League’s Unlikelys Make It A Special WNBA Season

LOVIN THE WNBA

with Bell Fuller

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!