Greetings my peeps and welcome to the all things basketball podcast with your boy GD.
In this episode I'll be talking about the second half of the WNBA season, how I think
things will shake out between the teams and so forth and then also my mid-season awards.
Now how I think things will shake out in terms of the awards so I'll talk about all of it.
Just sit back relax and enjoy the show.
Okay guys so it's your boy GD once again with the all things basketball with GD podcast and
our last episode we did a recap of the WNBA the all-star weekend we covered that nailed
everything down so now I want to take a look at the second half of the WNBA season and
see how things progress from there so let's get right into it folks.
What I'll do I'll just go by record and then we'll work our way down.
So first we have the Las Vegas Aces with their 19 and 2 record which is the fourth best start
in WNBA history.
Of course the Aces engine just keeps rolling along you got Chelsea Gray over there of course
the leader and as well as Aja Wilson your MVP, Kelsey Plum who's been red hot lately and
of course Jackie Young.
All them playing well right now so and they're seem like they're just hitting their stride
although they had a little speed bump towards the end with the loss to Dallas.
They're hoping to get Candace Parker back she had the ankle injury that kept her out
a few games coming out of the second half they hope to get Candace Parker back in there.
They still have three games with the number 2C the New York Liberty so you'll have that
stretch of games and then also they're going to have a difficult stretch guys because Becky
Hammond induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame is falling on August 12th and they have
a game actually two game sandwiched between that.
So my thought is she's going to miss either one of those games or both of those games.
They are home games nonetheless guys but remember the induction ceremony is going to be in Massachusetts
so you're talking about going cross country so my bet is that she's probably going to
miss those two games and those games are going to be against the Washington Mystics and the
Atlanta Dream so these are no cupcake game guys.
I would be interested to see how they make out with Becky Hammond missing those two games
so keep your eye on that guys as far as the Las Vegas aces go but you know they're rolling
along like I said and so forth so that's the only hiccup I see and of course the Liberty
games could probably go either way so but we'll see what happens.
That's the aces story.
Speaking of let's talk about the New York Liberty the number two C right now at 14 and
four so they still have about 22 games left so a little more than half the season to go.
Their whole thing is they they have to stay ahead of Connecticut Sun.
The Sun is right there with them they have two more games in their pocket than the Liberty
so it's incumbent upon the Liberty to you know with those two games they have ahead to get
those wins and then like I said with the aces the Liberty have those three games against
the aces so what they do in those games could hold a lot of weight as far as their seating
going forward with the Sun breathing down their neck and then they're hoping to get
Stephanie Dolson back she's had that ankle injury that's kept her out for a while now
so hopefully they can get her back and then they'll really be at full strength and the
question is can Sabrina and Eskoo carry that all-star momentum into the second half of
the season I would say yes she ended the first half of the season with a monster game and
then she comes into the weekend and we know what she did in the three-point contest and
then in the game itself so I think she carries it over of course she got Breanna Stewart there
the leader the alpha if you will so of course Sabrina's going to defer to her but hey Breanna's
hasn't been shy about letting Sabrina shine so I don't see any issues going forward and
my question will be now that John Quill Jones has had the rest will we see a better John
Quill Jones coming out of the second half I would think so also that Naji Laney she's
been very good this year taking that really secondary secondary role if you will but
she went called upon she's been money of course she have Vanda Slute running the show so guys
they're in pretty good shape I must say so we'll see what happens to them down the stretch
then we go to the third see the Connecticut Sun right now at 15 and five they are holding
the Fort guys will listen Thomas and the one of Bonner they must continue the ball guys
they've been balling all season long especially since you don't have a Breanna Jones there
you're definitely going to need their reduction the maturation of D. Jean a Carrington that's
been a help for them as well as she's been coming off the bench for them Tiffany Hazes
been stepping up she's been stepping up as of late so you probably want a little bit
more from Rebecca Allen and from Natisha Heidemann and then will we see more minutes for Olivia
Nelson Adoda their center there because I think eventually you're going to have to get
some solid center play they've been able to be above water thanks to coach Stephanie
White so the Connecticut Sun looking good guys looking good and look like they're rolling
along so and that's your third seed then we go to Washington Washington Mystics at 11
and eight health has been the thing with them guys they need a healthy Elena Deladon you
know she had the ankle issues the ankle that she rolled twice in the first half of the
season and then Shakira Austin with her hip now we should hear some news guys coming out
of the All-Star break supposed to be this week guys we're supposed to hear some Shakira
Austin news so hopefully we'll get some good feedback in that regard so hopefully she'll
be back soon Britney Sykes has been playing well so you gotta give her props you need
some more out of Ariel Atkins and Natasha Cloud I know Natasha Cloud she's had injury
as a recent so but you're definitely gonna need more from them the benches men strong
guys with Tiana Hawkins there Shatori Walker Kimbrough Maisha Heinz Allen Lee Ming and also
Christie Toliver so they have a very good bench and then you add to that Queen Egbo
who you got in the trades so Washington you know they have a strong bench you just need
your star players healthy I think at full strength they're dangerous guys so Eric Tibalt he's
got the ship moving in the right direction so he just needs his healthy players back
that's the story with the Mystics then we move on to the other 11 and 18 the Atlanta Dream
and they're one of the hottest teams in the W outside of your big three of course of Las
Vegas New York and Connecticut and of course they have the All-Star trio now of Ryan Howard
Alyssa Gray and Cheyenne Parker but you're gonna need help from others guys you're gonna
need some help from people like Nea coffee AD Durr Daniel Robinson so you're gonna need
some more contribution from them if you definitely want to go to that next level but I tell you
what coach Tanisha right she's been doing the job there and she's gonna have to consider
probably installing Haley Jones maybe into that starting lineup to be the starting point
guard there you've seen the maturation in her thus far so I think she's able to do it
guys Tanisha right if you want to roll the dice and go with Haley Jones as your starting
point guard probably now's the time now's a good time as any the Atlanta dream I tell
you what guys they're a dangerous team very dangerous so if I was among those top two
or three teams I'd be worried about facing them that's for sure then we move on to the
Dallas wings at 11 and 9 so they're at the halfway point this is another team I think
could be dangerous and they have their trio of a Rika a goomba wale Satos a Bali as well
as Natasha Howard who's nobody slouch that's for sure and I tell you what guys that last
game they had against the Minnesota Lynx where a Rique had the 18 points and 11 assists I
tell you what guys if a Rique can have games where she's dishing out 789 assists per game
Dallas is going to be a problem guys they're going to be a problem I give credit to a Latricia
Crammel guys early on the team is trying to figure itself out but I think they're about
to hit their stride right now especially going into that second half and then don't forget
on top of your big three there you got tiara mcowen who she had the injury early on but
she's back now so you're going to get solid center play from her and then crystal danger
field she's always a threat there so the Dallas wings I think they could be a problem guys
I think they could be a problem going forward so you have that team at number six your seven
team right now is the Minnesota Lynx speaking of at 9 and 11 this is another team that's
starting to gel they remember they started out the gate pretty slow but they're starting
to slowly gel guys but everything begins it ends with the fisha collier and I tell you
what she's having a fantastic season guys I tell you what also look out for diamond
Miller in the second half she missed about eight games she had her injury ankle by the
way but in the second half of the season now she was one I thought would be a rookie of
the year candidate with her game so I see her in the second half doing some pretty good
things here so they're definitely going to need that course you have Kayla McBride there
along with Tiffany Mitchell Jessica Shepherd they're coming along could there be more touches
for dorka you house there's young center there who's done a serviceable job in the middle
but maybe you need to get her more touches to improve this team so Cheryl Reeves she's
going to have to figure it out but the Minnesota Lynx if they could get things rolling they
could be a problem team as well so we'll see what happens with them then in your eight spot
you have the Chicago sky somehow they keeping this thing afloat despite the injuries and
they've had their share of injuries and also a coaching departure we know about James
Wade heading to the NBA to be assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors Emory at times severe
that's your coach now so it seems like starting to get the healthy pieces back of course Kalea
Copper and Marina Maybury are carrying the load of course Courtney Williams she's getting
hot as of late guys she had that recent triple double and she had an outstanding game even
after that but you're going to need help besides Dana Evans Dana Evans has been good off the
bench but you need more from your bench the loss of Rebecca Gardner really hurts though
they lost her with a foot injury early in the season and the bench hasn't been the same
really since so you're gonna need more bench production but somehow they're keeping it afloat
but there's some teams behind them that could creep up in the second half at number nine
Los Angeles Sparks in the Sparks a coach by Kirk Miller and I tell you what guys no team
has had it worse when it comes to injuries than the Los Angeles Sparks I mean you had
players in and out your roster was short at times only two of their players appeared in
every single game and that's Deerika Hamby as well as Zaya Cook the rookie but they are
getting Lacia Claren them back there'll be a help Jordan Canada she continues to improve
so she's had a pretty good year and of course team is always led by Neca a woman K and then
having as a Ray Stevens having her back it's been a help as well as Jasmine Thomas Shania
woman K neck of sister she remains out with the foot injury we'll see what happens on
the other side of the all-star break as far as her injury goes but they're a team if they
could get healthy they could get right they can kind of make a surge in the standings
but again that all depends on the players in their injuries you know so we'll see what
happens there and then at number 10 the Indiana fever and despite their record they're a team
on the way up guys of course led by their rookie sensation Aliyah Boston and their all-stars
well Kelsey Mitchell but they've been dealt a recent blow of injuries Melissa Smith she's
going to be out with the stress factor in her foot for two weeks and then Lexi Hall
is day-to-day with the broken nose that she suffered in the last game and is it time to
unleash players like Grace burger and Victoria sexton I mean you have to weigh that guys
because do you think you have enough to make a jump in the standings here to maybe catch
a Chicago I don't know about that so you may want to at least give Grace burger a longer
look and carry a Saxon as well you know these are young players you want to see what they
have so and then remember to they dealt Queen Eggbow and they brought in Amanda Zowie be
who you're going to need especially now well the list of Smith on the sidelines so so we'll
see what happens with Indiana fever but they're playing tough guys they're not an easy game
anymore they're playing tough course boston's having a phenomenal season so this is the team
you can't sleep more at 11 the phoenix mercury and we know despite bg being back this season
seems to be a lost one and you got to start asking the question guys is it time for Diane
to Rossi to retire that's legitimate question because you're going to have to build this
team around someone other than Brittany Griner of course and do you want to still build around
a 40 year old player I don't know if you want to do that and then of course we know about
the Vanessa Nygaard debacle she's out in terms of being the head coach Nikki blue is in there
now I'm not sure about the trade deadline but maybe you want to shake things up with
a trade here or there who knows you know maybe you want to move Sophie Cunningham maybe a
Mariah Jefferson maybe Shay Patty I don't know but you're gonna have to shake some things
up that's for sure I don't know if you're trying to jump up in the standings as well
you're at 415 it's gonna be kind of a difficult climb but maybe you wave the white towels
we'll see but that's Phoenix and then your last place team the Seattle storm actually
I think when all the sitting done they won't be the last place team this is a team now
that could make a move in the standings even with their record I think the return of Gabby
Williams is really going to help this team of course you have Jewel Lloyd playing as
well as she's playing will she be able to break the single season scoring record look
like she's well on our way guys if health holds up and everything else and she's taking
a beating throughout this season in fact the last game I saw with her you know she went
down a few times I was like is she getting up she got up each and every time so Jewel
Lloyd other teams know her potential and how she can explode in the game so I think also
to look out for Jordan Horstin Jordan Horstin I think that's another rookie that's ready
to make a move she had a very good game her last game so I think momentum is on her side
and again we're having Gabby Williams back who can direct the offense I think that's
going to be a help to a Jordan Horstin I don't think Seattle ends up being the last place
team I think they can make a move in the standings I would be watching them very closely to see
if they can jump up and Noel Quinn she's she know what she's doing behind the bench there
so I wouldn't be surprised if they jump up so we'll see what happens with them so guys
that is your breakdown of the teams going forward in the second half with that now I
want to give out my midseason hardware midseason awards how it is now and how I think it may
shake out when everything is sitting done right now the sixth woman of the year for
me it'll be D. Janay Carrington of the Connecticut Sun again I just seen her game improved so
much and she's been the spark that they need off the bench for Connecticut and I think
her being at the All-Star festivities there I think that can only boost her confidence
so I think she's one who could get the sixth woman of the year outside chance Dana Evans
Dana Evans I talked about Chicago Sky she's having a pretty good year coming off the bench
for them but I think it's Carrington's award to lose right now so defensive player of the
year had to really kind of think about this one but I think when all is sitting done as
he Macbughor I think she ends up being the one getting the defensive player of the year
she's having a fantastic season for the storm and she's tied for the lead in blocks she
is someone who and also she's averaging over a steal the game as well so she's really been
a terror inside for the storm so as he Macbughor I think could end up being the defensive player
of the year most improved player I think this is a runaway Sato Sabali for the Dallas wings
I think it's her award to lose all the other person I give a outside chance to is Alyssa
Gray for the Atlanta dream her coming from the Dallas wings last season and into this
one she's really made an improvement in her game so much so she was picked as All-Star
so Alyssa Gray but I think Sato Sabali I think she's the one who end up being most improved
player then that leads us to our rookie of the year is there any other person other than
Aliyah Boston the year that she's having the efficiency it's the efficiency for me guys
and as I watch her the footwork that she has inside I mean that's the footwork of a veteran
the way she's working in the blocks man wow and to think this is only her rookie season
she'll be doing this for the next 10 years or so health permitting of course but Aliyah
Boston I think is your runaway rookie of the year coach of the year I had to really think
about this one but I think when the dust settles Stephanie White will end up getting the award
of the Connecticut Sun the way there was talk that this team losing their head coach as
well as player who was a MVP recipient at one time as well as your starting point guard
you lost her as well so many thought this team would be in transition that's not the
case there amongst your top teams so Stephanie White has done an amazing job over there so
I think she ends up getting coach of the year my dark horse Tanisha Wright if everything
breaks the way I think it'll break I think Tanisha Wright will have this team at the end
as a team that nobody wants to face guys so Tanisha Wright doing the right things over
there in Atlanta for the Atlanta dream but again Stephanie White I think ends up winning
and then your MVP I believe it's going to be Breonna Stewart for the New York Liberty
Breonna Stewart has having a wonderful season for the Liberty she's been the leader over
there and the way that team follows her lead Liberty fans been waiting for this kind of
season for a while so for Breonna to come over and do what she's doing is you couldn't
ask for more than that so I think Breonna Stewart ends up winning my outside shot is
Alyssa Thomas with what's going on over there in Connecticut course she is the engine there
for that team so Alyssa Thomas I think she'll get consideration by thinking the end Breonna
Stewart gets the award alright guys so that's going to do it for this episode I'll end up
talking about Summer League a little bit they do have the championship game going on in Summer
League between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Houston Rockets so I'm sure I'll probably
talk about that I'll talk about Victor Wimbayama he only played the two games in Summer League
so we'll talk about that and it's there with some player movement as well no Dame news
no heart news so the next time you hear from me I'll probably be talking about Summer League
and some of the player movements so you know it's summertime I'm going to try and take
a breather here so I know I've been saying that but I'm really going to do it so anyhow
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