WNBA thread… 28.5 ain’t your pay cut

and the first time they don’t win when better players stay home, everyone is up in arms.

send the best you can. If someone declines or is injured that’s different

Steph hasn’t been on the team because of those two reasons

 

If the difference between us beating Canada or someone in WBB is whether Clark replaces the 12th player, who has already been to five Olympics, we probably don't deserve to win.

 

They've left the best players home before - arguably in an attempt to grow the game - and been just fine.

The sport has not adjusted to Clark's popularity. Her superstardom is only about 18 months old, and it really, really took off in the last 9 months as the record approached.

I believe the players wanted more coverage of their sport, but on way different terms. The WNBA has had a terrible, combative relationship with the media, almost as if that's more authentic to be mercurial and rude, which is typical of leagues that have a so now you care attitude. Clark comes along, gives the sport incredible attention, and a lot of people aren't ready. Dawn Staley's ready. Geno Auriemma's ready. Because women's basketball is built for and around coaches. (And ESPN.) It has not and never has been truly built for the players, and it would not surprise if me if their performance suffered at the Olympics because of the tension around having to win and Clark being popular.

The irony is, Clark's ready. It's everyone else who's acting like they haven't been there before.

 

Jesus, no one who watches the game thinks she’s one of the best 12. The Clay Travis all stars can complain, but last time I checked, sports is a meritocracy— best 12 on the roster, best 5 on the floor.

 

I was referring to the men’s side, where there are teams that can actually beat us. The women’s side is a cakewalk

 

More accurate there than missing open layups and crickets from whomever is doing analysis on the game.

 

I just don't buy that for a second, whether I'm watching 50 WNBA games or not.

She stretches defenses, and she's an imaginative playmaker.

 

OK, sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

She is very talented but, if you watch the games, she has not adjusted to the speed or physicality of the league and as a ball dominant guard, has almost a 1:1 assist to TO ratio. She’s probably in the top 20ish players in the USA pool at this point, but objectively doesn’t belong.

 

and the rest of the team would know that, plus the last couple people left off for a spot. ( again, this is a program that is so strong that Becky hammon couldn’t make it) And they don’t want every third question about their Olympic experience to be about her. And I wouldn’t blame them

 

Not going to Paris could be a blessing. She's been nonstop hoops, more or less, since October.

 

Fun fact: When FIBA decided to let NBA players play in the Olympics the US voted against it.