Category: WNBA

WNBA Player Milestones to watch for in 2019

~ Aneela Khan ~ Leave a comment

The WNBA season is just 10(!) days away now and with the season approaching, it’s time to look at certain milestones that active WNBA players will reach this season. For example, Sue Bird will hit 3000 assists this season which has never been done by a  WNBA player. When Diana Taurasi returns from her back injury, she is the league all time leading scorer and will try to reach the 9000 point threshold, which is another milestone that no player has ever reached. I will include that milestone once she returns.  Listed below are the three main categories (scoring, rebounds and assists) and which players are close to hitting them this season. Enjoy!

SCORING

6000 points

Seimone Augustus needs 164 points to reach 6000 points.

Angel McCoughtry needs 532 points to reach 6000 points.

5000 points

Sylvia Fowles needs 79 points to reach 5000 points.

4000 points

Kristi Toliver needs 107 points to reach 4000 points.

Nneka Oguwmike needs 435 points to reach 4000 points.

3000 points

Shavonte Zellous needs 142 points to reach 3000 points.

2000 points

Odyssey Sims needs 8 points to reach 2000 points.

Karima Christmas-Kelly needs 106 points to reach 2000 points.

Leilani Mitchell needs 198 points to reach 2000 points.

Shekinna Stricklen needs 256 points to reach 2000 points.

Emma Meeseman needs 271 points to reach 2000 points.

Alyssa Thomas needs 369 points to reach 2000 points.

1000 points

Courtney Williams needs 47 points to reach 1000 points.

Dearica Hamby needs 79 points to reach 1000 points.

Natalie Achonwa needs 100 points to reach 1000 points.

Tiffany Mitchell needs 124 points to reach 1000 points.

Tianna Hawkins needs 203 points to reach 1000 points.

Damiris Dantas needs 233 points to reach 1000 points.

Allisha Gray needs 247 points to reach 1000 points.

Brittney Sykes needs 248 points to reach 1000 points.

Moriah Jefferson needs 251 points to reach 1000 points.

A’ja Wilson needs 318 points to reach 1000 points.

REBOUNDS

3000 rebounds

Tina Charles needs 116 rebounds to reach 3000 rebounds.

Candice Dupree needs 225 rebounds to reach 3000 rebounds.

2000 rebounds

DeWanna Bonner needs 188 rebounds to reach 2000 rebounds.

1000 rebounds

Alyssa Thomas needs 93 rebounds to reach 1000 rebounds.

Karima Christmas Kelly needs 103 rebounds to reach 1000 rebounds.

Emma Meeseman needs 140 rebounds to reach 1000 rebounds.

Stefanie Dolson needs 183 rebounds to reach 1000 rebounds.

Elizabeth Williams needs 220 rebounds to reach 1000 rebounds.

ASSISTS

3000 assists

Sue Bird needs 169 assists to reach 3000 assists.

1000 assists

Danielle Robinson needs 29 assists to reach 1000 assists.

 

 

FINAL WNBA Mock Draft

~ Aneela Khan ~ Leave a comment

It is now the month of April and we are now officially two days away from the 2019 WNBA Draft. The WNBA Draft will be held in New York City and will be televised live on ESPN2. This is the final WNBA Mock Draft I will release on the blog. You can read the previous version here. Some players have gone up or down since the previous mock draft thanks to their play in the NCAA tournament. There’s a lot to look forward to in this coming week so without any further ado, listed below are the three rounds.

Round One

  1. Asia Durr – Las Vegas Aces
  2. Teaira McCowan – New York Liberty
  3. Kalani Brown – Indiana Fever
  4. Jackie Young** – Chicago Sky
  5. Napheesa Collier – Dallas Wings
  6. Arike Ogunbowale – Minnesota Lynx
  7. Kristine Anigwe – Los Angeles Sparks
  8. Megan Gustafson – Phoenix Mercury
  9. Katie Lou Samuelson – Connecticut Sun
  10. Xu Han – Washington Mystics
  11. Alanna Smith – Atlanta Dream
  12. Bridget Carleton – Seattle Storm

Round Two

  1. Sophie Cunningham – Phoenix Mercury
  2. Brianna Turner – New York Liberty
  3. Maite Cazorla – Chicago Sky
  4. Jessica Shepard – Minnesota Lynx
  5. Eziyoda Magbegor – Dallas Wings
  6. Cierra Dillard – Minnesota Lynx
  7. Sam Fuehring – Los Angeles Sparks
  8. Anriel Howard – Minnesota Lynx
  9. Hallie Thome – Connecticut Sun
  10. Kiara Leslie – Dallas Wings
  11. Kennedy Burke – Atlanta Dream
  12. Allazia Blockton – Seattle Storm

Round Three

  1. Paris Kea – Indiana Fever
  2. Kayla Goth – New York Liberty
  3. Marina Mabrey – Chicago Sky
  4. Kianna Ibis – Indiana Fever
  5. Amy Okonkwo – Dallas Wings
  6. Caliya Robinson – Minnesota Lynx
  7. Maci Morris – Los Angeles Sparks
  8. Li Yueru – Phoenix Mercury
  9. Teniya Page – Connecticut Sun
  10. Kennedy Leonard – Washington Mystics
  11. Natisha Hiedeman – Atlanta
  12. Emese Hof – Seattle Storm

2019 WNBA Mock Draft Version 3.0

~ Aneela Khan ~ 1 Comment

March Madness is officially underway, with the Sweet 16 games set to tip off on Friday. This also means that we have gotten another month plus some NCAA tourney games to watch certain draft prospects play. It also means since last month, the mock draft rankings have changed quite a bit since the last updated one. I will have a final WNBA Mock Draft which will be released next Thursday, so make sure to look out for that one.

First Round

  1. Sabrina Ionescu** – Las Vegas Aces
  2. Asia Durr – New York Liberty
  3. Teaira McCowan – Indiana Fever
  4. Jackie Young** – Chicago Sky
  5. Kalani Brown – Dallas Wings
  6. Napheesa Collier – Minnesota Lynx
  7. Arike Ogunbowale – Los Angeles Sparks
  8. Katie Lou Samuelson – Phoenix Mercury
  9. Xu Han – Connecticut Sun
  10. Alanna Smith – Washington Mystics
  11. Megan Gustafson – Atlanta Dream
  12. Bridget Carleton – Seattle Storm

Second Round

  1. Sophie Cunningham – Phoenix Mercury
  2. Marina Mabrey – New York Liberty
  3. Kristine Anigwe – Chicago Sky
  4. Jessica Shepard – Minnesota Lynx
  5. Eziyoda Magbegor – Dallas Wings
  6. Cierra Dillard – Minnesota Lynx
  7. Maci Morris – Los Angeles Sparks
  8. Anriel Howard – Minnesota Lynx
  9. Tynice Martin** – Connecticut Sun
  10. Kennedy Burke – Dallas Wings
  11. Brianna Turner – Atlanta Dream
  12. Kiara Leslie – Seattle Storm

Third Round

  1. Paris Kea – Indiana Fever
  2. Kayla Goth – New York Liberty
  3. Allazia Blockton – Chicago Sky
  4. Kitija Laksa – Indiana Fever
  5. Amy Okonkwo – Dallas Wings
  6. Hallie Thome – Minnesota Lynx
  7. Laura Stockton – Los Angeles Sparks
  8. Morgan Bertsch – Phoenix Mercury
  9. Teniya Page – Connecticut Sun
  10. Kennedy Leonard – Washington Mystics
  11. Maite Cazorla – Atlanta Dream
  12. Zykera Rice – Seattle Storm

** – indicates that the player still has one year of college eligibility left.

2019 WNBA Mock Draft Version 2.0

~ Aneela Khan ~ Leave a comment

The 2019 WNBA Draft is less than two months away from now and it’s starting to get really exciting as March and April are very busy for the women’s college basketball world and the WNBA world. Now that we are near the end of February, it’s time to release my second version of the WNBA Mock Draft. You can read the first version here. I will release another updated version next month in March, during the time of the NCAA Tournament. From now on, I have also listed college eligible juniors and international players.

ROUND ONE

  1. Las Vegas Aces – Sabrina Ionescu**
  2. New York Liberty – Asia Durr
  3. Indiana Fever – Kalani Brown
  4. Chicago Sky – Napheesa Collier
  5. Dallas Wings – Teaira McCowan
  6. Minnesota Lynx – Arike Ogunbowale
  7. Los Angeles Sparks – Katie Lou Samuelson
  8. Phoenix Mercury – Megan Gustafson
  9. Connecticut Sun – Jessica Shepard
  10. Washington Mystics – Jackie Young**
  11. Atlanta Dream – Kristine Anigwe
  12. Seattle Storm – Brianna Turner

ROUND TWO

  1. Phoenix Mercury – Sophie Cunningham
  2. New York Liberty – Marina Mabrey
  3. Chicago Sky – Natisha Hiedeman
  4. Minnesota Lynx – Anriel Howard
  5. Dallas Wings – Eziyoda Magbegor
  6. Minnesota Lynx – Tynice Martin
  7. Los Angeles Sparks – Alanna Smith
  8. Minnesota Lynx – Hallie Thome
  9. Connecticut Sun – Maci Morris
  10. Dallas Wings – Kennedy Burke
  11. Atlanta Dream – Bridget Carleton
  12. Seattle Storm – Kianna Ibis

ROUND THREE

  1. Indiana Fever – Maite Cazorla
  2. New York Liberty – Kayla Goth
  3. Chicago Sky – Allazia Blockton
  4. Indiana Fever – Kitija Laksa
  5. Dallas Wings – Amy Okonkwo
  6. Minnesota Lynx – Cierra Dillard
  7. Los Angeles Sparks – Laura Stockton
  8. Phoenix Mercury – Morgan Bertsch
  9. Connecticut Sun – Teniya Page
  10. Washington Mystics – Kiara Leslie
  11. Atlanta Dream – Kennedy Leonard
  12. Seattle Storm – Zykera Rice

 

 

 

2019 WNBA Free Agency – Where will free agents sign?

~ Aneela Khan ~ 2 Comments

WNBA Free Agency signing period is about to open in just a few days and with that comes excitement of a new WNBA season. With that in mind, I decided to write a blog post on my predictions on where the WNBA free agents on every level (core players, reserved players, restricted free agents and unrestricted free agents) would sign for upcoming WNBA season. I have also listed some quick thoughts as to why I believe why that said player may re-sign or go sign somewhere else.

I have never done this type of post before in all my 10+ years of watching and covering the league, so I thought I would try something new. Let me know your opinion in the comments section and let’s see what happens when the free agency signings start on February 1st.

CORE PLAYERS

DeWanna Bonner (PHX) – Worry not, Phoenix Mercury fans. I predict that Dewanna Bonner will re-sign with Phoenix. She’s too important for the Mercury, hence the core tag.

Tina Charles (NYL) – Out of all the core players, this one was the most worrisome. The New York Liberty situation was getting out of hand and Tina Charles is just too valuable to lose. If the NY Liberty had to re locate, Tina Charles probably wouldn’t be on that team. However, that is no longer the case as the New York Liberty will now play in Brooklyn in 2020. This makes both management and Tina Charles happy. So I predict she will re-sign with New York.
Glory Johnson (DAL) – Glory Johnson is an interesting case. It’s interesting that Dallas used their core tag on her which means they value her contributions. Glory Johnson is a solid player but usually star players or MVP types get this designation which means that she will also re-sign with Dallas because she’s not going to get the same treatment among other teams.
Maya Moore (MIN) – Rumors are abound with  Maya Moore and the most heavy one is that she will sit out this season. If that is true, that means she will not play this season which is a loss for the Lynx and the WNBA for the 2019 WNBA season.
Jasmine Thomas (CON) – Jasmine Thomas will re-sign with Connecticut because the Sun really helped her career and let her shine, so she would not go anywhere else. I predict she re-signs with Connecticut.
Courtney Vandersloot (CHI) – Like Jasmine Thomas, Courtney Vandersloot’s career as a starting point guard for the Sky has become increasingly valuable to the Sky franchise, hence why the core tag.  I predict she re-signs with Chicago because she likes playing for the Sky.

RESERVED PLAYERS

Lindsay Allen (LVA) – I predict she re- signs with Las Vegas.
Anna Cruz (MIN) – I predict she re-signs with Minnesota.
Blake Dietrick (ATL) – I predict she may sign somewhere else.
Cayla George (DAL) – I predict she may sign somewhere else.
Linnae Harper (CHI) – I predict she re-signs with Chicago.
Astou Ndour (CHI) – I predict she re-signs with Chicago.
Sonja Petrovic (PHX) – I predict she re-signs with Phoenix.
Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe (NYL) – I predict she re-signs with New York.
Angel Robinson (PHX) – I predict she may sign somewhere else.
Mercedes Russell (SEA) – I predict she may sign somewhere else.
Karlie Samuelson (LAS) – I predict she re-signs with Los Angeles.
Asia Taylor (IND) – I predict she re-signs with Indiana.
Kayla Thornton (DAL) – I predict she re-signs with Dallas.
Marianna Tolo (LAS) – I predict she re-signs with Los Angeles
Yvonne Turner (PHX) – I predict she re-signs with Phoenix.
Marta Xargay (PHX) – I predict she re-signs with Phoenix.
Cecilia Zandalasini (MIN) – I predict she re-signs with Minnesota.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Natalie Achonwa (IND) – I predict Natalie Achonwa will re-sign with the Indiana Fever.
Rebecca Allen (NYL) – *update: Rebecca Allen is out with an ACL injury, unlikely to be available this season.*
Brittany Boyd (NYL) – I predict Brittany Boyd will re-sign with the New York Liberty.
Natasha Cloud (WAS) – I predict Natasha Cloud will re-sign with the Washington Mystics.
Damiris Dantas (ATL) – I predict Damiris Dantas will re-sign with the Atlanta Dream unless another team has a higher offer.
Jamierra Faulkner (CHI) – I predict Jamierra Faulkner may sign with another team if another team has a higher offer.
Chelsea Gray (LAS) – I predict Chelsea Gray will re-sign with the Los Angeles Sparks
Dearica Hamby (LVA) – I predict Dearica Hamby will re-sign with the Las Vegas Aces.
Cheyenne Parker (CHI) – I predict Cheyenne Parker will re-sign with Chicago unless another higher offer comes.
Odyssey Sims (LAS) – I predict Odyssey Sims will re-sign with the Los Angeles Sparks unless another higher offer comes.
Erica Wheeler (IND) – I predict Erica Wheeler will re-sign with the Indiana Fever.
Amanda Zahui B (NYL) – I predict Amanda Zahui B will re-sign with the New York Liberty unless another higher offer comes.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Seimone Augustus – I predict she re-signs with the Minnesota Lynx. Seimone Augustus has made Minnesota home, so she would want to stay as long as possible and possibly retire there.

Alana Beard – I predict she re-signs with the Los Angeles Sparks because the Sparks have done so much for her career and now when she is reaching the end of her playing career, she would want to have stability.

Rebekkah Brunson – I predict she re-signs with the Minnesota Lynx.  Like Seimone Augustus, Brunson has made Minnesota home and the fans and organization have been with her. I imagine she would also like the opportunity to possibly retire in Minnesota.

Essence Carson – I predict she signs somewhere else. I’m not sure what teams have offered, but if New York is in the running, I predict she would want to go back to New York, her previous team.

Karima Christmas-Kelly – I predict she re-signs with the Dallas Wings because Dallas has helped Karima Christmas-Kelly’s career and I think she would want to stay with the Dallas Wings because Dallas is a great city and has a championship coach in Brian Agler now.

Marissa Coleman – I predict she signs somewhere else. I’m just not sure where she would go.

Sydney Colson – I predict she re-signs with the Minnesota Lynx just because she will have a bigger opportunity to shine this season.

Monique Currie – I predict she re-signs with the Washington Mystics because she enjoys playing there and the DMV area is home to her.

Jelena Dubljevic – I predict she re-signs with the Los Angeles Sparks.
Adaora Elonu – Not sure of her plans, this one is up in the air.

Briann January –  I predict she re-signs with the Phoenix Mercury because she enjoyed a great season last year and she would want to continue playing there.

Shenise Johnson – Shenise Johnson is an interesting case. She could be highly valued for other teams and I predict that if a good deal comes along, she would take it over what the Fever would offer. I predict she may sign somewhere else.

Betnijah Laney – *update- I predict she probably sign somewhere else*

Crystal Langhorne – I predict she may sign somewhere else because while she became a WNBA champion, she may be looking for a new team as she had her worst season last season and may not want to be the Storm any longer.
Erlana Larkins – I predict she may sign somewhere else. I just don’t know where or what team.
Maggie Lucas – *update: I predict she may sign somewhere else*

Sancho Lyttle – I predict she re-signs with the Phoenix Mercury but would sign later as she still coming off recovering from a torn ACL.

Alex Montgomery – I predict she re-signs with the Chicago Sky.
Devereaux Peters – I predict she signs somewhere else.
Cappie Pondexter – I predict she signs somewhere else where the right fit would be for her as well as for the team.

Alexis Prince – I predict she signs somewhere else.
Epiphanny Prince – I predict she re-signs with the New York Liberty because the ownership situation is resolved and she would want to continue playing for the franchise.

Allie Quigley – I predict she re-signs with the Chicago Sky because Chicago has done so much for her career and she would want to continue playing for the Sky.

Noelle Quinn – I predict she may sign somewhere else.

Leticia Romero – I predict she may sign somewhere else where she could get an opportunity to shine.

Tierra Ruffin-Pratt – I predict she re-signs with the Washington Mystics.

LaToya Sanders – I predict she re-signs with the Washington Mystics.

Krystal Thomas – I predict she signs somewhere else.

Kia Vaughn – I predict she re-signs with the New York Liberty.

Riquna Williams – I predict she re-signs with the Los Angeles Sparks.

Shavonte Zellous – I predict she re-signs with the New York Liberty.

2019 WNBA Mock Draft Version 1.0

~ Aneela Khan ~ 1 Comment

The WNBA Draft is coming up in three months and with that in mind, I have released the first version of my WNBA Mock Draft. These versions of the mock draft will be updated monthly. Also, after the NCAA Tournament, the mock drafts will be updated weekly until the actual WNBA Draft.

NOTE:**This first version of the draft does not include international players and will be included in the next version. It also does not include possible early declaration players and possible WNBA Free Agency movement which impacts the draft. That will be in the later versions of the draft which will be out in March or April.

ROUND ONE

  1. Kalani Brown – Las Vegas Aces
  2. Asia Durr – New York Liberty
  3. Katie Lou Samuelson – Indiana Fever
  4. Napheesa Collier – Chicago Sky
  5. Teaira McCowan – Dallas Wings
  6. Jessica Shepard – Minnesota Lynx
  7. Arike Ogunbowale – Los Angeles Sparks
  8. Megan Gustafson – Phoenix Mercury
  9. Sophie Cunningham – Connecticut Sun
  10. Alanna Smith – Washington Mystics
  11. Kristine Anigwe – Atlanta Dream
  12. Brianna Turner – Seattle Storm

ROUND TWO

  1. Natisha Hiedeman – Phoenix Mercury
  2. Marina Mabrey – New York Liberty
  3. Kianna Ibis – Chicago Sky
  4. Anriel Howard – Minnesota Lynx
  5. Maci Morris – Washington Mystics
  6. Kenisha Bell – Minnesota Lynx
  7. Danni Williams – Los Angeles Sparks
  8. Hallie Thome – Minnesota Lynx
  9. Jenna Allen – Michigan State
  10. Kennedy Burke – Washington Mystics
  11. Bridget Carleton – Atlanta Dream
  12. Kennedy Leonard – Seattle Storm

ROUND THREE

  1. Kayla Goth – Indiana Fever
  2. Maite Cazorla – New York Liberty
  3. Allazia Blockton – Chicago Sky
  4. Kitjia Laksa – Indiana Fever
  5. Amy Okonkwo – Dallas Wings
  6. Ciara Duffy – Minnesota Lynx
  7. Morgan Bertsch – Los Angeles Sparks
  8. Laura Stockton – Phoenix Mercury
  9. Teniya Page – Connecticut Sun
  10. Kiara Leslie – Washington Mystics
  11. Rosemarie Julien – Atlanta Dream
  12. Zykera Rice – Seattle Storm

My final thoughts on the 2018 WNBA season

~ Aneela Khan ~ Leave a comment

Wow. I cannot believe the 2018 WNBA season is over. It seems surreal to me that the time just flew by. It feels like it was just yesterday that the 2018 WNBA season got underway. It was by far the most fastest, hectic, rewarding and amazing season. The Twitter support I received along with writing articles for Hashtag Basketball made the season go faster than normal for me. It was a ton of fun writing and interacting with people via on Twitter. Thank you to everyone who took time to read my articles. It meant the world to me. This season was by far the most fulfilling season for me on a personal level because I got to connect with a new basketball audience that was not there in previous seasons. I got to reach out to other basketball fans and try to bridge the gap between the WNBA and other sports fans. It was so nice to see other outlets cover the WNBA in their own unique way and try to bring more coverage forward. I am so thankful for each and everyone of you who also viewed this blog when looking for updates. The blog was not frequently as updated as in previous seasons, but I will have coverage of the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Championship — specifically for Team Canada.

Thanks for always tweeting, reading, commenting, interacting on various mediums on the WNBA this year. I may have not always replied, but I always appreciated. Thank you to everyone for the constant support. I appreciate you all!

Best wishes,

Aneela