2025 WNBA Thread

[MU82]

So, you can't name any unlikable WNBA players, and you spend lots of time watching something you claim is "unwatchable."

OK then.

[panda2.0]

So, you can't name any unlikable WNBA players, and you spend lots of time watching something you claim is "unwatchable."

OK then.

Someone accused me already of my opinion being racially charged. What a weak cowardly way of reacting to a fairly benign opinion. I do not want to open up the can of worms that squid is trying engage me with so I will avoid the situation publically. If you want, please dm me and we can discuss. 

[The Sultan]

Someone accused me already of my opinion being racially charged. What a weak cowardly way of reacting to a fairly benign opinion. I do not want to open up the can of worms that squid is trying engage me with so I will avoid the situation publically. If you want, please dm me and we can discuss. 

lol. Makes a statement. Gets called out for said statement. Acts indignant.

Weak even for you.

[panda2.0]

lol. Makes a statement. Gets called out for said statement. Acts indignant.

Weak even for you.

Angel Reese - fraud
Ionescu - goofball weirdo
Taurasi/uconn crew - full of themselves. Taurasi talks to much crap
Kelsey plum - loser
Aja Wilson - Nike cry baby

[Pakuni]

He finds WNBA players unlikable for exhibiting the exact same behaviors we accept, and even celebrate, from male professional athletes.
There's a word for this.

[panda2.0]

He finds WNBA players unlikable for exhibiting the exact same behaviors we accept, and even celebrate, from male professional athletes.
There's a word for this.

You have a broken brain if that's how you interpret my personal opinion.

[Pakuni]

You have a broken brain if that's how you interpret my personal opinion.

Kelsey Plum, who you say is a loser, has two WNBA championships and two gold medals, plus multiple titles abroad.
Whose brain is broken here?

[panda2.0]

Kelsey Plum, who you say is a loser, has two WNBA championships and two gold medals, plus multiple titles abroad.
Whose brain is broken here?

And how does any of that make her likable?

[JWags85]

Odd that so many are lined up to buy franchises then.

I'm not a WNBA hater, but I think its largely speculative investment as opposed to reflections of the cash the franchises might actually be spinning off.  The NBA is never gonna let it go bankrupt, so the fees are relatively low if you assume there is potential upside.  You can't buy a professional sports franchise for $200-300MM anywhere else in the US.  Even the MLS franchise fees are $500MM.

Semi-related, I love her game as a player, she's smooth and an absolute killer, but the WNBA really needs to keep Kelsey Plum away from microphones cause it always turns out terribly.

Also, Panda might be the first person who Ive ever heard say they dislike Ionescu.  She's great and basically a perfect ambassador for the league.

[Shaka Shart]

Someone accused me already of my opinion being racially charged. What a weak cowardly way of reacting to a fairly benign opinion. I do not want to open up the can of worms that squid is trying engage me with so I will avoid the situation publically. If you want, please dm me and we can discuss. 

Why? You said it was unwatchable save one player, then pivoted to saying you watch it all the time, THEN you listed all the stars you could think of and why you arbitrarily don't like them without examples.

The over the top screeching over a shi* post is more telling than anything you've discussed here. Why don't you let people who are actually interested in this topic talk about it?

[Shaka Shart]

I'm not a WNBA hater, but I think its largely speculative investment as opposed to reflections of the cash the franchises might actually be spinning off.  The NBA is never gonna let it go bankrupt, so the fees are relatively low if you assume there is potential upside.  You can't buy a professional sports franchise for $200-300MM anywhere else in the US.  Even the MLS franchise fees are $500MM.

Semi-related, I love her game as a player, she's smooth and an absolute killer, but the WNBA really needs to keep Kelsey Plum away from microphones cause it always turns out terribly.

Also, Panda might be the first person who Ive ever heard say they dislike Ionescu.  She's great and basically a perfect ambassador for the league.

100% speculative for sure but value is value.

I actually am interested in understanding some of the correlation of the rise of the casual fan of the WNBA, the timing of their season being during the dregs of summer for men's sports, and how legalized sports gambling played into it.

There's definitely a non zero number of people who tune in based on they started betting on it when the alternative was only baseball.

[MU82]

And how does any of that make her likable?

The only insight you provided as to why Plum is unlikable was "loser."

Which she obviously isn't.

But thanks for a list that was filled with similar silliness.

Keep choosing to watch the unwatchable, though!

[The Sultan]

The only insight you provided as to why Plum is unlikable was "loser."

And Angel Reece is a "fraud," which obviously isn't the case.

[Shaka Shart]

And Angel Reece is a "fraud," which obviously isn't the case.

She should know her place

[Pakuni]

And Angel Reece is a "fraud," which obviously isn't the case.

Leads the league in rebounding, averaging 3.4 more per game than her nearest competitor.
#fraud

[WhiteTrash]

NBA players get 50% of basketball-related revenues. NHL players get 50%. NFL players get 48%.

WNBA players? 9.3%.

Did the NBA subsidize the decades of losses by equity contributions or loans? The WNBA may have a decent P&L now but the Balance Sheet may be a mess. Debt service can be crippling.

I have no clue what the facts are, just theorizing a reason for the pay disparity. 

[Billy Hoyle]

Leads the league in rebounding, averaging 3.4 more per game than her nearest competitor.
#fraud

how many are off her own misses? Last year 35% of her offensive rebounds (53 of 150) were from her own missed shots. There's a reason the term "mebound" was coined in relation to her.

[The Sultan]

Ah yes. The "only gets the easy rebounds" caveat enters the chat.

[tower912]

The Moses Malone, Avante Gar ner theory.

[Pakuni]

how many are off her own misses? Last year 35% of her offensive rebounds (53 of 150) were from her own missed shots. There's a reason the term "mebound" was coined in relation to her.

I don't know. Would she lead the league by only 2 rpg if those weren't counted?
If so, she stinks.
#notallreboundsmatter

[JWags85]

I can understand not liking Reese cause she doesn't play a particularly attractive brand of basketball.  Instinctive and generational rebounding talent, but has no real touch around the rim and has a very wonky looking jump shot.

I could also understand not liking her cause she was the initial antagonist in the whole Clark situation, said she was happy to be a villain, then she has played the victim a decent bit after the fact (and I'm not talking about in regards to the vile racist stuff, cause thats pathetic behavior by losers).

But despite all of that, I don't know what about her would make her a fraud.  She's just polarizing. 

[MU82]

But despite all of that, I don't know what about her would make her a fraud. 

panda doesn't know, either. But he was pressed on his silly claim and had to come up with something.

Thus, Reese is a "fraud." And Plum - who has been an important player on numerous championship-winning teams, is a "loser."

[Shaka Shart]

how many are off her own misses? Last year 35% of her offensive rebounds (53 of 150) were from her own missed shots. There's a reason the term "mebound" was coined in relation to her.

This year if you carve out her rebounds off her misses which account for about 13% of her rebound stats, she is still averaging 11 rebounds per game. That's still 2 full rebounds above the next closest player, 3X MVP A'ja Wilson.

It is a tired and downright misleading narrative this year. If you're gonna pick on something, pick on her shooting percentage inside 5 feet which is not so elite.

[panda2.0]

Now that the skells are out, here's my non coded response to the situation. I am using this disclaimer because many of the small brain people here will eagerly jump to conclusions so I want to make this abundantly clear. These are not racially or sexist motivated opinions. I am a sports fan and I am talking about sports. Nothing more than that.

The WNBA was a nothing league with the players owning minimal marketability outside of their small bubble of fans just two years ago. One player came in and changed all of that. There is minimal to no debate they would have the leverage they do now without Caitlin Clark supercharging the interest in the WNBA(watch your mouth plum). Given the massive revenue boost  the league has seen since Clark set foot in the league, the players should demand every penny they now deserve. It doesn't matter the league lost money and was nothing forever. Right now they're sitting at the bargaining table with massive leverage and they should be compensated accordingly.

Now to the mope throwing out stats of players like that determines popularity of a player across a broader spectrum of sports fan. There has been high performers in the WNBA since its inception. None of them brought in new fans. Caitlin Clark is bringing in fans who would never buy a ticket, merch etc. to a league. Granted there are bad apples with ugly motivations supporting her but for the most part, it is people who are attracted to her awesome style of play  and girls looking up to her.

Finally to that FRAUD Angel Reese. She would be on a milk carton without Caitlin Clark. Caitlin Clark carried a bad Iowa team to deep run after deep run in the NCAA tournament while Angel Reese plays on one of the best teams in the country. She beats Clark one year, looks like an absolute clown chasing her around the court taunting Clark, and then chokes the next year when it's her team putting up a classic bricktacular performance when Iowa beats them. Then there are countless times in the WNBA where Reese again looks like a total clown while trying to steal the spotlight from Clark. Clapping after the cheap shot from Carter while playing the victim the next day, cheap shot on clark this year, constantly talking about Clark and etc. Its nauseating watching her beg for the spotlight over and over again all while Clark says absolutely nothing while taking the high road over that bozo. Angel Reese is a great rebounder. She does absolutely nothing else effectively and she has made the Sky somehow even worse than before she was drafted. Without Clark she is just another name whispered about in small WNBA circles.

[Shaka Shart]

You have a lot of feelings for something so unwatchable