Women's Basketball 24.7

"There is no offseason"

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 Video Recap Games 8/31 (Playoff Race)

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August 1, 2016

With their win last night the Seattle Storm moved into 8th place in the playoff standings. Washington, who held onto the last playoff spot before last night, are now a half a game behind the Storm in the playoff race. The Connecticut Sun are a full game behind and the Dallas Wings are now two and a half games out of the playoffs. It looks as if the last one or two playoff spots will not be determined until the very end. The last games of the regular season are on September 18th.

Dallas Wings (9-19) @ Seattle Storm (11-16) 66-78

STANDINGS;

  1. LYNX 22-5 X
  2. SPARKS 21-5 X
  3. LIBERTY 19-8 X
  4. DREAM 14-13
  5. SKY 13-13
  6. MERCURY 13-14
  7. FEVER 12-14
  8. STORM 11-16
  9. MYSTICS 10-16
  10. SUN 10-17
  11. WINGS 9-19
  12. STARS 6-20

X– Clinched Playoffs Berth

Breanna Stewart Calls For More Support For Women In Sports

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July 14, 2016

Seattle Storm’s rookie sensation Breanna Stewart took home two awards last night at ESPN’s annual ESPY Awards show held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. She won both Best Female College Athlete and Best Female Athlete, beating out WNBA’s own MVP Elena Delle Donne, swimmer Katie Ledecky, and gymnast Simone Biles. After completing an amazing college career at the University of Connecticut, where Stewart won four National Championships, she now plays in the WNBA for the Seattle Storm after being drafted as the number one pick in the 2016 WNBA draft. No stranger to the lights and cameras, once Stewart stepped on stage to accept her award, she opened with “This is a lot of people.” With all those people in attendance, an audience filled with some of the best athletes in the world, many celebrities and a ton of sports fans, Stewart used this moment to share a message about supporting women and girls in sport.

breanna stewart espy 16

Breanna Stewart, 2016 ESPY Awards

At Connecticut, the Husky women averaged almost 9,000 fans per game. So far this season, which is the league’s 20th, the WNBA’s Attendance Average is a little over 7,000. Although an increase from the 2015 season, the WNBA has struggled to bring the fans and sponsorships many on the inside believe it deserves. Stewart took this opportunity to express her concern for the lack of support women on the professional level have received.

“I’d like to thank my fans, my family, UConn, my coaches and all my teammates,” Stewart said upon receiving the award. “I’d also like to thank ESPN and the media. During my time in college, I received much media attention. I am grateful for that.

“But now that I am in the WNBA, playing with other amazing female athletes, I’m trying to understand why we, as professional female athletes, don’t receive anywhere near the fame. This has to change.” [Read more…]

WNBA Free Agency 2016; Seattle Storm

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Free agency will start next month in the WNBA and Seattle will be a team that will surely make a few moves during this off season. Whether it be resigning their key unrestricted free agents or making the decision to build up their youth, many will be watching to see what they will do. There is no debating that the Seattle Storm will draft Breanna Stewart with the first pick in the WNBA draft. She is a special player and one that should make an immediate impact for the Storm. The storm finished in fifth place in the Western Conference with a record of 10-24 bur despite their record there was a bright spot for Seattle in Jewell Loyd who was named the WNBA’s 2015 rookie of the year. Her alongside Stewart will definitely be a back court worth watching.

One of the biggest free agent’s not only in Seattle but in the WNBA is Sue Bird. Sue is an unrestricted free agent this off season. Bird has spent her entire career playing for the Storm and it’s hard to imagine her suiting up for anyone other than Seattle. It would be my guess that she will finish her career with the Storm. It would be great to have a player with the credentials and experience that Bird has to help bring along the younger players. I am certain that she had a hand in the development of Loyd throughout the season. Sue can be a player-coach on the floor and and on the sidelines and keeping her in Seattle should be a priority for the team.

Also unrestricted is Crystal Langhorne. Langhorne who was traded to Seattle from Washington a few years ago has shown well for the Storm. This past season she averaged almost 13 points and 7 rebounds per game. She is one of the better power forwards in the league and will definitely get attention from other teams looking to bolster their front court. My guess is that Langhorne will listen to what other teams have to offer and then make the best decision for her career. With the success of Japanese forward Ramu Tokashiki and Australian Abby Bishop it may be a good time for Langhorne to look elsewhere. We will be watching to see what happens with Crystal as she will be a huge asset to whatever team she suits up for next season.

The Storm will also be making decisions on Quanitra  Hollingsworth and Alysha Clark who are also unrestricted free agents. Clark has been a key piece for Seattle for several seasons and Hollingsworth has size that is not often matched. Jenna O’Hea is their only restricted free agent who I think will be back with the Storm next season if she doesn’t have National Team Commitments for the Rio Olympics this summer.  Seattle may be a new looking team in 2016. Look for their to be some shake up in the roster. Jenny Boucek will be entering her second season as the head coach of the team  and should definitely have a better showing this coming season. What should the Storm do in free agency? Do you think they will go young and build up their squad? What kind of impact with Stewart have for the Storm? Let us know what you think.