July 31, 2025 • 22 mins
WNBA injuries are dramatically reshaping playoff races and championship odds as the 2025 season heads into its final stretch. Key players across multiple teams face critical return timelines that could determine their postseason fates.
• Atlanta Dream missing Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada, both expected back August 1st
• Chicago Sky struggling without Courtney Vandersloot (ACL, out for season)
• Caitlin Clark (groin) projected to return August 12th, potentially missing final matchup with Paige Bueckers
• Kayla Thornton's season-ending knee surgery leaves Golden State Valkyries at a crossroads
• Both Samuelson sisters (Karlie with Lynx, Katie Lou with Storm) out for the season
• Liberty battling through multiple injuries while maintaining second place
• Sparks just got Cameron Brink back, critical for playoff push
• Washington Mystics vs Sparks upcoming games could determine final playoff spot
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up everybody?
It's your favorite show'sfavorite show Get a Bucket.
I'm your host, trey, and, asusual, I hope you're all having
a wonderful, wonderful day.
Today we're going to talk aboutthe WNBA injury updates, but
before we do that, please makesure to hit that like and
subscribe button.
Comment tell anyone who'sanyone about the show, trying to
get the ratings up a little bit.
You know just a little bit, but, like I said, today we're going
(00:28):
to talk WNBA injury updates forthe 2025 season.
It's been some decent ones andthey do affect not only their
teams but the WNBA, so let'stalk about them, shall we?
So just to give you a quicklittle shout out, right, as we
can see, here are the WNBA oops,here are the WNBA standings.
My bad, ladies and gentlemen.
Now we have the Lynx at numberone, liberty at number two,
mercury at number three, stormat number four, dream at number
(00:49):
five, fever at number six, aceat number seven, mystics number
eight, valkyrie number nine,sparks number 10, wings at
number 11, sky at 12, and number13, unluckily is the Sun.
Now, with that, let's go aheadand take a quick little gander
at the injuries, because you seethe listing, so you see how the
teams stack up right now, pointin time just a little bit after
(01:10):
the All-Star break, right, cool.
So let's look at the injuriesand see just how they're
plaguing their teams.
So, as y'all can see, we gothere the Atlanta Dream to talk
about first and we're not goingto pick on them.
It's not like these injuriesare the most significant.
Atlanta comes first in thealphabet, like I don't know what
(01:32):
to tell y'all.
So we got here the AtlantaDream.
They're missing Jordan Canadaand Ryan Howard.
Ladies and gentlemen, this isbig for me, because these are
two of their starters.
All right, but Ryan Howard isabsolutely, like, is absolutely
their best player.
I'm sorry, like, like, she, she, she is, and that's that's big.
All right, losing your bestplayer.
Now she's coming back August1st.
(01:53):
Same thing with Jordan Canada,so that's literally right around
the corner.
Like, like, so they'll be back.
So it's not like they'remissing a lot of time.
But the cohesion piece, ah, I dowant the Atlanta Dream to be
able to get a little bit morechemistry on the court.
Let's not forget Jordan Canadawas out at the beginning of the
season too, and then Ryan Howardwas out during the All-Star
(02:16):
break.
So there was time where youknow people aren't playing
together.
You need that time to mesh well.
So if you can get your starback on track before the
all-star I mean before theplayoff start along with your
starting point guard, I thinkyou might be able to work out
something.
And again, the dream have a lotof talent.
They just need the cohesion tobe able to get over that hump,
and that's what I got a questionmark about.
(02:38):
Now let's go ahead and shift ondown to this chicago sky,
because again, ladies andgentlemen, y'all saw where the
well.
Do y'all remember the dream?
Where they was right here?
They was right here right now.
The chicago sky yeah, I wasabout to scroll down.
Damn, they don't know.
They right here.
They had the bottom, they hadthe bottom.
There it goes.
Now, when we go back to theinjury list, you see they got a
(03:01):
couple of people now, courtneyvander sloot was a big injury,
and here's what I got to saybefore I get to the Chicago Sky
ESPN, y'all got to do a betterjob of this.
This estimated return date.
It is now almost August andy'all talking about some May 1st
liars, like just put TBD, likeyou can easily code TBD in any
(03:23):
situation like this.
You see, an ACL TBD, like askany coder or tell any coder
about a regular expression.
I promise you you can easily dothat for this part.
Anyways, back to the story,though that's just my little
quick IT thing in there.
Courtney Vandersloot, I'm notsaying she's like the star
player, but she's pretty notablefor the Chicago Scots history
(03:46):
and being out I think that didhurt, slash, cripple the Skies'
chances just a little bitBecause again, she's their best
playmaker.
She's one of the bestplaymakers in the history of the
game and she can still scorejust a little bit, not a lot,
but enough.
She can shoot the ball well.
Pairing that with Ariel Atkins,who you just traded for and she
had like an all-star caliberseason not too long ago for the
(04:09):
Mystics, that's tough, that'stough.
She had a little injury.
Now, granted, ariel's comingback okay, very soon, like right
around the corner.
But again that youth you'regoing to have to rely upon and I
think a player like Ariel doesgive you a little help.
And again, they've had injuriesthroughout the season too.
So I hate the fact that ChicagoSky are dealing with what
(04:32):
they're dealing with, butCourtney Vandersloot being out
really crippled them becausethey also it also affects Haley
Van Lith, ladies and gentlemen.
So again, when I see theChicago Sky at the bottom of the
barrel, almost it makes senseNow.
I did think they had the talentto just miss the playoffs.
But again, that wasincorporating Courtney
Vandersloot.
She could help Asia or AngelReese, like, feed her the ball,
(04:54):
same with Camila Cardoza, andalso teach Haley Van Lith how to
play the game, her being outbecause of ACL tear.
That does hurt.
So again, chicago Sky.
Second, I do get it.
Now, when you see the dallaswings, you see the dallas wings
are third, ladies and gentlemen.
And when you, when you, when,when, when you come back over
here, you see the dallas wings,they missing a couple people,
(05:19):
but I think it's not because ofinjuries as to why they out.
They just don't have enoughtalent.
Yet, end of day, they got somegood pieces, they got some good
role players and they havearguably two stars in Enrique
and Paige Beckers.
Maddie Seagrees, I am curiouswhat role she could be.
(05:39):
Would she be a third option?
I don't know.
She sometimes makes me feellike she could.
Then sometimes I feel like, ah,maybe just a third option.
I don't know, she sometimesmakes me feel like she could.
Then sometimes I feel like, ah,maybe just a fourth option.
So her being out and she comingback relatively soon, all right
, I'll rock with that.
Because again, that tells methey're not dealing with too
many injuries.
So, again, from a Wingsperspective, the injury report
(06:00):
ain't really saying that's thereason why y'all at the bottom,
it's more so a talent thing.
Uh, tyasha harris, or tyashaharris out for the whole season.
I do feel it again right here.
May 1st they got to change thattbd it.
Come on now, get your regularexpressions out there.
Coders, come on now.
Espn, I expect better from youbecause it's past may 1st, past
(06:24):
May 1st.
But again, though, dallas Wings, y'all at the bottom of the
barrel.
Now y'all see the Golden StateValkyries are the next team.
They right here and, if y'allnoticing, they right above my
sparts.
I do expect that to changerelatively soon.
And the reason why, ladies andgentlemen, is this they do not
have Kayla Thornton, no more.
(06:45):
Matter of fact, kaylaThornton's injury happened after
May 1st, so why are we back atit again?
Come on now.
But right knee surgery.
She had a successful right kneesurgery.
I hate this for Kayla Thornton,the Valkyries' first All-Star,
her first All-Star season andshe had a wonderful two years
(07:07):
WNBA champion and then All-Starseason.
Come on now, bro, like I hatethe fact she's missing the rest
of the season, man, because shewas playing well.
But this now does help me think.
Well, are the Valkyries goingto tank and try to get that top
draft pick for next season?
Because I thought they weregoing to and they've been
(07:27):
playing really well this season.
So does this allow them toofficially tank like, are y'all
gonna make it to the playoffs?
No one expected you to win, butthen again, not a lot of people
expect them to be in theplayoff hunt to begin with.
So now that you lost your starplayer, I think you have the
ability to now tank for anotherplayer who could eventually
become a star in the WNBA, likea Lauren Betts, maybe an Olivia
(07:51):
Miles, maybe AZ Foley, who knowswho they're going to try to
choose.
But again, you could try tolower your draft stock and
potentially make something shake.
But we'll see what happens.
We'll see what happens.
But yeah, losing Kayla Thorntonis tough.
Monique Billings, she come back.
Good player, coming back verysoon.
See what happens.
(08:12):
But again, ladies and gentlemen, golden State Valkyries, they
have an opportunity now tofinally tank.
Y'all see the Indiana Fever,because they were the next team
that we were going to talk about.
Commissioner Cup champs, right,y'all see where they stacked up
.
What is that?
One, two, three, four, five,six, right now.
All right, that's cool.
Well, here's the thing.
(08:34):
I know everybody's been waitingfor this, kaitlyn Clark.
Y'all see the name highlightedright there.
I've been waiting for this,kaitlyn Clark.
Y'all see the name highlightedright there, right, there, right
.
Estimated return date.
Ladies and gentlemen, august12th.
She did something to her groin,like her left groin, I know.
When I hear that about the NBA,I think you know what I'm
(08:55):
saying.
So when I think WNBA, that wasmy first thought.
Left groin, I don't know aboutthat champ, but she's been out
for a minute with it though.
So we got to take it seriously.
And again, august 12th is thesupposed date that they're going
to be, that she's going to beback.
Now, when, when, when.
I'm looking at that, at, at, at, at, at, at that timeline.
(09:15):
Look at this we got Dallaswings coming up, then we got the
Seattle Storm.
Okay, so that's three for theSparks, my Sparks.
We get to play them withoutKalen Clark, aw.
Then you got Phoenix, mercury,chicago Sky back at the Dallas
Wings.
So this is the estimated returndate, again to play Paige
(09:37):
Beckers, and I want to say thisis the final time too, and we're
getting pretty daggone close toplayoffs, ladies and gentlemen.
So I'm very curious if PaigeBeck, if Caitlyn Clark, is going
to come back by the time shegets to play Paige Beckers for
potentially that final time herrookie season.
I would love to see that,because y'all know I've been
saying that's going to be thenarrative, the storyline, and I
(09:59):
genuinely believe it would havebeen if Caitlyn were actually
healthy this season.
No, paige Beckham stands, whichthat might be me.
Caitlyn won't duck and smoke,because we have seen them go up
head-to-head at least once.
I would love to see at leasttwice.
Now, though, and that August12th deadline that's six games
from now.
So how does she return and howdoes she play for the playoffs?
(10:22):
I'm going to be monitoring thatfor the latter part of the WNBA
season, but I hope KaitlynClark is able to return healthy,
because she does help the WNBAout in viewership.
We can't be, we can't be.
We got to be fair about this,can't lie, but again, I want to
see how the fever do with herbecause she won the commissioner
.
They won the commissioner cupchamp without caitlyn clark.
(10:44):
So, tackling on theexpectations that the stands and
fans of caitlyn clark havethrown upon her, I'm very
curious what she do, but let'ssee what happens though.
Let's see what happens.
But again, y'all know where,where the fever are now the aces
.
Y'all saw the aces were thenext team and they're seventh.
This is kind of disappointing.
(11:04):
This is very disappointing, buthear me out, it's not the
reason why.
But I do understand part of theslippage.
Okay, the depth won't add,won't bear the way I thought it
was going to be.
That also includes a secondoptions Like.
Jewel Loy is not the secondoption.
(11:26):
I thought she could be, and Ithought Jackie Young was second
option, caliber too.
So maybe Jewel could even bethird option.
I'm questioning if Jewel Loycould, should even be the third
option on the team.
But Cheyenne Parker ties, ladiesand gentlemen, that was a big
drop for me.
For me because again, I thoughtshe had six woman of the year,
(11:46):
caliber talent, but she's out,and not because of injury,
because of maternity leave.
So my one of my question marksis actually how is she going to
return when she comes back?
And could we get this to belike a fred van fleet situation
when he was on the raptors,because fred was snapping that
season, that playoffs like hecould not miss.
(12:07):
So again, maybe what happens ifwe get cheyenne parker tight to
have that fred van fleet-esquesort of playoff run, if she
returns and I think that couldhelp the Aces out, I still view
them as a contender.
They got the possibility.
So again, ms Parker, tyus, Iguess we can't say Parker, no
(12:31):
more.
I expect you to return prettywell and help out this A squad
because maybe you could be theace in the hole Because, yeah,
they've been playing piss poorthis year.
I ain't gonna lie to you, butyou know aces, yeah, y'all gonna
have to tighten up.
Now.
Y'all saw the links as the nextteam that we got.
They doing pretty well and they, yeah, um, everything's going
(12:56):
pretty well for the, for thelinks I got.
I can't, I can't, I can't lieto you, and that does make me
wonder, okay, are they reallygonna win?
Because, again, everything isgoing right for the links.
Now, when we look at injuries,every team that I've talked
about have had like notsubstantial injuries, but like
pretty notable injuries.
Don't get me wrong.
(13:17):
Carly Samuelson is a notableinjury, but they clearly can get
by without her.
So again, it's not like they'relosing a lot and that's not a
slight at Carly, because theywere doing well without Kayla
McBride too for a second.
So it's not like Carly is goingto make or break the bank, but
(13:40):
she is a wonderful shooter andit does suck that they were not
able to get her Because again,she's out for the whole season,
whole season.
That is very unfortunate.
Like that is so tough.
Matter of fact.
Yeah, but again, the Lynx aredoing quite well and I got to
bring this up because you seethe storm right here and y'all
(14:02):
see where the storm are.
They're fourth.
I hate the perception of thisbecause the Samuelson family is
really going through it rightnow because look, katie Lou
Samuelson, she's out wholeseason.
Y'all see the May 1st, so y'allknow it's a TBD for me.
But again, the Samuelson family, carly and Katie Liu I hate it
(14:27):
for you guys because they wereon my sparks at one point in
time and I do appreciate theability that they have.
They can score, they can shoota little bit.
I appreciate them as players,good, solid role players.
Hated that they're out of theseason too.
So wish the Samuelsons sistersa speedy recovery.
Come back strong.
Y'all want to come back to theSparks.
(14:49):
I ain't mad at you.
Maybe you don't want to,because I just said y'all were
irrelevant, damn near.
Let's move on.
Before I get cussed out, let'stalk about here the league or
the Liberty, because y'all sawthey were the next team.
Well, they were the team inbetween the Lynx and the Storm
and ironically, they're inbetween the Lynx and the Storm
right here too, fun fact.
So when we're talking about theLiberty, it's very interesting
(15:12):
that they've dealt with a littlebit of injuries, like if y'all
peep for starters, they've lostadditional players outside of
these ladies, like Emma Miesmanjust got to the team and she out
Like she ain't returning.
Come on now.
Brianna Stewart is the star nowshe coming back.
But still, though, you know wegot injury history.
(15:34):
We got injuries throughout.
John Quayle Jones just got back.
They missing Benadji Laneybecause of maternity leave I
think was maternity leave, Ithink so or maybe a knee injury.
I gotta double to double checkthat one, dag, I'm getting old.
Then they lost Leone Feebush tooverseas play.
So this Liberty squad is reallydealing with injuries.
(15:56):
Then we got Kennedy Burke herecoming back August 16th.
Nayara Sabadi, who playedreally well for the Liberty in
the playoffs in the finals lastseason Tough.
Now they're coming back,luckily.
But this does mess up thecohesion of the Liberty.
So as long as they're gettingback on track, they don't have
(16:19):
no rust.
Entering playoffs should befine.
But stuff like this I do noteInjury's a part of the game, but
they're going to have to shakeoff this rust.
But again, ladies and gentlemen, day number two in the league,
even with all that, that'spretty damn good.
(16:39):
Like that's, that's pretty good.
So if y'all sports, if y'allsports betting folk, I get it.
If you want to, if you want toput some money on the Liberty,
repeat, because they did lookrepeat-esque, I will say that.
But the final team that we gotto talk about Well, two more,
two more before we close up shop.
(17:00):
We got to talk about theMystics Because, as y'all see,
they right here, they right hereat eight.
Now, this is another playoffteam.
Apparently, if the season wereto end right now, they this is
another playoff team, apparentlya point.
If the season were to end rightnow, they would be a playoff
team.
Well, they've had decent success, but a little bit injury
history too, because, keep inmind, shaquiri Austin was
(17:22):
injured as well during theseason.
Aaliyah Edwards injured,currently coming back, but still
this affects cohesion.
Ladies and gentlemen, for theteam, georgia Moore, she was out
for the whole season becauseshe tore her ACL.
So again that one actually isgoing to affect them because of
the future.
I think she lost a lot of repsthat she could have got with
(17:42):
this squad.
So now next season I'm curioushow she returns.
Does she return confidently?
But this season they have beendealing with some injuries, but
even still they've at least beenin the playoff hunt.
So because of that, I doappreciate the Washington
Mystics and what they've doneAgain in the playoff hunt still
got some injuries.
That does affect their squadand they're a young team
(18:05):
relatively.
Tip of the cap to theWashington Mystics.
But, ladies and gentlemen,again they're in the playoff
hunt, as y'all can see.
Now my final team, though I gotto talk about my sparks because
I'm not biased when I say thisyes, we highlighted right now.
We weren't like.
(18:30):
We were supposed to be in theplayoff hunt.
A lot earlier than this.
I was wholeheartedly expectingus to be in the playoffs like at
least an eight seed 17something.
We just lost Cameron Brink off,like off the injury report list
(18:51):
.
So she's now playing with usand remember, ladies and
gentlemen, that was our numbertwo pick last season.
So if she can shake off herrust and add some value, keep in
mind too, she got injured earlylast season, so there's a
learning curve for her right now.
But there's a world where wecould run a lineup of Kelsey
Plum, rekia Jackson, cameronBrink, de'erica Hamby and Azaree
(19:15):
Stevens.
That's a team that could spacethe floor out and be a defensive
juggernaut, minus Kelsey Plum.
So for me, I do like that squad.
The only thing that pisses meoff the most about it is I'm
thinking if we had had, if wehad gotten the number one draft
pick last year, we probablycould have had Paige Beckers,
(19:36):
and then we would have had PaigeBeckers, rekia Jackson, cameron
Brink, azrae Stephens andDe'Arica Hamby and that would
have been a decent, that wouldhave been a quality starting
five for me for the future andwe would have been in the
playoff hunt today.
But I'm happy that Cameronbrings off the injury reserve
(19:57):
list and we get to see whatwe're about, because there is
pressure on my sparks Because ifwe don't make the playoffs.
Kelsey Plum got some questionmarks about you.
Rekia Jackson, you were tradedand we got to see some
production.
We have seen production, butit's got to equate to playoffs.
Same with Azrae and D'Erica.
(20:17):
Y'all been in the league for acouple seasons now.
We need to get to the playoffs,ladies.
So again, we don't have noinjuries, no more, no notable
injuries, no more excuses.
We have to get to the playoffsthis season.
And y'all currently see weclose.
And again, this is sixth,seventh.
You mean to tell me we can'tget to eighth Word?
(20:40):
All right, that's a bet.
And keep in mind, we just beatthe Mystics recently.
So if we beat the Mystics again, that means if we tie with the
Mystics, we get the tiebreaker.
That means we go to theplayoffs.
So the Sparks and the Mystics,that's going to be a critical
game come August.
So be on the lookout for thatgame, ladies and gentlemen.
(21:05):
But again, that's the injuryreport so far.
So y'all have heard howeverybody's being affected.
Y'all have heard how I feelabout my team at least.
But I'm curious Is there aninjury that I did not list, that
I did not talk about, thaty'all want to hear about?
Let me know.
Or how do y'all think theseinjuries actually affect the
(21:25):
team?
Do y'all think the injuries arereally affecting the team that
much, especially if they'recoming back pretty soon?
I think it does.
I think it can, because it doesaffect the cohesion of some
players or some teams.
So, again, that's my thoughtsabout that.
But, ladies and gentlemen, Iwant to hear your thoughts.
So please definitely make sureto continue to one, support the
WNBA, but two, also continue tosupport my show.
(21:48):
I greatly appreciate it.
So please make sure to like,subscribe, comment, tell anyone
who's anyone about the show.
As y'all can see, this is theending of it, but my name is
Trey.
I'm the host of Get a Bucket.
Hope you all are having a goodone.
Take care.
What's up everybody?
It's your favorite show'sfavorite show Get a Bucket.
I'm your host, trey, and, asusual, I hope you're all having
a wonderful, wonderful day.
Today we're going to talk aboutthe WNBA injury updates, but
before we do that, please makesure to hit that like and
subscribe button.
Comment tell anyone who'sanyone about the show, trying to
get the ratings up a little bit.
You know just a little bit, but, like I said, today we're going
(00:28):
to talk WNBA injury updates forthe 2025 season.
It's been some decent ones andthey do affect not only their
teams but the WNBA, so let'stalk about them, shall we?
So just to give you a quicklittle shout out, right, as we
can see, here are the WNBA oops,here are the WNBA standings.
My bad, ladies and gentlemen.
Now we have the Lynx at numberone, liberty at number two,
mercury at number three, stormat number four, dream at number
(00:49):
five, fever at number six, aceat number seven, mystics number
eight, valkyrie number nine,sparks number 10, wings at
number 11, sky at 12, and number13, unluckily is the Sun.
Now, with that, let's go aheadand take a quick little gander
at the injuries, because you seethe listing, so you see how the
teams stack up right now, pointin time just a little bit after
(01:10):
the All-Star break, right, cool.
So let's look at the injuriesand see just how they're
plaguing their teams.
So, as y'all can see, we gothere the Atlanta Dream to talk
about first and we're not goingto pick on them.
It's not like these injuriesare the most significant.
Atlanta comes first in thealphabet, like I don't know what
(01:32):
to tell y'all.
So we got here the AtlantaDream.
They're missing Jordan Canadaand Ryan Howard.
Ladies and gentlemen, this isbig for me, because these are
two of their starters.
All right, but Ryan Howard isabsolutely, like, is absolutely
their best player.
I'm sorry, like, like, she, she, she is, and that's that's big.
All right, losing your bestplayer.
Now she's coming back August1st.
(01:53):
Same thing with Jordan Canada,so that's literally right around
the corner.
Like, like, so they'll be back.
So it's not like they'remissing a lot of time.
But the cohesion piece, ah, I dowant the Atlanta Dream to be
able to get a little bit morechemistry on the court.
Let's not forget Jordan Canadawas out at the beginning of the
season too, and then Ryan Howardwas out during the All-Star
(02:16):
break.
So there was time where youknow people aren't playing
together.
You need that time to mesh well.
So if you can get your starback on track before the
all-star I mean before theplayoff start along with your
starting point guard, I thinkyou might be able to work out
something.
And again, the dream have a lotof talent.
They just need the cohesion tobe able to get over that hump,
and that's what I got a questionmark about.
(02:38):
Now let's go ahead and shift ondown to this chicago sky,
because again, ladies andgentlemen, y'all saw where the
well.
Do y'all remember the dream?
Where they was right here?
They was right here right now.
The chicago sky yeah, I wasabout to scroll down.
Damn, they don't know.
They right here.
They had the bottom, they hadthe bottom.
There it goes.
Now, when we go back to theinjury list, you see they got a
(03:01):
couple of people now, courtneyvander sloot was a big injury,
and here's what I got to saybefore I get to the Chicago Sky
ESPN, y'all got to do a betterjob of this.
This estimated return date.
It is now almost August andy'all talking about some May 1st
liars, like just put TBD, likeyou can easily code TBD in any
(03:23):
situation like this.
You see, an ACL TBD, like askany coder or tell any coder
about a regular expression.
I promise you you can easily dothat for this part.
Anyways, back to the story,though that's just my little
quick IT thing in there.
Courtney Vandersloot, I'm notsaying she's like the star
player, but she's pretty notablefor the Chicago Scots history
(03:46):
and being out I think that didhurt, slash, cripple the Skies'
chances just a little bitBecause again, she's their best
playmaker.
She's one of the bestplaymakers in the history of the
game and she can still scorejust a little bit, not a lot,
but enough.
She can shoot the ball well.
Pairing that with Ariel Atkins,who you just traded for and she
had like an all-star caliberseason not too long ago for the
(04:09):
Mystics, that's tough, that'stough.
She had a little injury.
Now, granted, ariel's comingback okay, very soon, like right
around the corner.
But again that youth you'regoing to have to rely upon and I
think a player like Ariel doesgive you a little help.
And again, they've had injuriesthroughout the season too.
So I hate the fact that ChicagoSky are dealing with what
(04:32):
they're dealing with, butCourtney Vandersloot being out
really crippled them becausethey also it also affects Haley
Van Lith, ladies and gentlemen.
So again, when I see theChicago Sky at the bottom of the
barrel, almost it makes senseNow.
I did think they had the talentto just miss the playoffs.
But again, that wasincorporating Courtney
Vandersloot.
She could help Asia or AngelReese, like, feed her the ball,
(04:54):
same with Camila Cardoza, andalso teach Haley Van Lith how to
play the game, her being outbecause of ACL tear.
That does hurt.
So again, chicago Sky.
Second, I do get it.
Now, when you see the dallaswings, you see the dallas wings
are third, ladies and gentlemen.
And when you, when you, when,when, when you come back over
here, you see the dallas wings,they missing a couple people,
(05:19):
but I think it's not because ofinjuries as to why they out.
They just don't have enoughtalent.
Yet, end of day, they got somegood pieces, they got some good
role players and they havearguably two stars in Enrique
and Paige Beckers.
Maddie Seagrees, I am curiouswhat role she could be.
(05:39):
Would she be a third option?
I don't know.
She sometimes makes me feellike she could.
Then sometimes I feel like, ah,maybe just a third option.
I don't know, she sometimesmakes me feel like she could.
Then sometimes I feel like, ah,maybe just a fourth option.
So her being out and she comingback relatively soon, all right
, I'll rock with that.
Because again, that tells methey're not dealing with too
many injuries.
So, again, from a Wingsperspective, the injury report
(06:00):
ain't really saying that's thereason why y'all at the bottom,
it's more so a talent thing.
Uh, tyasha harris, or tyashaharris out for the whole season.
I do feel it again right here.
May 1st they got to change thattbd it.
Come on now, get your regularexpressions out there.
Coders, come on now.
Espn, I expect better from youbecause it's past may 1st, past
(06:24):
May 1st.
But again, though, dallas Wings, y'all at the bottom of the
barrel.
Now y'all see the Golden StateValkyries are the next team.
They right here and, if y'allnoticing, they right above my
sparts.
I do expect that to changerelatively soon.
And the reason why, ladies andgentlemen, is this they do not
have Kayla Thornton, no more.
(06:45):
Matter of fact, kaylaThornton's injury happened after
May 1st, so why are we back atit again?
Come on now.
But right knee surgery.
She had a successful right kneesurgery.
I hate this for Kayla Thornton,the Valkyries' first All-Star,
her first All-Star season andshe had a wonderful two years
(07:07):
WNBA champion and then All-Starseason.
Come on now, bro, like I hatethe fact she's missing the rest
of the season, man, because shewas playing well.
But this now does help me think.
Well, are the Valkyries goingto tank and try to get that top
draft pick for next season?
Because I thought they weregoing to and they've been
(07:27):
playing really well this season.
So does this allow them toofficially tank like, are y'all
gonna make it to the playoffs?
No one expected you to win, butthen again, not a lot of people
expect them to be in theplayoff hunt to begin with.
So now that you lost your starplayer, I think you have the
ability to now tank for anotherplayer who could eventually
become a star in the WNBA, likea Lauren Betts, maybe an Olivia
(07:51):
Miles, maybe AZ Foley, who knowswho they're going to try to
choose.
But again, you could try tolower your draft stock and
potentially make something shake.
But we'll see what happens.
We'll see what happens.
But yeah, losing Kayla Thorntonis tough.
Monique Billings, she come back.
Good player, coming back verysoon.
See what happens.
(08:12):
But again, ladies and gentlemen, golden State Valkyries, they
have an opportunity now tofinally tank.
Y'all see the Indiana Fever,because they were the next team
that we were going to talk about.
Commissioner Cup champs, right,y'all see where they stacked up
.
What is that?
One, two, three, four, five,six, right now.
All right, that's cool.
Well, here's the thing.
(08:34):
I know everybody's been waitingfor this, kaitlyn Clark.
Y'all see the name highlightedright there.
I've been waiting for this,kaitlyn Clark.
Y'all see the name highlightedright there, right, there, right
.
Estimated return date.
Ladies and gentlemen, august12th.
She did something to her groin,like her left groin, I know.
When I hear that about the NBA,I think you know what I'm
(08:55):
saying.
So when I think WNBA, that wasmy first thought.
Left groin, I don't know aboutthat champ, but she's been out
for a minute with it though.
So we got to take it seriously.
And again, august 12th is thesupposed date that they're going
to be, that she's going to beback.
Now, when, when, when.
I'm looking at that, at, at, at, at, at, at that timeline.
(09:15):
Look at this we got Dallaswings coming up, then we got the
Seattle Storm.
Okay, so that's three for theSparks, my Sparks.
We get to play them withoutKalen Clark, aw.
Then you got Phoenix, mercury,chicago Sky back at the Dallas
Wings.
So this is the estimated returndate, again to play Paige
(09:37):
Beckers, and I want to say thisis the final time too, and we're
getting pretty daggone close toplayoffs, ladies and gentlemen.
So I'm very curious if PaigeBeck, if Caitlyn Clark, is going
to come back by the time shegets to play Paige Beckers for
potentially that final time herrookie season.
I would love to see that,because y'all know I've been
saying that's going to be thenarrative, the storyline, and I
(09:59):
genuinely believe it would havebeen if Caitlyn were actually
healthy this season.
No, paige Beckham stands, whichthat might be me.
Caitlyn won't duck and smoke,because we have seen them go up
head-to-head at least once.
I would love to see at leasttwice.
Now, though, and that August12th deadline that's six games
from now.
So how does she return and howdoes she play for the playoffs?
(10:22):
I'm going to be monitoring thatfor the latter part of the WNBA
season, but I hope KaitlynClark is able to return healthy,
because she does help the WNBAout in viewership.
We can't be, we can't be.
We got to be fair about this,can't lie, but again, I want to
see how the fever do with herbecause she won the commissioner
.
They won the commissioner cupchamp without caitlyn clark.
(10:44):
So, tackling on theexpectations that the stands and
fans of caitlyn clark havethrown upon her, I'm very
curious what she do, but let'ssee what happens though.
Let's see what happens.
But again, y'all know where,where the fever are now the aces
.
Y'all saw the aces were thenext team and they're seventh.
This is kind of disappointing.
(11:04):
This is very disappointing, buthear me out, it's not the
reason why.
But I do understand part of theslippage.
Okay, the depth won't add,won't bear the way I thought it
was going to be.
That also includes a secondoptions Like.
Jewel Loy is not the secondoption.
(11:26):
I thought she could be, and Ithought Jackie Young was second
option, caliber too.
So maybe Jewel could even bethird option.
I'm questioning if Jewel Loycould, should even be the third
option on the team.
But Cheyenne Parker ties, ladiesand gentlemen, that was a big
drop for me.
For me because again, I thoughtshe had six woman of the year,
(11:46):
caliber talent, but she's out,and not because of injury,
because of maternity leave.
So my one of my question marksis actually how is she going to
return when she comes back?
And could we get this to belike a fred van fleet situation
when he was on the raptors,because fred was snapping that
season, that playoffs like hecould not miss.
(12:07):
So again, maybe what happens ifwe get cheyenne parker tight to
have that fred van fleet-esquesort of playoff run, if she
returns and I think that couldhelp the Aces out, I still view
them as a contender.
They got the possibility.
So again, ms Parker, tyus, Iguess we can't say Parker, no
(12:31):
more.
I expect you to return prettywell and help out this A squad
because maybe you could be theace in the hole Because, yeah,
they've been playing piss poorthis year.
I ain't gonna lie to you, butyou know aces, yeah, y'all gonna
have to tighten up.
Now.
Y'all saw the links as the nextteam that we got.
They doing pretty well and they, yeah, um, everything's going
(12:56):
pretty well for the, for thelinks I got.
I can't, I can't, I can't lieto you, and that does make me
wonder, okay, are they reallygonna win?
Because, again, everything isgoing right for the links.
Now, when we look at injuries,every team that I've talked
about have had like notsubstantial injuries, but like
pretty notable injuries.
Don't get me wrong.
(13:17):
Carly Samuelson is a notableinjury, but they clearly can get
by without her.
So again, it's not like they'relosing a lot and that's not a
slight at Carly, because theywere doing well without Kayla
McBride too for a second.
So it's not like Carly is goingto make or break the bank, but
(13:40):
she is a wonderful shooter andit does suck that they were not
able to get her Because again,she's out for the whole season,
whole season.
That is very unfortunate.
Like that is so tough.
Matter of fact.
Yeah, but again, the Lynx aredoing quite well and I got to
bring this up because you seethe storm right here and y'all
(14:02):
see where the storm are.
They're fourth.
I hate the perception of thisbecause the Samuelson family is
really going through it rightnow because look, katie Lou
Samuelson, she's out wholeseason.
Y'all see the May 1st, so y'allknow it's a TBD for me.
But again, the Samuelson family, carly and Katie Liu I hate it
(14:27):
for you guys because they wereon my sparks at one point in
time and I do appreciate theability that they have.
They can score, they can shoota little bit.
I appreciate them as players,good, solid role players.
Hated that they're out of theseason too.
So wish the Samuelsons sistersa speedy recovery.
Come back strong.
Y'all want to come back to theSparks.
(14:49):
I ain't mad at you.
Maybe you don't want to,because I just said y'all were
irrelevant, damn near.
Let's move on.
Before I get cussed out, let'stalk about here the league or
the Liberty, because y'all sawthey were the next team.
Well, they were the team inbetween the Lynx and the Storm
and ironically, they're inbetween the Lynx and the Storm
right here too, fun fact.
So when we're talking about theLiberty, it's very interesting
(15:12):
that they've dealt with a littlebit of injuries, like if y'all
peep for starters, they've lostadditional players outside of
these ladies, like Emma Miesmanjust got to the team and she out
Like she ain't returning.
Come on now.
Brianna Stewart is the star nowshe coming back.
But still, though, you know wegot injury history.
(15:34):
We got injuries throughout.
John Quayle Jones just got back.
They missing Benadji Laneybecause of maternity leave I
think was maternity leave, Ithink so or maybe a knee injury.
I gotta double to double checkthat one, dag, I'm getting old.
Then they lost Leone Feebush tooverseas play.
So this Liberty squad is reallydealing with injuries.
(15:56):
Then we got Kennedy Burke herecoming back August 16th.
Nayara Sabadi, who playedreally well for the Liberty in
the playoffs in the finals lastseason Tough.
Now they're coming back,luckily.
But this does mess up thecohesion of the Liberty.
So as long as they're gettingback on track, they don't have
(16:19):
no rust.
Entering playoffs should befine.
But stuff like this I do noteInjury's a part of the game, but
they're going to have to shakeoff this rust.
But again, ladies and gentlemen, day number two in the league,
even with all that, that'spretty damn good.
(16:39):
Like that's, that's pretty good.
So if y'all sports, if y'allsports betting folk, I get it.
If you want to, if you want toput some money on the Liberty,
repeat, because they did lookrepeat-esque, I will say that.
But the final team that we gotto talk about Well, two more,
two more before we close up shop.
(17:00):
We got to talk about theMystics Because, as y'all see,
they right here, they right hereat eight.
Now, this is another playoffteam.
Apparently, if the season wereto end right now, they this is
another playoff team, apparentlya point.
If the season were to end rightnow, they would be a playoff
team.
Well, they've had decent success, but a little bit injury
history too, because, keep inmind, shaquiri Austin was
(17:22):
injured as well during theseason.
Aaliyah Edwards injured,currently coming back, but still
this affects cohesion.
Ladies and gentlemen, for theteam, georgia Moore, she was out
for the whole season becauseshe tore her ACL.
So again that one actually isgoing to affect them because of
the future.
I think she lost a lot of repsthat she could have got with
(17:42):
this squad.
So now next season I'm curioushow she returns.
Does she return confidently?
But this season they have beendealing with some injuries, but
even still they've at least beenin the playoff hunt.
So because of that, I doappreciate the Washington
Mystics and what they've doneAgain in the playoff hunt still
got some injuries.
That does affect their squadand they're a young team
(18:05):
relatively.
Tip of the cap to theWashington Mystics.
But, ladies and gentlemen,again they're in the playoff
hunt, as y'all can see.
Now my final team, though I gotto talk about my sparks because
I'm not biased when I say thisyes, we highlighted right now.
We weren't like.
(18:30):
We were supposed to be in theplayoff hunt.
A lot earlier than this.
I was wholeheartedly expectingus to be in the playoffs like at
least an eight seed 17something.
We just lost Cameron Brink off,like off the injury report list
(18:51):
.
So she's now playing with usand remember, ladies and
gentlemen, that was our numbertwo pick last season.
So if she can shake off herrust and add some value, keep in
mind too, she got injured earlylast season, so there's a
learning curve for her right now.
But there's a world where wecould run a lineup of Kelsey
Plum, rekia Jackson, cameronBrink, de'erica Hamby and Azaree
(19:15):
Stevens.
That's a team that could spacethe floor out and be a defensive
juggernaut, minus Kelsey Plum.
So for me, I do like that squad.
The only thing that pisses meoff the most about it is I'm
thinking if we had had, if wehad gotten the number one draft
pick last year, we probablycould have had Paige Beckers,
(19:36):
and then we would have had PaigeBeckers, rekia Jackson, cameron
Brink, azrae Stephens andDe'Arica Hamby and that would
have been a decent, that wouldhave been a quality starting
five for me for the future andwe would have been in the
playoff hunt today.
But I'm happy that Cameronbrings off the injury reserve
(19:57):
list and we get to see whatwe're about, because there is
pressure on my sparks Because ifwe don't make the playoffs.
Kelsey Plum got some questionmarks about you.
Rekia Jackson, you were tradedand we got to see some
production.
We have seen production, butit's got to equate to playoffs.
Same with Azrae and D'Erica.
(20:17):
Y'all been in the league for acouple seasons now.
We need to get to the playoffs,ladies.
So again, we don't have noinjuries, no more, no notable
injuries, no more excuses.
We have to get to the playoffsthis season.
And y'all currently see weclose.
And again, this is sixth,seventh.
You mean to tell me we can'tget to eighth Word?
(20:40):
All right, that's a bet.
And keep in mind, we just beatthe Mystics recently.
So if we beat the Mystics again, that means if we tie with the
Mystics, we get the tiebreaker.
That means we go to theplayoffs.
So the Sparks and the Mystics,that's going to be a critical
game come August.
So be on the lookout for thatgame, ladies and gentlemen.
(21:05):
But again, that's the injuryreport so far.
So y'all have heard howeverybody's being affected.
Y'all have heard how I feelabout my team at least.
But I'm curious Is there aninjury that I did not list, that
I did not talk about, thaty'all want to hear about?
Let me know.
Or how do y'all think theseinjuries actually affect the
(21:25):
team?
Do y'all think the injuries arereally affecting the team that
much, especially if they'recoming back pretty soon?
I think it does.
I think it can, because it doesaffect the cohesion of some
players or some teams.
So, again, that's my thoughtsabout that.
But, ladies and gentlemen, Iwant to hear your thoughts.
So please definitely make sureto continue to one, support the
WNBA, but two, also continue tosupport my show.
(21:48):
I greatly appreciate it.
So please make sure to like,subscribe, comment, tell anyone
who's anyone about the show.
As y'all can see, this is theending of it, but my name is
Trey.
I'm the host of Get a Bucket.
Hope you all are having a goodone.
Take care.
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