Post by sp on Jan 3, 2023 17:15:36 GMT -5
My impression is that WNBL success is not a particularly good predictor of WNBA success -- but I don't really have any data. Does anyone know how many Australians have used the WNBL (as opposed to the Opals) as a springboard to the WNBA?
- Erin Phillips, Stephanie Talbot, Rachel Jarry, and Shyla Heal were all drafted before making Opals squads.
- Penny Taylor and Kristen Veal were drafted to the WNBA before making an Opals tournament side.
- Reigning WNBL MVP Anneli Maley played four games for the Chicago Sky last year before she made the Opals World Cup squad. She was not drafted.
I think WNBL performances were a key consideration when assessing the above named players. They were probably a key consideration when assessing some other players too. Is anybody drafting Ezi Magbegor due to her performances at the Commonwealth Games? Probably not.
Then there is the exceptional case of Sami Whitcomb who was a US citizen signed to the WNBA because of her strong WNBL performances. Whitcomb is now a dual Australian-US citizen and an Opals representative but she only became an Australian citizen after debuting in the WNBA.
I think there are enough data points to show that strong WNBL performances have been a consideration when drafting or signing Australian players. Decent Opals performances will probably get you more attention but there have been more than enough cases of young WNBL stars getting attention from the WNBA without having played for the Opals.
With all that said, besides Anneli Maley (who has already played in the WNBA) and Jade Melbourne (who has already been drafted by the WNBA), I don't see any other new WNBA players coming from the WNBL at the moment. Well there are several youngsters I have in mind but they're for discussion in the 2023 and 2024 draft threads. But who knows, maybe Shyla Heal rediscovers her jumpshot and becomes uber strong and she becomes a viable WNBA player. We shall see.