Greetings my peeps and welcome to the All Things Basketball Podcast with your boy GD.
In this episode I'll be doing my WNBA free agency segment here.
This episode will be all about the WNBA, all the signings, also some big trades as well.
So I'm here for it and hope you are as well.
So just sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
Ok guys this is your boy GD back with all things basketball with GD Podcast.
In this episode I want to do a special episode guys.
This one is going to be about the WNBA free agency and the trades and everything that's
going on there.
So without any further delay let's get right into it.
I'll go by the order I have here which isn't really any kind of order but none or less
we'll go through it.
Let us start with the Minnesota Lynx.
They made a few additions.
They added a veteran like Alana Smith who played last year with the Chicago Sky, signed her
to a two year deal and then they got themselves a point guard and free agency by signing Courtney
Williams who also last year was on the Chicago Sky.
She's a one time all star and she played very well for Chicago last year.
But he ended up trading also for Natisha Heidelman who last year played ironically enough point
guard for Connecticut.
So they traded for her and Minnesota sent there in return Tiffany Mitchell and also
a 2024 first round pick.
Actually it's a second round pick.
It's pick number 19 to be exact.
So you have a few additions there and you add that to the mix that you already have.
Somebody like a Nafizia Collier who had a fantastic year last year and the young players in Diamond
Miller and Dorca Duhas.
So Minnesota looks like Cheryl Reeves is loading up there looking good so far for them and
then add to the mix.
They also have a first round pick the seven pick in the draft and what probably can be
a pretty deep draft if a few of the ladies declare you know because some of them have
the COVID year so they have the option of staying or going to the W's.
So that is the Minnesota story.
Let's move on to the Atlanta Dream.
Tina Charles who actually didn't play last year.
She last played with the Seattle Storm but she signs as a free agent with the Atlanta
Dream veteran.
She's won an MVP in the league.
She's been an eight time All-Star rookie of the year as well.
So Atlanta is getting a valued veteran here.
So we'll see what happens with her.
She's still looking for that elusive WNBA championship.
So she's figuring Atlanta might be her best route.
Also they re-signed Nea Coffee who played for them last year and also they got from
the Minnesota Lynx.
Ariel Powers a guard.
And they actually got themselves a point guard guys.
Jordan Canada who was a free agent but they did a sign and trade together.
So they acquired Jordan Canada and in turn they sent Ari McDonnell in 2024 first round
pick which is the eighth pick in the draft.
They send those to the Los Angeles Sparks.
So Jordan Canada a player who I thought might end up in the All-Star game last year.
That's how well she played guys.
She's played in the W for six years.
She's a two time champion.
So Atlanta getting themselves a savvy point guard to add to players like Ryan Howard,
Alisa Gray, Cheyenne Parker.
You still got young players over there like Haley Jones.
So Tanisha Wright she's loading up guys and then on top of that she'll also have the 12th
pick in this coming draft.
So the Atlanta Dream looking strong on paper here guys.
They definitely upgraded that for sure.
Let us move on to the Seattle Storm.
Speaking of the Seattle Storm when I mentioned Tina Charles.
Seattle Storm I think on paper they may have done the best of any team in free agency.
They were able to sign Scholar Dickensmith reunited with her fellow Irishman or Irish
woman for that matter, Jewel Lloyd to form a very dynamic backcourt guys.
Scholar Dickensmith she's been in the league nine years.
She's a six time All-Star.
She's one of most improved player.
She's been a six time All-MBA four times first team, two times second team.
So you're getting a fabulous point guard here and this will be a tremendous help to Jewel
Lloyd I believe.
And they didn't stop there guys.
They also added Nneka Awumake.
Guys this is huge.
Nneka she was choosing between Seattle, Chicago I believe was in the mix and the New York
Liberty and then it came down to the Liberty and Seattle Storm and Nneka decided I'll stay
West so she joins the Seattle Storm.
She's a league MVP guys.
She's won one championship.
She's won a rookie of the year eight time All-Star.
Six time All-Defense.
Six time All-WNBA.
So you're getting a star here guys.
You talk about super teams guys at Schuyler along with Jewel Lloyd and Nneka.
Wow.
That is a solid line up there guys.
And then they also sent Kia Nurse in their 2024 first round pick which is actually the
fourth pick in this draft.
Sent that to the Sparks and then turned they got a 2026 first round pick in return.
And actually they did this deal prior to a Nneka Awumake deal.
I think if the Sparks knew that this trade could lead to them losing Awumake I'm not
sure if they would have signed off on it.
But that's a story for another day.
But Noel Quinn.
She already has in the fold a defensive stalwart and Eze Magbagore.
So you got a young player and Jordan Horstin who had a pretty fine rookie season last year.
And if you get a healthy Gabby Williams guys Seattle is not going to be no pushover this
season guys.
Looking very good to Seattle's norm is at least on paper of course.
Which leads us to the Las Vegas aces.
What they did really is shore up what they had already and add a key piece as well.
They retained Sydney Coulson also Kia Stokes signed to a two year deal and Candace Parker
she decided to return to the Las Vegas aces.
And then also you added a player like Megan and she played for the Phoenix Mercury last
year.
So you add Megan to the mix a forward who always need front court help over there to
spell Asia Wilson and those ladies over there.
Becky Hammond.
Staying with the hands she has and then adding the veteran piece.
So hey who's to say that the Las Vegas aces can't 3P.
But there's teams that's gotten better so we'll see what happens there.
So with that said let us move on to another team out West the Phoenix Mercury.
They were able to add in free agency Natasha cloud the long time Washington Mystic the
point guard over there.
She won a championship she's been eight years in the W and you get in a fiery leader of
floor general and a person who can play both ways score and defend.
So a big addition for the Mercury also you trade it and got a player like Rebecca Allen.
She's been in the league eight years and she last played last year for the Connecticut
Sun.
So you trade it for her and you sent out and return Mariah Jefferson to the Connecticut
Sun a point guard who seems like they can use point guard help now that you don't have
a netisha high don't know.
So Mariah Jefferson going back home so to speak because she played at you con but a
very good addition for the Mercury Rebecca Allen who can shoot the lights out from three
and she had a very good year for the Connecticut Sun as well.
And then the crown jewel that you added you got Kalea copper from the Chicago sky who's
a bit of a swing she can play the shooting guard she can play the small forward and she
can bring the ball up as well.
So you trade it for her you sent out in return Breonna Turner, McKayla on the water and four
draft picks as well going to the Chicago sky.
Kalea copper man what a get for them guys and now that you have a Diana Terrasi who's
long in the two guys if I were to surmise I would say this is probably her last go-round.
So to add a Kalea copper somebody who can kind of take over when Terrasi decides to
hang them up.
So you add her along with Natasha cloud I tell you you got some fiery ladies there and
ladies that could defend that's the important thing.
You add that to what you already have in Terrasi.
Brittany Grina I imagine she does resign with the Phoenix Mercury she's a free agent guys
and Sophie Cunningham which makes for interesting dynamic because once upon a time Kalea copper
and Sophie Cunningham got into a little entanglement on the court let's say that and then for the
Chicago sky these are the picks that they ended up getting.
They're getting the third pick in this coming draft they're also getting a 2025 second round
pick 2026 first round pick 2026 second round pick which is actually a pick swap.
Hey I was just talking about Seattle but Phoenix looks pretty good as well with this hall that
they got and they're doing it with a first year coach Nate Tibbets who comes in with
pressure directly on him his first year in the W.
Let us move on to Washington so Washington they're losing Natasha cloud and unfortunately
for them guys Alaina Deladon has decided to sit out the season and it comes as a bit of
a surprise guys she's been in the W for 10 years she's one rookie of the year two time
MVP a world champion as well seven time all-star five times all NBA.
Alaina Deladon huge loss for them guys so we'll watch it and be in a rebuilt mode we'll see
they did add Carly Samuelson who last year played for the LA Sparks so you signed a veteran
like that a veteran forward and now that you got the Deladon news that makes this sign
it even that much more important but you still have in the fold players like Ariel Atkins
Shakira Austin get her full full season since she missed time last year with the elbow also
Brittany Sykes who played fantastic for them last year so we'll see what happens with the
mystics whether they'll go into rebuild mode or what and then mind you also they get the
six pick in this 2024 draft the Dallas Wings a walk caller they're forward out of Finland
she's gonna forgo the 2024 season she was a young promising player guys but she's going
to sit out the season for the Dallas Wings but the Dallas Wings they do resign a bunch
of players Kalani Brown she resigns as well as last year's most improved player Satou
Sabali Stephanie Suarez who they picked in last year's draft she was the fourth pick
overall but she sat with the torn ACL now with the loss of a walk it seems getting Suarez
there will be a definite help and also they just recently signed Emma Cannon who last
year played for the Indiana Fever a forward definitely somebody you can use also as well
and along with that for Dallas you have a course areca will goon Bawale and also tiara
mcowen and you know her and Kalani forms a dynamic duo in the paint and add to that
they'll have the fifth pick in the 2024 draft in the ninth pick in the 2024 draft so Latricia
Trammell who did an excellent job coaching them last season we'll see what happens with
them now but they're loaded as well guys they're not going anywhere so there'll be a threat
that's for sure let us move on to the Connecticut son who we signed a few of their players the
one of Barna she's staying guys as well as Brianna Jones we'll see how Brianna Jones
looks remember she went down with the knee injury she might not be ready at the start
of the season but maybe about June or so you probably see her they also added Aztal Nadore
fall who last played for the Chicago sky so you add someone like that Rachel Bannum who
played for the Minnesota Lynx last year so you're adding some firepower here guys and
then of course you have the engine Alyssa Thomas there so you add all these pieces with her
and then also remember too you got Mariah Jefferson coming in so Connecticut son Stephanie
White who did an amazing job last year coach of the year in fact so we'll see what she
does with this group this year then we move to the New York Liberty who's set to sign
both Brianna Stewart and John Quill Jones it's just a matter of time before they announce
those signings guys but it seems like everyone's saying there's a fate of complete so we'll
roll with that you already have a core Sabrina Anescu but Naji Laney who had a great year
Courtney Vanneslute I believe is supposed to return and then you have the 11 pick in
this draft coming up so Sandy Brondello looks like she'll have her core five if all the
reports are accurate so we'll see what happens there moving on to the Los Angeles sparks
guys during rebuild mode is no other way to say it guys they did resign Lexi Brown as well
as Laysha Clarenin they also got Monique Billings from the Atlanta Dream but guys in this draft
coming up they have the second pick the fourth pick in the eighth pick so you're talking
about some young talent coming in you already have a Zaya Cook there who probably for all
intents and purposes may end up being the starting point guard over there so you got
some players over there but I think for Kurt Miller he's gonna have to build this from
the ground up guys especially when you lose the likes of a Necco woman Kay her sister
is still there Shania woman Kay so we'll see what happens with her but it seems like it's
screaming rebuild then we move to the fever they had a few signings Katie loose Samuel
sand who played for the sparks last year with her sister of course Carly the Maris Dante's
who played for the Minnesota Lynx so you added a few veterans there of course you have a
Leah Boston and Alyssa Smith Kelsey Mitchell and they'll have the number one pick in this
draft for all intents and purposes it seems like it'll be Caitlyn Clark and they also
have the 15th pick in the draft also so the Indiana fever with Christie sides a tough
group guys and looks like they'll be even tougher at and then they hate Caitlyn Clark
to the mix and then the last team I'll talk about Chicago Sky another team that's in rebuild
mode right now they did add Lindsay Allen who played for the Minnesota Lynx last year
and diamond the shields who sat out last year who was out for 2023 she actually comes back
to the Chicago sky she last played with the Dallas wings but she's back with the Chicago
sky a team that she won a WNBA championship with was a vital part of that a five year
veteran and she made all NBA as well so Teresa Weverspoon seems like she's starting from the
ground up over there they'll have the third pick in the draft as well as the 13th also
so guys I gave you all the free agency talk next I will talk about the NBA trade deadline
guys so a lot of content guys a lot of content so I'm here for it I hope you are as well
once again I thank you for listening as always much appreciated next time you hear from me
I'll talk about NBA trade deadline alright until then we'll talk soon take care
thanks basketball G D hit the like button when you see our videos also write a blurb
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