2019 WNBA Mock Draft Version 2.0

February 24, 2019February 25, 2019 ~ 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

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

ROUND TWO

Phoenix Mercury – Sophie Cunningham
New York Liberty – Marina Mabrey
Chicago Sky – Natisha Hiedeman
Minnesota Lynx – Anriel Howard
Dallas Wings – Eziyoda Magbegor
Minnesota Lynx – Tynice Martin
Los Angeles Sparks – Alanna Smith
Minnesota Lynx – Hallie Thome
Connecticut Sun – Maci Morris
Dallas Wings – Kennedy Burke
Atlanta Dream – Bridget Carleton
Seattle Storm – Kianna Ibis

ROUND THREE

Indiana Fever – Maite Cazorla
New York Liberty – Kayla Goth
Chicago Sky – Allazia Blockton
Indiana Fever – Kitija Laksa
Dallas Wings – Amy Okonkwo
Minnesota Lynx – Cierra Dillard
Los Angeles Sparks – Laura Stockton
Phoenix Mercury – Morgan Bertsch
Connecticut Sun – Teniya Page
Washington Mystics – Kiara Leslie
Atlanta Dream – Kennedy Leonard
Seattle Storm – Zykera Rice

My final thoughts on the 2018 WNBA season

September 18, 2018 ~ 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

The 2018 WNBA Season at the first quarter point.

June 18, 2018June 18, 2018 ~ Aneela Khan ~ Leave a comment

The 2018 WNBA season has now reached the quarter point of the season as a large majority of teams have played 10 or 11 games now. Only Phoenix has played up to 13 games (the most in the WNBA, currently). A month of WNBA games has flown by in this condensed schedule, which has meant craziness around the league. Let’s break it down in terms of what teams have stood out, what players have excelled and those that have not yet so far. There’s still a lot of season left to be played, but at this point, we are starting to see what potential playoff and championship contenders could be.

Team(s) that have stood out:

The Connecticut Sun stood out in the very early part of the season before the schedule as well as injuries caught up to them. They were in first place for the start of the season but now have lost three straight and sit in fourth place overall. The Los Angeles Sparks have been the steadying force and as a result of other teams slipping up, they are now in first place. They’ve been solid and playing to their expectation level as many thought they would still be a top team. The Seattle Storm have been excellent as well and they have played really well under new coach Dan Hughes. Last but not least, is the Phoenix Mercury. Many had the Mercury making the playoffs and possibly a top 4 team, but no one expected this hot start from them. They have won eight straight games, they have the best road record and Diana Taurasi is playing excellent basketball along side Brittney Griner. Diana Taurasi may have a serious case for the WNBA MVP award if the Mercury keep this up.

Players that have stood out:

As mentioned above, Diana Taurasi has stood out early one quarter in the WNBA season, but Natasha Howard has been an excellent addition to the Seattle Storm. She has played well beside Breanna Stewart which has allowed her offensive game to flourish. She’s on track to being a WNBA All Star next month. Chiney Ogwumike has also stood out from the Sun simply because she was injured last season and has performed well so far. If not for her injuries, she would have already been in star form. She’s just that good. Elizabeth Cambage from Dallas also stands out because, despite not playing in the WNBA for many years, she’s become the second best player for the Wings and she’s performed really well for that team.

Team(s) that have not performed well so far

The two teams that have not played well so far are the defending WNBA champion the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty. Prior to the season starting, many thought the Lynx would be the #1 team to beat but so far they have not been that team. As for the New York Liberty, they were thought of being a playoff contender but so far, they have struggled. Even with a healthy lineup, they have not been consistent so far and would miss the playoffs as they sit in ninth place overall. Both the Liberty and the Lynx can be better than they are right now and they still have three quarters of the WNBA season to prove it.

The 2018 WNBA Rookie Class

ROOKIES!! These WNBA rookies came to play this season. Led by A’ja Wilson, the #1 overall WNBA draft pick, Kelsey Mitchell, Kia Nurse, Ariel Atkins, Victoria Vivians, Myisha Hines Allen, Azura Stevens, Diamond DeShields, Gabby Williams have ALL shown flashes or have had games in which they have stood out so far. These rookies are different from previous recent classes because they have played well or have contributed to their teams in some kind of capacity. The WNBA is in good hands with these rookies as some of them have shown superstar or WNBA All Star potential. Some have shown they can be future great defenders or great starters.

SCHEDULE

The WNBA schedule is a talking point because let’s face it, these condensed schedule is nuts. We are already in Week 5, some teams have been on crazy road trips out West, some teams have played 4 games in 7 days, etc. Also there have been some really bad back to back game schedules. Each team will experience it or already have experienced it. Teams are now starting to lose players due to it which does not help teams in terms of making the playoffs. Thanks a lot, FIBA. It’s all your fault. (On the other hand, it does increase the amount of WNBA games on the schedule, which is a bonus for us, personally speaking)

STAT LEADERS

Point guard / Shooting guard Skylar Diggins-Smith currently leads the WNBA in scoring with 21.9 points per game followed by Breanna Stewart and Tina Charles.

Center Sylvia Fowles leads the way in rebounding with 11.8 rebounds per game followed by Elizabeth Williams and Alyssa Thomas.

Point guard Sue Bird leads the way in assists with 5.9 assists per game followed by Chelsea Gray and Skylar Diggins- Smith

There’s many more categories, but I chose the main three statistics.

That wraps up the 2018 WNBA season at the quarter point. There’s still so much to be decided, and we will have much more to discuss when the WNBA reaches at it’s halfway point, so stay tuned for that blog post. (The halfway point — believe it or not, is in two weeks!)

WNBA Players Scoring/Rebounding/Assists Milestones for the 2018 season

May 18, 2018 ~ Aneela Khan ~ Leave a comment

A new WNBA season is upon us. There’s so much to look forward too, but for these following WNBA players, it will be even more special as they can cross certain milestones and move themselves up in the WNBA lists. As always, my inspiration for this comes from Kevin Brown’s WNBA site where you can find all of these information and much more. I also used Across the Timeline’s website in which they detailed all of the upcoming WNBA players milestones. I only cover the three main categories and will update every single time via my Twitter when a player is near a certain milestone just like I have in previous years. *Note: I only put WNBA players who I think are capable of reaching the milestone THIS season ONLY.*

SCORING MILESTONES

8000 points

Diana Taurasi needs 133 points to reach 8000 points. She will be the FIRST EVER WNBA player to reach that scoring milestone. (Phoenix Mercury)

7000 points

Cappie Pondexter needs 409 points to reach 7000 points. (Los Angeles Sparks)

6000 points

Sue Bird needs 160 points to reach 6000 points. (Seattle Storm)

Candice Dupree needs 398 points to reach 6000 points. (Indiana Fever)

Seimone Augustus needs 521 points to reach 6000 points. (Minnesota Lynx)

5000 points

Angel McCoughtry needs 10 points to reach 5000 points. (Atlanta Dream)

Tina Charles needs 228 points to reach 5000 points. (New York Liberty)

Candace Parker needs 422 points to reach 5000 points. (Los Angeles Sparks)

Maya Moore needs 628 points to reach 5000 points. (Minnesota Lynx)

Sylvia Fowles needs 681 points to reach 5000 points. (Minnesota Lynx)

4000 points

Rebekkah Brunson needs 32 points to reach 4000 points. (Minnesota Lynx)

DeWanna Bonner needs 353 points to reach 4000 points. (Phoenix Mercury)

3000 points

Renee Montgomery needs 141 points to reach 3000 points. (Atlanta Dream)

Epiphanny Prince needs 146 points to reach 3000 points. (New York Liberty)

Shavonte Zellous needs 322 points to reach 3000 points. (New York Liberty)

Elena Delle Donne needs 352 points to reach 3000 points. (Washington Mystics)

2000 points

Courtney Vandersloot needs 84 points to reach 2000 points. (Chicago Sky)

Karima Christmas-Kelly needs 162 points to reach 2000 points. (Dallas Wings)

Danielle Robinson needs 182 points to reach 2000 points. (Minnesota Lynx)

Kia Vaughn needs 214 points to reach 2000 points. (New York Liberty)

Alex Bentley needs 239 points to reach 2000 points. (Connecticut Sun)

Allie Quigley needs 243 points to reach 2000 points. (Chicago Sky)

Odyssey Sims needs 288 points to reach 2000 points. (Los Angeles Sparks)

Kayla McBride needs 433 points to reach 2000 points. (Las Vegas Aces)

Jewell Loyd needs 473 points to reach 2000 points. (Seattle Storm)

1000 points

Chelsea Gray needs 68 points to reach 1000 points. (Los Angeles Sparks)

Chiney Ogwumike needs 104 points to reach 1000 points. (Connecticut Sun)

Alex Montgomery needs 113 points to reach 1000 points. (Chicago Sky)

Bria Hartley needs 144 points to reach 1000 points. (New York Liberty)

Elizabeth Williams needs 170 points to reach 1000 points. (Atlanta Dream)

Erica Wheeler needs 225 points to reach 1000 points. (Indiana Fever)

Jonquel Jones needs 246 points to reach 1000 points. (Connecticut Sun)

Natasha Howard needs 262 points to reach 1000 points. (Seattle Storm)

Liz Cambage needs 294 points to reach 1000 points. (Dallas Wings)

Moriah Jefferson needs 337 points to reach 1000 points. (Las Vegas Aces)

3000 rebounds

Tina Charles needs 347 rebounds to reach 3000 rebounds. (New York Liberty)

Sylvia Fowles needs 374 rebounds to reach 3000 rebounds. (Minnesota Lynx)

1000 rebounds

Noelle Quinn needs 6 rebounds to reach 1000 rebounds. (Seattle Storm)

Marissa Coleman needs 45 rebounds to reach 1000 rebounds. (New York Liberty)

Jessica Breland needs 86 rebounds to reach 1000 rebounds. (Atlanta Dream)

Karima Christmas-Kelly needs 136 rebounds to reach 1000 rebounds. (Dallas Wings)

Elena Delle Donne needs 143 rebounds to reach 1000 rebounds. (Washington Mystics)

Krystal Thomas needs 197 rebounds to reach 1000 rebounds. (Washington Mystics)

1000 assists

Renee Montgomery needs 75 assists to reach 1000 assists. (Atlanta Dream)

Kristi Toliver needs 79 assists to reach 1000 assists. (Washington Mystics)

Briann January needs 91 assists to reach 1000 assists. (Phoenix Mercury)

Danielle Robinson needs 121 assists to reach 1000 assists. (Minnesota Lynx)

Leilani Mitchell needs 197 assists to reach 1000 assists. (Phoenix Mercury)

2018 WNBA Mock Draft Version 1.0

March 20, 2018 ~ Aneela Khan ~ 5 Comments

With the NCAA women’s tournament well underway and the first two rounds officially completed, it is now time to unveil my WNBA mock draft for this year. I put a poll on Twitter asking if people would be interested in a weekly WNBA mock draft after every round and most people said yes. So, here we are! The first of my WNBA mock draft is below. I will have three more versions of mock drafts after this one. One after the Elite 8, one after the Final 4 and the final mock draft a couple of days before the official WNBA Draft. Just a reminder, that the WNBA Draft is on April 12th at 7 pm on ESPN2.

*FYI, my mock drafts are based somewhat on the results of the first two rounds of the NCAA tourney plus overall play & fit on a team*

FIRST ROUND

A’ja Wilson – (F) – Las Vegas Aces
Kelsey Mitchell – (G) – Indiana Fever
Gabby Williams (F) – Chicago Sky
Diamond DeShields – (G) – Chicago Sky
Jordin Canada – (G) – Seattle Storm
Lexie Brown – (G) – Dallas Wings
Victoria Vivians – (G) – Washington Mystics
Maria Vadeeva – (C) – Indiana Fever
Kia Nurse – (G) – Connecticut Sun
Ariel Atkins – (G) – New York Liberty
Stephanie Mavunga – (F) – Los Angeles Sparks
Monique Billings – (F) – Phoenix Mercury

SECOND ROUND

Jaime Nared – (F) – Las Vegas Aces
Marie Gulich – (C) – Indiana Fever
Tyler Scaife – (G) – Connecticut Sun
Shakayla Thomas – (G) – Atlanta Dream
Myisha Hines – Allen (F) – Minnesota Lynx
Brooke McCarty – (G) – Dallas Wings
Katelynn Flaherty – (G) – Washington Mystics
Vionise Pierre – Louis – (C) – Phoenix Mercury
Tyra Buss – (G) – Phoenix Mercury
Mercedes Russell – (C) – New York Liberty
Rebecca Greenwell – (G) – Los Angeles Sparks
Natalie Butler – (C) – Minnesota Lynx

THIRD ROUND

Carlie Wagner – (G) – Phoenix Mercury
Loryn Goodwin – (G) – Indiana Fever
Morgan William – (G) – Atlanta Dream
AJ Alix – (G) – Chicago Sky
Stephanie Reid – (G) – Seattle Storm
Teana Muldrow – (F) – Dallas Wings
Roshunda Johnson – (F) – Washington Mystics
Gabbi Ortiz – (G) – Las Vegas Aces
Lexie Bando – (G) – Connecticut Sun
Tashia Brown – (F) – New York Liberty
Kaylee Jensen – (C) – Los Angeles Sparks
Raisa Musina – (C) – Minnesota Lynx

The WNBA Regular Season – Taking a look back on all 12 teams

September 12, 2017 ~ Aneela Khan ~ Leave a comment

*Note: With the WNBA regular season ended more than a week ago and the WNBA Playoffs well underway, I know that this post is a bit late. This post is taking a look back on all 12 teams and how they finished post All Star break into the end of the regular season.

The 2017 WNBA regular season came to a close more than a week ago. It was a successful 2017 WNBA season as this season saw more fans attend more games since 2011. It was also one of the most highly social interacted on social media platforms thanks to the Twitter partnership, FanDuel deal and the introduction of the WNBA in a video game in NBA Live 18. There were some memorable moments in the 2017 season and there’s more to look forward to in 2018 as the league continues to grow.

All 12 teams at one point or another save for the San Antonio Stars were in playoff contention at some point in the year and the new playoff format saw teams playing their best until the very end of the regular season which is something that would not have happened under the old format in which teams tended to rest their players the final day.

We now take a look back at all 12 WNBA teams starting from the team to the worst record to the team with the best record post All Star break.

WNBA Team: San Antonio Stars

The San Antonio Stars were much better in the second half of the year in which they not only produced more wins but were more competitive and could have pulled out a few more wins. After struggling through the first 2 months, Stars first pick Kelsey Plum found her groove and played much better in the final months. She was in contention for WNBA Rookie of the Month honors for the month of August. After a slow start, she started coming into form and showed that she can be a great point guard although she still has much to learn. Meanwhile, the other Stars point guard Moriah Jefferson struggled with knee injuries and barely played in the final months and the Stars have not yet updated her status but she should be ready to play next May. The Stars have this off- season to decide whether or not to retain Vicky Johnson and need to upgrade some of the starting lineup so that the Stars can be compete for the playoffs which has not happened since 2014.

WNBA Team: Indiana Fever

The Indiana Fever had a rough second half of the season with many players having season ending injuries and the other players not performing up to their level save for Fever star Candice Dupree and Fever guard Erica Wheeler. When a team often loses their franchise player there are often growing pains and the Fever experienced that as they had a record WNBA loss against the Minnesota Lynx in the second half of the season and failed to make the playoffs in which they used to do regularly. Not all of it was bad however. Tiffany Mitchell had her moments, Shenise Johnson was the team’s leading scorer before she went down with a season ending injury and some of the team’s younger players got a chance to grow for next season. The Fever have work to do in the off- season if they want to get back to the WNBA playoffs next year.

WNBA Team: Atlanta Dream

The Atlanta Dream were a complete mess in the second half of the season. They were mostly hovering around the .500 mark before going on a losing streak which saw them not only lose their shot at the WNBA playoffs but they also lost their shot of drafting a top player next year when they traded for Imani Boyette and Tamera Young in exchange for Jordan Hooper and their 2018 first round pick. Because of the way the Dream finished the season, the first round pick became even more vital. After having 3 WNBA All Stars in the WNBA ASG, the Dream struggled and while rookie Brittney Sykes continued to bloom and was the Rookie of the Month for August and is in contention for Rookie of the Year, the rest of the team took a step back and the Dream management fired head coach Michael Cooper at the end of the disappointing end to what was a promising start. The Dream will get Angel McCoughtry back after she sat out the 2017 season but they also have work to do to get back into the WNBA playoffs for next season.

WNBA Team: Chicago Sky

The Chicago Sky were somewhat respectable in the second half of the season. They had moments where they looked playoff ready and others were they looked like they were lottery bound. It was an up and down second half of the season for the Sky. Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley remain one of the top back court duos in the WNBA and Stefanie Dolson is emerging as a top WNBA forward/center but other than that, the Sky could not get consistency beyond Jessica Breland and therefore was stuck in the dreaded 9th place where a team is good but not great enough for the playoffs. However, the 2018 outlook looks much better as the Sky are the most rich lottery team in terms of first round picks and should have much to look forward to in 2018 as they aim for the WNBA Playoffs.

WNBA Team: Seattle Storm

The Seattle Storm struggled with inconsistency for most of the season but during the second half of the season, the head coach Jenny Boucek was fired as the team was struggling and the team needed new leadership. Interim coach Gary Kloppenburg took control and the Storm seemed to trend in an upward direction as they won four straight and then struggled with inconsistency the rest of the year. However it was good enough to make the WNBA Playoffs which was a goal the organization had in mind and at least for this season was good enough. However, while Storm star Breanna Stewart was great, Jewell Loyd struggled with inconsistency and it showed in games. The Storm bench was not always up to par and so the Storm have work to do and have to address their needs otherwise they maybe a lottery team next season. They also have to address whether or not they will keep Gary Kloppenburg or hire a new head coach altogether.

WNBA Team: Dallas Wings

The Dallas Wings had a stable second half of the season. They mostly hovered around the .500 mark for the second half of the season and were competitive in many games despite their defense being the worst in the league. Skylar Diggins was exceptional for the Wings and the Wings also got help from Glory Johnson, Theresa Plaisance, Allisha Gray, Karima Christmas-Kelly to help them make the playoffs after their move to Dallas last season. Allisha Gray struggled in the second half of the season but still was a solid rookie and in contention for WNBA Rookie of the Year. The Wings with 5 rookies were able to make the playoffs and have much to look forward to in 2018 but must address their defense otherwise they may take a step back next season.

WNBA Team: Washington Mystics

The Washington Mystics did not have a great ending to the 2017 season. Their second half was marred with injuries to key players such as Elena Delle Donne and Natasha Cloud. They were in contention for the #4 overall seed before injuries took a toll and the Mystics lost a couple of games. After a promising start to the season, the Mystics just could not pull it together during the second half of the season and dropped in the standings to the #6 seed. However, it was not all bad for the Mystics. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough showed she can play, Emma Messeman stepped up her game and Krystal Thomas shined. Because of injuries, it is difficult to tell how good the Mystics can be but they will be definitely better next season when all of the key players are healthy and ready to go.

WNBA Team: Phoenix Mercury

The Phoenix Mercury overachieved during the second half of the season. Although they were in contention for the #4 spot along with the Mystics, they dropped a couple of games while Brittney Griner was sidelined. When Griner returned and still one of the best players in the game Diana Taurasi were able to guide the Mercury to win some much needed games and eventually won the #5 seed. The Mercury had a great ending to the season not only due to Griner and Taurasi but Leilani Mitchell, Monique Currie, etc helped. It’s a truly remarkable season for the Mercury as Griner becomes into the top player in the league. The Mercury outlook for 2018 looks bright.

WNBA Team: Connecticut Sun

The Connecticut Sun dropped off a little bit during the second half of the season. They started off and stayed mostly at the #3 seed for majority of the year before some losses dropped them to #4. It was still a great year for the Sun as they not only made the WNBA Playoffs but to do so well with such a young team. Jasmine Thomas and Alyssa Thomas were excellent for the Sun, Jonquel Jones showed why she will be a force in the WNBA and other players helped such as Courtney Williams, Alex Bentley, etc. The Sun exceeded expectations and with that comes new expectations. The 2018 season for the Sun looks very good and they will get back their star who was injured in Chiney Oguwmike.

WNBA Team: New York Liberty

The New York Liberty ended the season on a roll. After hovering near the .500 mark the first half of the season, they managed to win 10 in a row and end up as the #3 seed just like last season. Tina Charles was dominant once again, and the Liberty got solid contributions from Bria Hartley, Shavonte Zellous, and others. After struggling majority of the season, the Liberty turned things around because of their defense and finally played like one of the top teams that they were expected to be. However, the Liberty’s end to the regular season was going to be defined on how they played in the WNBA playoffs after suffering two first round exits the previous two years. (The Liberty’s great end of the season was all for naught, as they once again lost in the first round and have many questions to address including whether or not Bill Laimbeer should continue to be the head coach.) The Liberty are still a top team, but they have their work cut out for them if they want to advance in the playoffs and have great success in 2018.

WNBA Team: Los Angeles Sparks

The Los Angeles Sparks ended the second half of the season on a great note. They managed to stay in contention for the #1 overall seed till the very last day and managed to win the regular season series versus the Lynx two games to one. The defending champions showed that they are still one of the best teams in the WNBA and are on a mission to win the WNBA title again this season. Nneka Oguwmike and Candace Parker are still one of the very best front court duos and Alana Beard’s defence is top notch. Along with that the Sparks have very good guard play in Chelsea Gray and Odyssey Sims plus excellent defence. The Sparks have tough offensive firepower heading into the WNBA Playoffs which will be difficult for any team to stop. The Sparks outlook for 2018 is once again very great as the majority of the team is still young enough for perhaps, another title run next season.

WNBA Team: Minnesota Lynx

The Minnesota Lynx ended the second half of the season after such a strong start in the first half of the season just good enough to secure the overall top seed. They struggled in the second half of the season after losing their point guard Lindsay Whalen to injury. Although Renee Montgomery stepped up in her absence, the Lynx managed to win enough games and the Lynx’s age showed as many of their players just did not have the energy they had during the first half of the season. However, after setting a record start the slide was able to prevent the Sparks from gaining ground and the Lynx managed to stay tough. The Lynx were led by Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, Sylvia Fowles plus their savy vets off the bench. The Lynx are still one of the top teams in the WNBA and it will be tough to stop them come WNBA playoff time. The 2018 outlook for the Lynx is still very good and the Lynx will be yet on another WNBA title chase.

With that, my review of the 2017 season through all 12 teams is completed and with the WNBA Playoffs well underway, there’s still some more endings needed to be written for the 2017 season. Make sure you tune into ESPN2 and catch the exciting playoff games to see who wins the WNBA title this year.

Twitter and the WNBA – What people are missing

May 17, 2017May 17, 2017 ~ Aneela Khan ~ Leave a comment

The Twitter live stream of the first game was a smashing success. It was of great quality and the conversation was also great. There were very few trolls or mean comments. It was refreshing based on what we normally see in comments section on the Internet. This was a very good step forward by not only the WNBA but Twitter as well.

One of the many things people often complain about the product is the fact that the WNBA does not market itself well. Very few TV ads are placed and the WNBA is not front and center in the public very often. The WNBA has started to address this by using Twitter, a social media tool that is used world wide and has great reach than what the WNBA can provide in the United States.

This is a very smart business move by the WNBA. Social media and online networks will continue to move forward and the WNBA has pushed forward in getting women’s sports out in the digital world. But what people fail to realize is, the WNBA has no intent to put out all of their games on Twitter. This is just a sneak peek to gauge casual fans interest and essentially get people to visit the website and purchase WNBA League Pass. It’s also to get people talking about the WNBA and for them to see the greatness of these WNBA players.

Another key part of this is Twitter. Twitter has started to already have an online digital network presence. They broadcast the news, sports, and other activities and have more lined up for the fall. For right now, the Twitter live stream is FREE. Remember, Twitter is a business. They need to make money. It could be in three to four years, that they start charging Twitter users who want to watch the Twitter live stream. Only then, will the WNBA have an active presence on Twitter.

I find it fascinating when I was reading the comments on #WNBALive and one of the comments said something along the lines of “I love this game! If there were MORE games to watch, I would!”. That kind of set me back a bit. The WNBA already does feature more games on ESPN and on local TV networks. Like I mentioned previously, they also have League Pass. Maybe the WNBA should have an in game advertisement saying if you enjoyed this game, you can watch the games on League Pass! Something along the lines of that.

I’ve been a fan of the WNBA for 9 years (10 WNBA seasons) and the product just keeps getting better and better. Every year, these new athletes get better. There will still be haters, or people who don’t want to see the WNBA get better. Over the years, I’ve shifted through articles of the following: “WNBA Players don’t get paid as much as the NBA Players”, “Where is the media coverage for the WNBA”, “Can the WNBA survive? Is it profitable?”, and so on and on. It gets annoying for me to read as well as other people. So I’ve stopped. I’ve stopped reading those type of articles. Stopped mentioning to others to go read.

That is why I am so glad that the WNBA and Twitter have teamed up. Twitter is BY FAR the most social media tool I use and I am grateful that the league thinks the same way. I am ready to see the impact the Twitter deal will have on the league and if it can pick up more fans.

One last thing, if you want the WNBA to have more games on Twitter, be willing to pay. You like the action, but don’t live in a WNBA city? Buy WNBA League Pass. Stop making excuses and be honest with yourselves. You want the WNBA to succeed? Then prepare to open your wallet.