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WNBA Free Agency So Far…

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February 11, 2017

WNBA Free Agency is well underway and we have seen a ton of action around the league. Making some big changes are the Washington Mystics who signed two major free agents in Elena Delle Donne and Kristi Toliver instantly boosting their chances of bringing their first WNBA championship to D.C. It may be a bit too early to start talking about raising banners but we must admit that Washington should make a lot of noise this summer.

Defending champions LA Sparks took a hit losing Kristi Toliver but they’ve resigned some major players from last season’s championship run. Essence Carson and Alana Beard will be back with the Sparks while Candace Parker signed an extension with the team. Ogwumike, Lavender and Gray are all under contract. Riquna Williams will make her debut for the Sparks after missing last season due to injury. LA will have to figure out who will make up their bench.

The Lynx have been fairly quiet other than the signing of Plenette Pierson, a veteran power forward who will definitely bring great energy and effort to a team who needed to bolster their bench and give their starters some rest.

Phoenix picked up an all-star point guard in Danielle Robinson but had to send away their young post player Isabelle Harrison and the #5 draft pick to the San Antonio Stars. They’ve also signed several free agents but haven’t made any big moves just yet.

San Antonio signed veteran center Erika DeSouza. Jayne Appel retired after last season so DeSouza’s services are much needed inside. Kayla McBride will return to the lineup after missing almost all of last season with a broken foot. The Stars also have the #1 and #5 picks in this years draft.

Seattle picked up Carolyn Swords in a three team trade and re-signed Crystal Langhorne. They also signed Nikki Green and Samantha Whitcomb to training camp contracts. Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd will continue to lead this squad as they add pieces to complement these two.

We haven’t heard much from Dallas besides the signing of Tiffany Bias. I’m sure we will hear more from them in the coming weeks.

Atlanta will be an interesting team this season playing without their star Angel McCoughtry who announced that she would sit out this season to rest. Resigning Layshia Clarendon was major as the trade for her paid huge dividends.  Look for some of their younger players to step up to fill the shoes of their missing leader.

New York acquired some great talent in Kia Vaughn and Bria Hartley who came from Washington. They also resigned Sugar Rogers who had a breakout season in 2016. Australian guard Rebecca Allen will also return to the team this summer.

Connecticut resigned Camille Little, Alex Bentley and Jasmine Thomas all huge players on the Sun’s roster. A lot of young talent playing in the Mohegan Sun that will continue to improve.

Indiana will miss Tamika Catchings who was everything to that franchise. With a new head coach in Pokey Chatman, she will begin created a new legacy in Indiana. The fever made sure to bring back Erlana Larkins who plays a pivotal role on the team. They’re also bringing back Erica Wheeler. The Fever still have a huge void to fill but the show will go on.

Chicago has been the talk of the town after it was announced that Delle Donne wanted out. The Sky did the best they could do with the hand they were dealt bringing in all-star center Stefanie Dolson and Kahleah Copper. They will also pick second in the WNBA draft. Losing Delle Donne was a huge blow to the Sky but they have a nice core of young talent that new head coach Amber Stocks will love growing with.

Be sure to keep up with 2017 WNBA Free Agency Movement here. 

Shake Up in the WNBA’s Eastern Conference!

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January 31, 2017

The Washington Mystics, New York Liberty and the Seattle Storm were involved in a three team trade yesterday. The Mystics traded Kia Vaughn and Bria Hartley to the New York Liberty in exchange for Seattle’s #6 pick in the first round of the 2017 WNBA Draft. In return, the Storm received Liberty center Carolyn Swords. Washington also exchanged this year’s second round pick (15 th overall) for Seattle’s second round selection (18th overall). The blockbuster trade didn’t go down until later in the evening when it was announced that Chicago Sky forward Elena Delle Donne had been traded to the Mystics! Delle Donne expressed her desire to part ways with the Chicago Sky to be closer to home (Delaware) and even suggested she would be willing to sit out if a deal didn’t get done. Chicago’s hand was forced and in exchange for their superstar the Sky will receive the 2015 All-Star center Stefanie Dolson; last season’s seventh overall pick, Kahleah Copper; and the second overall selection in this year’s draft.

The acquisition of one of the best players in the WNBA immediately makes the Mystics a championship contender. The Mystics finished 10th in the standings last season with a dismal 13-21 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2012 season. Elena Delle Donne who was the league MVP for the 2015 season will team up with All-Star forward Emma Messeman who continues to improve every year. Messeman was selected to her first All-Star game in 2015 and in 2016 she led her team in scoring with 15.6 points per game. She also lead the entire WNBA in three-point shooting percentage at 45.5%. Tayler Hill had a breakout season for the Mystics where she finished second in voting for Most Improved Player in 2016. Hill’s scoring average increased from 7.5 ppg in 2015 to 15.4 ppg in 2016. Delle Donne, Messeman, and Hill are a pretty dangerous big three in the Eastern Conference. The Mystics  are now the team to beat. Although the Liberty had the best record in the EC and the third best record overall last season, Delle Donne changes the game. If head coach Mike Thibault can smoothly insert the talent of Delle Donne into his fast paced offense, they will be an exciting team to watch. Maybe old Mystics fans will come back and support their team this coming season. They certainly will have a lot to cheer for! 

 

 

WNBA Free Agency 2016; Washington Mystics

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Our last team to cover in our WNBA Free Agency outlooks are the Washington Mystics. The Mystics have made a playoff appearance three years straight although each time they have been knocked out in the first round. They finished the 2015 season in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 18-16 and faced the top seed New York Liberty in the first round of the playoffs. In what was one of the most exciting series in the 2015 playoffs the Liberty won 2-1 and sent the Mystics home. Head coach Mike Thibault has really made his mark on this franchise when he took over in 2013 after leaving the Connecticut Sun. He is the all time winningest coach in the WNBA and has brought his winners mentality to a franchise that has struggled in that department. With a promising group of players the Mystics will again be in playoff contention next season.

There are only two free agents on the Mystics roster this year and they are both unrestricted. Kara Lawson and Latoya Pringle-Sanders will both be up for grabs this off season. Lawson who came to her hometown team after winning a championship with the Sacramento Monarchs and being a key player for the Connecticut Sun has battled injury since coming to Washington. This past season she missed a total of 12 games and the season before she sat out six. In what will be her 14th season in the WNBA if she decides to return, Kara Lawson brings leadership and experience. In addition, she is also a capable scorer where throughout most of her career she has averaged at least 40% shooting percentage from the three point line. I don’t see Lawson joining another franchise this offseason, if anything, she will finish her career a Washington Mystic.

The Mystics will also be making a decision on Latoya Pringle. Washington has had the rights to Pringle for several years but it wasn’t until the 2015 season that she decided to join the team. She’s actually only played four seasons in the WNBA after being drafted in 2008. In her first year with the Mystics she averaged 5 points and almost 7 rebounds in 18 minutes per game. Pringle has shown herself to be one of the best forward/centers in Europe where she holds a Turkish passport. She is a great shot blocker and has good moves around the basket. She is also capable of knocking down mid range shots. If the Mystics can lock her up I think they should definitely go for it. She only competed in 23 games last season for Washington and a full season with the team could make the difference.  Other teams will be after a player with her size and skill so there may be a bidding contest to sign her.

The Mystics have their inside covered with Dolson and Messeman holding down the block. With nothing lost when Kia Vaughn enters the game. Natasha Cloud, who was a rookie last season, started 22 games for the Mystics. Tayler Hill who returned from giving birth to her son the previous season will have to step up this season and make her mark on this team and the league. Bria Hartley, who struggled with an injury for part of the season where she missed 9 games will return healthy and ready to compete for a spot in the starting lineup. Those players in addition to the Latta should again compete for a Eastern Conference Championship however I think Washington needs to add a piece or two that can complement what they already have on the roster. What do you think Washington needs to do to improve from last season? Do they have what it takes? Will they sign a free agent this off season? Let us know.

 

 

 

WNBA Free Agency 2016; New York Liberty

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The New York Liberty did a complete 180 during last season as they won the eastern conference regular season and were the team to beat in the East. After missing the playoffs in 2014, Tina Charles with the help of Epiphanny Prince and some veteran leadership led the Liberty to a 23-11 record and Bill Laimbeer was named WNBA Coach of the Year. After coming close to losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Washington Mystics, the Liberty moved on to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2010. In what was considered an upset to some, the Liberty lost to a very talented and determined Indiana Fever team in the Eastern Conference Finals. A disappointment to many, the Liberty will look forward to suiting back up and redeeming themselves in 2016. Unfortunately, they will have to do a lot of it without one of their star players as Prince recently had knee surgery that will keep her out for at least the first half of the season.

The only restricted free agent on the Liberty’s roster is Carolyn Swords. Swords who spent her entire career in Chicago before coming to New York last offseason provided pretty decent backup minutes to Tina Charles. As Kia Stokes emerged as a huge presence in the post, especially on defense, it seems as though she will be the one to back up Charles moving forward. There aren’t very many players with the size that Swords has so if NY decides not to keep her on their roster there will certainly be other teams that will show interest. It is important that Swords finds a way stay healthy as she missed several crucial games at the end of the season.

The Liberty will have a lot of decisions to make this off season in dealing with their unrestricted free agents. Essence Carson, Swin Cash and Candice Wiggins are all unrestricted free agents. Carson who has spent her entire career with the Liberty has seen her minutes go down the past two seasons after tearing her acl back in 2013. It will be interesting to see what the Liberty will do when it comes to Carson. Seemingly healthy, she only missed one game during the 2015 season and contributed where she could. Carson has great size for her position and has a ton of experience. She will probably check out what interest there is around the league before making a decision but I imagine she would love to continue on with New York as she has been there through the best and the worst of times.

Swin Cash played big minutes for the Liberty and was a key piece in their success this past season. Her leadership showed and she was able to rally her troops to finish the season with the best record in the WNBA. Cash, who has 13 years in the WNBA is still capable of keeping up with the best of them. There have been whispers of retirement as she has a booming career being a sports analyst during the off season, but nothing coming from her says that she is ready to hang it up. Every team needs veteran leadership and Cash definitely brings that in addition to the 11 points and almost 6 rebounds she averaged this past season. Not too shabby for a 36 year old. If Cash decides she wants to continue on, I’m sure the Liberty will be all for having her be apart of their team for 2016 season.

Lastly, Candice Wiggins, who was a newcomer to the Liberty last season is back on the market.  Wiggins didn’t average big minutes for the Liberty but was always a  spark coming off the bench. With the emergence of Sugar Rogers, Wiggins had to take a backseat to the youngster who pretty much had a breakout season. Candice, who is from California may look to head back to the Western Conference, but will probably test the market and see where she fits best.

The Liberty losing Epiphanny  Prince to injury is a big deal as she was the second leading scorer on the team. Her being out will give others an opportunity to step up and prove themselves but she will not be easily replaced. The Liberty will have to find some help for Charles if they want to have the kind of season they had last year. I think the Liberty will make major moves this offseason. Most of their dealings will probably be through free agency as there aren’t many big names coming through the draft. What do you think the Liberty need to do this off season? Who can fill the shoes of Prince? Is Rogers ready to be the copilot to Charles?

 

 

WNBA Free Agency 2016; Minnesota Lynx

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January 4, 2016

The 2015 WNBA champions were the Minnesota Lynx; their third title in five years. You can read about the argument for the Lynx being considered a dynasty here. A huge boost to the Lynx roster was their mid season pickup of WNBA all-star and olympian Sylvia Fowles who was named the 2015 WNBA finals MVP. She is one of several unrestricted free agents on Minnesota’s roster this off season. Minnesota has been a team that has built themselves up through the draft, in addition to adding key pieces through free agency. They are one of the few teams that have been able to keep a solid nucleus together for several years. Moore, Augustus and Whalen are probably the most dangerous backcourt in the WNBA and with a front court that includes Brunson and Fowles they still have the ingredients to seek banner number four.

However, their roster has begun to age and the Lynx must add some youth to their squad. Whalen is 33, Brunson 35, Augustus 31, and Fowles is 30. There is no doubt that the Lynx are working to resign Fowles as she is one of the few bigs who match up well against rival center Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury. Thats a no brainer. Lindsey Whalen is also unrestricted this off season and she will certainly be back with the Lynx and finish out her career in her home state. She is the key piece in directing the Lynx. Her leadership has been crucial in the success the team has seen since she joined in 2010. Also unrestricted is Asjha Jones. She provided decent backup minutes for the Lynx after missing a lot of time away from the league due to injury. The Lynx may look to go younger at this position as Jones is already 35. Renee Montgomery is also unrestricted. She made her return to Minnesota in a mid season trade that sent Monica Wright to the Storm for Montgomery and Seattle’s second-round pick in the 2016 draft. Montgomery made huge contributions to the team during her time and although she may field offers from other teams, I think she will want to stick with the team that earned her her first WNBA championship. Hopefully the Lynx will have the same feelings.

The Lynx have only one restricted player on their roster and that is Devereaux Peters. Peters who will be entering her fourth season in the WNBA hasn’t seen huge minutes since she’s been in the league. In her defense, she has been on a very talented Lynx squad with veterans who played in front of her. This could be a break out season for Peters with the opportunity finally presenting itself for her to play big minutes. I’m sure other teams will look into adding the services of Peters to their roster so we will have to see how much value the Lynx place on their power forward.

The Lynx are set to go in 2016. If they can avoid injury, which they succumbed to this past season but still came out on top they will again be the team to beat. Moore averaged almost 32 minutes per game last season and the Lynx will have to find a way to get that number down. Maybe through free agency or even in the draft they can find a player that can help with this. The Lynx need to pretty much get some young talent on the team that can give the vets a few minutes to rest. Players that can come in and give quality minutes. I expect coach Reeves to keep her core group of players together while adding pieces that she can build with for the future. What do you all think the Lynx need to do this offseason? Can they repeat? How can they get better? Let us know.