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

WNBAlien 2011 Previews: Atlanta Dream

Here we go, folks: 12 teams, 16ish hours because I got up a bit late. As tradition dictates, Eastern Conference first, then the West, both in alphabetical order to show no favourites. With a bit of luck I’ll be done before the Lynx and Sparks tip-off in LA tonight, then manage to stay awake through the game.

First up, conveniently enough, just happens to be the team I watched practice last weekend…

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PG: Lindsey Harding/Shalee Lehning

SG: Iziane Castro-Marques/Coco Miller

SF: Angel McCoughtry/Armintie Price

PF: Sancho Lyttle/Sandora Irvin/Brittainey Raven

C: Erika de Souza/Alison Bales (plus eventually Yelena Leuchanka)

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Head coach: Marynell Meadors

Significant additions: Harding.

Significant losses: Yelena Leuchanka and Lyttle for part of the season, Kelly Miller if you stretch ‘significant’.

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As the reigning Eastern Conference champions, we know the Atlanta Dream can be pretty damn good. Continue reading