WNBA

[Vrede too]

Pretty cool: The Chicago Sky moved their two home games against the Indiana Fever to the United Center, which can seat almost 21,000 fans. Their usual arena (Wintrust Arena) has a capacity of about 13,400 fans.

Well, apparently both of these games sold out in just minutes!

"the United Center is the largest arena by capacity in the NBA"

[O Really]

So San Diego has its first womens sports bar, the "One of Us"
https://www.oneofusbar.com/

[GoCubsGo]

So San Diego has its first womens sports bar, the "One of Us"
https://www.oneofusbar.com/

Damn California DEI bar.

[O Really]

So San Diego has its first womens sports bar, the "One of Us"
https://www.oneofusbar.com/

Damn California DEI bar.

Yeah, I know you're joking, but it does bring up an interesting question - how long is it going to be before some yahoo comes into town from Bakersfield and starts screaming that he's being discriminated against as a white male, and some trumper judge will agree?

Reminds me of other changing times - back in early 70's sometime, my girlfriend at the time and I were down in Georgetown and got caught in a bad rainstorm. We ducked into the first bar we came to and sat at a table. From across the room, somebody said, "hey, we don't go into YOUR bars," at which point we realized that we were the only boy-girl couple there. It wasn't violent, we didn't get tossed, but I did realize that if the situation had been reversed, they might have been treated much differently from "our" bars.

[Vrede too]

So San Diego has its first womens sports bar, the "One of Us"
https://www.oneofusbar.com/

Damn California DEI bar.

Yeah, I know you're joking, but it does bring up an interesting question - how long is it going to be before some yahoo comes into town from Bakersfield and starts screaming that he's being discriminated against as a white male, and some trumper judge will agree?

Reminds me of other changing times - back in early 70's sometime, my girlfriend at the time and I were down in Georgetown and got caught in a bad rainstorm. We ducked into the first bar we came to and sat at a table. From across the room, somebody said, "hey, we don't go into YOUR bars," at which point we realized that we were the only boy-girl couple there. It wasn't violent, we didn't get tossed, but I did realize that if the situation had been reversed, they might have been treated much differently from "our" bars.

I've done that:
With a friend, we were the only Whites at a 200 person all Black S. MD beach party;
Only straight male in a Castro District lesbian bar;
Only Anglo in an Indian sweat lodge.
I was always treated great!

I'm sure One of Us will be chill most of the time, but you might want to skip Field Hockey and Rugby Nights.

[O Really]

A few years ago we were in San Francisco and asked our Chinese concierge for suggestions on "real" Chinese restaurants. She told us about a place that you go up an alley sort of passage, enter an almost unmarked door, and take the elevator to the top floor. We got off the elevator to a wonderful view of the city, a beautiful restaurant, and every single person in there was Chinese. They also treated us great and the food was off the charts.

In my personal experiences, practically every culture I've ever encountered is more welcoming and accepting than Americans.

[Jasmine]

I wonder: Is it time for the WNBA to break away from the NBA?

We would all like WNBA players to have bigger salaries, but the fact of the matter is that the league is still losing money. In fact, it’s been losing money since its inception. The NBA has subsidized the WNBA every year, and the NBA owners are getting a little impatient because they’ve yet to receive any returns on their investment.

Despite the WNBA’s big season in 2024, it’s estimated to have lost some $40 million.

If the WNBA wanted to break away from the NBA, I’m pretty sure NBA ownership would be happy. (Note: Although some WNBA teams are owned by NBA team owners.)

Maybe the league just needs to cut the cord and become independent from the NBA?

[O Really]

Sorry I must have missed something. If the NBA is subsidizing the league why would they be better off independent? Unless the NBA is somehow sabotaging their success. Might help to have a name that's really theirs though. "WNBA" could be viewed as a lesser or second class version of the "real" NBA. But no, I don't have a better suggestion.

[Jasmine]

Sorry I must have missed something. If the NBA is subsidizing the league why would they be better off independent? Unless the NBA is somehow sabotaging their success. Might help to have a name that's really theirs though. "WNBA" could be viewed as a lesser or second class version of the "real" NBA. But no, I don't have a better suggestion.

Actually, you’re right. Stupid idea on my part.

Maybe we’ll have to wait till the new TV deal kicks in and, sometime down the line, the WNBA turns a profit. I just want it to evolve to become bigger than the NBA’s little sister.

[Vrede too]

Article

[GoCubsGo]

Article

Oh shit, you beat me to it.
GoCaitlinGo!


https://sports.yahoo.com/article/caitli ... 49546.html

[Jasmine]

Just finished watching the WNBA Draft. Some really intriguing picks!

As expected, Paige Bueckers went No. 1 to Dallas. I don’t think she’ll have anywhere close to the marketing impact that Caitlin Clark had last season, but she could make a similar on-court impact. She’s a generational talent, and she’ll be so fun to watch.

The Chicago Sky drafted Hailey Van Lith, who will be reunited with Angel Reese. Hailey played with Angel at LSU for one season.

I love that UConn’s Kaitlyn Chen got drafted! She goes to the Golden State Valkyries, who have a very international roster. I’ll be rooting for her.

Besides Dallas, the biggest winner today was the Washington Mystics. They had three of the top six selections in the draft, and they crushed it. Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Georgia Amoore will all either start or have a lot of playing time this year. They also got Iowa star Lucy Olsen. The Mystics will be fun to watch!

[Jasmine]

Anybody been watching the start of the WNBA season?

A few observations:

1. Paige Bueckers’ rookie debut on Friday was just so-so. She had 10 points, 7 rebounds and only 2 assists. She is in the unfortunate position of being on a really bad team. They have some good players, but there’s no team chemistry whatsoever. I saw a lot of selfishness out there. Paige comes from such a winning culture at UConn), but now she might be in for a rude awakening.

2. While I still consider Paige to be the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, she might be challenged by Sonia Citron of the Washington Mystics. She had 19 points on Friday in her debut. She is so efficient in the way she plays.

3. I watched today’s Fever-Sky game from start to finish, and Indiana looks pretty awesome. Caitlin Clark already looks in midseason form, recording an amazing triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists). This year’s Fever team so fun to watch. They destroyed Chicago by 35, and they didn’t even have Sophie Cunningham who is out with an injured ankle.

[O Really]

Fever should rule.

[Jasmine]

Okay, about Angel Reese…

Obviously, it’s still early in the season. No need to be too alarmed about the Chicago Sky’s 0-4 start. But I do think that the team needs to change things if they want to make the playoffs.

For whatever reason, the head coach seems to want to run the offense through Angel. But I don’t think she has the right skill set to make it happen. Her strength is rebounding the ball and that’s about it. She still can’t finish around the rim. (Personally, I think she rushes those shots.)

I blame the team’s management for putting together such a bad roster. Chicago badly needs an All-Star-type player who can be the lead scorer. That would take pressure off Angel and help her settle into a role that suits her strength. For example, put Caitlin Clark or Kelsey Plum in the offense and Angel would thrive.

[GoCubsGo]

Okay, about Angel Reese…



For whatever reason, the head coach seems to want to run the offense through Angel. But I don’t think she has the right skill set to make it happen. Her strength is rebounding the ball and that’s about it. She still can’t finish around the rim. (Personally, I think she rushes those shots.)

Ya think?

[Jasmine]

Okay, about Angel Reese…



For whatever reason, the head coach seems to want to run the offense through Angel. But I don’t think she has the right skill set to make it happen. Her strength is rebounding the ball and that’s about it. She still can’t finish around the rim. (Personally, I think she rushes those shots.)

Ya think?

Yeah, that’s exactly what I mean. She should just not rush things and throw up shots haphazardly. She needs better coaching!

This is funny:

https://youtu.be/PlzbqxEqwTw?si=LG3amTtXK2QIZFG4

[GoCubsGo]

This is funny:

https://youtu.be/PlzbqxEqwTw?si=LG3amTtXK2QIZFG4

[Jasmine]

I just looked up Angel’s stats for the season, and it’s pretty shocking.

In her five games so far, she is only 16 of 61 from the field. That’s 31%. Considering most of her shots are at or near the rim, that is genuinely astonishing.

I seriously wonder if the Sky has a player-development coach who works with post players. She deserves better coaching.

[O Really]

That one wild-shot video (above) pretty much would have trashed her stats.