Hoops

WNBA 2017 Season

Amazing start to the WNBA finals this morning.
LA raced out to a 28-2 lead, playing some ridiculously good basketball against one of the greatest teams ever, ... fast forward and it was bucket for bucket down the stretch and some clutch play that got it done in the end. Really good game. ESPN are replaying it later this afternoon/evening.

Before the series I was thinking that age was going to be a problem for Minnesota in this fairly compact series, but in typical Agler style he is just not using his bench at all, so the Lynx might actually be the ones in better shape by the end.

Yeah, I agree. They're not the clear standouts they were last season, but LA are playing well, Minnesota haven't been but they're healthy again at the right time, and the Sun looked really dangerous but have been down on form just lately.
NY finished the season on a 10 game winning streak, yet I'm still not convinced they're beating a top 2 team in a series.

Hoping for a surprise, but the chances seem low.

Hard to pick anyone else but Lynx and sparks.

Playoffs tip off in a few minutes. All of the aussies & part-aussies are involved

Minnesota Lynx 27-7
Los Angeles Sparks 26-8
New York Liberty 22-12 (Allen)
Connecticut Sun 21-13
Phoenix Mercury 18-16 (Mitchell, Talbot, George)
Washington Mystics 18-16
Dallas Wings 16-18
Seattle Storm 15-19 (Whitcomb)
-------------
Chicago Sky 12-22
Atlanta Dream 12-22
Indiana Fever 9-25
San Antonio Stars 8-26

Talbot has had a pretty good rookie season. 2 games ago vs Mystics, 20 mins, 12 points, 3 boards and 4 assists with a +16 (+/-)

George has had a below average year, Mitchell has still been a solid contributor.

Worrying form from Phoenix currently. Poised to clinch a spot in the finals but slumping instead - allowing Seattle and Dallas a chance to overhaul them? Aussie contingent not performing well at all.

Yeah

9-0 with Moore playing like a second-stringer. Lynx on fire.

I know they started like this last year, but it feels different this time...maybe because the results have been so decisive and no one is really challenging them this time like the Sparks the season before?

Thanks!

Depends how local you mean.
For Wildcats & Lynx focus there is NBL Nation
For the WNBL there is Basket Case
For Aussie basketball in general The Pick and Pop is short & sweet. (The other 2 are quite long, and mostly done just during the NBL/WNBL season)

@Luuuc

A championship lost because of a blown call.

Whalen is probably the biggest weakness. She was slowing down a lot last time, could easily be exploited. But other teams have so many other players to concentrate on too. So stacked.

Thanks for the podcast link. On the topic, who does the best podcast for the local women?

Podcast: Dallas Wings executive, Australian basketball great Erin Phillips

The two discuss Phillips’ transition, memories of her WNBA championships, and what she’s hoping to accomplish in a career that’s already encompassed so much success. Plus: how she’ll handle it if her twins decide to play internationally, one for America, one for Australia.

Seriously quality group. (They should still be kicking themselves for losing last season's finals though)
They haven't even played particularly well, yet they're 6-0 and already have a 1.5 game lead at the top. Fowles the early MPV favourite. Look out once Maya gets going.
I agree that taking their winter off will pay dividends. They'll start off rusty, but the older legs should have more life in them at the business end of the season.
Is any other team going to get close to them this season?
LA aren't the same team with Toliver gone.
Hopefully Seattle can stay healthy and make a push. 4-1 and Stewart is yet to really get going.

Finding this thread is tricky!

How good are the Lynx! Still unbeaten. Life in the old cats yet. Not playing in Europe definitely paying off for their main stars.

Actually mitchell willbe 35 before Tokyo comes around.
I'd say the point guard spot will fall to a few of those current under 25 players.

See what the pg situation looks like in 3 years. Mitchell will be 33-34y.o I believe.

I've always been cautious about Sami's Opals chances because I still think our greatest need is at PG, and the gap from Leilani to the next best is pretty big.
It really would be bloody handy if we could look into getting Leilani classed as 100% Australian.

Brondellos close ties with Mitchell may not be good for Whitcombs opals chances.

Sami Whitcomb show today :D

(for anyone who wants to see it, start from the 3rd quarter at 2:30. it's worth it)

Taurasi shooting a blistering 20% from the floor on the year

and was just suspended for the next game against New York Liberty (Bec Allen's team) for an unprovoked hit to an opponent's head.

So much for marital bliss having a positive impact on her attitude.

Erin Phillips Joins Dallas Wings as Director of Player & Franchise Development

http://wings.wnba.com/news/erin-phillips-joins-dallas-wings-director-player-franchise-development/

:|

Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi married former Mercury player Penny Taylor, now the team’s director of player development, on Saturday.
The ceremony was held a day before the Mercury began their 21st season Sunday.
"Just an amazing day, one of the happiest days we've ever had," Taurasi said after the Mercury's 68-58 loss to Dallas.

Terrible game for Phoenix. Taurasi 1/11. Griner 2 boards in 32 minutes.

Steph Talbot got the start though. And foul trouble. But ended up with 2 points & 5 boards in 15 min. George 2 & 5 in 11 min off the bench. Those two accounted for 10 of Phoenix's 17 total rebounds for the game. Yikes.

Hmmm... sorry, that link failed

https://twitter.com/i/live/858018226579529728

First WNBA to be live streamed on Twitter is in progress atm. 2nd half just underway

Final rosters in

Why does that mean whitcomb made the team?

Whitcomb has t taken out citizenship yet

Why does that mean whitcomb made the team?

Did she get citizenship yet?

... but on the plus side - that means Sami Whitcomb made the team :D

Seattle Storm have waived Jenna O'Hea
Not entirely surprising, but still :(

http://storm.wnba.com/news/seattle-storm-announces-roster-wnba-tipoff-presented-verizon/

swollboi Dallas were predicted to be one of the worst teams in the league this year. Nothing has changed there.

Think of it like Hawthorn moving on from Sam Mitchell or Jordan Lewis. If they aren't going to be good for a while they might as well develop their younger players that will be under contract for a while.

Also its just sport no need for the outrage...

"but how will the team ever replace her 4.7 points and 1.2 assists per game????"

hahahahaha looooooooooooooool

"Phillips being cut is a f***ing outrage man smh. I can't believe it. Who these f***in Dallas clowns think they are?"

She chose to play AFLW. You reap what you sow.

but how will the team ever replace her 4.7 points and 1.2 assists per game????

Settle down, she obviously didn't make the cut for a reason.
The WNBA guard scene has changed this season. A lot of speedy guards.

Phillips being cut is a f***ing outrage man smh. I can't believe it. Who these f***in Dallas clowns think they are?

Phillips was on fire at the Olympics, better than so many players in that league AND the captain of Dallas. How very dare they? I for one hope they fail because of this.

At 31 the trend for younger players has pushed her out basically, doubt lightening will pick her up, but you never know they are cashed up right now so you may find they will try to lock her in, would certainly be a big scoop for the lightening and Lucas, an instant draw card to bring in the crowds, though Clydesdale who's changed clubs would likely end up back on the bench.

Teams don't like her AFLW silliness, risking her body.

Strange move given she is on a guaranteed max contract.

I'm sure that there would be other teams interested in Erin's services this year. I think now it will be a matter of how much they're willing to pay, and whether Erin would be willing to relocate for the season.

Wnbl Adelaide?

Dallas Wings waive Erin Phillips

:O

I did not see that one coming!
This can't help their chances of Liz Cambage joining them either.

Not a chance in hell of making World Cup squad. The qualifiers maybe.

Feeling for Jarry. Hopefully she can come back home and perhaps play some SEABL then smash out a great WNBL season so she can get invited back next year. Though on the bright side it means she should be available for the Opals WCQ side.

No shame in being cut by a wnba team. Its a tough league with good players out of the draft every year.

Very difficult league to crack, especially if you don't have a guaranteed contract or solid history of minutes and production with other teams.

Some more preseason bits
- Phoenix hosted Seattle today and Talbot (16p @ 100%), George (16p & 6r) & Whitcomb (12p) all did good things
- After having little impact in her first 2 games, Mikaela Ruef had 18p & 7r yesterday for LA

On the not-so-good side
- Bec Allen got the start today for NY but fouled out in 11 minutes with 0p 1r
- Rachel Jarry has been waived by Atlanta :(