***Official Caitlin/Fever/Kate/Meg Games Mega Thread***

[Bulldogs1974]

The CC issue also has a Connecticut issue. Gino and company have been "it" for a long time and they have a lot of people in the WNBA. I think they are offended, they they weren't lauded as much as CC.
They would like to think they are/were as good as CC but forget they chose to surround themselves with the best players in the country year after year. If you put the top 3/10 players on your team every year, you are going to win with a hs coach let alone a good college coach. But the problem is their belief that their superiority was something more than stacked talent in a very small pool (the WNBA is proof of that).
Add the connecticut angle to not throwing her praise at a woke racial/lgbtq ideolgy is the start of the reason for the hate.

 

[Tenacious E]

Aside from two no-brainer #1 draft picks, has Lin Dunn demostrated even a shred of competence?

Talking out of my ass, I would say it's been pretty bleak. With that being said, it would interesting to see which GM's found value in the drafts and are not reliant on high first round picks. Stated another way, given the dearth of difference makers, is it just luck of the draw?

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

The point about Larry Bird's welcome to the league is kinda interesting.

Black NBAers of the time talking on YouTube now about their surprise at "Damn, this Bird guy can really hoop" is practically a cottage industry. Then as now, I think there's a strong element of "Whitey gotta prove himself first." Not entirely unfair, I suppose.

Also interesting is the NBA and the WNBA were kinda in the same boat. Both leagues were languishing before the arrival of their superstars.

But yet I don't recall there being being such severe growing pains for the NBA.

The world is a lot different now.

I'll leave it at that.

 

[citizenHawk]

WNBA isn't the same game that is played in college. They have purposely made it different (worse) and talent therefore doesn't always translate. So, yeah, this makes talent evaluation a crapshoot, and that further erodes the product.

Simple fix (ha):
Get rid of the hyper-physicality, drop the misguided love for it, and officiate the game correctly.

 

[Tenacious E]

WNBA isn't the same game that is played in college. They have purposely made it different (worse) and talent therefore doesn't always translate. So, yeah, this makes talent evaluation a crapshoot, and that further erodes the product.

Simple fix (ha):
Get rid of the hyper-physicality, drop the misguided love for it, and officiate the game correctly.

Or, have the Iowa/WVU game refs teach college refs how to ref, which was even more physical than the W, and dilute interest in both leagues until no one cares about them.

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

WNBA isn't the same game that is played in college. They have purposely made it different (worse) and talent therefore doesn't always translate. So, yeah, this makes talent evaluation a crapshoot, and that further erodes the product.

Simple fix (ha):
Get rid of the hyper-physicality, drop the misguided love for it, and officiate the game correctly.

Agree.

Regarding the physicality of the league, as we were being introduced to the play several of us were comparing it to Roller Derby.

So I read up a little about the spectacle that is RD. It started out actually as a sport of endurance racing. Obvious snoozefest. So it seems, in the most gimmicky of ways, all of the body slamming and physicality was added.

The WNBA has 100% copied this playbook.

But as of yet they haven't realized they don't need Alyssa Thomas jumping off the top turnbuckle anymore, to use another sports analogy.

Hopefully Caitlin, and maybe Bueckers and others, can turn enough of the right heads for the W to realize that there is enough talent now to play the Beautiful Game.

 

[Tenacious E]

Agree.

Regarding the physicality of the league, as we were being introduced to the play several of us were comparing it to Roller Derby.

So I read up a little about the spectacle that is RD. It started out actually as a sport of endurance racing. Obvious snoozefest. So it seems, in the most gimmicky of ways, all of the body slamming and physicality was added.

The WNBA has 100% copied this playbook.

But as of yet they haven't realized they don't need Alyssa Thomas jumping off the top turnbuckle anymore, to use another sports analogy.

Hopefully Caitlin, and maybe Bueckers and others, can turn enough of the right heads for the W to realize that there is enough talent now to play the Beautiful Game.

I will be interesting to see if Bueckers gets physically roughed up next season, and Juju after that, or if this was all special treatment for Caitlin.

 

[BrewHawk]

I will be interesting to see if Bueckers gets physically roughed up next season, and Juju after that, or if this was all special treatment for Caitlin.

We already know the answer to that one.

Bueckers has already admitted she's privileged (what white athlete in sports isn't?).

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

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I will be interesting to see if Bueckers gets physically roughed up next season, and Juju after that, or if this was all special treatment for Caitlin.

That will be interesting and think we all know why.

Though they are birds of a different feather I think they both tweet the same song, a more agreeable song.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[citizenHawk]

I will be interesting to see if Bueckers gets physically roughed up next season, and Juju after that, or if this was all special treatment for Caitlin.

Seriously doubt this, but also doubt either player will be the scoring threat (assists or shots) that Clark is. Additionally, the narrative was always that Clark was soft (game wouldn't translate), so they wanted to exploit that supposed vulnerability.

Funny to remember Watkins is still only a sophomore, so plenty of time to have her expectations shift either way, but doubt she gets a "soft" narrative. *Rice and Hidalgo are two more to watch once they get to the WNBA.

 

[citizenHawk]

Agree.

Regarding the physicality of the league, as we were being introduced to the play several of us were comparing it to Roller Derby.

So I read up a little about the spectacle that is RD. It started out actually as a sport of endurance racing. Obvious snoozefest. So it seems, in the most gimmicky of ways, all of the body slamming and physicality was added.

The WNBA has 100% copied this playbook.

But as of yet they haven't realized they don't need Alyssa Thomas jumping off the top turnbuckle anymore, to use another sports analogy.

Hopefully Caitlin, and maybe Bueckers and others, can turn enough of the right heads for the W to realize that there is enough talent now to play the Beautiful Game.

The roller derby comparison is sadly fitting.
But also, if they ever lean in and add helmets and skates, weight limits, I'd probably want to watch whatever that would be. Hopefully they don't need to, and dial it back in the other direction.

 

[ChiPackHawk]

I will be interesting to see if Bueckers gets physically roughed up next season, and Juju after that, or if this was all special treatment for Caitlin.

Paige has been playing the game and working to fit in for a while now.

 

[nck24]

Paige has been playing the game and working to fit in for a while now.

She also plays at UConn so she is part of the Geno/Dawn/Kim club. Outliers and their stupid uninformed fans need not apply.

 

[Franisdaman]

Just announced, 32 minutes ago....

 

[Franisdaman]

The story/release:

Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark Wins 2024 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year Award

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has been named the 2024 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year, the WNBA announced today.

www.wnba.com

 

[Franisdaman]

It was not unanimous.

Who voted for Angel?????

2024 KIA WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR VOTING RESULTS

Player	Team	Votes
Caitlin Clark	Indiana Fever	66
Angel Reese	Chicago Sky	1

 

[2D_]

We all know why there was one voter who made sure it wasn't unanimous. Its hatred for Clark and her fans, revenge for CC beating Angel 3 times and outperforming her. This is how the WNBA operates.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Hawksbyamillion]

They’re still practicing?

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

They’re still practicing?

I was wondering this too but Dinglebert acknowledged they were in Connecticut preparing for the playoffs.

So I guess they were just keeping this under wraps til now 🤷‍♂️.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[spiderland]

View embedded media

I love that Erica and then Aliyah are the first two to be all over Caitlin.

There’s been a lot of talk about Erica. Scroll up and you’ll see that I’m included in those who’ve written some bad sh!t about her. But now I really wish they could find a way to keep her financially next season. Sign her to a much smaller contract and have Caitlin pull some endorsement strings to make up for the difference? Is that kind of thing allowed?

I misread her. I love what she brings in terms of attitude and how she really does appear to have Caitlin’s back. And if the Fever could just bring in a little more legitimate bench talent, she could give Caitlin some true rest minutes without the wheels completely falling off.

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

It was not unanimous.

Who voted for Angel?????

2024 KIA WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR VOTING RESULTS

Player	Team	Votes
Caitlin Clark	Indiana Fever	66
Angel Reese	Chicago Sky	1

Oh my, who votes on this particular ROY award?

I bet if we knew who the individuals were we could narrow it down real quickly who the dissenter was.

 

[doughuddl2]

KM salary negotiations is easy:
Kelsey, would you like $250k Supermax contract with or without core designation?
Would you like 1 year so you can renegotiate next year bargain agreement or multiple years?

Or she says she doesn't want to be here.
I hope that's not the case. Also hope they don't have to designate her a core player.

Player agents are contacting the Fever saying they want to play there.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

I love that Erica and then Aliyah are the first two to be all over Caitlin.

There’s been a lot of talk about Erica. Scroll up and you’ll see that I’m included in those who’ve written some bad sh!t about her. But now I really wish they could find a way to keep her financially next season. Sign her to a much smaller contract and have Caitlin pull some endorsement strings to make up for the difference? Is that kind of thing allowed?

I misread her. I love what she brings in terms of attitude and how she really does appear to have Caitlin’s back. And if the Fever could just bring in a little more legitimate bench talent, she could give Caitlin some true rest minutes without the wheels completely falling off.

Good post.

Erica is not only an enthusiastic team and CC supporter, lately she's been willing to stick her nose into the fray for CC. She knocked Carrington around a lil.

Erica an enforcer? Fine by me.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

View embedded media

That was awesome and kinda cute at the end.

But dang it, the ex-Cyclone Tyrese is so easy to like.

And as you've been saying, Black dudes love 'em some Caitlin Clark. Which is cool, ofc.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Hawksbyamillion]

I love that Erica and then Aliyah are the first two to be all over Caitlin.

There’s been a lot of talk about Erica. Scroll up and you’ll see that I’m included in those who’ve written some bad sh!t about her. But now I really wish they could find a way to keep her financially next season. Sign her to a much smaller contract and have Caitlin pull some endorsement strings to make up for the difference? Is that kind of thing allowed?

I misread her. I love what she brings in terms of attitude and how she really does appear to have Caitlin’s back. And if the Fever could just bring in a little more legitimate bench talent, she could give Caitlin some true rest minutes without the wheels completely falling off.

Agree with all of this. On a side note, since day 1 she has reminded me of Buckwheat from The Little Rascals 😂

 

[Franisdaman]