Post by WBBDaily on Jul 25, 2023 8:34:04 GMT -5
1. Why is the Dream’s bench so impressive?
Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray are the main focus of Atlanta Dream’s offense, leading the Dream in points per game with 19 and 17.8, respectively. They are incredibly hard to defend because they can score from anywhere on the court and excel at creating their own shots. Cheyenne Parker has also been excellent in the frontcourt and is having the best season of her career. But I really like what I see in Atlanta’s bench production with AD Durr, Naz Hillmon, Monique Billings and Haley Jones. Aside from Howard, Gray and Parker, the usage percentage is spread pretty evenly among the bench players, with Durr owning the highest at 23.1 percent. During the Dream’s seven-game win streak, one player or another stepped up and provided a spark off the bench, whether it came to points, hustle plays, rebounds or more. Despite back-to-back losses to Connecticut, Aari McDonald was also impressive in her return.
2. Have the Liberty finally put the pieces together?
Whether it’s lack of chemistry, former MVP Jonquel Jones missing in action, figuring out bench rotations or vulnerable defense in the backcourt, the New York Liberty have been an underwhelming super-team for the bulk of the season. Yes, they’re 16-5 and in second place. But they have yet to really put their stamp on the season. After New York’s last two games against Washington and Indiana, this could be a different team. Jones, who came into the season nursing an injury, looks healthy and reinvigorated. She dropped a season-high 27 points, snagged 11 rebounds and blocked three shots against the Mystics, then put up 18 points, 11 rebounds and one block against Indiana. Two games may seem like a small sample, but it was apparent Jones made a difference on both ends of the floor. The Liberty are clearly at their best when multiple players are scoring. The backcourt is still shaky in perimeter defense, but everything else could be falling into place.
3. What are the benefits of more offseason leagues?
For the past two years, Athletes Unlimited has been the main offseason basketball option for professional women’s basketball players who want to play stateside instead of going overseas. But with the recent announcement of Breanna Stewart’s and Napheesa Collier’s league, Unrivaled — a new 3-on-3 league that plans to feature the top 30 players in the WNBA — there could be another option. And that’s a good thing all around. When it comes to making additional income in the offseason, WNBA players can leverage marketing opportunities through the league for off-the-court opportunities. But for those who want to keep playing competitive basketball, Athletes Unlimited and Unrivaled have the potential to be viable alternatives. The offseason is ripe for investment and a largely untapped resource to showcase women’s basketball talent all year long. If Unrivaled comes to fruition and is successful, even more leagues could follow.
go-deeper
GO DEEPER
Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier launching new league
4. What changes can the Fever make to qualify for the playoffs?
I’ve already discussed the number of close games the Fever have lost because of inexperience and lack of late-game execution. But there are additional changes that can be made. First, Aliyah Boston needs the ball more. It may sound silly because it seems like that’s already happening. But at 18.9 percent, Boston’s usage percentage is low for such an efficient player. To put it in perspective, Kristy Wallace has a higher usage percentage (19) coming off the bench. Boston plays the Fever’s second-most minutes and has the highest player efficiency rating by far (24.7). The ball needs to be in her hands, especially in late-game situations. I also like what Grace Berger has brought to the table in her last few games as a heady player who can stuff a stat line. She’s getting more minutes and deservedly so. In the Fever’s overtime loss to the Liberty, Berger had 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals while playing the most minutes of the season (36). More Berger, please.
5. Who is your Sixth Player of the Year?
Sug Sutton has been having a fantastic year off the bench for Phoenix. But because the Mercury’s struggles, it has largely gone unnoticed. Sutton made her WNBA debut in 2020 for the Mystics later in the season and was waived the following May. She was picked up by the Mercury in the spring and has more than proved she belongs in the league. Sutton started off strong in Shey Peddy’s absence, and though her stats and minutes have dropped some since Peddy’s return, she’s still making a difference off the bench, averaging eight points and five assists per game.
DiJonai Carrington is also a frontrunner. With increased minutes for the Sun in Brionna Jones’ absence, Carrington is making the most of the opportunity. She’s averaging 9.2 points and shooting 45.5 percent from 3 in her last five games. Carrington also has the Sun’s third-highest player efficiency rating (18) behind Alyssa Thomas (20.4) and DeWanna Bonner (20.5).
6. How did the Dallas Wings become title contenders?
The Wings are the only team to beat the Aces and the Liberty — and that is no small feat. For years, Dallas has been right on the cusp of taking the next step but has fallen short. Now, the Wings have the right mix of players and the right coach to get them there. Latricia Trammell has the Wings focused, playing their best basketball of the season. With Teaira McCowan back in the mix, Natasha Howard’s veteran presence, Arike Ogunbowale settling more into a team-first mentality, Satou Sabally healthy, Kalani Brown making an impact, and Crystal Dangerfield running the point effectively, this team is hitting its stride at the perfect time. Can Dallas find a way to beat the Aces or the Liberty again? Can the Wings do it in consecutive games if they end up in the finals? That’s a harder task. But they have the right team to make it competitive and make a deep playoff run.
7. What’s been your favorite WNBA storyline this season?
As always with the WNBA, there’s no shortage of them. Brittney Griner is an obvious choice. I enjoyed watching Aliyah Boston make a seamless transition to the WNBA and live up to the hype. Watching the Aces consistently play at such a high and efficient level has been mind-blowing. Las Vegas is establishing itself as one of the best and most complete teams in WNBA history. Other favorites: Satou Sabally is enjoying success now that she’s healthy, Napheesa Collier is playing well after returning to the court, Teaira McCown is excelling with the Wings and Sutton is making the most of her second chance in the league.
8. What are you looking forward to in the second half?
Plenty. Can Dallas really contend for a title? Will the Fever be able to pull out some more wins and have a shot at the playoffs? Can the Aces maintain their incredible first-half run? Which teams in the middle of the standings (Phoenix, Indiana, Minnesota and Chicago) will find an edge as the season winds down? There’s also the race to the eighth and final playoff spot, and whether the Los Angeles Sparks and Mystics can get healthy and make a run. The playoffs might end up being the most competitive, exciting and cut-throat in years.
Reader Questions
9. Which injured players could have the biggest impact if they return for the playoffs?
Since the start of the season, the Mystics (14 games missed by players), Sparks (15) and Mercury (17) have had the most injuries. It might be too late for Los Angeles and Phoenix to fully recover and get into a rhythm before the playoffs. But if Washington can get back Elena Delle Donne, Ariel Atkins and Shakira Austin in time to regroup and return to its early-season form, the Mystics become a lot more dangerous in the playoff picture. According to TheNextHoops, the estimated win share loss with all of the Mystics injuries is 4.1 games. That would put them at 16-6 on the season instead of 12-10.
10. Should Seattle consider trading Jewell Loyd before the deadline?
The WNBA trade deadline is Aug. 7 and it’s approaching fast. There haven’t been any rumblings of a trade but that doesn’t mean talks aren’t happening. At this point in Seattle’s season, the playoffs are a long shot. Loyd may walk away with the scoring title but that’s about it. Would it make sense to trade her and get something in return instead of her leaving as a free agent and getting nothing? Yes. But there’s no guarantee she’s going to leave. By all accounts, Loyd has been fully invested in helping rebuild Seattle, taking on a leadership role and establishing relationships with her teammates. There also have been bright spots with Ezi Magbegor and rookies Jordan Horston and Ivana Dojkić. If the Storm can add a few more pieces in free agency and the draft next season, they’ll be in good shape. What they get for Loyd now may not be the answer going forward.
11. Who are your top five MVP candidates?
Breanna Stewart is at the top of the list, but A’ja Wilson has come on strong — especially with Candace Parker sidelined. I’m putting Stewart at No. 1, Wilson at No. 2. Alyssa Thomas is right up there at No. 3. Her stat line this season — 14.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, eight assists and two steals per game — is ridiculous. Jackie Young is at No. 4 as she’s taken her game to yet another level. Rounding out my top five is Sparks’ star Nneka Ogwumike. I know she’s on a losing team and that works against her, but she’s having an MVP-caliber season.
12. Which team is the most underrated?
This is actually a hard question. It’s easy to see that the Aces, Liberty and Sun are in a tier by themselves. It’s also easy to see that the Storm, Mercury and Sky are in the lowest tier. Washington isn’t underrated; it is struggling with injuries. So are the Sparks. The Fever are young and growing. And Minnesota can be hot and cold. Dallas isn’t underrated so much as it is are finally living up to expectations. That leaves the Dream. I think as far as underrated goes, Atlanta is flying under the radar a bit.
Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray are the main focus of Atlanta Dream’s offense, leading the Dream in points per game with 19 and 17.8, respectively. They are incredibly hard to defend because they can score from anywhere on the court and excel at creating their own shots. Cheyenne Parker has also been excellent in the frontcourt and is having the best season of her career. But I really like what I see in Atlanta’s bench production with AD Durr, Naz Hillmon, Monique Billings and Haley Jones. Aside from Howard, Gray and Parker, the usage percentage is spread pretty evenly among the bench players, with Durr owning the highest at 23.1 percent. During the Dream’s seven-game win streak, one player or another stepped up and provided a spark off the bench, whether it came to points, hustle plays, rebounds or more. Despite back-to-back losses to Connecticut, Aari McDonald was also impressive in her return.
2. Have the Liberty finally put the pieces together?
Whether it’s lack of chemistry, former MVP Jonquel Jones missing in action, figuring out bench rotations or vulnerable defense in the backcourt, the New York Liberty have been an underwhelming super-team for the bulk of the season. Yes, they’re 16-5 and in second place. But they have yet to really put their stamp on the season. After New York’s last two games against Washington and Indiana, this could be a different team. Jones, who came into the season nursing an injury, looks healthy and reinvigorated. She dropped a season-high 27 points, snagged 11 rebounds and blocked three shots against the Mystics, then put up 18 points, 11 rebounds and one block against Indiana. Two games may seem like a small sample, but it was apparent Jones made a difference on both ends of the floor. The Liberty are clearly at their best when multiple players are scoring. The backcourt is still shaky in perimeter defense, but everything else could be falling into place.
3. What are the benefits of more offseason leagues?
For the past two years, Athletes Unlimited has been the main offseason basketball option for professional women’s basketball players who want to play stateside instead of going overseas. But with the recent announcement of Breanna Stewart’s and Napheesa Collier’s league, Unrivaled — a new 3-on-3 league that plans to feature the top 30 players in the WNBA — there could be another option. And that’s a good thing all around. When it comes to making additional income in the offseason, WNBA players can leverage marketing opportunities through the league for off-the-court opportunities. But for those who want to keep playing competitive basketball, Athletes Unlimited and Unrivaled have the potential to be viable alternatives. The offseason is ripe for investment and a largely untapped resource to showcase women’s basketball talent all year long. If Unrivaled comes to fruition and is successful, even more leagues could follow.
go-deeper
GO DEEPER
Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier launching new league
4. What changes can the Fever make to qualify for the playoffs?
I’ve already discussed the number of close games the Fever have lost because of inexperience and lack of late-game execution. But there are additional changes that can be made. First, Aliyah Boston needs the ball more. It may sound silly because it seems like that’s already happening. But at 18.9 percent, Boston’s usage percentage is low for such an efficient player. To put it in perspective, Kristy Wallace has a higher usage percentage (19) coming off the bench. Boston plays the Fever’s second-most minutes and has the highest player efficiency rating by far (24.7). The ball needs to be in her hands, especially in late-game situations. I also like what Grace Berger has brought to the table in her last few games as a heady player who can stuff a stat line. She’s getting more minutes and deservedly so. In the Fever’s overtime loss to the Liberty, Berger had 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals while playing the most minutes of the season (36). More Berger, please.
5. Who is your Sixth Player of the Year?
Sug Sutton has been having a fantastic year off the bench for Phoenix. But because the Mercury’s struggles, it has largely gone unnoticed. Sutton made her WNBA debut in 2020 for the Mystics later in the season and was waived the following May. She was picked up by the Mercury in the spring and has more than proved she belongs in the league. Sutton started off strong in Shey Peddy’s absence, and though her stats and minutes have dropped some since Peddy’s return, she’s still making a difference off the bench, averaging eight points and five assists per game.
DiJonai Carrington is also a frontrunner. With increased minutes for the Sun in Brionna Jones’ absence, Carrington is making the most of the opportunity. She’s averaging 9.2 points and shooting 45.5 percent from 3 in her last five games. Carrington also has the Sun’s third-highest player efficiency rating (18) behind Alyssa Thomas (20.4) and DeWanna Bonner (20.5).
6. How did the Dallas Wings become title contenders?
The Wings are the only team to beat the Aces and the Liberty — and that is no small feat. For years, Dallas has been right on the cusp of taking the next step but has fallen short. Now, the Wings have the right mix of players and the right coach to get them there. Latricia Trammell has the Wings focused, playing their best basketball of the season. With Teaira McCowan back in the mix, Natasha Howard’s veteran presence, Arike Ogunbowale settling more into a team-first mentality, Satou Sabally healthy, Kalani Brown making an impact, and Crystal Dangerfield running the point effectively, this team is hitting its stride at the perfect time. Can Dallas find a way to beat the Aces or the Liberty again? Can the Wings do it in consecutive games if they end up in the finals? That’s a harder task. But they have the right team to make it competitive and make a deep playoff run.
7. What’s been your favorite WNBA storyline this season?
As always with the WNBA, there’s no shortage of them. Brittney Griner is an obvious choice. I enjoyed watching Aliyah Boston make a seamless transition to the WNBA and live up to the hype. Watching the Aces consistently play at such a high and efficient level has been mind-blowing. Las Vegas is establishing itself as one of the best and most complete teams in WNBA history. Other favorites: Satou Sabally is enjoying success now that she’s healthy, Napheesa Collier is playing well after returning to the court, Teaira McCown is excelling with the Wings and Sutton is making the most of her second chance in the league.
8. What are you looking forward to in the second half?
Plenty. Can Dallas really contend for a title? Will the Fever be able to pull out some more wins and have a shot at the playoffs? Can the Aces maintain their incredible first-half run? Which teams in the middle of the standings (Phoenix, Indiana, Minnesota and Chicago) will find an edge as the season winds down? There’s also the race to the eighth and final playoff spot, and whether the Los Angeles Sparks and Mystics can get healthy and make a run. The playoffs might end up being the most competitive, exciting and cut-throat in years.
Reader Questions
9. Which injured players could have the biggest impact if they return for the playoffs?
Since the start of the season, the Mystics (14 games missed by players), Sparks (15) and Mercury (17) have had the most injuries. It might be too late for Los Angeles and Phoenix to fully recover and get into a rhythm before the playoffs. But if Washington can get back Elena Delle Donne, Ariel Atkins and Shakira Austin in time to regroup and return to its early-season form, the Mystics become a lot more dangerous in the playoff picture. According to TheNextHoops, the estimated win share loss with all of the Mystics injuries is 4.1 games. That would put them at 16-6 on the season instead of 12-10.
10. Should Seattle consider trading Jewell Loyd before the deadline?
The WNBA trade deadline is Aug. 7 and it’s approaching fast. There haven’t been any rumblings of a trade but that doesn’t mean talks aren’t happening. At this point in Seattle’s season, the playoffs are a long shot. Loyd may walk away with the scoring title but that’s about it. Would it make sense to trade her and get something in return instead of her leaving as a free agent and getting nothing? Yes. But there’s no guarantee she’s going to leave. By all accounts, Loyd has been fully invested in helping rebuild Seattle, taking on a leadership role and establishing relationships with her teammates. There also have been bright spots with Ezi Magbegor and rookies Jordan Horston and Ivana Dojkić. If the Storm can add a few more pieces in free agency and the draft next season, they’ll be in good shape. What they get for Loyd now may not be the answer going forward.
11. Who are your top five MVP candidates?
Breanna Stewart is at the top of the list, but A’ja Wilson has come on strong — especially with Candace Parker sidelined. I’m putting Stewart at No. 1, Wilson at No. 2. Alyssa Thomas is right up there at No. 3. Her stat line this season — 14.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, eight assists and two steals per game — is ridiculous. Jackie Young is at No. 4 as she’s taken her game to yet another level. Rounding out my top five is Sparks’ star Nneka Ogwumike. I know she’s on a losing team and that works against her, but she’s having an MVP-caliber season.
12. Which team is the most underrated?
This is actually a hard question. It’s easy to see that the Aces, Liberty and Sun are in a tier by themselves. It’s also easy to see that the Storm, Mercury and Sky are in the lowest tier. Washington isn’t underrated; it is struggling with injuries. So are the Sparks. The Fever are young and growing. And Minnesota can be hot and cold. Dallas isn’t underrated so much as it is are finally living up to expectations. That leaves the Dream. I think as far as underrated goes, Atlanta is flying under the radar a bit.
