Greetings my peeps and welcome to the All Things Basketball Podcast with your boy GD.
In this episode I'll be talking WNBA, I'll be wrapping up the season, we'll talk about
the playoffs and we'll talk about postseason awards as well.
So just sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
Okay guys so it's your boy GD back once again with All Things Basketball with GD Podcasts
and in this episode we're gonna talk, it's all about WNBA.
We're gonna wrap up the season and then we're gonna look at the playoffs and then we're
gonna look at postseason awards and so forth.
So let us not delay, let's get right into it.
At the top of the ticket, Las Vegas Aces at 34 and 6, of course they have Aja Wilson there,
have the point guard extraordinaire and Chelsea Gray, you got the plum dog there, Kelsey Plum,
you got the silent assassin Jackie Young.
Still no Candice Parker, she's still out so there hasn't been any word about her returning
for playoffs guys so we'll see what happens there.
Of course coming off your bench Alicia Clark who's been a godsend for them and of course
Kia Stoke doing her best Candice Parker impression and of course you have the bench there as
well so Becky Hammond you know she's got the ship going in the right direction as always
so she's got this team primed and ready for the playoffs so and they sit at the top of
the WMBA.
Followed in second by the New York Liberty, New York Liberty with 32 wins against 8 losses,
of course the addition of Breonna Stewart, you got Stewie there, Courtney Vander Sleut,
John Quill Jones, you add that to Sabrina Nescoos who's had a fantastic year, Banaji
Laney, she's been solid as well, the bench is starting to heat up guys, you got Marine
Johannes, you got her there Kayla Thornton, you got Big Mama Steph back, Stephanie Dolson,
also Sabali sister there, Nyera so you have those ladies there.
So we'll see what happens, the Liberty there, loaded for bear so you know we'll see what
they do in the playoffs.
Your third place team Connecticut Sun, of course the engine, the one that makes the
team go, Alyssa Thomas there, oh they finished 27 and 13 which is still by all counts it's
pretty much unbelievable that they finished with such a record, you know like I said Alyssa
Thomas is there, DeWanna Bonner who had a season for the ages, then of course Breonna
Jones goes down but the chip keeps sailing, you know you got some players there and then
Stephanie White who's done a hell of a job over there, gotta give her credit, so that's
your third place team.
Fourth place the Dallas Wings, a team I think is probably the most dangerous non-super team
so quote unquote, they are very dangerous.
What Letretia Tramble has done there is really been a boom to that team, Koshie Geirica,
Agumbawale, you have her there, you also have who I think is most improved player of the
year, Sato Sabali, you have her there, Natasha Howard, Tierra McCowen, so you know you have
some firepower over there so we'll see what the Dallas Wings, what they do, fifth place
the Atlanta Dream, of course Tanisha Wright, she's with these ladies into shaping, they're
good to go, they got their big three, Ryan Howard, Cheyenne Parker and also Alyssa Gray,
so you have those three there, then your sixth place team, the Minnesota Lynx who started
out the Gate guys 0 and 6 but right at the ship and ended up finishing 19 and 15, of
course, Nafisha Collier coming off her pregnancy had a fine year, very fine year over there,
you got Kayla McBride over there, the two rookies who made solid contributions over there,
Diamond Miller and Dorca Yuhas, then your seventh place team, a team I think is pretty
dangerous as well, the Washington Mystics, Elena Deladon, what more can I say about
her, she's a walking bucket, she's their leader, she is the one they look to when things get
sticky, you know, she always delivers, so you have her there, of course their emotional
leader, Natasha Cloud, the point guard for them, Brittany Sykes has had a fantastic year
guys and in the last game in fact, her go ahead bucket beat the Liberty, I'll talk about
that matchup a little while but you have her there, Shakira Austin is back, Ariel Atkins
as well, this is a team you know you're gonna have to pay attention to, especially in these
playoffs and then your eighth place team sneaking into the playoffs, Chicago Sky, everything
begins and ends with Kalea Copper, she is just becoming one of my favorite players, the
fire and desire that's in that girl, reminds me a lot of Tamika Catchings, just that fire
and desire, you know, playing on both ends, but Kalea Copper, yeah she's, don't mess with
that girl that's for sure, and of course the addition of Marina Marbury has helped that
team as well, you know, they were in flux, their coach, James Wade left mid-season, so
there's that, but they were able to write the shipment, sneak into the playoffs, so
kudos to them for that, so that's your eight teams that's in the playoffs, on the outside
looking in, the Los Angeles Sparks who were injury riddled the entire season pretty much
between that and players still overseas, you had to wait for them, but this is a team that
with a break or two probably could have made it into the playoffs, so Kirk Miller's inaugural
season there, kind of a rocky one, but there's promise over there, anytime you have a Nekka,
a Uumakai there, there's always hope with that and then provided this coming draft,
you get somebody who can immediately contribute, so they're not that far off guys, they're
not that far off, so we'll see what happens there, Jordan Canada who had a flying year
over there as well, so De'Erica Hamby, she was there, so this is a team, you know, if
they had a break or two they could be in the playoff picture, but these things happen,
so what can you do?
And then your 10th place team, the Indiana Fever, I think this is a team next year,
people gonna have to pay real attention to, Aliyah Boston was as good as advertised, the
combination of her and Alyssa Smith inside was just pretty good, very good in fact, and
Kelsey Mitchell, she had a flying year for them, Grace Berger looks like the rookie,
she's a player that can be on the come up next year, so hey, I think they're a piece
away from being really, really competitive, I mean they were competitive this year at
13 and 27, but you know, I think a major piece over there and they really can propel themselves.
Then in 11th place, the Seattle Storm, you knew this team was gonna take a hit, it did,
I thought they had a glimmer of hope when Gabby Williams came back, but then she got
hurt again and then that was pretty much it.
Jewel Lloyd had a fantastic year despite everything going on around her, but she was
fantastic, you know, Noel Quinn, she can get in the draft, you know, a difference maker,
maybe the team can be in the playoff conversation for next year, so we'll see what happens there
and then bringing up the red Phoenix, Mercury, a team that I thought underachieved, of course
they had to change in coaches, you had injuries as well with Diana Tarasi there, Brittany Grina
missed some time where she needed a mental break, so this is a team that for all intense
purposes may end up with the number one pick, depending on how the lottery balls fall, but
this is a team that needs something.
And then of course, the question is two questions actually, what do you do with a scholar, Dick
and Smith, who's still a part of your team, what do you do there, actually oddly enough,
Diana Tarasi was asked about her and she said no comment, so a lot of people speculate,
oh there's beef there, this and that.
So your question is two prong, what to do with Scholar, Dick and Smith, and will Diana
Tarasi retire?
I think those two things will play a huge role in what happens for them next season, and
if that's not the case, maybe, you know, you have new ownership there, may say something
crazy here, but you know, maybe you consider a rebuilt, which probably means you have to
trade away players, would they pull a trigger on a Brittany Griner trade, possibly depending
on what you get back, and way center and so forth, but I think she would be a solid fit
in Chicago, playing next to a Kalia Copper and Marine Mavery, but Phoenix has some real
questions to ask, so we'll see what happens there.
But nonetheless, so that's your season wrap up in that regard, let's talk about the playoff
matchups.
The playoff matchups, we'll start with the four or five, the Atlanta Dream taking on
the Dallas Wings, Dallas in this series, won the series three and oh, so they've been
dominant in this series, but you know, the playoff is a different animal, so we see what
happens.
Some of the matchups I'm looking at, Alicia Gray versus Erika Agumbawale, I think that's
one that bears watching, you want to make sure you keep Agumbawale in check, so you
definitely want to do that.
Ryan Howard versus Sato Sabali, I think that's a dynamic matchup there, I think the player
who gets the better of the other, their team will have success, and then you have Cheyenne
Parker versus the Twin Towers over there, Tara McCowan and off the bench, Kalani Brown,
who's been very solid coming off their bench, so my prediction for that, the best of three,
I think this is one that can go three, and I would say Dallas in a close series, that's
my prediction there.
Then you have the six versus the three, Minnesota Lynx versus the Connecticut Sun, Connecticut
Sun went three and one versus the Lynx, I think another year of seasoning, this matchup would
have been really a tough one, but I think when all is said and done, Connecticut gets
the win in this series.
Some matchups I'm looking at, Lafisha Collier versus DeWanna Bonner, kind of the young player
versus DeVette in that regard, also Dorca Yuhas versus Alyssa Thomas, the things Alyssa
Thomas can do, man, unbelievable.
So maybe if Dorca can keep her off the glass, I think that gives the Lynx a shot, that's
a tall order to ask for rookie, but nonetheless, that's the assignment there, you have to fulfill
that assignment.
I think a low key matchup would be Kayla McBride versus Tiffany Hayes, I think this is one
that's low key that could really make a difference in this series.
Tiffany Hayes has been a solid player for the Sun this season, so and Kayla McBride,
they don't call her Kayla McBuckets for no reason, she can light it up.
My prediction though, I think Connecticut Sun, I think they sweep, I think they sweep and
they win this three game series in two games, so I'm picking the Connecticut Sun, looks
like I'm going chalk here a little bit guys.
Washington Mystics versus the New York Liberty, this matchup absolutely frightens me, it
really does guys, it seems like Washington went fully healthy, the Liberty somehow can't
beat them.
The Liberty, you know, they're going to have to take a long hard look in the mirror because
you're supposed to be that team that's everybody's demon going to the finals versus the aces,
so this is your litmus test right here.
If you can take care of business here, and I don't mean to three games, I mean sweep
these guys, if you can do that, then I think that would make a huge statement in these
playoffs.
A cost key matchup, Elena Deladon versus Breonna Stewart, that goes without saying that's your
marquee matchup there.
Britney Sykes versus Sabrina Nescu, I think that's one that bears watching as well.
Shakira Austin versus John Quill Jones, I think whoever dominates the glass definitely
gives their team a shot.
Natasha Cloud versus Courtney Vanusloof, battle of the point guards there, that should be
intriguing.
In your bench versus the other bench.
Jordan has a strong bench, Liberty has a strong bench, I think the team that can outscore
the other teams bench will probably have the advantage in this series.
So with that said guys, I know I said they have to sweep them, but I don't think they're
going to sweep them.
It'll go three games and I'm going to pick the Liberty.
Listen, listen, listen, listen.
The Liberty going to have to get it done.
Sandy Brondello, you built this team for this moment.
So you're going to have to coach your butt off in this one to get the win.
But yeah, I'm going to say Liberty and three in this series.
And then the Chicago sky versus the Las Vegas aces.
The aces beat them 3-0.
Kalia Copper, she has gotten real hot versus the aces.
Not enough to get the win, but she has lit them up.
And of course the key matchup, it will be Kalia Copper versus Jackie Young.
That's I think is the matchup right there.
I know Kalia Copper is not going down without a fight.
So we'll see what happens there.
Also Courtney Williams versus Chelsea Gray.
Guys, if you get playoff Chelsea, it's going to be a quick series.
That's for sure.
And she's always dangerous in the playoffs, but Courtney Williams, you know, she's coming
off a few triple doubles herself.
So you know, she's got a shot here, but is going to be a tall task.
And then of course your X factors, Asia Wilson, of course, Kelsey Plum.
If those girls are going off, forget about it.
It's a short series.
So my prediction, I want to see the sky kind of pull one out, but I don't see it.
So unless Vegas gets too overconfident, I don't see it.
So I'm saying Las Vegas, Aces in two.
So that is your first round matchups in the playoffs.
Now let's talk about postseason awards.
I gave you my midseason awards.
I kind of tweaked it a bit.
So here it is guys, really tweaked it in one area.
Best player of the year, I still say is D. Jeané Carrington of the Connecticut Sun.
She's had such a good year coming off the bench for them.
I understand I get it.
You can definitely talk up a Marine, Johannes for the Liberty.
You can definitely talk her up if you wanted to.
There's a few others as well, but to me, Carrington, she was a big part of helping that team, especially
when you lose the likes of a Breonna Jones.
So you definitely needed more firepower and she provided that.
So I'm going to say Carrington.
Most improved player, I think this is a no brainer, Sato Sabali of the Dallas Wings.
I think hands down.
You saw what she did.
She became an all star this year.
She's had a solid all around the game.
You saw her drop 40 in a game this year.
I think hands down.
There's some other people you could have considered, but I think Sato Sabali is just, she's been
that girl.
So I think she ends up getting it.
Defensive player of the year.
You know, I tried to get cute with that, but I think at the end of the day, when all is
said and done, Aja Wilson is your defensive player of the year.
There's some people who, you know, you can kind of give consideration as E. Magbugor.
I mentioned her, but I think when all is said and done, Aja just rose to the top in that
regard.
So there's that also a Britney Sykes.
You could have gave consideration to her player of the year, but I think when all is
said and done, Aja Wilson gets it.
Coach of the year.
I'm staying steadfast in that.
I know a lot of people are trying to talk up Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx, especially
how they started.
They want to talk up LaTricia Trammell as well for the Dallas Wings, but I think Stephanie
White, you have to give it to her for the Connecticut Sun, especially with the adversity
they had to face.
Not only replacing the coach like Kurt Miller, you lost players like John Quill Jones, Courtney
Williams, then down goes Breonna Jones.
So you have to adjust there.
So she kept the team sailing in the right direction, so she gets props for that.
And I think she's coach of the year.
MVP, one of the toughest MVP races that we've seen in quite some time guys.
Three players you can give it to.
You probably wouldn't get much of an argument.
So let me lay out their cases then.
Aja Wilson, 40 games played.
So she played in all the games.
22.8 points per game.
That's third in the league and scoring 9.5 rebounds.
That's second in the league.
1.4 steals.
That's 10th in the league.
2.2 blocks.
She's number one in that regard from the field.
55.7% third in the league and then 81.2% from the free throw line.
So Aja Wilson, the best player on the best team in the WNBA, so you can always make a
case for her.
Breonna Stewart, here's what Stewie did.
Also 40 games.
She's appeared in every game.
23 points per game.
And that put her second behind Jewel Lloyd.
And 9.3 rebounds.
That's third in the league.
3.8 assists.
1.4 steals.
That puts her eighth just by percentage points above Aja Wilson.
1.6 blocks.
That puts her in fourth place.
Shot it from the field.
46.5%.
35.3% from 3.0 range.
And low over 85% from the free throw line.
So Stewie, an absolute guard send for that Liberty team.
They wouldn't be where they are without her and she's showed up for every game.
So you got to give her credit for that.
The absolute turnaround of the New York Liberty begins and ends with Breonna Stewart.
And then you have Alyssa Thomas.
I've been singing her praises.
Also 40 games for her.
15.5 points per game.
9.8 rebounds.
That puts her in first place.
And think about this guys.
Alyssa Thomas at 6-2 leads the league in rebounding.
Above a 6-4, Breonna Stewart.
Above a 6-4, Aja Wilson.
Above a 6-5, well I think she's taller than that, Brittany Griner.
All these players, she's above them.
That just goes to tell you guys rebounds isn't just about sizes, about desire.
And Alyssa Thomas gives you that desire and then some.
So she leads the league in rebounds.
Second and assist behind Courtney Vannes-Sloof at slightly under 8 per game.
1.8 steals.
That puts her third in the league.
Shot at 47.4% from the field which is pretty good.
71.5% from the free throw line.
And oh by the way guys.
She led the league in triple doubles with 6.
Fantastic year for her on the third best team in the league.
And a team that if you took her away, they are a lottery team at best.
So with that said, who do I think gets it?
I think there could be a case of kind of the same with the NBA as far as probably photo
fatigue of naming Aja Wilson.
I think all signs are pretty much pointing to Stewie getting the MVP this year.
That's the way it's looking like guys.
I could be wrong on this but I think at the end of the day Breonna Stewart gets the award.
So.
Alright guys so that is going to do it for this episode.
Play also be on the way Wednesday guys.
Wednesday the 13th so we'll see what happens.
I'm expecting an exciting playoffs.
Some good action and we'll see what happens.
All my picks are chalk.
Will there be upsets?
We'll see.
So anyhow once again I thank you for listening as always.
You know what to do.
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Alright guys so that's going to do it for that.
Honestly the next time you hear from me.
Hey guys we're less than three weeks away from training camp.
So probably right around that time we'll begin talking about the season ahead.
We'll talk.
I want to do an episode on fantasy basketball for those that are into that.
I know there's a groundswell for that so we'll talk about it.
And of course you know what lies ahead for the season.
So anyhow so that's it for me.
Once again I thank you for listening.
Much appreciated and we'll talk soon.
Take care.
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