2024 WNBA Season Discussion Thread (Part 2)

[MrDollarBills]

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.

If the players do not see a substantial increase offer in salary once the new deals kick in, they should complain. The lower salaries in the WNBA aren't worth it. That's why you see people with real basketball skill opting for different profession because 5 figures to play high level basketball is not worth it.

Whether the NBA players support them or not is irrelevant I think.

The WNBA has a 2.2 billion dollar TV deal. I think this thing is about to explode.

[cdubbz]

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 hope so. companies should swarm to Boston, Wheeler, KM, Hull & whoever. Great personalities. Clark is known to let her teammates in on the action like she did with Iowa.

[zimpy27]

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.

If the players do not see a substantial increase offer in salary once the new deals kick in, they should complain. The lower salaries in the WNBA aren't worth it. That's why you see people with real basketball skill opting for different profession because 5 figures to play high level basketball is not worth it.

Whether the NBA players support them or not is irrelevant I think.

The WNBA has a 2.2 billion dollar TV deal. I think this thing is about to explode.

Players will be paid more but not until 2027.

[cdubbz]

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.

If the players do not see a substantial increase offer in salary once the new deals kick in, they should complain. The lower salaries in the WNBA aren't worth it. That's why you see people with real basketball skill opting for different profession because 5 figures to play high level basketball is not worth it.

Whether the NBA players support them or not is irrelevant I think.

The WNBA has a 2.2 billion dollar TV deal. I think this thing is about to explode.

Players will be paid more but not until 2027.

2026. Next off season is going to be insane. This off season can be pretty insane too if free agents and teams start to plan for 2026.

They can opt out of the current CBA by end of the season and then they renegotiate before 2025 season starts. The new CBA would then start by 2026 with the 2025 season being the last season of the former CBA. That's why there are so many free agents after next season.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/06/26/wnba-new-cba-2026/

[Ice Man]

A good reason to join the Fever is for an All Star selection. Mitchell has been All World since the break, but when she was selected for the All Star team she was a pretty shaky choice. But she got so many fan votes because she is on Indiana that those votes but her over the hump.

[cdubbz]

A good reason to join the Fever is for an All Star selection. Mitchell has been All World since the break, but when she was selected for the All Star team she was a pretty shaky choice. But she got so many fan votes because she is on Indiana that those votes but her over the hump.

Clark, KM, & Boston should be a trio locked in for All-star selections for years. I can maybe see Boston getting bumped out because her numbers aren't always the biggest, but i doubt it?

[Ice Man]

A fair poitnt. You think the league wouldn't take 4?

[RSCD3_]

I think Sabally would be the best possible FA the Fever could reasonably get, I think her spacing would do wonders for the team and her defense isn't terrible or anything, she'd probably be the best defensive 4 on the roster if she joined rn. I think Nalyssa has a role in the W, but the way Sides is using her as a spacer instead of a slasher isnt working and her defense isn't there enough to justify her starting position

[Green Chile]

I think Sabally would be the best possible FA the Fever could reasonably get, I think her spacing would do wonders for the team and her defense isn't terrible or anything, she'd probably be the best defensive 4 on the roster if she joined rn. I think Nalyssa has a role in the W, but the way Sides is using her as a spacer instead of a slasher isnt working and her defense isn't there enough to justify her starting position

I'd imagine any team with cap space is going hard after Sabally. Nearly all the veterans set their contracts to end after 2025 to take advantage of the salary increases.

Leaving Sabally as the only real marquee free-agent this off-season.

I don't know the cap situation for most teams, but I know the Sky have a bunch of cap space and will likely be making a strong push.

[Green Chile]

Such a tough loss for Chicago.

And an incredibly odd one too. I'm not sure it's happened all season, but the Sky were blazing hot from 3.

But then with Cardoso in foul trouble, then out with the shoulder injury, Griner just went nuts. Griner always makes life hell on a Sky team, even when healthy, that loves to live in the paint. Once Cardoso was out, there was absolutely no answer (and she was clearly compromised when she was in).

The Sky kids gave it all they had, but Griner and Taurasi just closed them out.

And I'm adding Izzy Harrison to my list, with Emily Engstler, of players that somebody much smarter than me has to explain why they aren't a major contributor for a title contender. She's working her way back from injury, but she always looks so good.

I know I said I couldn't pick a favorite team, but apparently I was lying. I can never root against Chicago. Certainly not against Spoon and Chennedy. Flawed as they may be, this team just plays their ass off.

[Ice Man]

Yes, it's a bit hard to imagine the Sky losing while going 14-25 on 3s! But as you point out, they got bullied in the paint without their bigs available.

[MrDollarBills]

Such a tough loss for Chicago.

And an incredibly odd one too. I'm not sure it's happened all season, but the Sky were blazing hot from 3.

But then with Cardoso in foul trouble, then out with the shoulder injury, Griner just went nuts. Griner always makes life hell on a Sky team, even when healthy, that loves to live in the paint. Once Cardoso was out, there was absolutely no answer (and she was clearly compromised when she was in).

The Sky kids gave it all they had, but Griner and Taurasi just closed them out.

And I'm adding Izzy Harrison to my list, with Emily Engstler, of players that somebody much smarter than me has to explain why they aren't a major contributor for a title contender. She's working her way back from injury, but she always looks so good.

I know I said I couldn't pick a favorite team, but apparently I was lying. I can never root against Chicago. Certainly not against Spoon and Chennedy. Flawed as they may be, this team just plays their ass off.

Coach Spoon is the reason I can't root against Chicago unless they're playing NY. I have so much respect for her from her playing days, and to see how she takes these young women under her wing is endearing.

[zimpy27]

I think Fever can beat the Sun in the first round. I think they have a chance in the second round too. Would be crazy thing to see them in the finals.

[MrDollarBills]

I think Fever can beat the Sun in the first round. I think they have a chance in the second round too. Would be crazy thing to see them in the finals.

First round, possibly i agree...but I would not underestimate the Sun in the playoffs. That series is going to be super physical.

However, if they get past the Sun, their next likely opponent is the Lynx.

I think Minnesota would sweep the Fever. They are seriously good and I rank them over my own Liberty. Their defense is suffocating

[Green Chile]

What a huge night, boy and girls!

[Green Chile]

I'm not a betting man, but the Storm being 8.5 point dogs at home sounds ludicrous to me.

I don't care if it's the Aces. Storm shouldn't be 8.5 point dogs at home to anybody.

But then again, there's a reason I don't gamble.

[MrDollarBills]

I'm not a betting man, but the Storm being 8.5 point dogs at home sounds ludicrous to me.

I don't care if it's the Aces. Storm shouldn't be 8.5 point dogs at home to anybody.

But then again, there's a reason I don't gamble.

Jewel and Ezi are out tonight which is why the line shifted so drastically towards LV

I wouldn't touch that game with a ten foot pole. The Aces are way too erratic for my tastes.

[hermes]

go lynx!

[hermes]

in another example of strange wnba scheduling, sometimes you can play a team multiple times in quick succession other times you have the lynx-sun where each of the games have been every other month (may, july, sept)

[MrDollarBills]

Not a bad game between NY and Washington