WNBA discussion thread?

[LV renaissance]

Now all we need is for the Sparks to play on an EST schedule and be on better networks so we can watch. I am on board the Sparks train. A remarkable turnaround!

 

[madtownvol]

Cam Brink had 5 blocks in 16 mins! What an addition to an already surging team!

All that and Cam is still working her way back too (she is probably 70%). Once her shot starts dropping, that will be another big plus for the Sparks.

Gotta say, Plum had a nice game. She is on the ball a lot (11 assists last night), It seems that she and Allemand are kind of playing like a two headed PG monster.

Roberts is not quite doing the positionless b-ball thing but there is a lot of fluidity in how they play their positions. Stevens and Brink as bigs who can stretch the floor seems key to this system.

Another excellent defensive outing for Rickea who had to guard McDonald for long stretches and had 0 fouls in her 32 minutes.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Now all we need is for the Sparks to play on an EST schedule and be on better networks so we can watch. I am on board the Sparks train. A remarkable turnaround!

you can access the replay on league pass

 

[gfan]

Sparks Seattle game was amazing. For those that are interested in Tennessee players as they move into the pros, last night was as good a story as we could get in recent years.

Rickea absolutely owned Gabby Williams, the former UConn standout and almost usurper of team USA in the Olympics last year. Gabby is touted for her superior defense and athletic skill and speed and jumping ability. Rickea like just laughed in her face, took her in the paint and just kicked her ass in the 4th Q and both overtimes last night.

So beautiful to watch.

What a great game. I happened to be visiting Seattle. Our former Lady Vols came to play.

 

[madtownvol]

Another win for Sparks. Rickea had a huge first half (17 points) and finished with 20. Game not televised so only going by bix scores. She did not play many minutes or take many shots in 2nd. Hopefully nothing is wrong.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Another win for Sparks. Rickea had a huge first half (17 points) and finished with 20. Game not televised so only going by bix scores. She did not play many minutes or take many shots in 2nd. Hopefully nothing is wrong.

Well deserved respite. She’s been ballin’.

 

[madtownvol]

Well deserved respite. She’s been ballin’.

Saw the ESPN highlight. The Sun put miore defensive emphasis on RJ and Plum snd other picked up the scoring,

 

[glv98]

Another win for Sparks. Rickea had a huge first half (17 points) and finished with 20. Game not televised so only going by bix scores. She did not play many minutes or take many shots in 2nd. Hopefully nothing is wrong.

Got in foul trouble early in the second half. Sat due to that. Tremendous first half though and KP really stepped up in the second. RJ has hit 3s much better. She’s really looking comfortable and Robert’s has said she’s still learning how to use her. She’s now allowing mid range for RJ!

I keep saying Julie Allemande!! Had a triple double last night. She makes everyone better.

Sparks have a huge game w Golden State on Saturday. Could get to .500 and could be firmly in playoff spot. Lots of tough games to go though!

 

[BruisedOrange]

I know this post will generate its share of accusations of "over-reaction." But over my lifetime, I'm realizing that almost every "over-reaction" that I've smugly poo-poohed... has eventually proven prescient.
------------
Circus owner/promoter P.T. Barnum reputedly said, “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.”
19th century playwright/celebrity Oscar Wilde said, “There’s only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”

A friend, who recently got backing from a major media distributor for a movie he's directing, was telling me about the creative promotional tactics this distributor uses to promote projects. Their approach was indirect, non-traditional, and amazingly creative!

It got me thinking about this current WNBA season, and left me more convinced than ever that what we are seeing (in both the Clark on-court controversies AND what's now being thrown onto courts) is part of a league-approved, league-contracted, asymmetrical promotional campaign.

If so, is this working for the WNBA? Will it work for the long-term? I get the bad feeling that the league has been caught in a private equity growth model.

Gone is the appeal to a generation of young girls to pursue excellence in the sport as part of a career path. The promotional appeal now seems to be to adults and for fast growth over the next 3-5 years that allows investors to reap their profits from accounting tricks more than the long-term growth of the product--which will likely dump support of the players when all the profit has been squeezed out of the league.

I just don't have a good feeling about this, and if it happens, what will its impact then be on college women's basketball?

Submitted with tactful respect for our forum guidelines, this meme is a way of illustrating the downside in how the league has been promoted into our national conversation:


So, what is an appropriate age for a young girl to begin following the WNBA, and when did that even become a question?

 

[madtownvol]

Got in foul trouble early in the second half. Sat due to that. Tremendous first half though and KP really stepped up in the second. RJ has hit 3s much better. She’s really looking comfortable and Robert’s has said she’s still learning how to use her. She’s now allowing mid range for RJ!

I keep saying Julie Allemande!! Had a triple double last night. She makes everyone better.

Sparks have a huge game w Golden State on Saturday. Could get to .500 and could be firmly in playoff spot. Lots of tough games to go though!

Ah, foul trouble, boo those refs! Our Rickea does not commit fouls! Watching the box score, I was hoping that she would put a 30+ but the zebras had other ideas.

Cam looks to be finding her offensive touch as well.

They definitely need this win against the the GSV. They have used up their degrees of freedom with their bad start and need to feast on the non-elite teams.

 

[madtownvol]

I know this post will generate its share of accusations of "over-reaction." But over my lifetime, I'm realizing that almost every "over-reaction" that I've smugly poo-poohed... has eventually proven prescient.
------------
Circus owner/promoter P.T. Barnum reputedly said, “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.”
19th century playwright/celebrity Oscar Wilde said, “There’s only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”

A friend, who recently got backing from a major media distributor for a movie he's directing, was telling me about the creative promotional tactics this distributor uses to promote projects. Their approach was indirect, non-traditional, and amazingly creative!

It got me thinking about this current WWBA season, and left me more convinced than ever that what we are seeing (in both the Clark on-court controversies AND what's now being thrown onto courts) is part of a league-approved, league-contracted, asymmetrical promotional campaign.

If so, is this working for the WNBA? Will it work for the long-term? I get the bad feeling that the league has been caught in a private equity growth model.

Gone is the appeal to a generation of young girls to pursue excellence in the sport as part of a career path. The promotional appeal now seems to be to adults and for fast growth over the next 3-5 years that allows investors to reap their profits from accounting tricks more than the long-term growth of the product--which will likely dump support of the players when all the profit has been squeezed out of the league.

I just don't have a good feeling about this, and if it happens, what will its impact then be on college women's basketball?

Submitted with tactful respect for our forum guidelines, this meme is a way of illustrating the downside in how the league has been promoted into our national conversation:

View attachment 762005
So, what is an appropriate age for a young girl to begin following the WNBA, and when did that even become a question?

Upon further investigation, you are in the ball park in regard to the objects being thrown on the court but it is not PR stunt orchestrated by the WNBA. It stared with crypto investors and then others became copycat trolls.

WNBA sex toy controversy explained: Why are they being thrown on court at games?

What to know about the sex toys being thrown onto the court at WNBA games, including the latest clues into why it keeps happening.

www.usatoday.com

 

[VolBall09]

I know this post will generate its share of accusations of "over-reaction." But over my lifetime, I'm realizing that almost every "over-reaction" that I've smugly poo-poohed... has eventually proven prescient.
------------
Circus owner/promoter P.T. Barnum reputedly said, “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.”
19th century playwright/celebrity Oscar Wilde said, “There’s only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”

A friend, who recently got backing from a major media distributor for a movie he's directing, was telling me about the creative promotional tactics this distributor uses to promote projects. Their approach was indirect, non-traditional, and amazingly creative!

It got me thinking about this current WNBA season, and left me more convinced than ever that what we are seeing (in both the Clark on-court controversies AND what's now being thrown onto courts) is part of a league-approved, league-contracted, asymmetrical promotional campaign.

If so, is this working for the WNBA? Will it work for the long-term? I get the bad feeling that the league has been caught in a private equity growth model.

Gone is the appeal to a generation of young girls to pursue excellence in the sport as part of a career path. The promotional appeal now seems to be to adults and for fast growth over the next 3-5 years that allows investors to reap their profits from accounting tricks more than the long-term growth of the product--which will likely dump support of the players when all the profit has been squeezed out of the league.

I just don't have a good feeling about this, and if it happens, what will its impact then be on college women's basketball?

Submitted with tactful respect for our forum guidelines, this meme is a way of illustrating the downside in how the league has been promoted into our national conversation:

View attachment 762005
So, what is an appropriate age for a young girl to begin following the WNBA, and when did that even become a question?

I don’t think it was orchestrated by the W but I do think they unintentionally legitimized it with their comments and outrage. If they had just laughed it off and moved on it would have been a one off deal. The fact that players, coaches and executives legitimized it with comments and their time encouraged more.

The W continuously cuts itself down. They had a huge opportunity over the last two years and they have objectively blown it. Not just in regards to Clark. Interest has tanked again and it’s returned to being the frequent butt of online jokes similar to pre-2024. Very unfortunate.

One of the biggest mistakes was allowing old, washed up, rude, unappealing players continue to dominate the league status quo. Players like Taurasi, Bonner, Thomas, Charles, Dolson and a few others should have been forced out a long time ago.

 

[th2421]

I don’t think it was orchestrated by the W but I do think they unintentionally legitimized it with their comments and outrage. If they had just laughed it off and moved on it would have been a one off deal. The fact that players, coaches and executives legitimized it with comments and their time encouraged more.

The W continuously cuts itself down. They had a huge opportunity over the last two years and they have objectively blown it. Not just in regards to Clark. Interest has tanked again and it’s returned to being the frequent butt of online jokes similar to pre-2024. Very unfortunate.

One of the biggest mistakes was allowing old, washed up, rude, unappealing players continue to dominate the league status quo. Players like Taurasi, Bonner, Thomas, Charles, Dolson and a few others should have been forced out a long time ago.

Where is your evidence for literally any of this?

 

[madtownvol]

Where is your evidence for literally any of this?

On a related note, Alyssa Thomas posted her 3rd straight triple double last night (a WNBA record) and is very much in the MVP conversation.

 

[VolBall09]

On a related note, Alyssa Thomas posted her 3rd straight triple double last night (a WNBA record) and is very much in the MVP conversation.

Very much no lmao.

Awful player. Bunch of dohs, shoulder checks and shot puts the basketball. If they made her mvp they would be the laughing stock of sports for eternity.

 

[madtownvol]

Very much no lmao.

Awful player. Bunch of dohs, shoulder checks and shot puts the basketball. If they made her mvp they would be the laughing stock of sports for eternity.

You're free to have an opinion just like flat earthers and those who know better are free to ignore it. "LMAO"


"Thomas has finished in the top five in MVP voting in each of the last three seasons and was the runner-up to Breanna Stewart in the historic 2023 race....Just a few weeks ago, the WNBA MVP race seemed over, but Napheesa Collier's ankle injury has opened the door for Thomas to make a late charge. After Thursday night, Collier is a -420 favorite, per Caesars Sportsbook, with Thomas sitting at +250. " Alyssa Thomas makes WNBA history with three consecutive triple-doubles as Mercury star continues MVP push

 

[VolBall09]

You're free to have an opinion just like flat earthers and those who know better are free to ignore it. "LMAO"


"Thomas has finished in the top five in MVP voting in each of the last three seasons and was the runner-up to Breanna Stewart in the historic 2023 race....Just a few weeks ago, the WNBA MVP race seemed over, but Napheesa Collier's ankle injury has opened the door for Thomas to make a late charge. After Thursday night, Collier is a -420 favorite, per Caesars Sportsbook, with Thomas sitting at +250. " Alyssa Thomas makes WNBA history with three consecutive triple-doubles as Mercury star continues MVP push

Literally sucks. Unwatchable garbage. There is a reason Phoenix is literally GIVING tickets away.

 

[StorrsCentral]

Apparently, you don't know professional sports. As in all pro leagues, this is their job man, not some side hustle as they attend college classes. As long as they have worth to a team they will continue to play. I'm sure you are new to the W, only watching games that have recent Lady Vols on the teams' rosters. Those players you mentioned are all players that have had an impact on the league at one point, and when they are at the point of not being able to help a team, they will retire. Us older people, and one that has watched the W since its inception, these players have been great pros and have helped the league advance through the years. You have no respect for these players, as well as others because you only know what you are watching now with rose colored glasses. You sound like one of those CC fans who think the league started when she entered the league.

 

[Coach Jumper]

Apparently, you don't know professional sports. As in all pro leagues, this is their job man, not some side hustle as they attend college classes. As long as they have worth to a team they will continue to play. I'm sure you are new to the W, only watching games that have recent Lady Vols on the teams' rosters. Those players you mentioned are all players that have had an impact on the league at one point, and when they are at the point of not being able to help a team, they will retire. Us older people, and one that has watched the W since its inception, these players have been great pros and have helped the league advance through the years. You have no respect for these players, as well as others because you only know what you are watching now with rose colored glasses. You sound like one of those CC fans who think the league started when she entered the league.

trust me Storrs you are literally

do you remember Darth,,,de jas vous