The Weekly Roundup: Storm vs. Aces Preview, Nicki Collen Leaves Atlanta for Baylor, and Much More!
The 25th WNBA season kicks off in just four days and the coaching carousel continues with Nicki Collen's arrival at Baylor.
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Four more days. That’s what stands between us and the WNBA’s opening night quadruple-header on Friday. Will Seattle pick up where it left off and claim its third title in four years, or will reigning league MVP A’ja Wilson avenge the drubbing Las Vegas received at the hands of the Storm and capture the franchise’s first championship? Perhaps the return of two-time league MVP Elena Delle Donne will be enough to propel the Washington Mystics to its second crown in three years, or maybe an underdog loaded with talent like the Minnesota Lynx can upend the current WNBA hierarchy. In just four days we will start to gain insight into these questions and hypotheticals.
While the WNBA regular season hasn’t yet kicked off, it was nonetheless another busy week in women’s basketball. Baylor announced Nicki Collen as Kim Mulkey’s replacement, and Google signed on as a WNBA Changemaker. For details on these stories and much more, the weekly roundup has you covered!
Seattle Hosts Las Vegas in Championship Rematch
Whether you look at sportsbooks’ championship odds or nearly every preseason power ranking, the Las Vegas Aces and the Seattle Storm are the top two teams heading into this season. In a fierce battle that will feature reigning league MVP A’ja Wilson and Finals MVP Breanna Stewart, the Aces are hoping for a much different result Saturday afternoon than what took place 221 days earlier. Last October, Seattle completed a sweep of Las Vegas, culminating in a 92-59 Game 3 thrashing that set the record for the highest margin of victory in a Finals game.
One of Las Vegas’ keys to victory on Saturday, and a critical component to its success throughout the season, is team cohesion. Aces head coach Bill Laimbeer recently discussed this concept in response to a question about what he hopes his team will accomplish between now and Saturday. “Just to understand each other as basketball players and a basketball team. The turnover from last year only four [players] coming back...We’re gonna have to learn to play with each other a little better than we do right now,” Laimbeer explained. Nowhere is this more critical than with the Aces’ dynamic frontcourt of A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage. In a compelling analysis by SB Nation’s Mike Prada, the Aces were more efficient offensively and a better rebounding team when Wilson and Cambage shared the court during the 2019 season (Cambage opted out last season).
Another subplot is how the Aces will adjust following the serious right knee injury Angel McCoughtry suffered during Las Vegas’ scrimmage with Los Angeles. Just how valuable is McCoughtry? After a left knee injury sidelined her for the 2019 season, McCoughtry put up the following numbers last season: 14.4 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, 1.07 points per play (ninth in the league), and 0.31 win shares per 40 minutes (second in the league). While the loss of McCoughtry for the foreseeable future is obviously a massive blow, the Aces boast a deep roster and could look to two-time Sixth Woman of the Year recipient Dearica Hamby to fill the void.
The Seattle Storm returns a strong nucleus from last year’s championship squad in Stewart, Jewell Loyd, and 17-year veteran Sue Bird. However, for a team that led the league in defensive rating last year, a looming question is what impact the offseason departures of Alysha Clark (First Team All-Defense in 2020) and 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Natasha Howard will have on the team’s ability to stop potent offenses like the Las Vegas Aces. It’s still possible that Seattle’s offensive firepower will mask any defensive deficiencies. The offseason additions of 15-year veteran Candice Dupree and sharpshooter Katie Lou Samuelson will help bolster an offense that ranked second in offensive rating last year. The Storm could also see increased production from second-year center Ezi Magbegor, whose 17 point, 7 rebound performance in Seattle’s preseason game against the Phoenix Mercury is a positive early indicator.
Las Vegas swept the regular season series; Seattle won all three Finals games in convincing fashion. What will happen in the teams’ season opener on Saturday? That’s hard to say, but with up to 2,000 screaming fans in Seattle’s Angel of the Winds Arena and the league’s two best teams playing in front of a national TV audience, it’s going to be fun to watch! Check out all the exciting action at 3 PM Eastern on ABC.
WNBA Schedule This Week
The Seattle/Las Vegas championship rematch isn’t the only game on next weekend’s docket. Here is a full listing of next weekend’s games, start times, and where to watch.
The Coaching Carousel Continues: Nicki Collen Tapped as Next Baylor Coach
Last Monday afternoon, Atlanta Dream head coach Nicki Collen answered questions about the team’s prospects with opening night just 11 days away. Later that same day, Baylor announced her as its new head coach. Such is the world of college and professional women’s basketball. Atlanta Dream interim head coach Mike Petersen best encapsulated the women’s basketball community’s surprise during Tuesday’s press conference: “...at no point on yesterday’s date was written in [his day planner] ‘become head coach of the Atlanta Dream.’” Nicki Collen herself didn’t expect this opportunity to become available anytime in the near future. “You thought Kim [Mulkey] would retire here just like you think Geno [Auriemma] is gonna retire at Connecticut and Tara [VanDerveer] is gonna retire at Stanford,” Collen explained during an interview on Baylor radio station SicEm365.
Following nine seasons as a Division I assistant coach at Colorado State, Ball State, Louisville, Arkansas, and Florida Gulf Coast, Collen served as assistant coach for two seasons under Connecticut Sun head coach Curt Miller until being tapped for the Atlanta Dream head coaching position in 2018. In her three seasons with the Dream, Collen compiled a 38-52 record, achieving the most success during her debut season, where she earned WNBA Coach of the Year honors; led Atlanta to a 23-11 record; and was a game away from the WNBA Finals. Due in part to the absence of the Dream’s all-time leading scorer, Angel McCoughtry (sidelined for the 2019 season with a knee injury and signed with Las Vegas the season after), Atlanta struggled to a 15-41 mark over the next two seasons. While she dismissed the idea that she feared for her job in Atlanta, Collen did acknowledge that her new role offers her more freedom to be herself. "I've always joked that professional coaches are hired to get fired," Collen said. "I'm not saying that I was fearing for my job, or that the new ownership group in Atlanta wasn't going to do great things there. But I certainly was not in the situation with a six-year contract [where] I can be me. That I'm not looking over my shoulder, so there's stability for my family that way."
So, how will Nicki Collen replace a coaching legend like Kim Mulkey? In her introductory press conference, Collen commented that she needs to be her own person. "Ultimately, I'm going to do it my way; that's how I'm gonna sink or swim, or succeed or fail. If I try to be Kim, I'm 100% going to fail. If I try to be Nicki, I feel pretty good about my chances to succeed," Collen stated. During her interview with SicEm365, she elaborated on how she will draw on her WNBA experience. “I think the WNBA experience helps me in two ways. One, I absolutely know what it takes to get there, and I know what it takes to be successful there. So, if I’m going into a home, those players should believe that I know how to get them there,” Collen explained. When asked about how she will adjust to the recent proliferation of players entering the transfer portal, Collen replied: “Here’s why I’m comfortable with it. It’s free agency… It’s like having a bunch of unrestricted free agents in there. That I get.”
It’s never easy to follow a Hall of Fame coach. However, the return of one of the best frontcourts in the country in Queen Egbo and reigning Big 12 Player of the Year NaLyssa Smith coupled with significant depth at point guard (incoming transfer and 2019 Big 12 Freshman of the Year Chrislyn Carr, grad transfer and 2021 Second-Team All-SEC Jordan Lewis, and returners Sarah Andrews and Jaden Owens) will help ease the transition for Nicki Collen.
Google Becomes Next WNBA Changemaker
In a significant coup for the WNBA, the league announced last Monday that Google has signed on as the fourth company to become a WNBA Changemaker. Launched in January 2020 with AT&T, Nike, and Deloitte as inaugural partners, the Changemaker program aims “to provide direct support to the WNBA in its ongoing business transformation across marketing, branding, and player and fan experience.” As part of the multiyear partnership, Google will sponsor several key events, most notably serving as the Presenting Partner for the WNBA playoffs and the WNBA on ESPN. The tech giant will also be the league’s official trends and fan insights partner, official marketing partner, and official technology partner.
As the league strives to continue recent growth trends, including a 68% increase in average viewership last year, Commissioner Cathy Englebert recognized the importance of the partnership with Google. “When we launched our WNBA Changemakers platform at the beginning of 2020, we issued a call to like-minded companies to join us in elevating women’s sports, and Google has answered that call,” said Engelbert. “We are incredibly grateful to Google for becoming the latest WNBA Changemaker and for their platform of helpful products for everyone. Google’s support will be instrumental in driving our business transformation forward and demonstrates a commitment to the values we both stand for – including building sustainable equity.”
Per the video above released by the league, four percent of sports coverage centers on women’s sports. At the launch of the Changemakers initiative last year, Engelbert noted that 1% of global sponsorship dollars are directed toward women’s sports. Monday’s announcement represents a step toward addressing these inequities.
Her Hoop Stats Content in Case You Missed It
Jenn Hatfield chronicled Las Vegas Aces forward Shakayla Thomas’ remarkable journey back to the WNBA after being cut by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2018.
Which teams does Vegas think will take home the WNBA title this fall? Who are the long shots? Calvin Wetzel took an early look at WNBA championship odds and which teams Vegas might be overlooking. Whether you’re a gambling novice or professional, this article has a little something for everyone.
The Minnesota Lynx made several key moves in the offseason to bolster an already stacked lineup that includes the past two Rookies of the Year, the league’s all-time leading rebounder, and a three-time Coach of the Year. Cindy Smith previewed what should be an exciting season in Minneapolis.
From traditional cable to Twitter, it’s not easy to keep track of the multitude of platforms that broadcast WNBA games. In what has become a public service, Calvin Wetzel reprised his guide for how to watch the WNBA this season.
Other Recommended Content
The ESPN podcast Laughter Permitted with Julie Foudy had a pair of guests you don’t want to miss. From the iconic double middle finger moment and upsetting UConn in the Final Four to her experience in the NCAA tournament bubble, Adia Barnes discussed Arizona’s memorable season with Julie. On the brink of her much-anticipated debut with the Chicago Sky, Candace Parker joined the podcast and talked about her legacy as well as the benefits of being in her hometown of Chicago.
For Reuters, Amy Tennery wrote about how the WNBA has grown since its beginnings in 1997.
With only three players from the 2019 team, Chantel Jennings from The Athletic previewed what we can expect this season from a Los Angeles Sparks squad featuring a lot of new faces.
In an interview with HoopsHype’s Bryan Kalbrosky, Sabrina Ionescu discussed the process of recovering from last season’s ankle injury; how the league has evolved in the past few years; and how excited she is to play in front of fans for the first time in her professional career.
From contracting COVID-19 while playing abroad in Italy to reuniting with former UCLA teammate Jordin Canada after being traded to the Seattle Storm, the past year has been an emotional roller coaster for Kennedy Burke. Percy Allen recaps Kennedy’s wild year in a piece for the Seattle Times.
For the Hartford Courant, Alexa Philippou caught up with Connecticut Sun forward DeWanna Bonner and discussed the challenge of playing in the bubble last season while being away from her twin daughters and also what motherhood has taught her.
WNBA Trivia Questions of the Week
The answers to last week’s questions will be posted to Twitter today @herhoopstats. Here are this week’s questions - good luck!
Easier: Accomplishing the feat in the 2019 season, who is the only person in WNBA history to join professional basketball’s exclusive 50-40-90 club (shooting at least the following in the regular season: 50% field goal percentage, 40% three-point percentage, and 90% free throw percentage)?
More Difficult: To commemorate the 20th WNBA season in 2016, the league announced a list of the top 20 WNBA players of all time. Besides Lauren Jackson, who was the only other player on the list not born in the United States?
Ken Jennings-Level: Which team and during which season (e.g., 1998 New York Liberty) has the all-time record in points per game during the regular season? They went 15-19 in the regular season, so, perhaps unsurprisingly, they also hold the all-time record for points allowed per game.
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.