2025 WNBA Regular Season Discussion Thread

[hermes]

storm storm back

[hermes]

lynx coming back

[hermes]

huge mcbride 3

[hermes]

rats

[MrDollarBills]

And now one remains.

[Green Chile]

Seattle now atop the Commissioner's Cup standings in the West.

[ellobo]

Great win by Seattle.

I didn't see the Phoenix-Dallas game, but did see highlights of Paige's 35 point outing. She was uncharacteristically aggressive launching jumpers anytime a defender gave an inch of space, and did a great job creating separation when a bigger defender like Satou was on her. She looked great, although looking at the game stats no one else shot well and the Dallas defense continues to be atrocious.

Phoenix has a really strange roster with AT, Satou (and hopefully Copper at some point), a couple of vet role players, and a bunch of older free agent rookies. But it's working so far.

Meanwhile, the Aces seem to be still leaking oil and blowing tires.

Edited to add: I just found out that TJ McConnell is the nephew of Suzie McConnell-Serio who set NCAA records for career and season assists, season assist average, and career triple double, was an Olympic and FIBA gold medalist, was 1x All-WNBA 1st team (she joined the WNBA in 1998 at 31 years old), and WNBA Coach of the Year.

And TJ's sister is Megan McConnell, currently a rookie WNBA player on the roster of the Mercury, although she injured her knee in her first game action and is expected to be out for several weeks.

[hermes]

seattle really wanted that game, felt like a playoff game for them. they were amped up

[Ice Man]

Paige is gonna be an MVP. Maybe sooner rather than later, if her team gets good enough. She's an all-round baller, but that pull-up midrange shot is what makes her truly special. She's this league's SGA.

[Green Chile]

seattle really wanted that game, felt like a playoff game for them. they were amped up

They were. Lynx are obviously the better team. First part of the 3rd quarter was the best representation of these two teams, I think. Lynx came out, made the adjustments defensively, and it was Lynx rolling as usual.

But the Lynx were on the road playing an amped up team that shot the leather off the ball. Phee missed some shots that are normally automatic. Although the insane length of the Storm probably had something to do with that.

Storm aren't the most crisp in the halfcourt offense, and don't normally shoot this well.

But if we're going to imagine a scenario where the Storm take the leap (as I like to do), we're seeing most of what we need to see for that to happen.

Nneka and Skylar are always going to do what they do. But you mix in Gabby playing like Olympic Gabby. She's such a stud. Her and Veronica Burton are going to have a torrid race for MIP. And oh dear, if we see Ezi getting it going offensively as we did last night. Just her cooking a little is all we need. She changes the game defensively. 3 times last night somebody got blown up on one of those awesome Lynx screens, but Ezi cleaned it up.

E-Wheezy is far better than anybody could have imagined. Not gonna lie. I was hoping the Storm would cut her to keep Sundell. But she plays with that Storm tenacity. Other teams may have better guards, but if I find myself in a bar fight, I want Skylar and Wheeler on my side.

Those AC minutes matter. Aces wouldn't be such a dumpster fire if they still had her.

And of course, Malonga. She does some 19 year old stuff (she had another F-it, I gotta find out moment with Phee like she did with BG). But she's a super athletic 19 YO with a 7-1 wing span. She's making a difference more and more.

I don't think they can crack the Liberty-Lynx tier. But I love this team so much. They give a **** and they can do some things.

[Ice Man]

Basketball Reference has a statistic called Game Score, which summarizes a player's contributions as measured by box score -- meaning mostly offensive contributions, but also including steals, blocks, and defensive rebounds. On Wednesday night, Paige Bueckers had a score of 30. My guess is that is the second highest Game Score ever by a rookie WNBA guard. I didn't check every guard of course, but neither Diana Tauresi nor Maya Moore were ever close to that as rookies, and Cailtin Clark only exceeded that score once, in her 23rd game played.

For the record, Paige went -

35 points on 13 for 19 shooting
6 rebounds
6 assists
1 steal
1 block
2 TOs

[MrDollarBills]

Paige is gonna be an MVP. Maybe sooner rather than later, if her team gets good enough. She's an all-round baller, but that pull-up midrange shot is what makes her truly special. She's this league's SGA.

That's my dawg right there. She will be a champion and an MVP she just needs time get outta Dallas

[MrDollarBills]

Speaking of Dallas, Dijonai and Satou got into it last night after Sabally flipped her the bird watch Satou in the huddle. Paige tries to grab Dijonai to no avail

Watch on YouTube

I love it. This season has been too tame so far. McBride cussing out the Storm may have started the fireworks

I'm honestly shocked that Tasha Cloud hasn't gotten into it with someone yet this season

The three usual suspects are her, Dijonai and Kelsey Plum. I wish I could find the meme where someone photoshopped them sitting in Cathy's office, being asked "Why is it when something goes down it's one of you three?"

[MrDollarBills]

seattle really wanted that game, felt like a playoff game for them. they were amped up

They were. Lynx are obviously the better team. First part of the 3rd quarter was the best representation of these two teams, I think. Lynx came out, made the adjustments defensively, and it was Lynx rolling as usual.

But the Lynx were on the road playing an amped up team that shot the leather off the ball. Phee missed some shots that are normally automatic. Although the insane length of the Storm probably had something to do with that.

Storm aren't the most crisp in the halfcourt offense, and don't normally shoot this well.

But if we're going to imagine a scenario where the Storm take the leap (as I like to do), we're seeing most of what we need to see for that to happen.

Nneka and Skylar are always going to do what they do. But you mix in Gabby playing like Olympic Gabby. She's such a stud. Her and Veronica Burton are going to have a torrid race for MIP. And oh dear, if we see Ezi getting it going offensively as we did last night. Just her cooking a little is all we need. She changes the game defensively. 3 times last night somebody got blown up on one of those awesome Lynx screens, but Ezi cleaned it up.

E-Wheezy is far better than anybody could have imagined. Not gonna lie. I was hoping the Storm would cut her to keep Sundell. But she plays with that Storm tenacity. Other teams may have better guards, but if I find myself in a bar fight, I want Skylar and Wheeler on my side.

Those AC minutes matter. Aces wouldn't be such a dumpster fire if they still had her.

And of course, Malonga. She does some 19 year old stuff (she had another F-it, I gotta find out moment with Phee like she did with BG). But she's a super athletic 19 YO with a 7-1 wing span. She's making a difference more and more.

I don't think they can crack the Liberty-Lynx tier. But I love this team so much. They give a **** and they can do some things.

I wouldn't say that Seattle can't Crack the Liberty/Lynx tier. They play hard as hell and I wouldn't be shocked if they beat either one of us.

[MrDollarBills]

Looks like CC will return versus the Liberty tomorrow

[MrDollarBills]

[Green Chile]

Looks like CC will return versus the Liberty tomorrow

Hopefully it's another banger.

It's been a really fun season with a lot of great basketball, if you have League Pass. But for a lot of the players and teams that draw in more viewers, it's been a rough go.

Caitlin's injury, Paige and Angel playing for nearly unwatchable teams, Aces sucking, now A'ja hurt.

For the broader viewership, a great game today would be helpful.

If 3 million people were tuning into view the Valkyries, Mystics, Dream, or Storm they would be well entertained, but not quite there yet.

[Green Chile]

Seattle sending Yueru to Dallas for a 2nd and a 3rd.

Makes sense. It'd be good to see Yueru get some playing time, and I think she could help Dallas.

A 2nd round pick from Dallas is farn near 1st round pick (especially since it comes with a pick swap from the Sun). So not a bad return. And Seattle needs the roster spot.

[BlacJacMac]

Phee taking out her frustration from the loss on the Sparks.

"Mercy rule" in order?

[MrDollarBills]

Looks like CC will return versus the Liberty tomorrow

Hopefully it's another banger.

It's been a really fun season with a lot of great basketball, if you have League Pass. But for a lot of the players and teams that draw in more viewers, it's been a rough go.

Caitlin's injury, Paige and Angel playing for nearly unwatchable teams, Aces sucking, now A'ja hurt.

For the broader viewership, a great game today would be helpful.

If 3 million people were tuning into view the Valkyries, Mystics, Dream, or Storm they would be well entertained, but not quite there yet.

Yeah this is rough. I'm watching Sparks vs Lynx on CBS and I couldn't think of worse match up for national TV. It's a 32 point lead at the half

The scheduling this season has been pretty bad