seen worse stat padding since Ricky Davis shot on his own hoop twenty years ago to get a triple double.

Yeah, it was bad.

I give credit to her teammate that was like, "Nah, not like this."

As a big Reese fan (I really like Clark too) what’s disturbing to me is that she really doesn’t have to do that. The Dream game and the last Liberty game stand out to me as blatant hunting at the end of those game to further push the steak. She already had the record before those two games so why tarnish it trying to get more double doubles in that way. I don’t know that I’d go as far as to call it “stat padding” because it wasn’t like she was doing it all game long. But in those moments, it clearly was what it eas.

[Ice Man]

[I haven’t seen extended Fever play in awhile, but early-ish, a lot of her TOs were of the completely careless variety. The kinds of things that are theoretically way below her talent level, and draw ire for really any player.

Such as just throwing it right within easy reach of the outstretched defender’s hand on an inbounds pass, or post entry pass.

Yep. Clark is still doing that, which is why she's still collecting 5 to 6 TOs per game. like clockwork. Although the comments about how things will improve when she gets in sync with her teammates was not entirely wrong, because although the turnovers persist she's now accompanying them with FAR more assists than during the early days. Basically, she will always throw the ball away, but if you move off the ball and give her good passing targets, she will also rack up more assists than the WNBA has ever seen.

As for Reese's antics, as with Clark (but in a different way), I don't think she can help herself. Angel has no self-awareness. That is who she is, just as Clark is incurably reckless.

[Ice Man]

On a business note, the league's finances will be substantially improving, as the WNBA reports that its new TV deals will bring it $260 million per year, as opposed to its current level of $60 million. That makes for an additional $16 million per team, which is a lot of money, given that team salaries are $1.4 million. (Although travel costs are surely more than the official salaries.)

[CROBulls]

On a business note, the league's finances will be substantially improving, as the WNBA reports that its new TV deals will bring it $260 million per year, as opposed to its current level of $60 million. That makes for an additional $16 million per team, which is a lot of money, given that team salaries are $1.4 million. (Although travel costs are surely more than the official salaries.)

WNBA is operating at loss this year because on first glance of money, spoiled WNBA players started to use private charters for traveling instead using economy class. WNBA is never gonna be profitable as long they continue making moves like that.

That's like on first glance of your new job salary raise you going to BMW dealership and buy M5 instead still driving your old Honda Civic.

[madvillian]

Somewhat surprised no one has posted about Reese's blatant stat padding to continue her double double streak. Clips of her and her team going well out of their way to keep the streak alive have been all over my X feed. Not sure I've seen worse stat padding since Ricky Davis shot on his own hoop twenty years ago to get a triple double.

Yeah, it was bad.

I give credit to her teammate that was like, "Nah, not like this."

As a big Reese fan (I really like Clark too) what’s disturbing to me is that she really doesn’t have to do that. The Dream game and the last Liberty game stand out to me as blatant hunting at the end of those game to further push the steak. She already had the record before those two games so why tarnish it trying to get more double doubles in that way. I don’t know that I’d go as far as to call it “stat padding” because it wasn’t like she was doing it all game long. But in those moments, it clearly was what it eas.

I have supported her in the past but that sort of ****, as a rookie? Come on now. I'm glad the Liberty self policed her. You're down a dozen points, the game is over, just walk back to the locker room.

[2weekswithpay]

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[Alcatraz17]

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She has been almost exactly the professional player than one would expect, given her college stats. Everything has become moderately worse, but not precipitously so --- scoring efficiency, assists per game, turnovers, rebounds, etc. The only thing that has declined more than I expected is shooting attempts, which are down a lot -- from 23 per game as a college senior to 13 this season. But maybe I should have expected that, because while college defenses also targeted her, in the hopes of taking the ball out of her hands, they were far less effective at that task than the WNBA defenses are.

To me, it's a simple observation. Yes, she is seeing more challenging defenses, but she also is playing with more players looking for her shot. At times, its baffling how long Clark plays without taking a shot. Feels like if she doesn't bring the ball up and take a shot, more than likely she isn't seeing the ball again on that possession.

She needs to be shooting more. I think next season she gets up to 17-19 attempts a game.

[Alcatraz17]

[I haven’t seen extended Fever play in awhile, but early-ish, a lot of her TOs were of the completely careless variety. The kinds of things that are theoretically way below her talent level, and draw ire for really any player.

Such as just throwing it right within easy reach of the outstretched defender’s hand on an inbounds pass, or post entry pass.

Yep. Clark is still doing that, which is why she's still collecting 5 to 6 TOs per game. like clockwork. Although the comments about how things will improve when she gets in sync with her teammates was not entirely wrong, because although the turnovers persist she's now accompanying them with FAR more assists than during the early days. Basically, she will always throw the ball away, but if you move off the ball and give her good passing targets, she will also rack up more assists than the WNBA has ever seen.

As for Reese's antics, as with Clark (but in a different way), I don't think she can help herself. Angel has no self-awareness. That is who she is, just as Clark is incurably reckless.

Mostly agree except for Clark being "incurably reckless". You actually think that Clark won't improve, year to year, in every aspect of her game that she can control? To me, she is extremely cerebral and has already shown significant improvements in her game from the beginning of the year. While she is far from perfect, I'm not sure "incurably reckless" accurately describes her future.

[_txchilibowl_]

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Woah. I don't like this at all. Mabrey was the only consistent shooter on the team and, outside of Carter, the only one who could generate their own shot.

[TheSuzerain]

It's probably fine. I think it's more about clearing her salary off the books so they can re-sign Carter and still have max space to fill in the starting lineup.

Carter
X
X
Reese
Cardoso

Obviously this is what we're working with. Very high defensive ceiling. Do need some 3/D talent.

[dougthonus]

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Woah. I don't like this at all. Mabrey was the only consistent shooter on the team and, outside of Carter, the only one who could generate their own shot.

Seems like a good move to me.

Mabrey was a max contract player that wasn't worth a max contract. The Sun have a chance of being lousy in 26 making that pick swap worth something. The Sky are in a rebuild now anyway, so feels like overall a good move to grab an extra pick in this draft. Even if the Sun are near the best record, there are only 12 teams in the W, so any first rounder has value.

The Sky will now have two 1sts in this next draft to build around their front court. Between Carter, Cardoso, and Reese, they have a pretty good core and the ability to put out an extraordinarily physical team as Cardoso and Reese mature. The Sky's pick should be pretty good next year. Dallas can swap with us, but Dallas is the worst team in the league, so the swap probably won't execute even if we're bad, and if it does (worst case we win the lottery <is there a WNBA lottery?> and they swap) their pick will still be really good.

[_txchilibowl_]

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Woah. I don't like this at all. Mabrey was the only consistent shooter on the team and, outside of Carter, the only one who could generate their own shot.

Seems like a good move to me.

Mabrey was a max contract player that wasn't worth a max contract. The Sun have a chance of being lousy in 26 making that pick swap worth something. The Sky are in a rebuild now anyway, so feels like overall a good move to grab an extra pick in this draft. Even if the Sun are near the best record, there are only 12 teams in the W, so any first rounder has value.

The Sky will now have two 1sts in this next draft to build around their front court. Between Carter, Cardoso, and Reese, they have a pretty good core and the ability to put out an extraordinarily physical team as Cardoso and Reese mature. The Sky's pick should be pretty good next year. Dallas can swap with us, but Dallas is the worst team in the league, so the swap probably won't execute even if we're bad, and if it does (worst case we win the lottery <is there a WNBA lottery?> and they swap) their pick will still be really good.

I was unaware of her contract status. Makes more sense now. Still, it's a bummer for this season.

On a side note, having become a WNBA fan this season I can't help but notice the amount of roster turnover in this league. It seems as if a good number of the players have played on multiple teams. Makes it tough to be a casual fan if your team looks completely different every season.

Does anyone have an explanation for this?