Official WNBA Random Thoughts -

[Buck Seventy]

The 2024 Olympics is not the perfect storm for Caitlin Clark and women's basketball the way people are making it out to be. Why? Because her game isn't there yet to take advantage of her popularity.

What people seem to gloss over is the fact that she was actually the ONLY college player to receive an invite to try out. She couldn’t try out for the team because of Iowa's run at the Final 4 taking place during Team USA Training Camp. What precedent does that set for the rest of the league if she gets a roster spot without even trying out for it?

Even then Team USA told Caitlin that the first month of the WNBA season would serve as her tryout for the Olympics. She didn't make it.

On the flipside, let's say Team USA did send her the invite. If she is struggling to get a shot off in 3 games against Dijone Carrington, then what is she gonna do against the best of the best during camp?

Her game is basic. Going left? It's a step back 3. Going right? She might drive even though she isn't a great finisher. Her handle is trash. No mid range. Not very strong. Slow foot speed. Not very athletic. A traffic cone on defense. Her game isn't there yet, but with time she could be, but right now her focus should be rest and development.

If she getting her shyt ran whenever she plays a team that's average and up then what do yall expect to happen when she has to practice against the best? She won't crack the rotation. Caitlin would get maybe 5 minutes on this team, if that.

Folks need to be honest with themselves. Do you care about the WNBA or do you simply care about Caitlin Clark? Because I find it very disingenuous for the narrative to be that Caitlin Clark is solely responsible for the growth of the WNBA and women's basketball as a whole when the discourse says otherwise. How can we say she is growing the league but the media doesn't actually talk about the LEAGUE, just her?

Right now I have no faith that Caitlin being on Team USA during the Olympics would actually serve anybody other than Caitlin based off of the discourse that is surrounding the WNBA right now.

Also, people that say that women's basketball could use the viewership boost probably weren't apart of the 7.9 million that tuned in for the gold medal game at the 2020 Olympics.



There's a chance Caitlin is gonna be added as an alternative. The fans of the sport understand that she's not at the level yet to earn significant playing time. However, if the rest of America can't handle the decision of the selection committee to leave her off the initial roster, then do yall really think they're ready for the image of Caitlin riding the bench?

You just know she's going to be added as an alternative barring an injury.

 

[CarltonJunior]

I also don’t understand why they rarely call any post ups for her with Caitlin in. I understand “entertainment” but she’s ain’t playing against slow footed white girls in the big ten no more that slip screen bs is a disaster

I disagree, they let her get plenty post ups, she gets to do that wild toss at the rim with her eyes closed at least 4 times a game

 

[Brandeezy]

The committee that chose the team said that Cheryl Reeve told them she wanted experienced players. Also, Reeve is a no-nonsense coach who doesn't like distractions, which supposedly why she passed on Angel Reese. That likely is a factor as well

 

[triplehate]

This finna be very interesting

They gonna change the process like they did the NBA, having the coaches vote or something. Otherwise Reese and Clark is starting

 

[Big Boss]

They gonna change the process like they did the NBA, having the coaches vote or something. Otherwise Reese and Clark is starting

Remember when rookie Yao Ming started over Shaq for the all star game

 

[Geechiedan214]

So Clark isn't on the olympic team? Do these women like having nobody watch them and making peanuts? I dont get it....

You get gifted a player thats approaching Bron levels of popularity and could make the WNBA a worldwide thing, and you don't wanna push her to the forefront. It's like they want the league to fail....SMH

Man Stephen A & Shay dropping facts but u know how that go with women....

 

[Ethnic Vagina Finder]

Nobody is talking about actual games being played.

ALL the attention has been about shyt that has nothing to do with actual basketball. So... this is nothing more than some shyt that's going viral every other day.


nikkas said Clark would dominate day 1.

She hasn't.

Now they have to pivot to something else in order to keep "marketing" her.

All while selling the fact that she will "eventually" dominate.

But what if that day never comes? What if she never wins a title?

They will probably find another way to prop her up.

 

[Ethnic Vagina Finder]

 

[daemonova]

Some of you keep harping on Indy's regression in performance without factoring in...

* Lack of practice/rest.
* Playing 4 of the top 5 teams 9 out of 13 games.
* 8 of 13 gms on road
* Two road game back to backs.
* 3 gms in 4 days twice

This season's first 11 gms in 20 days....Last season first 11 gms in 30 days......Mind you, the rest of the teams did not have the same tough schedule.....A tired indy team was playing well-rested teams.

Indy's next 5 games- Atl, Chi,Wash, Atl,Chi

Would not shock me if Indy wins 3 out of 5

Lets see how the season plays out

CBS Sports has released it’s WNBA Rookie Power Rankings, (top 5):

1. Angel Reese
2. Caitlin Clark
3. Rickea Jackson
4. Cameron Brink
5. Aaliyah Edwards



7:30 pm
Washington Mystics - Atlanta Dream
WNBA League Pass
Peachtree TV

10:00 pm
Los Angeles Sparks - Seattle Storm
WNBA League Pass

10:00 pm
Minnesota Lynx - Las Vegas Aces
NBA TV

 

[klientel]

Nobody is talking about actual games being played.

ALL the attention has been about shyt that has nothing to do with actual basketball. So... this is nothing more than some shyt that's going viral every other day.


nikkas said Clark would dominate day 1.

She hasn't.

Now they have to pivot to something else in order to keep "marketing" her.

All while selling the fact that she will "eventually" dominate.

But what if that day never comes? What if she never wins a title?

They will probably find another way to prop her up.

None of that matters. That’s what you don’t get

We are actually talking about the WNBA. Talking heads are talking about the WNBA. Podcasts are talking about the WNBA.

This time last year most sports fans didn’t give a flying fukk what happened in that league. The main discussions were “these girls are boring, lower the rim” and shyt like that.

Even if Clark never amounts to shyt the attention she brings to the league will do wonders for them. Aja Wilson is getting more attention than she ever got in her entire career because people are watching now. This is such a critical time for the WNBA, they NEED to prop up Clark as much as they can to capitalize off this.

Random regular season games are out performing last years finals. And that’s only because of one person. Milk that shyt.

 

[King Static X]

Old ass Diana Taurasi should NOT have been selected. Point blank, period.

Even if they didn't select Clark, they should have chosen someone else.

 

[daemonova]

Y'all say Clark don't matter but most of these post are talking about Clark

What should be done is making a Catilyn Clark mega thread or something so we can back to the purity of the woman's game

There were other Caitlin Clark threads but they were merge into this thread.

I don't think you can create a Caitlin clark thread.

 

[Mike18jj]

Man get this thread back to just basketball, Clark didn't get selected boo fukking woo cry a river

Let's talk about the Aces vs Lynx at and Sparks vs Storm tonight

 

[djthegreat88]

I see it took no time at all for this asinine CAC talking point in defense of Clark to get spread here

You really think Griner should be representing USA in sports? Nothing to do with Clark

 

[Big Boss]

None of that matters. That’s what you don’t get

We are actually talking about the WNBA. Talking heads are talking about the WNBA. Podcasts are talking about the WNBA.

This time last year most sports fans didn’t give a flying fukk what happened in that league. The main discussions were “these girls are boring, lower the rim” and shyt like that.

Even if Clark never amounts to shyt the attention she brings to the league will do wonders for them. Aja Wilson is getting more attention than she ever got in her entire career because people are watching now. This is such a critical time for the WNBA, they NEED to prop up Clark as much as they can to capitalize off this.

Random regular season games are out performing last years finals. And that’s only because of one person. Milk that shyt.