#111: 15 takeaways from opening week
The WNBA season is a week old. Let's break down what we have seen so far.
The opening week of action has come and gone for the WNBA, so let's make some observations.
We'll make one for each team. Some of them will be overreactions. Some of them will be warranted. Some of them will look stupid in a few weeks.
That's OK. That's what we do here, baby.
I don't have the same 24 hours that Beyoncé has, so let's not waste anymore time with a cute lede, mmmk?
I wrote this during my lunch break on Thursday, so I'm sorry for not having the latest data from Thursday's game.
I do my best here, folx.
- The Chicago Sky's defense is legit
I was really tired Wednesday night, but I wasn't tired enough to not watch the first half of the Sky and Valkyries game (I watched the rest Thursday morning while I was working, mom). But can we just give it up for the Sky's defense real quick? They're the No. 1 defense in a number of categories, including holding the opposition to shooting 34.9 percent from the field and 40.4 eFG%. Jacy Sheldon is looking fantastic so far for the Sky, and Rickea Jackson is playing her best ball on both sides of the floor. Natasha Cloud was just activated, and that's only going to continue to elevate the Sky's defense even more.
- Angel Reese is being utilized perfectly
The discourse has already started, and it's annoying. The Dream didn't acquire Angel Reese to be the No. 1 option offensively. She knew that. The players knew that. The teams knew that. Why don't you all? What they acquired her for was to dominate the boards, operate in the high key as an elite screener to open up driving lanes for her teammates, and continue to develop her offense game.
She's doing all of those things.
We are two games in, and there are questions about how she's being used, but I'd argue that she's being used just fine. She has two double-doubles, 17 (!!) offensive rebounds, and is opening up space up top for Jordin Canada and Te-Hina Paopao to operate the offense.
It really doesn't have to be deeper than that. I promise.
- Cameron Brink needs a new home
Brink blocked Caitlin Clark at the rim Wednesday night and said "get that fucking shit out of here."
CJ Fogler
I popped at home, and it makes me want more Brink.
She isn't starting, and Lynne Roberts said this about Brink playing eight minutes on opening night: "We need Cam to produce... She's gotta get out on the floor with some confidence and do what she's capable of doing."
The fouls are an issue. They have been going back to college for the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft. I'm higher than most on the Sparks this year, and a lot of that was projecting the development of Brinks into a budding star. She's only played 36 games in three years so far in W after tearing her ACL, and the foul issues are 100 percent on her.
But I'm not so sure that the Sparks are invested in her the same way that we are. She may need a home to get the best out of her.
- Haley Jones' remains positionless in the worst way
No team has figured out how to use Jones yet in the WNBA. She's an unorthodox player, and she's kind of positionless – but not in a good way. The Dream tried to make her into a guard, and it didn't work since she has no outside touch and is an average ballhandler. The Wings made her into a forward and allowed her to cut and post up more, and it worked a bit. With Portland, she's played a limited role, averaging eight minutes per game as a power forward.
No team has been able to figure it out with Jones yet.
- Veronica Burton is an all-WNBA player
I'll always be a Burton fan. I loved her game at Northwestern, and I was a fan with her stints in Dallas and Connecticut. Seeing her breakout last year with Golden State was great.
I chatted with her before the All-Star game last year asking her if she thought she should have made it. She said "no way." Then I read a list that she was on that consisted of stars throughout the league. She said, "oh, really?"
It'll be a shock if she doesn't make the All-Star game this year, but I'll take it a step further: she deserves to be on the first team for all-WNBA. She's one of the best – if not the best – point guards in the league. I'm glad that her patience has paid off.
- Saniya Rivers' offensive development is concerning
This year, Rivers has made four shots from beyond 10 feet from the rim. That's it. She's 4-of-18 on the year. At the rim? She's 1-of-6.
Yes, it's super early, but for Rivers to have staying power (I'm a believer in her defense) she needs to develop an offensive game. She's a super athletic slasher and cutter, but she's a non-threat when defenses are scheming. We saw her working on her midrange and three-point shot last year throughout the season. It's one thing to work on it, and it's another to actually get better at it.
- Chennedy Carter makes the Aces the favorite to repeat
The question has never been if Carter belongs in the WNBA – she's one of the best pure scorers in the world – it's always been about finding the right environment for her to thrive in. Just like she did with T-Spoon, she's finding another former Liberty player to lead her to success in Las Vegas.
Carter is averaging 19.7 points in just 21.3 minutes played per game. The only other player to average more than 15 points per game this season as a non-starter is Janelle Salaün.
Depth was an issue for the Aces last year, and with Dana Evans out, the Aces are able to turn to Carter off the bench to give them major production.
A'ja Wilson will always be A'ja Wilson. Same with Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. But it's Carter who holds the keys to the Aces success this year.
- It'll be a long year for Storm fans
So, umm, Flau'jae Johnson has been fun, right? And Jade Melboure lost her tooth again and looked like a badass. But the Storm lost their top five scorers from a season ago and, well, they look like they have.
They have a -5.7 point differential so far through three games. They need Ezi Magbegor and Awa Fam ASAP.
- Marina Mabrey, All-Star starter
The Toronto Tempo got their first win in franchise history Wednesday night, and through two games, Marina Mabrey has looked every part of a max player for the franchise. She's averaging 26.5 points per game, shooting 39.5 percent from the field. From beyond the arc, she's shooting 45 percent.
This team has fun players, but don't get it twisted – this is Mabrey's team. She'll be in Chicago and rep them in late July.
Book it.
- The Lynx will be just fine
The Lynx are nearly 2-0 without Napheesa Collier and after losing a number of key players this offseason.
They nearly won their home opener against the Atlanta Dream thanks in part to the stellar play of Olivia Miles and Emma Cechova. Miles looks extremely comfortable at this level already despite a few nitpicks here and there.
As for Cechova, it's early, of course, but if she's playing this way in a week or two, don't be surprised if she replaces Nia Coffey in the starting lineup.
I wrote this before Cechova went down with a non-contact injury Thursday night and was helped off of the court. Thoughts up to her.
The Lynx are going to be just fine.
- It's not time yet - but almost - to have a conversation about Alanna Smith
Through two games, Smith is averaging four points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and two STOCKs.
She's yet to hit a three, and believe it or not, but the reigning co-Defensive Player of the Year has been a defensive liability for the Wings.
It's early. Of course it's early. She's learning the system and finding her footing. But as a max player, Dallas fans hoped for more early on from one of their big offseason acquisitions.
- The Mystics may be ahead of schedule
They lost by five in overtime to the Liberty, but the Mystics may just be ahead of schedule. They have the youngest team in the league by far, but they are playing fantastic basketball early on.
Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen are showing no signs of a sophomore slump, and Shakira Austin is showing everyone why the team matched Toronto's offer for her to bring her back to D.C.
I want to see more out of Georgia Amoore and Rori Harmon, but both are getting their first experience at this level. The assists are nice (eight combined on average) but the turnovers (seven combined on average) need to come down.
Oh, and they are doing this without Cotie McMahon and with Lauren Betts getting eased in.
The future looks bright, Mystics fans.
- Let's take a minute for Pauline Astier
No Sabrina Ionescu. No Satou Sabally. No Leonie Fiebich.
No problems?
Well, they did lose to Portland to give the Fire their first win in franchise history (revamped history, we should say), but the Liberty are playing good basketball – at least offensively.
They lead the league in points per game (100!), and while Breanna Stewart is in her bag early, let's give a shoutout to Marine Johannés (my GOAT) and Pauline Astier.
I'm writing this before their rematch against Portland Thursday night because I'm washed, but Astier has been a revelation for the Liberty. She's averaging 15.7 points, 4.7 assists, and is shooting 64.3 percent from the field with a 21.2 usage rate.
She's carved out a role for herself once the Liberty are back and fully healthy.
- Where's the defense in Indiana?
Sorry, I'm fucking asking Caitlin Clark to play defense. I'm also asking the same of Sophie Cunningham, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hall, and Tyasha Harris.
Defensively, the Fever have been a mess so far. Raven Johnson, Aliyah Boston, and Monique Billings have been fine defensively, but teams are shooting 54.5 percent from the field against the Fever and are averaging 92.5 points per game.
The Fever are averaging 95.5 points, so they have a positive margin, but they are playing with fire – and I don't mean the kind in Portland.
- The Mercury's season may come down to Monique Akoa Makani
The Mercury ran the Aces off of their home court to kick off the season, but since then, they dropped two straight games.
Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas are doing what you'd expect from them, but if you're counting on DeWanna Bonner as your No. 3 option at this point in her career – no disrespect intended to the legend – then you aren't a title contender.
They are missing the play of two key players: Sami Whitcomb and Akoa Makani.
The former is out up to six weeks with a knee injury, while the latter has international obligations to start the season.
Akoa Makani was a gem for the Mercury last year, and while they have some talented players like Jovana Nogić and Valeriane Ayayi, they desperately need Akoa Makani back in the fold if they want to have a shot to not just make another run at the WNBA Finals, but to make the playoffs at all.
Until next time
I'll see you all here on Monday.
I love you awesome nerds.
