WNBA

[rmontro]

The Fever are just too inconsistent.

 

[Voyageur]

They sure blew one tonight against LA. They had this game simply by playing ball control in the last 3 minutes and did not do it. They need to think about what they're doing, and their coaches have to make them understand what they need to do.

 

[rmontro]

They sure blew one tonight against LA. They had this game simply by playing ball control in the last 3 minutes and did not do it. They need to think about what they're doing, and their coaches have to make them understand what they need to do.

They sure have problems finishing games. I think that's the fourth game in the last several weeks where they've led the whole game, only to blow it the final minutes.

 

[Voyageur]

I don't have a clue as to how the Fever will play game after game. They can play good basketball on both ends of the floor then suddenly forget how to shoot and think defense is a dirty word. It makes me wonder what the problem is.

I have a hunch too many players on the Fever roster think that Clark is supposed to do it all and they just watch. But with her injuries, they seem to be stepping up their roles. Clark is being allowed to play back into shape and be a facilitator which she does amazingly well. The rest are picking up the scoring. It's almost like they're just figuring out that they're actually a team.

 

[rmontro]

I don't have a clue as to how the Fever will play game after game. They can play good basketball on both ends of the floor then suddenly forget how to shoot and think defense is a dirty word. It makes me wonder what the problem is.

I think a lot of it is that Clark's been out injured, and a lot of the time that she's played, her injury has been affecting her play. The other thing is they need to run the ball through Caitlin, as even she says, that's what's she's best at. Playing her off the ball doesn't work. Give her the ball and good things happen. It took Christie Sides awhile to realize that last year, and it's taken Stephanie White awhile to realize it this year. As obvious as it seems to the fans.

Hopefully from this point on, they'll start making a run. They've beaten the best teams in the league, the Liberty and Lynx. If they can put it all together, I think they have a shot at the championship. But they have to be more consistent.

 

[Voyageur]

I think a lot of it is that Clark's been out injured, and a lot of the time that she's played, her injury has been affecting her play. The other thing is they need to run the ball through Caitlin, as even she says, that's what's she's best at. Playing her off the ball doesn't work. Give her the ball and good things happen. It took Christie Sides awhile to realize that last year, and it's take Stephanie White awhile to realize it this year. As obvious as it seems to the fans.

Hopefully from this point on, they'll start making a run. They've beaten the best teams in the league, the Liberty and Lynx. If they can put it all together, I think they have a shot at the championship. But they have to be more consistent.

Excellent points.

 

[Voyageur]

Clark reinjured herself last night against the Sun. She's really having a tough time staying off the injury list. It's starting to take its toll on her mentally. You could see she was trying not to get too emotional about it near the end of the game last night when she was sitting on the bench. Some real tough breaks for her this year.

 

[rmontro]

Clark reinjured herself last night against the Sun. She's really having a tough time staying off the injury list. It's starting to take its toll on her mentally. You could see she was trying not to get too emotional about it near the end of the game last night when she was sitting on the bench. Some real tough breaks for her this year.

I saw that, like I've been saying, I think she's operating under some sort of sophomore jinx. It's a shame, because I'm assuming she'll be sitting out playing for awhile now (although I don't know), and that's going to cast a cloud on the All-Star Game celebrations. She was captain of her All-Star team, and was going to participate in the three point contest. People are starting to question the trainers who bulked her up.

Rough game, but she sparked the final run when she came back in in the fourth quarter. Too bad she got hurt. It's also become clear why Stephanie White likes to play her off the ball at times. She is tired of opposing teams fouling her the entire length of the court without it being called while she brings the ball up. WNBA officiating is the worst. White even called a timeout near the end of the game there, to give the officials an earful, and had Caitlin play off the ball. But she's most effective playing point guard.

 

[Voyageur]

I saw that, like I've been saying, I think she's operating under some sort of sophomore jinx. It's a shame, because I'm assuming she'll be sitting out playing for awhile now (although I don't know), and that's going to cast a cloud on the All-Star Game celebrations. She was captain of her All-Star team, and was going to participate in the three point contest. People are starting to question the trainers who bulked her up.

Rough game, but she sparked the final run when she came back in in the fourth quarter. Too bad she got hurt. It's also become clear why Stephanie White likes to play her off the ball at times. She is tired of opposing teams fouling her the entire length of the court without it being called while she brings the ball up. WNBA officiating is the worst. White even called a timeout near the end of the game there, to give the officials an earful, and had Caitlin play off the ball. But she's most effective playing point guard.

I wonder if her injury hasn't been there right along and she's been playing at a less important role because of it. I just haven't seen her able to play her game, and she had the ball stolen from her last night which was uncharacteristic of her game considering it was from the front and off the dribble. Then there's her speed. She has been playing slower out there and like you said off the ball which also is very much not like Clark.

I think she may have been gutsing it out for several games now and it hit a bad spot last night and she might sit for an extended period of time again.

I agree. She's constantly being fouled out there. The officials aren't doing anything about it. It's like they don't care. You can even see it when she's driving to the rim. Last night, on one play during the first half she was rammed, not bumped when she had the ball, then grabbed around the waist and nothing was called then when she was on her way to the hoop she was slapped across the face and they finally called the foul and never even looked at it as a potential flagrant.

I have never seen anyone on a basketball court take more shots to the face than she has in both men and women's games. They keep allowing it to happen and they aren't sending a message through huge fines and suspensions that it's not going to be tolerated.

The one element most teams understand is going to happen if they attack Clark and it's become obvious. Sophie Cunningham is going to hit the floor and she's kind of like the Muhammad Ali of the WNBA. There isn't anyone she won't flatten and make it look like it wasn't in the slightest bit intentional.

 

[rmontro]

Sophie Cunningham may be an enforcer of types, but she looks as graceful as a gazelle out there.

The WNBA seems to pride itself on allowing more physicality than is necessary. Paige Bueckers was quoted as saying that in college she had to learn to defend without fouling. But in the WNBA, she's had to learn to defend by fouiing, because the refs don't call it as often.

A lot of people have said that they intentionally allow Clark to be fouled more, because of the "controversy" around her. Some people don't like that she is a straight white player getting all this attention, and she's single handedly increased attendance and viewership for the league significantly. They seem to want to avoid the appearance that Clark gets "special whistles", because then they might get accused of racism or whatnot. They bend over backwards to avoid the appearance of favoritism.

There's new footage making the rounds on YouTube that shows that Jacy Sheldon may have kneed Clark in the groin at one point. It's a very odd position if you've seen it. Sheldon is almost behind Clark, but has her leg wrapped around Clark's leg with her knee up into her groin area. Strange.

 

[Voyageur]

Sophie Cunningham may be an enforcer of types, but she looks as graceful as a gazelle out there.

The WNBA seems to pride itself on allowing more physicality than is necessary. Paige Bueckers was quoted as saying that in college she had to learn to defend without fouling. But in the WNBA, she's had to learn to defend by fouiing, because the refs don't call it as often.

A lot of people have said that they intentionally allow Clark to be fouled more, because of the "controversy" around her. Some people don't like that she is a straight white player getting all this attention, and she's single handedly increased attendance and viewership for the league significantly. They seem to want to avoid the appearance that Clark gets "special whistles", because then they might get accused of racism or whatnot. They bend over backwards to avoid the appearance of favoritism.

There's new footage making the rounds on YouTube that shows that Jacy Sheldon may have kneed Clark in the groin at one point. It's a very odd position if you've seen it. Sheldon is almost behind Clark, but has her leg wrapped around Clark's leg with her knee up into her groin area. Strange.

There's way too much petty jealousy permeating the league. I hate admitting it, but I think there's a lot of times that it overshadows the game itself. Clark joining the league immediately impacted game attendance and created a more lucrative market for televised games and the entire league is benefiting from it.

It's sad that the officials don't call the game the way they should. It seems like there's no foul called on physical play unless someone hits the deck and is injured.

In last night's game, without Clark, the firepower from the team was eliminated. Boston included. They need her out there as their facilitator.

 

[rmontro]

In last night's game, without Clark, the firepower from the team was eliminated. Boston included. They need her out there as their facilitator.

For sure. Plus the Liberty are one of the toughest teams in the league on their own court Plus the Fever just played a game last night so their legs were probably tired. Plus when Clark is there, she usually draws two or three defenders.

 

[Voyageur]

For sure. Plus the Liberty are one of the toughest teams in the league on their own court Plus the Fever just played a game last night so their legs were probably tired. Plus when Clark is there, she usually draws two or three defenders.

The Liberty can play about the best defense in the league, no doubt about it. You're absolutely on target as to Clark drawing attention and giving others more scoring opportunities.

 

[rmontro]

Caught a bit of the All Star Game and the 3 point contest the night before. Sabrina Ionescu is insane at shooting threes. Too bad Clark couldn't participate. The game was weak, especially since Clark's team was so injured.

Anyway, before the game they all wore those t-shirts that said "Pay us what you owe us". Because of the ongoing CBA discussions. I'm wondering exactly what the league owes them when the WNBA lost $50 million last year, even with the boost that Caitlin Clark provided? What would be fair?

 

[Voyageur]

Caught a bit of the All Star Game and the 3 point contest the night before. Sabrina Ionescu is insane at shooting threes. Too bad Clark couldn't participate. The game was weak, especially since Clark's team was so injured.

Anyway, before the game they all wore those t-shirts that said "Pay us what you owe us". Because of the ongoing CBA discussions. I'm wondering exactly what the league owes them when the WNBA lost $50 million last year, even with the boost that Caitlin Clark provided? What would be fair?

Difficult to judge what's fair as far as far as wages. Like you said, some franchises are suffering big time at this point. The $50 million bleed needs to be considered strongly. It can't continue to be a negative market for owners and still be forced to lose even more.

The answer probably can be found in the TV package and how it's envisioned as a provider of money for wages in the future. I have no idea how well that's working out from the targeted demographics perspective which is all that matters. Actual TV numbers don't tell the true story, only the targeted audience numbers count.