2025 WNBA Regular Season Discussion Thread

[MrDollarBills]

VEGAS is getting their asses BEAT

[MrDollarBills]

Off topic, but the whole WNBA fashion/sex appeal stuff leaves me cold. It's not why I want to watch sports. I have just turned on the French Open's Woman's Final and am being "treated" to Venus Williams & Sarah Jessica Parker sharing their thoughts on fashion design. Sigh.

In case, you haven't noticed, this isn't an anti women's sports rant ... I watch all varieties of women's sports, including high school track videos, for God's sake. This is a "let athletes be athletes" rant.

There's nothing wrong with it though because that isn't for you. Or me for that matter. We aren't the target audience for that stuff.

[MrDollarBills]

Kate Martin halftime buzzer beater!!!!!! She has played really well the last few games and is a nice piece for the Valkyries

Vegas was crazy to not protect her but oh well.

[cdubbz]

Mo Billings gonna give A'ja nightmares tonight!

[Green Chile]

Valkyries are simply must see TV.

So many players that are so fun to root for.
On Mo. I don't ever want to hear Vegas complain about a lack of frontcourt depth. Mo spent most of last year unable to get a season long contract. She was on hardships with freaking Dallas most of the year.

And just letting everybody know that Kate Martin just did the 3rd episode of Sue Bird's "Bird's Eye View" podcast. A wonderful, entertaining conversation between 2 delightful human beings.

[Green Chile]

Also, have the Aces hired a GM yet?
I don't think so, and it shows.

Man, A'ja would look nice in light purple next year.

[cdubbz]

Did the Aces go out in San Francisco last night?! They're playing hungover

[cdubbz]

Valkyries are simply must see TV.

So many players that are so fun to root for.
On Mo. I don't ever want to hear Vegas complain about a lack of frontcourt depth. Mo spent most of last year unable to get a season long contract. She was on hardships with freaking Dallas most of the year.

And just letting everybody know that Kate Martin just did the 3rd episode of Sue Bird's "Bird's Eye View" podcast. A wonderful, entertaining conversation between 2 delightful human beings.

Great listen for sure. Sue Bird spent half the disbelief in how much older she is than Kate.

[cdubbz]

I love Nakase coaching this blowout like she's the one getting blown out. Every rep matters for this roster. It feels like she knows who works well together and who doesn't! Let's gooooooooo!

[Green Chile]

I love Nakase coaching this blowout like she's the one getting blown out. Every rep matters for this roster. It feels like she knows who works well together and who doesn't! Let's gooooooooo!

Whatever happens this year, it's perfectly clear they made the right hire.

Also, Kayla MFing Thornton!
The Liberty start is impressive enough. Holy hell could you imagine if they still had Kayla too.

[MrDollarBills]

Chicago and Dallas need to hire actual coaches and not whatever these two dudes are.

[Ice Man]

Have the Aces gone from two-time champs to irrelevant in only 2 seasons?

[zike_42]

Have the Aces gone from two-time champs to irrelevant in only 2 seasons?

What's going on with the Aces? I haven't been able to watch any of their games but just checked A'ja's stats and she's 2nd in the league in points, 2nd in rebounds, 11th in assists, 1st in steals and 1st in blocks. I'm assuming it's not to do with her?

EDIT - Just saw that three of their starters are shooting sub-38%. Gray 37.7, Loyd 30.6, Stokes 30.0). Yikes.

[OriAr]

Have the Aces gone from two-time champs to irrelevant in only 2 seasons?

Everything about the Aces screams locker room issues.
The tension in that locker room must be insane... I don't think Becky is in Vegas next season unless things turn around dramatically there.

[MrDollarBills]

I would not be surprised to see Hammond fired after this season

[MrDollarBills]

Have the Aces gone from two-time champs to irrelevant in only 2 seasons?

Everything about the Aces screams locker room issues.
The tension in that locker room must be insane... I don't think Becky is in Vegas next season unless things turn around dramatically there.

Plum leaving was the canary in the coal mine.

[Green Chile]

Mercury were pretty impressive even in a loss.

I don't know if it's TIbbetts that's finding all these players or the GM, but holy cow. This game it was that had Held with the big one, but here comes along Musa (I do remember her a little on the Nigerian team at the Olympics). She played some awesome minutes.

In some ways, I thought the Mercury were the better team. They got a lot of unfavorable calls, Gabby couldn't miss in the 1st half, then Skylar couldn't miss in the 2nd half, and that was that.

But good for Seattle to get the win.

Malonga had her moments. Did a nice job with one on one defense guarding Sabally for a couple stretches.

[Green Chile]

Haven't watched the Fever-Sky game yet (may not, Sky aren't a lot of fun to watch right now).

But I noticed Sky did not have a single player score 10 points. I'm sure that's happened before, but I can't imagine it's happened too many times.

[Wingy]

Haven't watched the Fever-Sky game yet (may not, Sky aren't a lot of fun to watch right now).

But I noticed Sky did not have a single player score 10 points. I'm sure that's happened before, but I can't imagine it's happened too many times.

How long does it take bigs, roughly/on average for things to click?

Basically wondering when/if we’ll start to see Cardoso make a bigger impact. I thought it took longer for guards to adjust to the league if I heard/recall correctly.

There’s always other factors like team fit and build. Like many I’m sure, still questioning the long-term fit with Angel.

[Green Chile]

Haven't watched the Fever-Sky game yet (may not, Sky aren't a lot of fun to watch right now).

But I noticed Sky did not have a single player score 10 points. I'm sure that's happened before, but I can't imagine it's happened too many times.

How long does it take bigs, roughly/on average for things to click?

Basically wondering when/if we’ll start to see Cardoso make a bigger impact. I thought it took longer for guards to adjust to the league if I heard/recall correctly.

There’s always other factors like team fit and build. Like many I’m sure, still questioning the long-term fit with Angel.

I'm not sure. Kiki sure is making it look a lot easier than it should be (though she's a very different type of big than Cardoso). Last year, Brink and Angel transferred immediately, able to just focus on what they do well and not rush developing what they don't. I think that part of Kiki's great start had do with playing along side stretch bigs early in Dolson and Engstler. Then Austin and Edwards as they came back from injury. Kiki's had space to operate at the basket and mid-range, and has never been asked to carry the team. She just happens to be that good, but I think it's been good for her early to be a part of good, veteran versatile group of bigs.

Obviously, the Angel-Cardoso pairing is looking suspect at the moment. I'd be curious to see if any team has ever been able to develop 2 young bigs at the same time that both need to be in the paint.

Seems like it's either you are really good and well-rounded early (who often turn into all-time greats), or you are given a role and time to develop. Outside of Phee, not a lot of all-time great bigs that were drafted in the late-lottery or mid-first round. If you are well rounded and able to carry a team from day one, you are Lauren Jackson, Candace, Nneka, Stewie, or A'ja. No doubters drafted #1.

Cardoso and Angel were drafted at 3 and 7. That usually means you need some development, which they do, but they are being asked to lead a team. And both at the same time.

It's a tough situation for them.

I'd love to see an Arike-Cardoso trade.