2025 WNBA Thread

[Uncle Rico]

Sounds political... tsk, tsk.

Lynx got jobbed. Time to shut down the league.

No, he's pointing out the rank hypocrisy.  It's an honest and sobering indictment of society.

[Billy Hoyle]

No, he's pointing out the rank hypocrisy.  It's an honest and sobering indictment of society.

I mean, it's almost like they stopped watching thr W once CC went down

[The Sultan]

Oh man.

https://x.com/nosyone4/status/1973073914226950518

[cheebs09]

Oh man.

https://x.com/nosyone4/status/1973073914226950518

I believe the WNBA is looking a gift horse in the mouth.

[panda]

I believe the WNBA is looking a gift horse in the mouth.

lol

[MU82]

Collier today said Engelbert isn't very good at her job, and it's hard to argue with that assessment.

[21Jumpstreet]

Pretty incredible Game 5, Fever unbelievably take the Aces to OT without Mitchell

[Shaka Shart]

Pretty incredible Game 5, Fever unbelievably take the Aces to OT without Mitchell

Maybe Mitchell and Boston will write a letter this offseason

[Billy Hoyle]

Pretty incredible Game 5, Fever unbelievably take the Aces to OT without Mitchell

a decimated roster before they lost Mitchell. Then Boston fouled out. Stephanie White did a hell of a coaching job in the playoffs.

[#UnleashSean]

Can I get a rundown of the wnba commish and why they all hate her?

I only know this much because espn is forcing wnba news down my throat via their app.

[JWags85]

Can I get a rundown of the wnba commish and why they all hate her?

I only know this much because espn is forcing wnba news down my throat via their app.

The officiating this season has been absolutely horrid.  Inconsistent, letting games get out of hand, etc...  And there has been basically nothing from the league office about it. 

 Funny enough, Caitlin Clark complained early on about the officiating and got called a whiner and a diva, but she might have actually just been ahead of the curve.

Overall, the league is at a very pivotal point in making the next step growth wise, and leadership from the Commissioner/WNBA leadership has not been great 

[MU82]

Yup. Plus, the occasional public denigration of the athletes, without whom there is no WNBA. Plus, reports indicating little desire to do anything but dominate the next collective bargaining talks.

[The Sultan]

Too much of the WNBA leadership have the paternalistic attitude that the players should be grateful for what the leaders have scrapped together for them, without understanding that the women's game has gotten pretty popular because of the players themselves.

[JWags85]

Too much of the WNBA leadership have the paternalistic attitude that the players should be grateful for what the leaders have scrapped together for them, without understanding that the women's game has gotten pretty popular because of the players themselves.

Its amusing.  Earlier in the pre-season/early season, I think there was an over arrogance from some (obviously not all) prominent players about perceived disrespect, what they "deserve", some misguided talking points, etc... that lead to some feelings among casual fans of bad blood and scoffing (at worst) and at best, "maybe this isn't the best way to go about campaigning for change".

But now, months later, they've fallen back into a position of leverage and sympathy and support by sheer incompetence and idiocy from the WNBA league office.  Collier was never in that aforementioned camp, which helps here, but Cathy being a dope is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

The league has ticked off the State of Connecticut and Mohegan Sun, the owners of the Connecticut Sun.  They are making up stuff and conditions that never existed before in the sale of any team in any league.  The New York Liberty have already done twice what the CT Sun's preferred actions are.

[MU82]

Caitlin Clark today backed everything Collier said about WNBA leadership. Teammate Sophie Cunningham did, too, ripping both Engelbert and the officiating. She also said this about the league's labor issues:

"There's a potential lockout, because I promise you that we are not going to play until they give us what we deserve. And that's kind of where it's headed, unfortunately, which would be the dumbest basketball decision business-wise ever, considering the momentum the WNBA has right now."

[JWags85]

Caitlin Clark today backed everything Collier said about WNBA leadership. Teammate Sophie Cunningham did, too, ripping both Engelbert and the officiating. She also said this about the league's labor issues:

"There's a potential lockout, because I promise you that we are not going to play until they give us what we deserve. And that's kind of where it's headed, unfortunately, which would be the dumbest basketball decision business-wise ever, considering the momentum the WNBA has right now."

I had a friend yesterday complaining that Clark had been silent lately and was letting the players down or something.  I pondered that without needing to white knight for her, I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't want to be a distraction during the playoff run cause she'd always been pretty vocal about player support and whatnot.  Sure enough, right after they were eliminated.  Good stuff, unified front.

Especially since the stuff Cathy said about Clark was petty unprofessional nonsense.

[Jay Bee]

Can I get a rundown of the wnba commish and why they all hate her?

Uhh, have you seen her picture?

[Hards Alumni]

Uhh, have you seen her picture?

Bad form to be judging someone on their appearance when their actions are right there.

Plus, glass houses and all.

[Jay Bee]

Bad form to be judging someone on their appearance when their actions are right there.

Plus, glass houses and all.

Bro, even you would be doing her a favor.

[MU82]

Exciting, enjoyable, back-and-forth opener. Phoenix had a great chance, but Vegas' defense was too good at the end.

For the WNBA, it was even a decently reffed game. They missed some, but that's basketball, and the refs had no role in deciding the outcome.

[JWags85]

After all the talk about officiating, Nate Tibbets from the Mercury has stayed out of it and really not commented at all.  For that he was rewarded with one of the worst ejections I've ever seen, in an elimination game no less. 

Gets in an official's face over a call, heated displeasure. Potentially tech worthy? Maybe depending on what was said.  But an IMMEDIATE double tech and ejection? FOH

[BM1090]

I don't mean this in a negative way because she's awesome, but does anyone else think Caitlin Clark doesn't really impact winning at the professional level yet? She's a really good player. She's going to be an all time great. I'm sure she'll win titles. But when I watch her at this point I think I see a lot of Trae Young.

[MU82]

No.

[JWags85]

I don't mean this in a negative way because she's awesome, but does anyone else think Caitlin Clark doesn't really impact winning at the professional level yet? She's a really good player. She's going to be an all time great. I'm sure she'll win titles. But when I watch her at this point I think I see a lot of Trae Young.

The Fever went from a bottom feeder, even with an All Star caliber player in Boston, to a playoff team the first year Clark arrived, without adding anyone else significant.

Kelsey Mitchell went from a good player to an MVP candidate once she started playing with Clark.

And that's all with Clark not shooting as well as she can and adjusting to the physicality she's seeing at this level.  The attention she draws, the way she gets everyone involved, and the way she opens up the court is special.

Trae Young plays in a way that much of the NBA has moved to.  He's a great, if inefficient scorer, and distributor, but nothing about his game is unique. That can't be said about Clark and the WNBA, up until this point at least