Monthly Archives: June 2011

WNBAlien 2011 Previews: Phoenix Mercury

PG: Temeka Johnson/Ketia Swanier

SG: Diana Taurasi/Alexis Gray-Lawson/Marie Ferdinand-Harris(/Bonner)

SF: Penny Taylor/DeWanna Bonner

PF: Candice Dupree(/Bonner)

C: Kara Braxton/Nakia Sanford/Olayinka Sanni(/Bonner)

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Head coach: Corey Gaines

Significant additions: Sanford, I guess, and Braxton from the start of the season instead of the middle. So not much, except the hope that Taurasi’s rested and angry.

Significant losses: Tangela Smith.

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It was tumultuous offseason for the Mercury, despite the minimal changes made to the actual roster. Diana Taurasi’s reported positive drug test, later rescinded by the Turkish lab that performed it, led to all kinds of debates about whether Taurasi could play in the WNBA while FIBA suspended her, a potential lifetime ban from the Olympics, and whether all the Americans playing in Europe every year could trust that they’d be treated fairly. Continue reading →

WNBA Today, 06/04/11

As a break from the previews, here’s the very first installment of the regular daily coverage. I’m making a concession to the fact that most of my readers are American and going with the silly US way of writing the date.

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After all the talking and all the debates, the games that matter finally got underway last night. Seriously late last night, if you live anywhere besides the West coast of the US (or far enough east that it was early today instead), but regardless, we’re off. It was a pretty good game too, as openers go. The WNBA tends to be a mess in the early weeks, thanks to players arriving late due to overseas commitments and the short preparation time available in the first place. However, in years such as 2011 without a World Championships or Olympic Games, that issue is alleviated somewhat. Most teams had everyone in town from the first day of training camp and that should lead to better performances to start the season than we’re used to

LA held off Minnesota in Staples Center last night, 82-74, behind Candace Parker showing what she can do when her arms and legs are solidly attached, and a ridiculous barrage of three-pointers from their guards in the second-half. Continue reading →

WNBAlien 2011 Previews: Minnesota Lynx

PG: Lindsay Whalen/Candice Wiggins/Alexis Hornbuckle

SG: Seimone Augustus/Monica Wright

SF: Maya Moore/Charde Houston (I refuse to call her a power forward)

PF: Rebekkah Brunson/Amber Harris

C: Taj McWilliams-Franklin/Jessica Adair

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Head coach: Cheryl Reeve

Significant additions: Moore (duh), McWilliams-Franklin, Harris, a healthy Wiggins, and a hopefully healthier Augustus.

Significant losses: Nicky Anosike. Maiga-Ba and Hollingsworth are gone as well, but no one’ll care.

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Can you have too much talent? After stinking it up for so many years that they’re starting to rival the T-Wolves, the Lynx have assembled so many good players that it’s getting a little ridiculous. Continue reading →

WNBAlien 2011 Previews: Los Angeles Sparks

And we’re back. You guys are just gonna have to trust me that what you find below was mostly written and entirely conceived before last night’s game. I promise.

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PG: Ticha Penicheiro/(Quinn if they’ve got any sense, Lacy and Toliver if they don’t)

SG: Noelle Quinn/Kristi Toliver/Natasha Lacy

SF: DeLisha Milton-Jones/Jenna O’Hea

PF: Tina Thompson/Ebony Hoffman

C: Candace Parker/Jantel Lavender/LaToya Pringle

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Head coach: Jennifer Gillom

Significant additions: A healthy Parker, and a completely revamped bench.

Significant losses: Nothing much. Marie Ferdinand-Harris, Betty Lennox, Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton and others have left – big deal.

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This one isn’t complicated. The decidedly aging starting lineup is yet another year older and closer to retirement; the bench is almost entirely turned over from last year’s reserves (quite rightly, considering the last lot stunk); the head coach is still completely unproven at this level – and yet it’s all about one woman. Continue reading →

My apologies, dear readers…

Clearly I was overconfident when aiming for 12 previews in one day. I reduced my aim to eight earlier on, hoping to get LA and Minnesota done before they played tonight, but I’m sat here trying to finish the LA preview and it’s drivel, so time to call it a night, methinks.

I’ll be back tomorrow with the first installment of WNBA Today, and the rest of the previews. Thanks for reading, everybody.

WNBAlien 2011 Previews: Washington Mystics

PG: Kelly Miller/Jasmine Thomas

SG: Alana Beard/Matee Ajavon

SF: Marissa Coleman/Karima Christmas

PF: Crystal Langhorne/Victoria Dunlap

C: Nicky Anosike/Ta’Shia Phillips

Bench in street clothes because they refuse to waive her: Monique Currie

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Head coach: Trudi Lacey

Significant additions: Return of Beard, Anosike, and the host of rooks.

Significant losses: Lindsey Harding, Katie Smith, Monique Currie, Nakia Sanford, Chasity Melvin, head coach Julie Plank, and GM Angela Taylor. And the faith of many supporters.

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Some fans may be disappointed that their teams didn’t make many changes over the offseason; to those people I can only say be careful what you wish for – you could be a Mystics fan. Continue reading →

WNBAlien 2011 Previews: New York Liberty

PG: Leilani Mitchell/Sydney Colson/(lots of Cappie)

SG: Cappie Pondexter/Essence Carson

SF: Nicole Powell/Alex Montgomery/Sidney Spencer

PF: Plenette Pierson/Jessica Breland

C: Kia Vaughn/Quanitra Hollingsworth/is there anyone in the stands with two X chromosomes over 6-3?

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Head coach: John Whisenant

Significant additions: Whiz, and a bunch of projects.

Significant losses: Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Janel McCarville, and Kalana Greene(ish). Oh, and their arena.

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My, oh my, oh my. Remember how last year the argument for Cappie as MVP centered around “look at her teammates! She’s doing it on her own!”? Well if you’re looking for a silver lining, Cappie’s MVP argument could be even stronger this season. Continue reading →

WNBAlien 2011 Previews: Indiana Fever

PG: Briann January/Erin Phillips/Shannon Bobbitt

SG: Katie Douglas/Shavonte Zellous/Jeanette Pohlen

SF: Tamika Catchings/Shyra Ely

PF: Tangela Smith

C: Tammy Sutton-Brown/Jessica Davenport

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Head coach: Lin Dunn

Significant additions: Smith and Phillips. If Ely and/or Pohlen prove significant, it’s a bonus.

Significant losses: Ebony Hoffman, Tully Bevilaqua

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Here we have another team that hasn’t changed much since last year, but with a couple of key differences from Connecticut’s stand-pat plan. Firstly, they were 21-13 last year, which makes sticking with what you’ve got far more palatable. Secondly, they’ve got Tamika Catchings, and that’s always a good base to start from. Continue reading →

WNBAlien 2011 Previews: Connecticut Sun

PG: Renee Montgomery/(Lawson)

SG: Kara Lawson/Tan White

SF: Kalana Greene/Danielle McCray/Allison Hightower

PF: Asjha Jones/Kelsey Griffin/Kerri Gardin

C: Tina Charles/DeMya Walker

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Head coach: Mike Thibault

Significant additions: Greene and McCray add to the neverending list of wings Connecticut has paraded through in recent years. That’s your lot.

Significant losses: Sandrine Gruda, Anete Jekabsone-Zogota.

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Uh, improvement from within, I guess we’re going with here. Continue reading →

WNBAlien 2011 Previews: Chicago Sky

PG: Courtney Vandersloot/Dominique Canty

SG: Epiphanny Prince/Erin Thorn

SF: Tamera Young/Angie Bjorklund

PF: Michelle Snow/Cathrine Kraayeveld/Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton

C: Sylvia Fowles/Carolyn Swords

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Head coach: Pokey Chatman

Significant additions: Vandersloot, Snow, maybe Wisdom-Hylton and obviously Chatman.

Significant losses: Jia Perkins, Shameka Christon, and they might even miss Mistie Bass. Chatman would have to pull a gun to make anyone miss Steve Key.

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Lots of change and a bunch of leaps into the unknown for Chicago this season, but let’s face it, that has to be better than where they’ve been in previous years. Continue reading →