The Valkyries play the Aces tomorrow afternoon in Las Vegas. Right now, the Aces are being pounded by the Minnesota Lynx by 33 points in the 3rd quarter in Vegas. Yikes!!

So, who knows which Aces team will show up tomorrow - either disheartened/depressed or angry.

wvitbear said:

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Does the color make a difference?

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Fluorescent green appears to be a popular color.

HairOfTheBear said:

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ClayK said:

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Two games in a row now ...

On the road, though, so I don't know if it's a Valkyries' thing. But the ref in the last game threw a towel over it. (I wouldn't pick it up either ...)

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Technically, it should be considered a biohazard (you never know) and handled as such, no pun intended lol. Seriously tho, you are right to say don't pick it up.

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From the Associated Press (AP)

NEW YORK -- The WNBA said Saturday that the individual who threw a sex toy on the court at an Atlanta Dream game earlier in the week was arrested and that any person throwing objects onto the court will be ejected from the arena and face a minimum one-year ban.

The incident in Atlanta occurred late in the fourth quarter of the Dream's game against Golden State on Tuesday in College Park, Georgia. On Friday, another sex toy was thrown in Chicago under a basket after a whistle was blown to stop play during the third quarter of Golden State's 73-66 victory over the Sky. An official kicked the object aside before it was picked up and removed.

It's unknown if the fan who threw the object at the Sky game was arrested.

August 7 is trading deadline. The Valks are currently in the 8th and final playoff spot. Seattle is in 6th a game and a half ahead, and the Sparks are in 10th, a game and a half behind. By all accounts the Valks are "ahead of schedule." With 30% of the season still left, should they be buyers, sellers (as what was expected...play for next year or the year after) or stand pat?

I wonder if they have the roster space to extend Kaila as you suggest. I'm unclear on the rules. I agree that she's been a great addition

Woodacre said:

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I wonder if they have the roster space to extend Kaila as you suggest. I'm unclear on the rules. I agree that she's been a great addition

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Well, since Kayla Thornton is out for the remainder of the season, couldn't they get some type of an exemption for Kaila so that they have the full 12-player roster?

This year is really different. Almost all players who aren't on rookie deals will be free agents after the season, so trading for a player is really just getting her until the end of the year.

The Valkyries aren't going to win the title, and in fact will be lucky to win a playoff series -- and with expansion, will be getting the eighth pick if they make the playoffs, which is essentially worthless.

The whole plan, then, is to buy a bunch of free agents and restructure the roster pretty much completely in 2026. So what happens at this year's trading deadline isn't vital for Golden State. Their goal this season was to become an attractive destination for next year's free agents, and they've done that.

SFCALBear72 said:

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The Valkyries play the Aces tomorrow afternoon in Las Vegas. Right now, the Aces are being pounded by the Minnesota Lynx by 33 points in the 3rd quarter in Vegas. Yikes!!

So, who knows which Aces team will show up tomorrow - either disheartened/depressed or angry.

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I don't know about angry, but they sure as hell were determined; the Valks were lucky to get away with a 24-point margin. (And I was pleased to see Aari McDonald doing what A-Mac does for Indiana, even though I was rooting for Seattle. They are playing fine without Clark.)

I agree with much of what you said...it will be hard to win a playoff round, especially if they come in at #8 and have to play the Lynx, or even the Liberty once they get healthy. But where I disagree is that the #8 pick is somehow worthless...If we feel that this year's team has been a success, then we need to note that Carla Leite was a #9 pick, Amihere was a #8 pick, Kayla Thornton was undrafted, Kaila Charles was #23, Rupert was #12, ***benle was #35, Hayes was #14, Saluan was undrafted, Burton was a #7, Kate Martin was #18, Zandalasini was undrafted, Billings was #15, and Chen was #30. Looking at top 3 teams currently...I'll just take one off of each team...Lynx: Courtney Williams is their 2nd or 3rd best player, drafted #8. Liberty: Natasha Cloud is their 4th best player, drafted #15. Dream: Brionna Jones is their 2nd or 3rd best player, drafted #8.

After the first few, just like the NBA, the draft is a crapshoot. Yes, some players drafted late will become good players. But here's a list of the last five No. 8 picks:

2024: Alissa Pili
2023 Laeticia Amihere (only getting 14 mpg for a .500 team)
2022: Mya Hollingshed
2021: Shyla Heal
2020: Ruthy Hebard

But let's say Amihere becomes a starter, even though she can't start for an expansion team. That's still one out of five.

Point made. But my point is that players drafted after #8 have made an impact...front office and scouting make a difference. Many better players were drafted after #8.

My fear is that we could end up being very good, but never great if we do not get high draft picks. Best to go in the tank for awhile, through injuries, now that we know that we have a great coach.

Woodacre said:

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Point made. But my point is that players drafted after #8 have made an impact...front office and scouting make a difference. Many better players were drafted after #8.

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You're right -- there are always good players later in the draft. The problem is that no team/GM has ever consistently identified them. So a no. 8 is like a no. 12 which is like a no. 23. It's a lottery ticket and sometimes you get lucky, so you'd rather have more than less.

But the WNBA draft generally has only one or two "sure things", and sometimes none. (Check out 2021.)

The talent pool is pretty thin, and near-term success is going to come from signing free agents.

I've thought a lot about the 2021 draft...I think the pandemic year made it especially hard to evaluate. Out of 36 players drafted, only 8 are still around, I think...Aari McDonald (drafted 3rd), Onyenwere (6th), Rupert (12th), Evans (13th), Mack (16th), Kiana Williams (18th), Carrington (20th), Caldwell (33rd).

Most of the stats looked a lot better this time for the Valks: https://www.espn.com/wnba/matchup/_/gameId/401736301

Hell, no shame to lose by 6 to a team led by Olympians Wilson, Gray and Young.

HoopDreams said:

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I've seen several videos/photos of Michelle with the team. I love that and hopefully she is also a grad coach. I'm sure she provides great competition in practice too

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I'm sure Michelle is tougher than our male practice players.

She might be tougher than some but the one who played center last year was tougher than Michele. He'd do a 360 dunk.

stu said:

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HoopDreams said:

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I've seen several videos/photos of Michelle with the team. I love that and hopefully she is also a grad coach. I'm sure she provides great competition in practice too

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I'm sure Michelle is tougher than our male practice players.

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It all depends on how hard you recruit practice players. Remember that the worst D-1 men's team would crush the WNBA champion.