February 6, 2025 • 34 mins
Noa Dalzell of CLNS Media and SB Nation joins the pod to break down some of the lingering questions left by the start to WNBA Free Agency.
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If you have not already, subscribe to the YouTube channel!
You can listen to the pod on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theyve-got-now/id1652378572
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eTVgaVudBvS9yox3XbgGX?si=16a02c3ea75942e8
You can watch the pod on https://youtube.com/playlist?
list=PLSPW9eR1D5GWBw1lRpM8qTDSlliwbGp8J&si=rX7RfQZmuB6XAa3T
As always, a major thank you to James Edwards III for the intro and outro music! If you have not already, follow Mark on Twitter @MG_Schindler and be sure to rate and review the pod! Send any questions, comments, or feedback Mark's way, and enjoy the show.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Well internal episode they've got now. I'm really excited to
be joined today by noahd els L from over at
COLNS Media, covering the Boston Celtics, but also does great
work covering the WNBA at large over Espionation. Noah, first
and foremost, how you doing, I'm good? Are you? I'm good.
I'm glad to finally met. We've talked like plenty of times,
but never like actually talk face to face. So it's
(00:30):
nice to like have that moment finally, especially considering just
how much shit is happening in the and NBA simultaneously.
My head's like kind of just spinning. An insane start
to the month. How are you kind of wrapping your
head around everything?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
So far, it's been fun. I feel like I didn't
realize this is my first year doing the NBA and
the WBA currently, and I didn't realize how much this
last two weeks we're going to be just like a
major time. Like when I was looking at my calendar,
I didn't mark last week of January first week. If
areas like everything's going to be crazy, But it has
definitely been crazy, and it's been a lot of fun
just seeing teams restructure and reformat and being able to
(01:08):
kind of conceptualize and make predictions and probably be wrong
about a lot of things. That's kind of what I've
realized about the art of predictions.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
But yeah, yeah, no exactly. I think the best way
to go about it is like weasling your way out
of doing predictions. I always try and do that, find
a way to fence it because that way, that way,
it's not about being wrong. It's about like just not
not having anything that can come back to haunt you. Right,
But where the nature of takes so obviously I don't know.
(01:35):
Zach low near and gear to my heart seeing him
post a video on Twitter was like, that's the then
the highlight of my last month, I think, honestly, which
maybe that says something about my month, but also I
was just stoked to see it man getting that man's
voice back. It's been in my ear since I was seventeen.
It wanted to put me in the spirit of kind
of like what he tended to do. Whenever free agency
(01:58):
was closing and we were getting close to the NBA
season and looking at, you know, the biggest questions we
kind of have as free agency is just about done
and so I think we could do that with the
w And I want to start with you what is
you know, it doesn't have to be your biggest one
out of you know, kind of your list of questions,
things that are running through your mind. What is the
biggest question you have right now February sixth about a
(02:22):
w NBA team player or anything.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Yeah, well, I have a lot of questions, but I'll
start with one that's near and dear to my heart
and my beat, which is the Connecticut Sun. Yeah, because
I live in Boston, so that's the primary team that
I've been around over the past year. And I guess
I'm just trying to figure out if they're rebuilding or
if they're trying to be competitive. I've spoken with Sun
general manager Morgan Tuck, who just you know, is new
(02:45):
to the role, former player yourself, and I think, you know,
I couldn't get really from our conversation a strong sense
I think they want to be competitive. Ultimately, it might
not be possible, just considering the mass exodus of players
here and they really didn't have much control over their
free agents. But I guess I'm just curious, like where
their headed. Obviously lost Alasa Thomas to the Phoenix Mercury
to want to honor to the fever. J Carrington and
(03:06):
Ty hair Is both in Dallas. Now we see these
reports from ESPN, then we're gonna maybe want out. But
at the same time, like they signed Teina Charles, they
have a good piece and Natasha Cloud like it's not
but I'm not getting the sense that they're just going
to try to blow it up and try to get
some good picks over the next years. They also don't
have control over their picks. So that's that's the team
that I'm like really confused and curious about how they're
(03:27):
going to because I'm so used to my whole life,
I feel like they've been a competitive final contender, so
this is going to be a different, whole different look.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
It's really tough because I talked to this with some
people in the league and it's just on one hand,
like I knew for for a minute like this probably
just wasn't going to be great returns when you factor
in everything, like obviously they'd coored a lot of their
players in general the last couple of years. It had
been a continual run it back, run it back, run
it back, and so you get to a level where
(03:56):
like especially with everybody just being on one year deals,
that it's just gonna be hard to get value back.
But this also just puts you in such a difficult spot,
like you mentioned, because right now you can look and say, Okay, well,
I love Olivia Nelson and Donna. I think she's gonna
be really good. I'm interested to see, you know what
her role looks like. They brought on Jason Sheldon from
the Dallas Wings first round pick last year, who I
(04:18):
definitely have stock and think she can be a good player.
But then it's like, Okay, those are your two young
players right now, and you have the eighth pick this year,
with the twenty fifth pick overall, thirteenth pick in the
second round, and then your first next year. I believe
technically Chicago has the rights to if they want to swap.
(04:39):
That's tough, man, because like, how are you supposed to
make this or rebuild in some ways? And I think,
exactly like you said, I think, what do you do
kind of with uh, with everything else, like Marina requesting
the trade. I understand people clouding that, but also like
I mean, when you come here, I exactly but that's
my point because I'm like, I get why people like
people want to clown stuff. That's it is. But dude,
(05:01):
when you show up to go beyond a title contender
and then the entire starting it have just gone over
the course of a week, I'd be requesting a damn
trade too, So can't blame that. Okay, my internet is back. Yeah,
I think I don't know. Just thinking about everything with
the Sun and where they're at right now, based on
(05:22):
like all messaging, it seems like they really want to
be competitive still, like you said, but they're just in
a very difficult spot of Okay. I think this roster, well,
you can look at pieces and be like, I see
how you could kind of make some things click and
fit together. I think even if everything were to hit
on all cylinders, I think this team would be lucky
(05:42):
to be five hundred and even that feels like a
far shot. And that's I mean, that's then you add
on the extra aspect and Madeline Kenny reported this yesterday
that New York offered the number seven pick this year,
and I believe it was next year's first round pick
(06:03):
for Natasha Cloud and the Sun. The Sun ended up
turning it down. I can confirm that I don't. I
don't know entirely what the moves are here, Like I
think to me, like I look at this, I'm like,
I do think you need to trade Tash and a
Marina Maybury because getting back some kind of value in
a year where honestly everybody is trying to compete. Like
(06:24):
it's just I mean, to me, that's where it be at.
But I mean, where how do you kind of view this,
especially knowing like this is a team that's they're kind
of still figuring out some stuff with respect to obviously
facilities and getting those aspects worked out. But yeah, I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah, it's tough, and I think I have to put
my money on it. I do think Natasha Cloud and
Maybey never wear a Sun jersey next year, that would
be my guess. And I haven't seen. I haven't seen
Natasha Cloud address her move on social media at all.
I don't think she's doing like a like I would
guess right now. And this is not from knowing anything,
but just she's he doesn't want to end up in
(07:01):
there after kind of praising and enjoying and loving the
experience in Phoenix and the facilities and everything. So like
to me, I would if I was Connecticut, I'd probably
just try to stash up on future picks like twenty
twenty six and beyond and just try to you know,
there's a lot of young talent, I think players, you know,
it's it's there's just so many prospects to get excited about,
and next year might be a little bit of a wash,
(07:22):
and maybe you have to do what the Valkyries are doing,
which is kind of turning overseas identify promising talent from there,
because I do think the WNBA is but a little
bit behind over the last few years, like thinking about
like Thelioni Feverich story and how she just like kind
of was just forgotten about almost and she ended up
being just an elite WNBA talent. So maybe that's your
solution a little bit. I don't know how much they're
a new head coach, Rashid Mazion might be able to
(07:44):
like help with that, I don't you know. I'm sure
he has some relationships from his time as the Belgian
national head coaches as a front pro, so there's a
lot of layers there. But I think probably next year
this is not a competitive team and or not a
plus five hundred team. I think they'll be competitive, you know, regardless,
but just see how many other teams improved. And then
another thing for me is just I was just bummed
that they got rid of Ty Harris and Djena Carrington
(08:05):
because I feel like they didn't. Those are the two
players they had control over. And I understand there were
returns and Ty was part of Elisa Thomas trade and
maybe those were non negotiables, but seeing that Phoenix flipped
high Harris, like, I just loved that backcoard. They made
such a lead last year and I felt like, no
matter if they you know, they lose the big three,
that seemed pretty inevitable, but at least you have this backcoard.
You had Veronica Burden too, who selected in the Vakria's draft,
(08:27):
so that was the one. That's the one piece where
like I feel like if there was that continuity, maybe
Marina is comfortable staying now with the you know, those
two players still there. So I'm not sure, but you know,
I wish they had been a way for them to
hold on to those two.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Yeah, no, absolutely, I think it's interesting because especially with Ty,
I agree, I feel like it's tough because in some
ways they had to make that work, just to send
bodies to Phoenix. But at the same time too, like
just what with what the full value was as well,
I was like, I don't, I didn't want to. I didn't.
I wouldn't have wanted to send time in that because
(08:59):
I agree. But also with the DJNA part, I think
in some ways maybe it was and I don't know,
not saying that it was the right move, but just
in thinking through it, like maybe it was wanting to
get out ahead of potential free agency stuff, because I mean,
obviously restrictive free agents, so I had the right to
match any offer, but also like just knowing like, hey,
she probably doesn't want to come back. I don't know,
(09:21):
but exactly I think that speaks to what we're talking
about overall, Like I think like this needs to be
a total rebuild, like a total overhaul after what it
was for the last decade almost of being this competitive,
being a playoff team continually, and especially with just kind
of getting everything figured out so you can be a
free agency player again, especially looking at what Golden State's
(09:43):
just done. They've taken a lot of the players I
would be really interested in out of overseas free agency.
There are still some like players, but like particularly talking
like young players who can come over and make an impact.
I just I don't know. I'm fascinated to see what
they continue to do. I think they have quite a
few moves to make for sure, but it's gonna be
an interesting year and I'm just interested to see how
(10:05):
they continue to approach that. Yeah, all right, So getting
into my first question, I don't know what the Seattle
Storm like, how they're going to kind of thread the
needle on all of this. That is something I've thought
about a lot, because especially with you know, seeing Marina
thrower hat into wanting to go elsewhere, I was like, Okay,
(10:26):
I think the Storm can make sense because to me,
like poor Gaby Williams, she's gonna be back. They're not
trading her, Neka is back, Skylet Dings Smith is still there,
Ezie Magnrigor. Like this team has the bones of being
very competitive. I think we saw that when they were
the best defense in the league for the majority of
last season before things kind of fell apart at the end.
(10:48):
But now having the number two overall pick, they haven't
really done. Like I don't want to say they haven't
done anything, but we haven't seen anything tangible happen outside
of resigning Nekka, which obviously is a huge piece. But
where are you at with this team and kind of
what they're what their trajectory looks like right now.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Yeah, that was gonna be my next question. So it
works that you have that one as well, because I
think ultimately getting the number two pick for Jewe Lloyd
was probably as good of a return as you know,
whenever you have somebody requests the trade, you just, like,
I think the hope is just to get some good
value there, and that seems like a trade that made
sense for most parties, probably, you know, depending on how
you think about it from the Sparks perspective. But I
(11:29):
like that they brought back the players that they could.
It signals to me that they are trying to win. Now.
I don't know that skyridgg and Smith and Neka are
two players that are trying to be on a mediocre team,
but just looking at some of the other teams in
the league right now, like, I don't see how they
have a real chance to contend as it currently stands.
So like, I guess, in a way, it would make
(11:49):
sense if they flipped that number two pick for some
other win Now player. But there might just be a
natural leap that comes with because something was just wrong
about the locker room. You could sense it all year.
You could see to their play, you could feel that
they were underachieving, and Noah Quinn was kind of regularly,
you know, shouting out their effort as an issue. Skyler
the same thing. So maybe just by julel Lloyd kind
(12:10):
of being in a new environment and if that's kind
of was what the issue was, her attentions with teammates
or whatever. I think they've seen a lot of conflicted
and working reportings. I don't want to expect it too much,
but it's possible that they might just take a little
bit of a leap just because that situation is resolved
and everybody's coming back. I think Skylar's looked great and unrivaled,
so she might just be better a year removed from
you know, giving birth, and she's continuing to be one
(12:33):
of like the stars of that league in my opinion.
So I don't know. I'd love to see them that
number two pick, though I don't know that a number
like an I can't really picture a player that would
right away help them win now, and that should be
their goal just given kind of where their roster is.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Yeah, it's interesting because it's something I've thought about a
lot too, Like you're mentioning because just looking up and
down right now, like they have a lot of picks
to work with, which matters done. They are three first.
Next year they have Los Angeles first. Next year Las
Vegas is in Seattle's. I can't remember if it's swap
rights with Las Vegas or just straight up. But and
then obviously have number two this year. I wonder, like
(13:07):
I think, like we talked about, I think, uh, Cloud
and maybe you're both players you should be trading picks for.
I don't see Natasha and Skyle are fitting to be honest, Like,
I think you could try and make it work. It's
two defensive minded players, but they're both best at point guard.
Like I think you can see the idea of making
Marina there. But that's more like I wonder, because to me,
that's more like you're trading twenty six first for that,
(13:29):
because I don't think you trade number two for Marina.
What I'm gonna be interesting though the most Obviously Washington
got more of a late start with their uh, free agency,
and just kind of where their front officers at in general.
They're I believe they're having their introductory meeting on the twelfth,
but their roster for the most part, like the last
(13:51):
but up until like the last week or so, things
have just been pretty quiet on the mystics front, both
publicly and outside, and now I think that's gonna change.
I wonder, like I wouldn't be shocked at off we
see Aero l Atkins in a new place. Obviously was one
more year on her deal. Obviously there's multiple players like
Britney Sykes, Stephanie Dolson, a lot of players we could
(14:13):
kind of see on the move. But that's what I'd
be really interested, Like, do is there some kind of
move where Seattle pairs that you know, sends two for
aerol Atkins and four or something like that. I don't know,
Again not saying it's necessarily what I would do. I
think with where Seattle's at, like you just got to
kind of make do with what you've got unless you're
(14:33):
blown away by an offer. But there's definitely some flexibility.
But I'm really hopeful that they are able to kind
of answer some of the questions they add because they
can't be the twelve fours shooting team in the league again,
Like it just can't happen. They shot twenty eight percent
last season, didn't get a lot up and they're not
really like they again. They brought everybody back, which is great,
(14:54):
but how do you kind of supplement that and make
it even better?
Speaker 2 (14:58):
And that's why I like Marine there, Like if I
had to pick a destination for her, I do think, like, yeah,
I've trade one of your twenty twenty six picks. You
said that, you right, they have three of them, right,
So it's like I like her there. She's a shooter.
You know, she hasn't been you know, she was great
for the Sun. Her tenure for the Sun, she was
like I think, forty three percent from three. But you
know she she can create her own shot. She just
gives you another threat that you're obviously losing with Jewel Lloyd.
(15:21):
And I think for her, she'd probably be happy to
go there because it's a team that is within the mix,
like they're going to be in the mix. They're not,
you know, there's a chance there. I don't know that
they're not rebuilding. They're not like the last few situations
she's been a part of. And I know people we
were talking this earlier, but I know we'll give her
flak for the trade requests. But I was going back
and looking at all those situations, and I think she
might just have some pretty bad luck of where she
keeps ending up because he's going to places that, like
(15:41):
the vision is just not what actualizes. In Seattle could
actually be one of those places too, where you're going
there thinking you're joining a contender and who knows what's
going to happen. But I feel like everything in the
w is so on a one year schedule right now,
where you know we're only seeing one year deals, and
and you know, for her, if she could just end
up somewhere like bad where there's a chance that would work.
So definitely an intriguing team though, And I'm I'm a
(16:02):
big fan of some of the Sky players, so I
would love to see them, sorry, I'm the Storm players.
I would love to see them be competitive next season,
especially because last sason it was just a frustrating watch.
There was too much talent for that team to look
the way it did for a lot of the second
half of the season.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
No, I totally agree, all right, well, what's the next
question you got on your list?
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Let's let's talk aces, because I feel like this is
one of those teams that just a year ago I
felt like they were invincible, and now they feel like
I don't even know if I have them in my
top couple teams here because it feels like they're just
losing pieces. And you know, Chelsea Gray is getting a
little bit older. I'm not sure how much of a
told you know, her injuries will take on her moving forward,
but Jackie Young obviously dealt with something here for a
(16:42):
couple of months. I'm not sure there's the terms there.
But they just lost Tiffany Hayes this morning, lost Caid Martin,
who they probably would have protected if they knew Tiffany
Hayes was going to be gone. It just feels like
they're in a weird space where they haven't you know,
I don't know exactly what they're going to look like.
And I you know, if you have Asian Wilson and
your team and her prime like, you have to content
for championship, and you will, but I feel like there
are a few pieces away right now from being being there.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
I don't know, how do you feel Yeah, it's interesting.
I probably feel a little bit better than you do.
I think it's more it's tough because watching the Aces
last year, to me, at least, their biggest issue was
just not having some of the lineup versatility. It felt
like that made them better early on in their tenure,
and part of that is how teams adapted and teams
(17:27):
started playing differently and how they built things. Like obviously
they looked very small playing against the Liberty in that
second round, But then I think, to me too, like
they just don't really have any wings outside of Jackie Young,
and like I want, I would love to see that
change easier said than done to get some of those players,
particularly that are ready to like contribute on a winning
(17:47):
team right now. But I also think the other thing,
like I feel like I get really bogged down and oh,
well the Aces just missed this or they missed that,
And I'm like, okay, Well, they also have five of
the best basketball players on the well, four of the
best basketball players the planet at any given time. And
I think, hearing what Becky had to say last year,
watching them play like so often it was just an
(18:09):
element of not doing the things that they are capable
of doing, you know, like the all of the ball movement,
the player movement, all the things that clicked so well
in those first two years that just made them a
special team. There was just kind of like I don't
want to say, like it's not like they weren't trying
last year some I don't mean it that way at all,
(18:30):
but I just think there's a kind of a malaise
that can happen at times when you've been doing something
over and over and over again. And I think in
some ways, maybe losing as early as they did and
kind of hearing some of that noise reignites that. And
I'll be interested to see what that looks like. How
does Jeweloyd factor into this. It's interesting how much people
have like kind of compared the KP tool pieces of this.
(18:54):
I just think they're vastly different players. Like obviously KP
and Jewel can both be amal coming off screens, but
for me, like Jewel is more of you know, bring
her off a curl pin down something like that, create
of the mid range. And so I'm gonna be interested
to see like how that some of those usages change up.
And more importantly, what does Asia Wilson get better at
(19:14):
this year because every single year she adds something to
her skill set and just continues to improve. But I
think it just kind of like you said, I think
a lot of it speaks to, you know, how much
everybody has invested in the league, each organization, I should say,
in terms of becoming more competitive and building a better team.
(19:39):
But I think I don't know. I just have a
feeling that the Aces are going to do to make
some stuff shake and also forret to mention, Cali Finn
reported this morning that Cyanne Parker Tyas is signing with
them on a vetman contract, which could be a really
big addition, and just kind of having that depth, having
another player who can who can man the front court,
who can add some versatility there.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Yeah, definitely, And you're right. I I feel like Jueli
is almost going a little underrated right now because of
the fact she didn't have her best season last year.
I feel like people are forgetting this was the you know,
the scoring leader just a year back. And I think
she'll benefit from having defenses maybe not be able to
focus on her quite as much, or just the Asian
being on the floor like that has to be or
the top thing you game plan for at all times,
(20:20):
and she's due for a little bit of an efficiency bump,
I would imagine. So I think you're right. I think
people are maybe a little overreacting on them. And I
cover the Celtics too, and I feel like that championship
hangover you use. You see that. Nobody wants to call
it that internally, but it's just kind of undeniable from
just being around a team. So certainly that they're going
to have that fire under them that I think the
Links are going to have too, Like there's gonna be
(20:40):
two teams that phil are going to come in pretty angry,
and those are the two, and maybe they'll both end up,
you know, surprising people, or the Aces will actually not
look quite and and magous. He's not over. Also, that's
the other piece, like there's still some available players out there,
you know, even Marina, like she I did a trade
destination space for her. I didn't have the Aces on there,
but just because we were talking about her, like that's
another potential place where she could provide a little bit
(21:02):
of a shooting spark and another wing that can kind
of be horstile there. So there's a lot of ways
that things could go, But you're probably right. I do
think maybe there's a little bit of an overreaction on
them losing some losing some free agents like Sydney Poles
and where right know, everybody loved but she ultimately wasn't
like a hugely impactful player for them on the floor
for the most part. So they'll probably be just fine
with with Asia there.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Yeah, no exactly. I think it is fair too, though
I do want to say, like there is room to
criticize teams that make mistakes, like there are reasons why
this team lost last year. Like I do think it's uh,
it's not as cut and dry as just like, oh,
like it happens, like yeah, you do lose sometimes, but
also like there were missteps in some of the signs.
I think we can look back now and say the
(21:44):
Magnestics and signing was not a good signing if that's
how it was going to end up playing out and
how she was gonna get used, Like, yeah, there's room
for criticism and being real with what happened last year.
But again, like I do think overall, with the talent
they have and you know, Becky Hammond is in incredible coach,
they're going to piece things together, but also a lot
of change. But that can kind of parlay in too.
(22:05):
My next thing because I like that you brought up
Minnesota and it's not even really a question, it's more
just like a thought. And I think as everybody has
made all these big, splashy moves in free agency, I
just keep thinking about the links and I think there's
gonna be real value to having the kind of continuity
they have carrying over to next year. I look at
(22:26):
what that team did, you know, obviously was thirty seconds
from winning the finals, was absolutely phenomenal during that regular season.
Obviously you can always point say, well, what if there's
a regression, there's what, there's that, but they just have
the feel of a group that is going to be
back and doing it again, particularly after how that year ended.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
Yeah, they're my championship pick actually, and I'm not having
the spicy Yeah, they're not my number one in the
preseason my preseason rankings because I feel like you kind
of have to give that to the champion if they
brought back their for their tea. But that's my gut feeling,
and I think the FISA is going to be MVP
next season, Like she's just been out of this world
in unrivaled. Kayla McBride's been the second best player probably
(23:08):
I think both of the both of them look like
they're ready to make a leap. And I feel like,
because Kayla is, you know, she's not in the age
where you're expecting her to be so much better. But
I think this team is going to come back, and
you know, everything looks good on paper in the off season.
I learned that quickly doing this job that it's easy
to say, like, oh, this team is going to be
a contender because you put these two all stars together,
you know, you put three here. But how many times
(23:31):
have we seen these things? Just these groups just not
work the way that you expect, whether it's last year's
Phoenix team, last year's Storm team, Like everybody gets excited,
but Minnesota is the one team that was there and
I thought, we're really like I hate to do it,
but like a foul call away from winning the championship.
And they brought everybody back for the most part, and
I think players are going to get better, Like Courtney
(23:52):
Williams and Defisa are playing together on arrival right now,
They're developing more chemistry there, like that was her first
year at the helmet point guard. So it's tough. There's
a couple of teams that I could see doing it,
But my gut tells me, like as soon as I
came ended last year, I was at Barclays and I
was like, they're gonna come back and win this year.
Like it just has all the makings of like the
beginning of a documentary. They're my pick, And I think
I liked that they just brought everybody back, even down
(24:13):
to like Mitisha Heidemann, Like bring her back. She fit
you know, she worked off the bench. I think, so
she could provide you with probably a better scoring punch
this season than she did last year. But I like
just that continuity. I think it's an underrated thing and
team building.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Yeah, absolutely, And I think what'll be really key too.
I know everybody loves to throw her into fake trades,
but like, how does Diamond Miller fit back into this year?
Obviously last year she had dealt with some unfortunate interests
coming off an injury coming into the season, that had
an injury in the middle of the season and then
just really wasn't able to work back, and they were
in such a rhythm and groove with their rotation that
it was just difficult to work her back in. Maybe
(24:47):
it's possible she still gets traded. I'm just really high
on who she can be, and I think that I'll
be interested to see what that looks like. Dorka Ujas
had a really good second year last year, how does
that look this season for her? Obviously playing over and
playing in Italy right now and has been playing pretty well.
But I also loved who they brought it. They brought
a Mariam Badion who plays for the French national team,
(25:10):
has long been just a really good, complimentary player. Kind
of like It's interesting because I think if she'd gone
to other teams, I wouldn't have been as high on
her signing. Like she's a good basketball player, but like
she's kind of a tweener at the four or five,
can pass, can shoot, like mobile defensively, but not necessarily
like a true center. I think she's six ' three,
(25:30):
but that fits what this Minnesota team does, Like they
want playmakers, they want players who are smart, who can
do multiple things, and I think she could factor in
the big one that I'm like most interested in for
this team is Jessica Shephard because technically her contract was
suspended last year due to prioritization, and she can come
back this season. They still have her rights, and I'm
(25:52):
interested to see what that looks like and how she
fits in because like true low post threat, not really
a shooter, has some questions defensively for sure, but like
awesome on the glass, great high post passer, just like
read based decision maker, and again, somebody I feel like
could really fit in there. And that was a team
(26:12):
where it's like it felt like they were always looking
for like that last piece, like who is our third big,
who is our player that can kind of come in
and give us answers and throughout the finals it's like
we're well before the finals, like, well, let's try my
Ushahines Allen Wishehaines. Allen is in Dallas now, so let's
just know what happened U Dorky ju Haas. They tried
a couple of times, but again it just felt like
they never quite had what they wanted right there, and
(26:35):
again they just they just have a lot of options
to kind of make that work this season. So I'm
fascinated by that.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Yeah, and you have a veteran coaching staff, Like I
know more than half the team's got new coaches this offseason,
and it's again one of those things where when you
hear the introductor of your press conference, it's like, Yay,
this is gonna be awesome, But then a lot of
them don't don't don't work. And I think with Cheryl Wave,
you know it's gonna work. It's worked before she's been there.
They always are kind of near the top with the
defensive system as well, So that gives me confidence in
(27:01):
that group as well, more so than some of the
teams where like you really don't know how a college
coach is going to translate or an overseas coach is
going to translate to the W There's just a level
of reliability there with that team.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Absolutely. What else would you have on your list that
you're thinking of.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
I'm just curious what Kelsey Plum is going to look
like next year, because this is an opportunity for her
to be the face of a franchise and a big market,
and obviously they believe in her. They gave up the
number two pick for her, and I think like the
newest WNBA fans maybe don't realize, like who Kelsey Plumb
was in college and obviously I'm sure people know the
stat that she had the college scoring record, but had
(27:37):
a little bit of the difficult transition in her first
few years in the w came into her own, became
a really good player on the aces. But I'm almost curious, like,
is there another leap that she can take? What is
the team that she's the primary scoring option or one
of the primary scoring options. What does that team look like?
How can her and Dereka Hamby kind of be the
one two punch on it on the Sparks. And I'm
assuming like they want to be competitive. I don't think
(27:59):
they would have given up that they didn't think they
were building like a win now situation, But just looking
at other teams, I don't know that the Sparks have
enough to really be that competitive. I have them like
as a maybe playoff team, But really curious just what
her season looks like. And we don't really know why
she left Las Vegas. Doesn't talked about it too much.
It seems like it was amicable and all on good
terms and even she just wanted a fresh start. But yeah,
(28:20):
I'm excited to see just what that looks like. And
I think LA just a good They did haven't bet
on the map as much. So it's just good to
have more, more excitement, more momentum, cam Brinkle be back.
It's just gonna be fun to kind of watch them
from before and see what see what that team looks like.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
No, absolutely, I'm excited for this this LA team. They're
not obviously not done in free agency, but they're probably
one of the team's closest to being Just about that.
I think we only have two roster slots. They could
could have a third technically, but it's really more too. Yeah,
I think the biggest thing that I'm going to be
fascinated by is like, I don't know what cam Brinks
return timeline is like, So how do they kind of
(28:55):
weather that? What does that look like? Well, like you
mentioned with I think gut reaction from everybody looking at
this was Kelsey Plumb is not a point guard, and
well I get some of the misgivings with that, Like
I would agree like Kelsey's more of a combo, but
she's got probably the best first step in the league.
Has a lot of things that you can tap into
that matter with creating efficient offense, and I think having
(29:19):
watched Lynn Roberts's youthaugh teams, I think she's elite at
taking advantage of players who can do stuff like that,
or I should say, like getting the most out of
players who can do things like that. You know, she's
had a lot of saying limited playmaker sounds unfair, but
like you don't have like a Caitlin Bark Chelsea Gray
type who is just gonna create passes with manipulation and
stuff like that when you're at Utah, Like it was
(29:40):
more of, Okay, we can recruit this kind of player
who can do that, And to me, Kelsey is a
player who could lead a team in scoring, be instrumental
in setting those things up. But like you mentioned, like
the Erica Hanby taking the steps she did last year,
becoming that level of player, like having versatile bigs like
her Azurey Stevens, cam Brink. When she comes back like that,
(30:00):
all I'm really excited for how they all work in
tandem with Kelsey. And then I'm just excited to see
how her key it takes steps this next year because
one of my favorite players in the league. I love
her game, I loved her as a prospect, and I
think this guy is kind of the limit for her,
and I just want to see how she continues to
grow and develop. But I agree, like I think this
Sparks team is just really interesting, Like there's a lot
(30:22):
to be excited about. I think as much as I
understand people being like you can't trade too like with
where this team is at, with how some things are evolving,
I get it. And I think with the moves they've
made around it, I don't mind it at all.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Yeah, I didn't mind it either, And I actually think,
like there's there's the encourt stuff, but then there's also
the fact that this is a big year for franchises
as far as their brands and as far as capitalizing
on all the increased eyes. And I do think Kelsey
Plumb generates excitement, and you know, you don't want to
be you don't want to be the worst team in
the league this year. Like, I think this is a
window of opportunity to really develop and tap into a
(30:57):
real franchise, a real fan base. And we all know
LA has the capability of being a great basketball fan base,
and I think they just the Sparks that hasn't been
the case the last few years here. But even if
she helps move move towards that, you know, I will say,
like if Olivia Miles come, you know, comes into number
two in greens Up, being like this generational prospect you
right away is great. Like maybe that trade looks a
little worse, but I don't I understand where they why
(31:19):
they made that move, and I think that it's it's exciting,
and my only real concern is like defensively meshing these players.
It doesn't look great in my in my head right now,
just putting the pieces together. So that's going to be
the probably the side of the floor where they are
a little bit more subpar, I would imagine.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
Yeah, I'm gonna be interested to see how they kind
of work around that. And I think adding on that too.
That's why, like I've seen all these takes of like oh, well, okay,
who's going to play point guard next to Kelsey? Like, no, dude,
you need Kelsey to play point guard because if you're
putting another small guard in the backward I just think
that not that you can't do it for points in
the game, but it's just so hard and it's something
I mean, we saw the Ace to struggle with it
(31:55):
with Kelsey last year. Like if you have another guard
on the court with Kelsey, or another guard that is
like small on the court with Kelsey. I just think
it's so hard to succeed defensively with that. You have
to be so tapped into everything you're doing. The last
thing I want to mention, I know we gotta get
out here in just second. Phoenix they have so much
room to do stuff, which is a blessing and a
(32:17):
curse because like, all right, man, make something happen, right, Like,
I'm very excited about the players they do have, but
like what else do you kind of add on here?
Who all? Who all is here? And and what are
you kind of how does everything mesh together? Because it's
gonna be I mean it's a completely new team, Like yeah,
what I mean what it just like kind of blankets safe?
(32:37):
What have you thought with with where Phoenix is at
and what they could be?
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Yeah, I feel like I'm getting increasingly lower on them
the more I think about it. When the when the
trades first happened, I was like they got Alyssa Thomas
and saw too, like they won free agency and then
you know, actually thinking about these all these players together,
they're not nearly as deep as some of the other contenders,
and so I don't know, there are probably a few
pieces of few moves away, Like I would imagine that
(33:01):
there's they're gonna cook up something else. I mean between
Kolla copper At, you know, you're you have, You're gonna
be funked, You're gonna.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Be good like.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
But the question is just like can you contend, which
I think is their goal, which I think is kind
of why they made all these moves. And I certainly
think Alsa Thomas deserves and wants to be on a
contender at this point in her career. So you probably
need another shooter. Uh, it's another place you could send
Marina not to be like making this the Marina Rabi
Trade Destinations podcast. But I don't know. I have them
(33:32):
like kind of middle tier right now, maybe four, it's
five fifth seed, if I had to project at this
point in the off season.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
No, for sure, I feel like they're I just I'm
a big TVD on them until I kind of see
everything else. I see like what the vision could be,
but I need to see the pieces continue to come together.
But Noah, I appreciate you making the times there anything
you want to plow your mention before you out of here.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
No, just all my WB coverages on Espanation. We have
a women's sports vertical so you can check that out
tracking all the free agent moves and everything, so it's
called Breakaway. But yeah, thanks so much for having me Mark,
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Yeah, of course I'll have that tag down below to
everyone watching and listening, sure to keep up with everything
Noah's doing, all things WNBA, and of course hit the
subscribe button down below you haven't already
Well internal episode they've got now. I'm really excited to
be joined today by noahd els L from over at
COLNS Media, covering the Boston Celtics, but also does great
work covering the WNBA at large over Espionation. Noah, first
and foremost, how you doing, I'm good? Are you? I'm good.
I'm glad to finally met. We've talked like plenty of times,
but never like actually talk face to face. So it's
(00:30):
nice to like have that moment finally, especially considering just
how much shit is happening in the and NBA simultaneously.
My head's like kind of just spinning. An insane start
to the month. How are you kind of wrapping your
head around everything?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
So far, it's been fun. I feel like I didn't
realize this is my first year doing the NBA and
the WBA currently, and I didn't realize how much this
last two weeks we're going to be just like a
major time. Like when I was looking at my calendar,
I didn't mark last week of January first week. If
areas like everything's going to be crazy, But it has
definitely been crazy, and it's been a lot of fun
just seeing teams restructure and reformat and being able to
(01:08):
kind of conceptualize and make predictions and probably be wrong
about a lot of things. That's kind of what I've
realized about the art of predictions.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
But yeah, yeah, no exactly. I think the best way
to go about it is like weasling your way out
of doing predictions. I always try and do that, find
a way to fence it because that way, that way,
it's not about being wrong. It's about like just not
not having anything that can come back to haunt you. Right,
But where the nature of takes so obviously I don't know.
(01:35):
Zach low near and gear to my heart seeing him
post a video on Twitter was like, that's the then
the highlight of my last month, I think, honestly, which
maybe that says something about my month, but also I
was just stoked to see it man getting that man's
voice back. It's been in my ear since I was seventeen.
It wanted to put me in the spirit of kind
of like what he tended to do. Whenever free agency
(01:58):
was closing and we were getting close to the NBA
season and looking at, you know, the biggest questions we
kind of have as free agency is just about done
and so I think we could do that with the
w And I want to start with you what is
you know, it doesn't have to be your biggest one
out of you know, kind of your list of questions,
things that are running through your mind. What is the
biggest question you have right now February sixth about a
(02:22):
w NBA team player or anything.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Yeah, well, I have a lot of questions, but I'll
start with one that's near and dear to my heart
and my beat, which is the Connecticut Sun. Yeah, because
I live in Boston, so that's the primary team that
I've been around over the past year. And I guess
I'm just trying to figure out if they're rebuilding or
if they're trying to be competitive. I've spoken with Sun
general manager Morgan Tuck, who just you know, is new
(02:45):
to the role, former player yourself, and I think, you know,
I couldn't get really from our conversation a strong sense
I think they want to be competitive. Ultimately, it might
not be possible, just considering the mass exodus of players
here and they really didn't have much control over their
free agents. But I guess I'm just curious, like where
their headed. Obviously lost Alasa Thomas to the Phoenix Mercury
to want to honor to the fever. J Carrington and
(03:06):
Ty hair Is both in Dallas. Now we see these
reports from ESPN, then we're gonna maybe want out. But
at the same time, like they signed Teina Charles, they
have a good piece and Natasha Cloud like it's not
but I'm not getting the sense that they're just going
to try to blow it up and try to get
some good picks over the next years. They also don't
have control over their picks. So that's that's the team
that I'm like really confused and curious about how they're
(03:27):
going to because I'm so used to my whole life,
I feel like they've been a competitive final contender, so
this is going to be a different, whole different look.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
It's really tough because I talked to this with some
people in the league and it's just on one hand,
like I knew for for a minute like this probably
just wasn't going to be great returns when you factor
in everything, like obviously they'd coored a lot of their
players in general the last couple of years. It had
been a continual run it back, run it back, run
it back, and so you get to a level where
(03:56):
like especially with everybody just being on one year deals,
that it's just gonna be hard to get value back.
But this also just puts you in such a difficult spot,
like you mentioned, because right now you can look and say, Okay, well,
I love Olivia Nelson and Donna. I think she's gonna
be really good. I'm interested to see, you know what
her role looks like. They brought on Jason Sheldon from
the Dallas Wings first round pick last year, who I
(04:18):
definitely have stock and think she can be a good player.
But then it's like, Okay, those are your two young
players right now, and you have the eighth pick this year,
with the twenty fifth pick overall, thirteenth pick in the
second round, and then your first next year. I believe
technically Chicago has the rights to if they want to swap.
(04:39):
That's tough, man, because like, how are you supposed to
make this or rebuild in some ways? And I think,
exactly like you said, I think, what do you do
kind of with uh, with everything else, like Marina requesting
the trade. I understand people clouding that, but also like
I mean, when you come here, I exactly but that's
my point because I'm like, I get why people like
people want to clown stuff. That's it is. But dude,
(05:01):
when you show up to go beyond a title contender
and then the entire starting it have just gone over
the course of a week, I'd be requesting a damn
trade too, So can't blame that. Okay, my internet is back. Yeah,
I think I don't know. Just thinking about everything with
the Sun and where they're at right now, based on
(05:22):
like all messaging, it seems like they really want to
be competitive still, like you said, but they're just in
a very difficult spot of Okay. I think this roster, well,
you can look at pieces and be like, I see
how you could kind of make some things click and
fit together. I think even if everything were to hit
on all cylinders, I think this team would be lucky
(05:42):
to be five hundred and even that feels like a
far shot. And that's I mean, that's then you add
on the extra aspect and Madeline Kenny reported this yesterday
that New York offered the number seven pick this year,
and I believe it was next year's first round pick
(06:03):
for Natasha Cloud and the Sun. The Sun ended up
turning it down. I can confirm that I don't. I
don't know entirely what the moves are here, Like I
think to me, like I look at this, I'm like,
I do think you need to trade Tash and a
Marina Maybury because getting back some kind of value in
a year where honestly everybody is trying to compete. Like
(06:24):
it's just I mean, to me, that's where it be at.
But I mean, where how do you kind of view this,
especially knowing like this is a team that's they're kind
of still figuring out some stuff with respect to obviously
facilities and getting those aspects worked out. But yeah, I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah, it's tough, and I think I have to put
my money on it. I do think Natasha Cloud and
Maybey never wear a Sun jersey next year, that would
be my guess. And I haven't seen. I haven't seen
Natasha Cloud address her move on social media at all.
I don't think she's doing like a like I would
guess right now. And this is not from knowing anything,
but just she's he doesn't want to end up in
(07:01):
there after kind of praising and enjoying and loving the
experience in Phoenix and the facilities and everything. So like
to me, I would if I was Connecticut, I'd probably
just try to stash up on future picks like twenty
twenty six and beyond and just try to you know,
there's a lot of young talent, I think players, you know,
it's it's there's just so many prospects to get excited about,
and next year might be a little bit of a wash,
(07:22):
and maybe you have to do what the Valkyries are doing,
which is kind of turning overseas identify promising talent from there,
because I do think the WNBA is but a little
bit behind over the last few years, like thinking about
like Thelioni Feverich story and how she just like kind
of was just forgotten about almost and she ended up
being just an elite WNBA talent. So maybe that's your
solution a little bit. I don't know how much they're
a new head coach, Rashid Mazion might be able to
(07:44):
like help with that, I don't you know. I'm sure
he has some relationships from his time as the Belgian
national head coaches as a front pro, so there's a
lot of layers there. But I think probably next year
this is not a competitive team and or not a
plus five hundred team. I think they'll be competitive, you know, regardless,
but just see how many other teams improved. And then
another thing for me is just I was just bummed
that they got rid of Ty Harris and Djena Carrington
(08:05):
because I feel like they didn't. Those are the two
players they had control over. And I understand there were
returns and Ty was part of Elisa Thomas trade and
maybe those were non negotiables, but seeing that Phoenix flipped
high Harris, like, I just loved that backcoard. They made
such a lead last year and I felt like, no
matter if they you know, they lose the big three,
that seemed pretty inevitable, but at least you have this backcoard.
You had Veronica Burden too, who selected in the Vakria's draft,
(08:27):
so that was the one. That's the one piece where
like I feel like if there was that continuity, maybe
Marina is comfortable staying now with the you know, those
two players still there. So I'm not sure, but you know,
I wish they had been a way for them to
hold on to those two.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Yeah, no, absolutely, I think it's interesting because especially with Ty,
I agree, I feel like it's tough because in some
ways they had to make that work, just to send
bodies to Phoenix. But at the same time too, like
just what with what the full value was as well,
I was like, I don't, I didn't want to. I didn't.
I wouldn't have wanted to send time in that because
(08:59):
I agree. But also with the DJNA part, I think
in some ways maybe it was and I don't know,
not saying that it was the right move, but just
in thinking through it, like maybe it was wanting to
get out ahead of potential free agency stuff, because I mean,
obviously restrictive free agents, so I had the right to
match any offer, but also like just knowing like, hey,
she probably doesn't want to come back. I don't know,
(09:21):
but exactly I think that speaks to what we're talking
about overall, Like I think like this needs to be
a total rebuild, like a total overhaul after what it
was for the last decade almost of being this competitive,
being a playoff team continually, and especially with just kind
of getting everything figured out so you can be a
free agency player again, especially looking at what Golden State's
(09:43):
just done. They've taken a lot of the players I
would be really interested in out of overseas free agency.
There are still some like players, but like particularly talking
like young players who can come over and make an impact.
I just I don't know. I'm fascinated to see what
they continue to do. I think they have quite a
few moves to make for sure, but it's gonna be
an interesting year and I'm just interested to see how
(10:05):
they continue to approach that. Yeah, all right, So getting
into my first question, I don't know what the Seattle
Storm like, how they're going to kind of thread the
needle on all of this. That is something I've thought
about a lot, because especially with you know, seeing Marina
thrower hat into wanting to go elsewhere, I was like, Okay,
(10:26):
I think the Storm can make sense because to me,
like poor Gaby Williams, she's gonna be back. They're not
trading her, Neka is back, Skylet Dings Smith is still there,
Ezie Magnrigor. Like this team has the bones of being
very competitive. I think we saw that when they were
the best defense in the league for the majority of
last season before things kind of fell apart at the end.
(10:48):
But now having the number two overall pick, they haven't
really done. Like I don't want to say they haven't
done anything, but we haven't seen anything tangible happen outside
of resigning Nekka, which obviously is a huge piece. But
where are you at with this team and kind of
what they're what their trajectory looks like right now.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Yeah, that was gonna be my next question. So it
works that you have that one as well, because I
think ultimately getting the number two pick for Jewe Lloyd
was probably as good of a return as you know,
whenever you have somebody requests the trade, you just, like,
I think the hope is just to get some good
value there, and that seems like a trade that made
sense for most parties, probably, you know, depending on how
you think about it from the Sparks perspective. But I
(11:29):
like that they brought back the players that they could.
It signals to me that they are trying to win. Now.
I don't know that skyridgg and Smith and Neka are
two players that are trying to be on a mediocre team,
but just looking at some of the other teams in
the league right now, like, I don't see how they
have a real chance to contend as it currently stands.
So like, I guess, in a way, it would make
(11:49):
sense if they flipped that number two pick for some
other win Now player. But there might just be a
natural leap that comes with because something was just wrong
about the locker room. You could sense it all year.
You could see to their play, you could feel that
they were underachieving, and Noah Quinn was kind of regularly,
you know, shouting out their effort as an issue. Skyler
the same thing. So maybe just by julel Lloyd kind
(12:10):
of being in a new environment and if that's kind
of was what the issue was, her attentions with teammates
or whatever. I think they've seen a lot of conflicted
and working reportings. I don't want to expect it too much,
but it's possible that they might just take a little
bit of a leap just because that situation is resolved
and everybody's coming back. I think Skylar's looked great and unrivaled,
so she might just be better a year removed from
you know, giving birth, and she's continuing to be one
(12:33):
of like the stars of that league in my opinion.
So I don't know. I'd love to see them that
number two pick, though I don't know that a number
like an I can't really picture a player that would
right away help them win now, and that should be
their goal just given kind of where their roster is.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Yeah, it's interesting because it's something I've thought about a
lot too, Like you're mentioning because just looking up and
down right now, like they have a lot of picks
to work with, which matters done. They are three first.
Next year they have Los Angeles first. Next year Las
Vegas is in Seattle's. I can't remember if it's swap
rights with Las Vegas or just straight up. But and
then obviously have number two this year. I wonder, like
(13:07):
I think, like we talked about, I think, uh, Cloud
and maybe you're both players you should be trading picks for.
I don't see Natasha and Skyle are fitting to be honest, Like,
I think you could try and make it work. It's
two defensive minded players, but they're both best at point guard.
Like I think you can see the idea of making
Marina there. But that's more like I wonder, because to me,
that's more like you're trading twenty six first for that,
(13:29):
because I don't think you trade number two for Marina.
What I'm gonna be interesting though the most Obviously Washington
got more of a late start with their uh, free agency,
and just kind of where their front officers at in general.
They're I believe they're having their introductory meeting on the twelfth,
but their roster for the most part, like the last
(13:51):
but up until like the last week or so, things
have just been pretty quiet on the mystics front, both
publicly and outside, and now I think that's gonna change.
I wonder, like I wouldn't be shocked at off we
see Aero l Atkins in a new place. Obviously was one
more year on her deal. Obviously there's multiple players like
Britney Sykes, Stephanie Dolson, a lot of players we could
(14:13):
kind of see on the move. But that's what I'd
be really interested, Like, do is there some kind of
move where Seattle pairs that you know, sends two for
aerol Atkins and four or something like that. I don't know,
Again not saying it's necessarily what I would do. I
think with where Seattle's at, like you just got to
kind of make do with what you've got unless you're
(14:33):
blown away by an offer. But there's definitely some flexibility.
But I'm really hopeful that they are able to kind
of answer some of the questions they add because they
can't be the twelve fours shooting team in the league again,
Like it just can't happen. They shot twenty eight percent
last season, didn't get a lot up and they're not
really like they again. They brought everybody back, which is great,
(14:54):
but how do you kind of supplement that and make
it even better?
Speaker 2 (14:58):
And that's why I like Marine there, Like if I
had to pick a destination for her, I do think, like, yeah,
I've trade one of your twenty twenty six picks. You
said that, you right, they have three of them, right,
So it's like I like her there. She's a shooter.
You know, she hasn't been you know, she was great
for the Sun. Her tenure for the Sun, she was
like I think, forty three percent from three. But you
know she she can create her own shot. She just
gives you another threat that you're obviously losing with Jewel Lloyd.
(15:21):
And I think for her, she'd probably be happy to
go there because it's a team that is within the mix,
like they're going to be in the mix. They're not,
you know, there's a chance there. I don't know that
they're not rebuilding. They're not like the last few situations
she's been a part of. And I know people we
were talking this earlier, but I know we'll give her
flak for the trade requests. But I was going back
and looking at all those situations, and I think she
might just have some pretty bad luck of where she
keeps ending up because he's going to places that, like
(15:41):
the vision is just not what actualizes. In Seattle could
actually be one of those places too, where you're going
there thinking you're joining a contender and who knows what's
going to happen. But I feel like everything in the
w is so on a one year schedule right now,
where you know we're only seeing one year deals, and
and you know, for her, if she could just end
up somewhere like bad where there's a chance that would work.
So definitely an intriguing team though, And I'm I'm a
(16:02):
big fan of some of the Sky players, so I
would love to see them, sorry, I'm the Storm players.
I would love to see them be competitive next season,
especially because last sason it was just a frustrating watch.
There was too much talent for that team to look
the way it did for a lot of the second
half of the season.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
No, I totally agree, all right, well, what's the next
question you got on your list?
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Let's let's talk aces, because I feel like this is
one of those teams that just a year ago I
felt like they were invincible, and now they feel like
I don't even know if I have them in my
top couple teams here because it feels like they're just
losing pieces. And you know, Chelsea Gray is getting a
little bit older. I'm not sure how much of a
told you know, her injuries will take on her moving forward,
but Jackie Young obviously dealt with something here for a
(16:42):
couple of months. I'm not sure there's the terms there.
But they just lost Tiffany Hayes this morning, lost Caid Martin,
who they probably would have protected if they knew Tiffany
Hayes was going to be gone. It just feels like
they're in a weird space where they haven't you know,
I don't know exactly what they're going to look like.
And I you know, if you have Asian Wilson and
your team and her prime like, you have to content
for championship, and you will, but I feel like there
are a few pieces away right now from being being there.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
I don't know, how do you feel Yeah, it's interesting.
I probably feel a little bit better than you do.
I think it's more it's tough because watching the Aces
last year, to me, at least, their biggest issue was
just not having some of the lineup versatility. It felt
like that made them better early on in their tenure,
and part of that is how teams adapted and teams
(17:27):
started playing differently and how they built things. Like obviously
they looked very small playing against the Liberty in that
second round, But then I think, to me too, like
they just don't really have any wings outside of Jackie Young,
and like I want, I would love to see that
change easier said than done to get some of those players,
particularly that are ready to like contribute on a winning
(17:47):
team right now. But I also think the other thing,
like I feel like I get really bogged down and oh,
well the Aces just missed this or they missed that,
And I'm like, okay, Well, they also have five of
the best basketball players on the well, four of the
best basketball players the planet at any given time. And
I think, hearing what Becky had to say last year,
watching them play like so often it was just an
(18:09):
element of not doing the things that they are capable
of doing, you know, like the all of the ball movement,
the player movement, all the things that clicked so well
in those first two years that just made them a
special team. There was just kind of like I don't
want to say, like it's not like they weren't trying
last year some I don't mean it that way at all,
(18:30):
but I just think there's a kind of a malaise
that can happen at times when you've been doing something
over and over and over again. And I think in
some ways, maybe losing as early as they did and
kind of hearing some of that noise reignites that. And
I'll be interested to see what that looks like. How
does Jeweloyd factor into this. It's interesting how much people
have like kind of compared the KP tool pieces of this.
(18:54):
I just think they're vastly different players. Like obviously KP
and Jewel can both be amal coming off screens, but
for me, like Jewel is more of you know, bring
her off a curl pin down something like that, create
of the mid range. And so I'm gonna be interested
to see like how that some of those usages change up.
And more importantly, what does Asia Wilson get better at
(19:14):
this year because every single year she adds something to
her skill set and just continues to improve. But I
think it just kind of like you said, I think
a lot of it speaks to, you know, how much
everybody has invested in the league, each organization, I should say,
in terms of becoming more competitive and building a better team.
(19:39):
But I think I don't know. I just have a
feeling that the Aces are going to do to make
some stuff shake and also forret to mention, Cali Finn
reported this morning that Cyanne Parker Tyas is signing with
them on a vetman contract, which could be a really
big addition, and just kind of having that depth, having
another player who can who can man the front court,
who can add some versatility there.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Yeah, definitely, And you're right. I I feel like Jueli
is almost going a little underrated right now because of
the fact she didn't have her best season last year.
I feel like people are forgetting this was the you know,
the scoring leader just a year back. And I think
she'll benefit from having defenses maybe not be able to
focus on her quite as much, or just the Asian
being on the floor like that has to be or
the top thing you game plan for at all times,
(20:20):
and she's due for a little bit of an efficiency bump,
I would imagine. So I think you're right. I think
people are maybe a little overreacting on them. And I
cover the Celtics too, and I feel like that championship
hangover you use. You see that. Nobody wants to call
it that internally, but it's just kind of undeniable from
just being around a team. So certainly that they're going
to have that fire under them that I think the
Links are going to have too, Like there's gonna be
(20:40):
two teams that phil are going to come in pretty angry,
and those are the two, and maybe they'll both end up,
you know, surprising people, or the Aces will actually not
look quite and and magous. He's not over. Also, that's
the other piece, like there's still some available players out there,
you know, even Marina, like she I did a trade
destination space for her. I didn't have the Aces on there,
but just because we were talking about her, like that's
another potential place where she could provide a little bit
(21:02):
of a shooting spark and another wing that can kind
of be horstile there. So there's a lot of ways
that things could go, But you're probably right. I do
think maybe there's a little bit of an overreaction on
them losing some losing some free agents like Sydney Poles
and where right know, everybody loved but she ultimately wasn't
like a hugely impactful player for them on the floor
for the most part. So they'll probably be just fine
with with Asia there.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Yeah, no exactly. I think it is fair too, though
I do want to say, like there is room to
criticize teams that make mistakes, like there are reasons why
this team lost last year. Like I do think it's uh,
it's not as cut and dry as just like, oh,
like it happens, like yeah, you do lose sometimes, but
also like there were missteps in some of the signs.
I think we can look back now and say the
(21:44):
Magnestics and signing was not a good signing if that's
how it was going to end up playing out and
how she was gonna get used, Like, yeah, there's room
for criticism and being real with what happened last year.
But again, like I do think overall, with the talent
they have and you know, Becky Hammond is in incredible coach,
they're going to piece things together, but also a lot
of change. But that can kind of parlay in too.
(22:05):
My next thing because I like that you brought up
Minnesota and it's not even really a question, it's more
just like a thought. And I think as everybody has
made all these big, splashy moves in free agency, I
just keep thinking about the links and I think there's
gonna be real value to having the kind of continuity
they have carrying over to next year. I look at
(22:26):
what that team did, you know, obviously was thirty seconds
from winning the finals, was absolutely phenomenal during that regular season.
Obviously you can always point say, well, what if there's
a regression, there's what, there's that, but they just have
the feel of a group that is going to be
back and doing it again, particularly after how that year ended.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
Yeah, they're my championship pick actually, and I'm not having
the spicy Yeah, they're not my number one in the
preseason my preseason rankings because I feel like you kind
of have to give that to the champion if they
brought back their for their tea. But that's my gut feeling,
and I think the FISA is going to be MVP
next season, Like she's just been out of this world
in unrivaled. Kayla McBride's been the second best player probably
(23:08):
I think both of the both of them look like
they're ready to make a leap. And I feel like,
because Kayla is, you know, she's not in the age
where you're expecting her to be so much better. But
I think this team is going to come back, and
you know, everything looks good on paper in the off season.
I learned that quickly doing this job that it's easy
to say, like, oh, this team is going to be
a contender because you put these two all stars together,
you know, you put three here. But how many times
(23:31):
have we seen these things? Just these groups just not
work the way that you expect, whether it's last year's
Phoenix team, last year's Storm team, Like everybody gets excited,
but Minnesota is the one team that was there and
I thought, we're really like I hate to do it,
but like a foul call away from winning the championship.
And they brought everybody back for the most part, and
I think players are going to get better, Like Courtney
(23:52):
Williams and Defisa are playing together on arrival right now,
They're developing more chemistry there, like that was her first
year at the helmet point guard. So it's tough. There's
a couple of teams that I could see doing it,
But my gut tells me, like as soon as I
came ended last year, I was at Barclays and I
was like, they're gonna come back and win this year.
Like it just has all the makings of like the
beginning of a documentary. They're my pick, And I think
I liked that they just brought everybody back, even down
(24:13):
to like Mitisha Heidemann, Like bring her back. She fit
you know, she worked off the bench. I think, so
she could provide you with probably a better scoring punch
this season than she did last year. But I like
just that continuity. I think it's an underrated thing and
team building.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Yeah, absolutely, And I think what'll be really key too.
I know everybody loves to throw her into fake trades,
but like, how does Diamond Miller fit back into this year?
Obviously last year she had dealt with some unfortunate interests
coming off an injury coming into the season, that had
an injury in the middle of the season and then
just really wasn't able to work back, and they were
in such a rhythm and groove with their rotation that
it was just difficult to work her back in. Maybe
(24:47):
it's possible she still gets traded. I'm just really high
on who she can be, and I think that I'll
be interested to see what that looks like. Dorka Ujas
had a really good second year last year, how does
that look this season for her? Obviously playing over and
playing in Italy right now and has been playing pretty well.
But I also loved who they brought it. They brought
a Mariam Badion who plays for the French national team,
(25:10):
has long been just a really good, complimentary player. Kind
of like It's interesting because I think if she'd gone
to other teams, I wouldn't have been as high on
her signing. Like she's a good basketball player, but like
she's kind of a tweener at the four or five,
can pass, can shoot, like mobile defensively, but not necessarily
like a true center. I think she's six ' three,
(25:30):
but that fits what this Minnesota team does, Like they
want playmakers, they want players who are smart, who can
do multiple things, and I think she could factor in
the big one that I'm like most interested in for
this team is Jessica Shephard because technically her contract was
suspended last year due to prioritization, and she can come
back this season. They still have her rights, and I'm
(25:52):
interested to see what that looks like and how she
fits in because like true low post threat, not really
a shooter, has some questions defensively for sure, but like
awesome on the glass, great high post passer, just like
read based decision maker, and again, somebody I feel like
could really fit in there. And that was a team
(26:12):
where it's like it felt like they were always looking
for like that last piece, like who is our third big,
who is our player that can kind of come in
and give us answers and throughout the finals it's like
we're well before the finals, like, well, let's try my
Ushahines Allen Wishehaines. Allen is in Dallas now, so let's
just know what happened U Dorky ju Haas. They tried
a couple of times, but again it just felt like
they never quite had what they wanted right there, and
(26:35):
again they just they just have a lot of options
to kind of make that work this season. So I'm
fascinated by that.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Yeah, and you have a veteran coaching staff, Like I
know more than half the team's got new coaches this offseason,
and it's again one of those things where when you
hear the introductor of your press conference, it's like, Yay,
this is gonna be awesome, But then a lot of
them don't don't don't work. And I think with Cheryl Wave,
you know it's gonna work. It's worked before she's been there.
They always are kind of near the top with the
defensive system as well, So that gives me confidence in
(27:01):
that group as well, more so than some of the
teams where like you really don't know how a college
coach is going to translate or an overseas coach is
going to translate to the W There's just a level
of reliability there with that team.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Absolutely. What else would you have on your list that
you're thinking of.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
I'm just curious what Kelsey Plum is going to look
like next year, because this is an opportunity for her
to be the face of a franchise and a big market,
and obviously they believe in her. They gave up the
number two pick for her, and I think like the
newest WNBA fans maybe don't realize, like who Kelsey Plumb
was in college and obviously I'm sure people know the
stat that she had the college scoring record, but had
(27:37):
a little bit of the difficult transition in her first
few years in the w came into her own, became
a really good player on the aces. But I'm almost curious, like,
is there another leap that she can take? What is
the team that she's the primary scoring option or one
of the primary scoring options. What does that team look like?
How can her and Dereka Hamby kind of be the
one two punch on it on the Sparks. And I'm
assuming like they want to be competitive. I don't think
(27:59):
they would have given up that they didn't think they
were building like a win now situation, But just looking
at other teams, I don't know that the Sparks have
enough to really be that competitive. I have them like
as a maybe playoff team, But really curious just what
her season looks like. And we don't really know why
she left Las Vegas. Doesn't talked about it too much.
It seems like it was amicable and all on good
terms and even she just wanted a fresh start. But yeah,
(28:20):
I'm excited to see just what that looks like. And
I think LA just a good They did haven't bet
on the map as much. So it's just good to
have more, more excitement, more momentum, cam Brinkle be back.
It's just gonna be fun to kind of watch them
from before and see what see what that team looks like.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
No, absolutely, I'm excited for this this LA team. They're
not obviously not done in free agency, but they're probably
one of the team's closest to being Just about that.
I think we only have two roster slots. They could
could have a third technically, but it's really more too. Yeah,
I think the biggest thing that I'm going to be
fascinated by is like, I don't know what cam Brinks
return timeline is like, So how do they kind of
(28:55):
weather that? What does that look like? Well, like you
mentioned with I think gut reaction from everybody looking at
this was Kelsey Plumb is not a point guard, and
well I get some of the misgivings with that, Like
I would agree like Kelsey's more of a combo, but
she's got probably the best first step in the league.
Has a lot of things that you can tap into
that matter with creating efficient offense, and I think having
(29:19):
watched Lynn Roberts's youthaugh teams, I think she's elite at
taking advantage of players who can do stuff like that,
or I should say, like getting the most out of
players who can do things like that. You know, she's
had a lot of saying limited playmaker sounds unfair, but
like you don't have like a Caitlin Bark Chelsea Gray
type who is just gonna create passes with manipulation and
stuff like that when you're at Utah, Like it was
(29:40):
more of, Okay, we can recruit this kind of player
who can do that, And to me, Kelsey is a
player who could lead a team in scoring, be instrumental
in setting those things up. But like you mentioned, like
the Erica Hanby taking the steps she did last year,
becoming that level of player, like having versatile bigs like
her Azurey Stevens, cam Brink. When she comes back like that,
(30:00):
all I'm really excited for how they all work in
tandem with Kelsey. And then I'm just excited to see
how her key it takes steps this next year because
one of my favorite players in the league. I love
her game, I loved her as a prospect, and I
think this guy is kind of the limit for her,
and I just want to see how she continues to
grow and develop. But I agree, like I think this
Sparks team is just really interesting, Like there's a lot
(30:22):
to be excited about. I think as much as I
understand people being like you can't trade too like with
where this team is at, with how some things are evolving,
I get it. And I think with the moves they've
made around it, I don't mind it at all.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Yeah, I didn't mind it either, And I actually think,
like there's there's the encourt stuff, but then there's also
the fact that this is a big year for franchises
as far as their brands and as far as capitalizing
on all the increased eyes. And I do think Kelsey
Plumb generates excitement, and you know, you don't want to
be you don't want to be the worst team in
the league this year. Like, I think this is a
window of opportunity to really develop and tap into a
(30:57):
real franchise, a real fan base. And we all know
LA has the capability of being a great basketball fan base,
and I think they just the Sparks that hasn't been
the case the last few years here. But even if
she helps move move towards that, you know, I will say,
like if Olivia Miles come, you know, comes into number
two in greens Up, being like this generational prospect you
right away is great. Like maybe that trade looks a
little worse, but I don't I understand where they why
(31:19):
they made that move, and I think that it's it's exciting,
and my only real concern is like defensively meshing these players.
It doesn't look great in my in my head right now,
just putting the pieces together. So that's going to be
the probably the side of the floor where they are
a little bit more subpar, I would imagine.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
Yeah, I'm gonna be interested to see how they kind
of work around that. And I think adding on that too.
That's why, like I've seen all these takes of like oh, well, okay,
who's going to play point guard next to Kelsey? Like, no, dude,
you need Kelsey to play point guard because if you're
putting another small guard in the backward I just think
that not that you can't do it for points in
the game, but it's just so hard and it's something
I mean, we saw the Ace to struggle with it
(31:55):
with Kelsey last year. Like if you have another guard
on the court with Kelsey, or another guard that is
like small on the court with Kelsey. I just think
it's so hard to succeed defensively with that. You have
to be so tapped into everything you're doing. The last
thing I want to mention, I know we gotta get
out here in just second. Phoenix they have so much
room to do stuff, which is a blessing and a
(32:17):
curse because like, all right, man, make something happen, right, Like,
I'm very excited about the players they do have, but
like what else do you kind of add on here?
Who all? Who all is here? And and what are
you kind of how does everything mesh together? Because it's
gonna be I mean it's a completely new team, Like yeah,
what I mean what it just like kind of blankets safe?
(32:37):
What have you thought with with where Phoenix is at
and what they could be?
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Yeah, I feel like I'm getting increasingly lower on them
the more I think about it. When the when the
trades first happened, I was like they got Alyssa Thomas
and saw too, like they won free agency and then
you know, actually thinking about these all these players together,
they're not nearly as deep as some of the other contenders,
and so I don't know, there are probably a few
pieces of few moves away, Like I would imagine that
(33:01):
there's they're gonna cook up something else. I mean between
Kolla copper At, you know, you're you have, You're gonna
be funked, You're gonna.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Be good like.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
But the question is just like can you contend, which
I think is their goal, which I think is kind
of why they made all these moves. And I certainly
think Alsa Thomas deserves and wants to be on a
contender at this point in her career. So you probably
need another shooter. Uh, it's another place you could send
Marina not to be like making this the Marina Rabi
Trade Destinations podcast. But I don't know. I have them
(33:32):
like kind of middle tier right now, maybe four, it's
five fifth seed, if I had to project at this
point in the off season.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
No, for sure, I feel like they're I just I'm
a big TVD on them until I kind of see
everything else. I see like what the vision could be,
but I need to see the pieces continue to come together.
But Noah, I appreciate you making the times there anything
you want to plow your mention before you out of here.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
No, just all my WB coverages on Espanation. We have
a women's sports vertical so you can check that out
tracking all the free agent moves and everything, so it's
called Breakaway. But yeah, thanks so much for having me Mark,
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Yeah, of course I'll have that tag down below to
everyone watching and listening, sure to keep up with everything
Noah's doing, all things WNBA, and of course hit the
subscribe button down below you haven't already
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