Women's Hoops Blog

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. While its her first year on the Washington beat, she has covered the Storm since its inception. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!"

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May 14, 2008 8:22 AM

Are WNBA GMs nuts?

Posted by Jayda Evans

I'm in the midst of pulling together our Storm preview, which should be in Friday's paper (pray for me). But you know I couldn't let this season's GM survey slide by and not have a comment.

Los Angeles as the 2008 champs? With 46 percent of the vote? Are you kidding me?

Don't you dare bring up how Sheryl Swoopes returned from pregnancy and helped lead Houston to a title as defense for how Lisa Leslie can do the same. First, Swoopes was 26 when she became the poster-woman for springing back after giving birth. Leslie is 35! And did anyone watch her during the friendlies in China? I've never been a Leslie promoter, I do work in Seattle, but I've always respected her game and it's not there yet.

Plus, all this hype for Candace Parker when she's playing year-round for basically the first time on a shoulder that's been dislocated twice is crazy. Not particularly worried about that because I've seen the rookie over-hype before in Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Seimone Augustus. All were No. 1 overall draft picks. All had to fall in line, learn the ropes and in the case of Bird and Taurasi, scrap to win their first "expected" title.

Which brings me to what is really bothersome. The total dis of Phoenix. Yes, Penny Taylor opting to train with her national team for the Olympics hurts, but not enough for the Mercury not to be heavily favored this summer. Even the loss of coach Paul Westhead to the Sonics shouldn't be a factor since Corey Gaines was groomed to take over and -- hello -- played and worked with Westhead. Gaines was the player's pick to take the position, according to general manager Ann Meyers Drysdale. And everybody has players arriving late to camp, so you can't knock Finals MVP Cappie Pondexter and Kelly Miller's anticipated Thursday arrival from overseas play as a reason to not believe they'll repeat.

Since predictions won't be part of our preview package, I'll go ahead and state that I think the championship goes East with San Antonio being a strong contender in the West. But I wouldn't snub Phoenix. LA and Seattle would have to come in after that.

Of course all this confusion was dampened when I got some insider information that said the GMs, crunched for time to kick-off a pivotal season, didn't really do all of the voting. Apparently some was delegated to employees. But they should know better, too.

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Posted by Shed

11:23 AM, May 14, 2008

To answer your question - yes!

One of my personal favorites was Lauren getting votes for international player most likely to have a breakout season. :/ I must admit it's time she stops settling for MVP and has a breakout season.

Posted by StormManiac

1:36 PM, May 14, 2008

I must agree, all the love for LA is getting a little ridiculous--they haven't shown me that they can play defense yet. Of course they will be much better than last year, but I actually like San Antonio to win the west.

Posted by Mike

4:50 PM, May 14, 2008

The Silver Stars only outscored opponents by .9 points per game last year which was even worse than gasp...Seattle! I don't see why you are so high on them.

LA is clearly a huge wildcard.

Posted by Jayda

5:37 PM, May 14, 2008

Mike, although my reasoning had more to do with a veteran group returning hat was an average of 4.0 points from advancing to the WNBA Finals last season, I now have to change my pick. Just learned about G Shanna Crossley's left ACL injury that will have her out for the season. She's a big piece to their puzzle, so I'm going with the traditional Phoenix or Detroit. Both teams have to stay healthy. I like Seattle over LA, but both have too many unknowns.

Posted by good ol' george

5:41 PM, May 14, 2008

It's an Olympic year. What happened in the last Olympic year, 2004? Seattle won the WNBA title. And they'll win it again this year.
That's just me, though.

Posted by Mike

6:02 PM, May 14, 2008

I have not followed the league for long but Penny Taylor seemed a massive piece of the puzzle. Tons of offensive skill as she always had mismatches on offensive end, as well as her playing bigger than her size nightly on the defensive end. The year before last year they struggled until she showed up I believe. While by no means did she do any "dirty work" or "enforcing" down low, she really gave it her all down there leading the team in rebounds. I don't see how Tangela Smith is going to be able to hold the fort down there.

I guess all the leaders in the West have question marks is what it really comes down to.

Posted by kdawg19

6:16 PM, May 14, 2008

I was amused, especially because if you ask them the same question twice, the results significantly differ:

Who is the best interior defender in the WNBA?
Taj McWilliams-Franklin- 36.4%
Yolanda Griffith- 18.2%
Lisa Leslie- 18.2%
Cheryl Ford-9.1%
Ruth Riley- 9.1%
Michelle Snow-9.1%

Who is the best interior defender in the WNBA?
Lisa Leslie- 50%
Lauren Jackson- 17%
Sylvia Fowles- 8%
Janel McCarville- 8%
Taj McWilliams-Franklin- 8%
Rebekkah Brunson- 4%
DeMya Walker- 4%

The same thing happened with the best interior defender question…hmmm

Posted by kdawg19

6:19 PM, May 14, 2008

Woops, typo- the same thing happened with the best PERIMETER defender question

Posted by Jayda

6:55 PM, May 14, 2008

Yes, Taylor is a huge loss. But she'll be back after the break. I'm a huge fan of defense and thought San Antonio would step up that area a notch to win it all this season. I still think Phoenix is right there, though. I just can't pick the Storm, George, because they've had omens before and still lost in the opening round. Since I'm so close to the development of the team, I'll have to be a boring wait-and-see type.

Posted by Mike

4:46 AM, May 15, 2008

Where do you think a Taylor less team fits in the West puzzle?