The Race For the Crown

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The Race For the Crown

Jockeying For The Number One Seed

The WNBA season is reaching its climax. There’s no better time of a sports season than its last few weeks of the regular season and the playoffs. It’s no different in the greatest women’s league in the world. Every team in the league still has a legitimate shot at the playoffs and ultimately a championship. Therefore every game is crucial. I love it! But one big factor in who reaches the Finals and wins a championship is who the number one seed is in the playoffs and has home court advantage throughout. 

All eyes are on the WNBA Championship trophy

 Who’s the baddest gun in the West? – Minnesota or Los Angeles? Just when it looked like Minnesota would have the number one seed in the playoffs locked up for the third straight year, here come the Sparks again. The L.A. Sparks are now playing the best and most exciting basketball in the league. But the Minnesota Lynx have stood atop the West virtually the whole season. Yet they’ve struggled as of late with their latest loss against a very strong looking Atlanta Dream. Some of the Lynx’s issues were when center Janel McCarville was forced to miss games with concussion symptoms. She’s the only true center on their roster and the team’s been exposed as they’ve tried to insert talented, yet overmatched forwards at the position in her absence. Especially with her out they’ve suffered but even with McCarville healthy, the Lynx’s interior game seems to be an area of concern for the team. McCarville is great without the ball, setting screens, spacing and one of the best passing centers the game has seen but she doesn’t quite have that tiger in her that Taj McWilliams-Franklin brought to the table as a relentless scorer, defender and rebounder. She’ll need to dig down deep to help the team get that second ring if it’s going to happen. While the Lynx lost a key player and struggled, the Sparks lost a star in Candace Parker and flourished as center Jantel Lavender has been a force the second half of the season. It’s going to be a battle for the number one seed watching these two teams play. The Sparks have been very strong at home this season and a deciding game at Staples could be just the edge that they need to overcome the Lynx. Also the number one seed avoids a date with the dangerous Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner led Phoenix Mercury in the first round of the playoffs. What’s interesting is that the conventional thought is that the Lynx and Sparks would want to avoid Phoenix. But the Seattle Storm playing as well as they’re playing and having the Sparks number seemingly, maybe L.A wants to avoid the number one seed and a date with the Tina Thompson led Storm. Interesting possibilities in the West. Game on!

The Sparks and Lynx will wrestle for the number one seed in the West

 Who’s the queens of the East? Chi-town or ATL. The Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream have stood head and shoulders above the rest of the Eastern Conference this season. Atlanta jumped out like the ‘rabbit’ in a Mary Cain led long distance track race. Like the ‘rabbit’ (not Mary Cain) the rest of the pack soon caught up and a very talented Chicago Sky passed them. Now it’s a battle between the most dominant team in the East the past five years and the perhaps the most dominant team for the next five years. A healthy Atlanta Dream team led by superstar Angel McCoughtrey and Erika de Souza and Sancho Lyttle have dominated the glass, the passing lanes and the conference in recent years. And what they just did to the Minnesota Lynx last night tells you that they’re fired up and brimming to get back to the Finals. Injuries set Atlanta back after their torrent start. The return of ‘Red Bull’ Tiffany Hayes- cause she’s like a quick boost of energy to your team (Not to mention Polk County representing), and the impending return of Lyttle has this team focused on another title run. The Sky have vaulted to the head of the pack led by three bonafide stars: Epiphanny Prince- Piph Da Great, Big Syl- Sylvia Fowles and the young phenom Elena Delle Donne (feature on her soon to come). They’ve dealt with injuries as well but when all three are on the floor, they’re very tough to beat. Atlanta’s intensity and defensive prowess gave the Sky fits in their first meeting. They see each other three more times in these few remaining weeks of the regular season starting this Saturday on national tv. It should be a war. Seeding isn’t as important in this race for the top spot like it is in the West in terms of the first round playoff opponent as I really believe any matchup will prove difficult. Connecticut, Indiana, Washington and even New York could be a tough series for anyone. Yet if the Sky and Dream do clash in the Eastern conference finals then home court advantage could be a major factor. Both teams are very strong at home Atlanta 11-1, league’s best record but they are a horrible 3-8 on the road while Chicago is 10-2 at home and a respectable 8-6 on the road. As a matter of fact, home court is going to be crucial. Ahhhh, the joy of the WNBA. Game on I say!

The Sky, the Dream, Elena Delle Donne, Angel McCoughtrey, this is gonna be fun!

Who are the Los Angeles Sparks???

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  Who are the Los Angeles Sparks???

I’m writing this entry as fast as I can on the Los Angeles Sparks this day of August 5, 2013. Because in the next month, week, heck maybe day things could change with them. You see I’ve started two other entries on the Sparks so far this season but just as I was preparing to publish each, things changed. 

Most say there's none better than Candace Parker

For example, seeing the heartache and tears of desire shed by the Sparks as they endured coming one step away from going to the Finals last season and also recognizing their incredibly talented roster which added point guard Lindsey Harding, I was very high on the Sparks for the 2013 season. But after 9 games this superior Sparks squad was just 5-4. One measly game above .500. Immediately I go to my computer and begin typing. It went something like this:

You mean the Sparks have the game’s most talented player in Candace Parker and three, yes, THREE overall number one picks from the draft (Parker, Nneka Ogwumike, Lindsey Harding). Oh, and the other two starters, they were only the overall number two and three picks in their respective drafts as well. All that talent and they’re barely above .500??? I mean everyone was super excited about the overwhelming talent down in the desert with the Phoenix Mercury and deservedly so. But as impressive as the Mercury are, on paper player for player they don’t stack up to the Sparks. Now I’m talking overall basketball credentials going back to freshman year of college on. As a matter of fact, no one’s starting five does. Not even the mighty Lynx and you’re only 5-4?

League's most talented starting lineup on paper

So it went something like that, but I got busy and couldn’t publish the piece immediately and the next thing you know the Sparks win 6 straight. So then I’m writing:

They have caught fire with a 6 game winning streak. We’ve been waiting for this devastating lineup to come together, and right now it seems to be happening. The Sparks are the league’s most talented team, or at least have the league’s most talented starting lineup. They started the season struggling but a change in their mindset overall has this team becoming the type of ballclub we’ve been expecting to watch. It shows in their play and in the attitude they’re displaying.

‘We were very disappointed. That was not who we were. We wanted to identify ourselves and we are now going to be the toughest and the baddest team on the floor on a night-to-night basis.’

Kristi Toliver

It’s been hard to keep up with. I don’t know who the Los Angeles Sparks are yet and I don’t think that they do either as they recently lost to an overly matched Seattle Storm team at home and a ‘Better beat em now cause in a few years they’re gonna be a beast’ Tulsa Shock squad. Then then they came back and blew out a struggling Mystics team. Now with al that being said they’re still in second plaee in the West. That’s partly because when the Sparks are mentally prepared they can play with anyone and the other part is that the Silver Stars, Storm and Shock (though they’re on the rise) have struggled and also cause the Mercury REALLY don’t know who they are yet. There’s no reason the Sparks shouldn’t be battling the Lynx back and forth for the number one seed in the West. L.A. has three players who’s games I adore

Candace Parker- Parker plays such a fluid and beautiful game. She really is revolutionizing the game with her ability to do so many things on the court. (Yet I really believe she should be even more dominant game in and game out)

Kristi Toliver- I was so disgusted with the Chicago Sky when they drafted one of the greatest shooters the WNBA has ever seen in Toliver and nearly let her rot on the bench cause as a point guard she played an unconventional game. It’s such a pleasure to see her flourishing in her career now. I mean who’s heard of a jump shooter being in the top 5 in the league in field goal efficiency? It’s absurd how good she is. 

One of the best shooters the WNBA has ever seen

Nneka Ogwumike- Nneka is so talentedin the post. She reminds me of a baby Kevin McHale. Before Hakeem the Dream changed took post moves to a new galaxy, no one had seen footwork like McHale. Also like McHale, Nneka has Megatron type hands (that’s wide receiver Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions for those of you out of the NFL loop). She catches everything. She’s just super

Alana Beard, a consummate professional and tough defender, along with Lindsey Harding, a throwback type at point guard that seems has finally found her WNBA home. This team has the talent to say the least. But as the legendary Bill Russell, the greatest winner in the history of team sports said, ‘Never only let your jersey show up to the arena.’ Knowing you have the talent isn’t enough, playing your heart out game in and game out is what it’s going to take for the Sparks to finally reach their potential.

The Legend of Sheryl Swoopes

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'THE LEGEND OF SHERYL SWOOPES'

3 MVP's, 3 DOP's, 4 Rings...need I say more- SWOOPES

    In 1993 I remember watching the Womens NCAA Tournament and anxiously watching to see who would be crowned NCAA Champions. A few of the same powerhouses of today were favored such as my Tennessee Vols and the defending National Champion Stanford Cardinal who beat my favorite point guard ever in Dawn Staley and Virginia. So I’m watching for one of these teams or perhaps Lousiana Tech while they were still rolling to emerge. UConn pre-Geno was laughable when it came to championship talk in those days.

     Well I begin to hear about some girl at Texas Tech- ‘Texas Tech??? Are they even good’? Apparently they had a good season and were a 2 seed that year as they were led by this star player. Every year there’s some team that surprises but 9 times out of 10 when the smoke clears, the usual suspects are standing victorious. So I didn’t put much stock in the Red Raiders and was still skeptical on this star player. Yet the numbers she’s piling up were so gaudy- 53 points in the conference championship game…who does that in major D-1 ball??? So I watch. This girl’s name was Swoopes, Sheryl Swoopes. I think ‘well I like her name if nothing else’ and I begin to watch highlights of her destroying teams. ‘Dang! I ain’t never heard of a female player putting up numbers like this. Well let’s see what she does when she plays tough competition.’ Sheryl Swoopes and the Red Raiders continued to win and would go on to the Final Four and play the number one seeded Vanderbilt Commodores and I was front and center at the tv ready to see what she’s got. Mind you I’d just watched Swoopes tear up Colorado in the previous game but I wrote the Buffaloes off as a fluke. NOW, we’d really see what she can do. She commenced to give Vanderbilt 31 points and 11 rebounds as Texas Tech won going away. I was blown away. ‘She is the truth!’ It was so exciting, but now could she lead her team to an actual championship? She had a fantastic game against Vandy, she probably can’t score that much against number one seeded Ohio State led by future Hall of Famer, then freshman Katie Smith. But if Swoopes can score 20, 25 then they at least have a shot to win and I’d be really convinced that she’s one of the best. SHERYL SWOOPES SCORED 47 POINTS!!!! I, along with the nation was flabbergasted and convinced and I still am, Sheryl Swoopes is a superstar! Oh, and the greatest player to ever play college or pro since the WNBA era began. 

Swoopes at Texas Tech en route to a National Championship

     A few years later the WNBA made its debut and Swoopes was supposed to make hers as well but she was pregnant and had to sit out all but the last nine games that year. Cynthia Cooper came out of nowhere, and along with number one overall collegiate pick Tina Thompson, led the Houston Comets to the championship game. Swoopes joined the team to try to help or at least not destroy the chemistry that the team had already formed. She wasn’t her Texas Tech 47 point self from her lack of time to prepare to play but she competed nonetheless. I remember watching her closely and seeing her wanting to do more but simply not having her form just yet. Meanwhile she was doing all of the other things that make her the greatest: the passing, the defense, the acumen and passion of an elite basketball player. While Coop certainly drove that team to the title, I remember a key moment in I think Game 3 of that series with the New York Liberty. It was a crucial point where the Liberty was making a run and the Comets were moving the ball around on a very important possession. Swoopes who hadn’t scored much at all receives the ball near the top of the key well behind the 3-point line. She catches it and confidently, without hesitation launches a long, high arcing 3. She was standing shot was so far out when she shot, she was definitely not the hot hand so to speak, and the possession was so crucial that I was aghast that she even took the shot but when that ball reached the rim it landed in nothing but the bottom of the net. I was blown away. I said to myself ‘Now that’s a big time player.’ Four WNBA Championships, 3 Defensive Player of the Years and 3 MVP’s later it seems that was an understatement.

     There have been so many great players to play in the WNBA that like any field it’s still reasonably debatable on who’s the best. I really believe the question comes down to basically Lauren Jackson, Cynthia Cooper, Lisa Leslie and Swoopes. That’s a great list. But none of the aforementioned three were quite as dominant as Swoopes in every phase of the game. Like Jordan and Lebron in the NBA, players who play both ends of the floor at an extremely high level have to be the first qualification. No one did it like Sheryl Swoopes. She won games on both ends of the floor. Not just by scoring a ton of points, which she did, but by locking down opposing teams premiere player and just being an overall tremendous disruption for any team’s offensive scheme. Note the Defensive Player of the Year Award THREE years. Now Tamika Catchings has proven to be the same sort of defensive presence in the league today but Catch isn’t quite the force Swoopes is at the offensive end. No one did it on both ends like she did. Lisa Leslie is close, extremely close but I think Sheryl gets her. I love LJ’s game (Lauren Jackson) but I don’t think she compares in terms of being an all around player who affects the game in so many ways. Coop gets a lot of accolades and deservedly so as being one of the greatest and some say the greatest. First of all, Coop has to be applauded as she was 34 years old when the league started and still dominated! This is in 1997. These days 34 is not the same because people are so aware of the right foods, drinking water etc not to mention the protein shakes and that whole world. So what she accomplished in those few years in the WNBA at such an older age deserves a standing ovation. 

Coop, Tina Thompson and Swoopes- 4 WNBA Titles

 But even with that said, as an all around player, Coop doesn’t quite measure up to Swoopes. And that’s no shot at Coop, I mean she’s the starting 2 guard on the 1^st Team All-Time WNBA team in my opinion but now we’re dealing with the greatest single player ever. No one measures up to Sheryl Swoopes. She just could influence the game in so many ways and could fit into your system in whatever capacity. Supporting star early on with the Comets, star with the Comets all the way to role player with the Tulsa Shock. Sheryl Swoopes is the greatest to ever do it and should be recognized as such.

     Quick side note, the Houston Comets are the greatest team the WNBA has ever seen. Four WNBA Championships in a row. Three future Hall of Famers and all time top ten players to play the game plus Janeth Arcain, Perrot…they were fantastic. What a joy it was to watch basketball at such a high level. The Miami Heat are to be commended for their back to back championships but what the Comets did together with three superstars is more so what I think we all expected from the Heat. The Heat are more so Lebron is the superstar and Bosh and D-Wade do their thing too sometimes. On the court the Comets exemplified how superstars come together, regardless of what the behind the scenes issues were, and work as a machine to give us a level never seen before. There really was no one player. You had to stop them all. They were magic. Please tune in tonight to watch ‘Swoopes’ on ESPN as they document the greatest player who played for the greatest team that the WNBA has ever seen. 

The greatest WNBA player ever

 

The Greatest Players Will Shine in WNBA's All Star Game

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This Saturday some of the greatest female athletes in the world will gather in Connecticut for the WNBA All-Star game. We are upon a new, very exciting era in the WNBA as we have some of the league’s legendary players still in their prime such as Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker joining a new regime of supremely talented rookies in MVP candidate Elena Delle Donne and the most heralded player the league has seen in some time in Brittney Griner- this is EXCITING.

Greatest women basketball players in the world gather at yearly at the WNBA All Star game

Those premiere players mentioned are also joined by a bevy of veterans who are making their debut in the All Star game in Nneka Ogwumike, Allison Hightower, Ivory Latta, Shavonte Zellous, Danielle Robinson and Glory Johnson. This combination of legendary players, exciting rookies and veteran players elevating their game to earn their first All Star selection is further proof of how this league continues to ascend and prove that the league takes a backseat to no one as Coach Bill Laimbeer so aptly put it.

“The WNBA is second to none.”

                                                               Coach Bill Laimbeer

This game should only back up Coach Laimbeer’s sentiments. I’ve always enjoyed watching the All-Star game. I have many great memories of the game like when Lisa Leslie dunked in the 2005 game, watching UConn (though I'm a Vol) with four Huskies in the 2009 game: Swin Cash, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Charde Houston. One of the first of many similar scenarios for UConn grads. But my favorite memory is I believe it was the 2003 game where Nikki Teasley put on one of the greatest shows I’ve seen in a WNBA or NBA All-Star game. She won the MVP with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals as she led the West to the win. But it was some of her moves, crossovers and passes that made everyone’s jaw drop. Just mind boggling the way she maneuvered her body and that basketball. That was a performance reminiscent of Isaiah Thomas and Magic Johnson and the way they knew how to put on a show for the world in All Star games. And fyi for anyone who possesses those Teasley highlights, could you please post them on youtube. That’s too great of a memory to not be able to find them online. Teasley was a replacement that year for the legendary Cynthia Cooper who was injured and performed the way she did. So you never know who's going to step and step out to the forefront. So tune in this Saturday for more tremendous memories in this year’s All-Star game and see what player will give you lasting memories to cherish.

 

 

Nikki Teasley lit up the 03 All Star Game

 

AROUND THE LEAGUE

DIGGINS SITS/GOODRICH STARTS- While two of the ‘Three To See’ head to Connecticut for this weekend’s All-Star game, Skylar Diggins takes on a role that she probably hasn’t possibly ever had- as a reserve. An anke injury forced Skylar to miss time on the court and upon her return she finds herself playing behind third round pick Angel Goodrich. It’s interesting because they went head to head in the NCAA tournament in college in which Diggins clearly proved to be the premiere point guard as she had a phenomenal game with 27 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals. That’s against only 7 points by Goodrich but she did have 13 assists as her Jayhawks were beaten badly. It’s part of a tough rookie year for Diggins but she’s mentally tough and I really believe that in the long run this whole experience will only help her. In the meantime, it’s great to see Goodrich get an opportunity to show her mettle. Her first game starting she had 5 steals. It’s been an up and down journey for her starting but this experience is going to bode well for the Shock down the line as they should have two very strong point guards to lead to this team what I believe will be great accomplishments in the near future.

ALLISON HIGHTOWER IS BALLING- When things aren’t going well such as with the Connecticut Sun and the worst record in the league, most optimists will tell you to look on the bright side. Well to see the bright side with the Sun you merely have to look third year guard Allison Hightower. In a season that has seen Tina Charles struggle from the field and Renee Montgomery and Kara Lawson struggle to stay on the court, the lone bright spot for the franchise has been watching Allison Hightower continue to improve and become one of the most consistent guard threats in the league. Her All Star selection is well deserved. If the aforementioned players can be healthy and find their shooting touch in the second half of the season, the Sun may again make things interesting in the East as they follow their All Star guard Allison Hightower. 

Allison Hightower is shining for the Sun

League’s Unlikelys Make It A Special WNBA Season

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League’s Unlikelys Make It A Special WNBA Season

Silver Stars, Mystics and Storm Make Every Night A Challenge

Right off the top let me just say a big KUDOS to the 'Unlikely 3!' There’s so many 3’s these days: newly minted NBA 2 time Champion Miami Heat’s Big 3, the WNBA’s 3 to See and now I am coining the San Antonio Silver Stars, Seattle Storm and the Washington Mystics the 'Unlikely 3.'  Yeah I like that.

Unlikely meaning that these teams are not favorites, not considered title contenders they are more so considered the weakest teams of the league. Why are they Unlikely you ask? Well actually I don’t think you’re asking that because if you follow the WNBA any then I think it’s obvious. But let’s review the reasons anyway.

Washington Mystics- They went from cellar dwellers to ‘Maybe their cursed’ to being proud to say they’re a Mystic. No one expected anything out of them this year. They’ve been at the bottom of the east for the last few years, then they had the terrible misfortune of after having the worst season in the league last year – BY FAR- and still not getting one of the top 3 marquee picks- but now here they are at 4-2, one of the best records in the East. Beautiful story. And we can’t give enough credit to Mike Thibault. Can we just give Coach Thibault three cheers: Hip hip hooray, Hip hip hooray, Hip hip Hooray!!! 

Coach Mike Thibault

There’s nothing better than having a coach, and they have one. Also you have to point to Crystal Langhorne, Monique Currie and the Mystics new floor general Ivory Latta. These three (I’m telling you three is the magic number these days) former ACC stars are providing great effort and leadership for the young talented players like Taylor Hill and Emma Meesseman (20 years old) to mirror as they’ve provided this franchise with a lot to look forward to. 

BIG WINS this season that we were like ‘What!?’-Connecticut, Minnesota, Indiana

Crystal Langhorne

Seattle Storm- How about you have two of the top fifteen players to ever play in the WNBA on your team who are still near the top of their game and then you lose them BOTH right before the season. Well that’s what happened to the Storm and they have responded like two time WNBA Champions. I guess that’s because they are two time champions and they’re showing it. The mettle that they have shown after opening the season and being destroyed by the Sparks in the opener is impressive. This team and franchise is certainly to be applauded. They have a bunch of hard nosed players out there. Temeka Johnson is well traveled but she sure packs her ‘game’ for wherever she stops. Very solid player who is able to fit right into any scheme and help the players shine. She is one example of a bunch of tough, resilient, successful but unglorified veterans over the years. With the exception of Tina Thompson (feature on her very soon). Their recent high picks Shekinna Stricklen and Tianna Hawkins are still trying to come into their own so it’s been on the vets to make it happen and they have. 

Temeka Johnson's well-travelled but always makes a mark

They too are led by a terrific coach in Brian Agler- a proven winner. I first became privy to him in the old ABL where he coached a Katie Smith/Nikki McCray led Columbus Quest to two ABL Championships. He’s come to the WNBA and won a WNBA title and this year doing a heck of a job with this resilient group this year.

BIG WINS this season that we were like ‘What!?’- Phoenix, Connecticut

Coach Brian Agler

San Antonio Silver Stars-  The Storm isn’t the only team losing big stars to injury. The Silver Stars lost two top 30 players in WNBA history in Sophia Young and Becky Hammond. Now of course Becky’s injury wasn’t nearly as severe as the other players injuries but nevertheless they had to start the year without the face of the franchise. Also I believe that I’ve pointed out before that this is a team that really hasn’t had any big draft picks or acquisitions other than the brief excitement Chamique Holdsclaw brought a few years ago. They’ve just continued to surround Becky and Sophia with adequate players and have still gotten the job done. But without the two you really wondered what they would do and they have answered beautifully. And in the midst of that they may have found some real prime time players to help the Silver Stars stay in the mix and possibly get over the hump and make the Finals one day in players Danielle Robinson and Shenise Johnson. I was high on Shenise coming out of Miami and she’s really turning into quite a player. Danielle was fun to watch at Oklahoma but she has really worked to continue to develop her game and should be applauded as her hard work is paying off.

Coach Dan Hughes talking to veteran scoring force Jia Perkins

 

 

I don’t want to end this without shouting out Dan Hughes. Probably one of the most underrated coaches in the league but he has really given the San Antonio community a team to be proud of every year no matter who he has suited up. This really is a class organization that plays some really quality basketball and Coach Hughes has to be recognized for that. 
 BIG WINS this season that we were like ‘What!?’- Chicago, Los Angeles

Here she comes- Danielle Robinson

 Wait a minute, the Tulsa Shock has had losing records the past few years (BAD losing records) and their 2-7 this year and they’re not on this list!? That doesn’t make any sense.

 
No, they absolutely are not on here. Though they’ve gotten off to a very rough start no doubt, I say that if they’re not in the thick of things by the end of the year then they have underachieved. They have entirely too much talent on that roster to do anything but win a playoff spot. Liz Cambage, Candice Wiggins, Nicole Powell, Riquana Williams, Skylar Diggins and the newly dominant Glory Johnson amongst others…they are supposed to win. And they will. I really do believe that they are going to be a problem for teams. 

But overall, the fact that there aren't any easy nights at all in the WNBA is really going to help this league continue to grow and blossom. The 'Unlikely 3' are making it so that there really are no unlikelys, and that makes it fun. It's a very exciting and very entertaining 2013. Get to the arenas or live access and watch this super competition in the WNBA! 

Skylar Is Struggling- All Good- Par For the Rookie Point Guard Course

 

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  Skylar Diggins Struggling Early- All Good- It’s Par For the Point Guard Course

The Big 3 are the hot story for the WNBA this season. And with good reason, they’ve helped change the landscape of the league, brought more television and commercial exposure and also I’m sure that the attendance is up with their presence. Brittney Griner hasn't dominated the league but certainly hasn’t disappointed averaging 17 and 7 coupled with a few very nice dunks. And Elena Delle Donne has proved to be nothing short of the truth in Chicago. She’s everything she was advertised to be and more. In Tulsa, one of my favorite players to watch Skylar Diggins hasn’t been as prosperous, but she’s coming along. After watching her dominate the college game like few point guards have along with bringing an unprecedented celebrity feeling, her arrival in the WNBA profile has been tremendous. The results thus far have been…well, not so tremendous. But for a rookie point guard in the WNBA, it’s par for the course.

When we take a look at some of the more highly drafted and regarded point guards to come to the league, I think you’ll see that many have struggled against the intense nightly competition. Skylar said herself in her blog for ESPN in which it’s great to hear her candor:

‘The difference between now and college basketball season is I’m playing against the best in the world every night. All-stars, national and world champions are out here at each game. With 12 teams, all packed with 11 incredible players, I’ve had to adjust.

                                                                                                            Skylar Diggins

It’s an incredible challenge. I took a look back at some of the other highly regarded point guards and how their rookie year went, and for many it was similar struggles. Most of these below struggled. Now, there’s ALWAYS an exception, Sue Bird came into the league wrecking shop. But for most of the other mere mortals it was tough from the start.

PLAYER                         GS            PTS            REB            ASSISTS            STEALS            FG%            TOV

Becky Hammond               0            2.7                0.6            0.6                        0.2                        42%            0.8

Nikki Teasley                    32           6.4                2.6            4.4                        0.8                        40%            2.1

Courtney Vandersloot      34            6.5               2.0            3.7                        0.7                        39%            2.7

Lindsey Whalen                31            8.9               2.9            4.8                        1.3                        45%            3.0

Kristi Toliver                       0            7.6               1.4            1.9                        0.4                        45%            1.6

Lindsey Harding               20            11.7              4.4            3.9                        1.0                        35%            2.4

Renee Montgomery            9             9.0               1.9            2.1                        0.7                        40%            1.9

Samantha Prahalis            28             11.6              3.2            4.5                        1.6                        35%            3.0

Sue Bird                             32            14.4               2.0            6.0                        1.7                        40%            3.4

Skylar Diggins                    6            10.3               2.7            4.7                        1.3                        28%            4.3

Looking at the numbers of some of the talented point guards that have entered the WNBA as rookies and their performance we see the good and bad for Skylar in her rookie campaign. The good is that she is one of only four to average double figures and one of the top five in assists. But the bad is that she has by far the worst shooting percentage at 28% and has the highest turnover average by far. I look at Skylar's career at Notre Dame and now in Tulsa and a couple of things come to mind. First, in my estimation it is amazing that Notre Dame beat UConn three times last year before of course succumbing in the Final Four. You look at the Notre Dame roster talent wise and the UConn roster and there is no comparison. UConn is loaded! So for Skylar to lead her team to those victories and a 32-1 season is really phenomenal. She was everything for that team. Not that they didn't have talent but their talent simply doesn't compare to what's up in Storrs, Connecticut. I think that experience as being the all-everything for the along with the hype and being expected to 'lead' probably subconsciously has her pushing more than she needs to in the pros.

Sue Bird, one of the best to ever run the point!

I'd love for Skylar to trust the talent she has around her. The Tulsa Shock is loaded with young talented players (Liz Cambage, Candace Wiggins, Glory Johnson and more)- trust them. This is the least that Skylar's probably ever had to do as a player and I think that she just has to adjust to her new circumstances.  Quickly let's look at arguably the greatest point guard that the WNBA has seen in Sue Bird and the type of numbers that she put up in the Seattle Storm's championship season in 2010. She averaged 5.8 assists a game with only 1.8 turnovers. That's incredibly efficient! And she only averaged 11 points a game. She didn't force anything and knew she didn't need to.  That's because Lauren Jackson was playing her MVP ball, Swin Cash was her all around monster self and Camille Little and Tanisha Wright could be trusted to be two of the best role players a team could ask for. I think the world of Skylar and know that these bumps and bruises are simply part of the ride and when she really takes a look and sees that her load is lighter than she realizes and just allows the game to come to her, we'll soon see the superstar that the league is banking on.

Her time is coming. Patience.

WNBA- Anything Can Happen

 

 LOVIN THE WNBA

with Bell Fuller

 WNBA- Anything Can Happen!

WNBA action has been as fun as ever and just as entertaining, it has been as unpredictable as ever. Just what you need to keep the fans on their toes. One thing that helped the NFL become the premiere sports league is that going into the season everyone truly feels they can win the Super Bowl. Don’t think it’s quite like that in the WNBA yet but the fact that the San Antonio Silver Stars can be without Becky Hammond and Sophia Young, lose their opening game by almost 20 and then come back to beat the talent laden Los Angeles Sparks is great for the league. It was almost a trap game for the Sparks. At least in the respect that annihilated the Storm in the opener and then like everyone they see the Silver Stars get blown out by Indiana. They see that the Silver Stars are without their biggest stars and thus it’s natural to have a let down and they did. Quick shout to the amazing Candace Parker and great break out performance for Shenise Johnson.

Griner played well the legend Tina Thompson and the Storm prevailed

And if you thought that game was something then you were really blown away, as was I, when you watched the Sue Bird-less and Lauren Jackson-less Seattle Storm after being destroyed by L.A. in their opening game, come back to upset the favorites to win it all this year in the Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner led Phoenix Mercury. What an upset that was huh?! (Quick Shout to Tina Thompson- One of the Greatest Ever. Please Believe!)And also the Chicago Sky who started 6-1 last season but didn’t reach the playoffs and have never made the playoffs in their short history is off to a 3-0 start this year. But if they can remain healthy, the playoffs is a no-brainer and overall it’s going to be difficult for anyone to stop them from making the Finals. But there’s a LOT of basketball to be played before we arrive there. Let’s talk about basketball!

What’s up with Phoenix?

0-2 out the gate!? Whoa. I knew that 0-1 was possible because the Sky have an incredibly talented team but you let Seattle beat you???? Well my friends it happens. The Miami Heat struggled tremendously at the beginning of the Big 3 era. I remember the Celtics destroyed them in the opening game I believe and there were more whoopings to come before they got it together. The Philadelphia Eagles suffered an even worst fate when they put together their ‘Dream Team’ a few years ago.

But again it’s early. No worry necessary. They’re going to come together and figure out how to put it together. Now this doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll win it all now that I’ve began to see all of the teams play. But they’ll most definitely be in the thick of things. Diana Taurasi has to find her stroke again and I would love to see Samantha Prahalis get to the whole more and create opportunities for all of those scorers they have out there. Brittney is Brittney. She looks great. Really strong performances for her first two WNBA games ever. She’s as good as advertised if not better. With all of that being said, the Minnesota Lynx certainly isn’t the sort of team you want to have to get your first win against. 0-3 is a very good possibility and then maybe they can get in the win column, oh wait, they play the defending World Champion Indiana Fever after that…well it will be fun anywayJ

Indiana-New York Should Be A War

Now, this is not to say that these two are the top two teams in the Eastern Conference though they should both be in the thick of things for sure. But Indiana is built on defense and being very physical and then when you look at the Liberty and who’s at the helm…when have we seen anything or anyone affiliated with the Liberty not physical? It should be fun watching these two teams bang on each other. 

Laimbeer will have the Liberty ready to bang vs the Fever

The Liberty is stacked with big bodies at least when they’re fully healthy. Speaking of which they really need to get Cheryl Ford and Plenette Pierson back on the court. Both will be huge additions to the team upon their return. But those two along with Bone and Braxton should really be formidable down low for points and rebounds. Of course the Fever is not only physical but they are a well oiled machine so they should be the favorite in Wednesday’s game. Either way if you like hard nosed basketball then you should most definitely tune in.

We’ll Miss Piph Da Great!

Oh those overseas contracts and obligations…darn you! You’re taking away perhaps the most exciting and dominant perimeter scorer in the league in the Chicago Sky’s and Brooklyn’s Own Epiphanny Prince. She is so talented and efficient with her play on the court. Love watching her. Here’s a player with as good a handle as anyone in the league, quick as a cat with the rock, and a shot as smooth as butter. It’s most definitely a pleasure watching her play. Don’t miss Piph Da Great upon her return. Granted Delle Donne is and will continue to get the majority of the publicity and she is too a beast, but right now Piph is easily as good as any guard and probably player in the league. Hard to put a person into the best player in the league category until they start winning playoff series, championships, MVP’s etc. But some if not all of those accomplishments should be around the corner from one of the WNBA’s most exciting players- Piph Da Great!

Piph Da Great about to shake em up. We'll miss you. See you in a bit Piph!