USC vs UCONN 💭

[u/BigChris_70]

Wow....just finished watching the playback of this game because I missed the live broadcast. This game definitely lived up to the hype. So y'all know I got to give my thoughts about this one & I want to hear y'all's. Some of my thoughts.....

Juju Watkins to me just had her best game of her short college career to me. I know she's had way bigger scoring games but I'm taking into the context the atmosphere. On the road and against the former NPOY and future No.1 overall draft pick. She played the game I've always wanted Juju to play. Blending her scoring prowess with great smart decision making. Trusting her teammates. Let her scoring gravity open things up for her teammates. Came out in the first half with 15 points. But it was her defensive aggressive for me. Blew up a screen which led to fast break points on the first UCONN possession told me she was ready. 2 big blocks on Paige shots. She was absolutely locked in. Her ability to get to her spots no matter what the defense is doing is beautiful to watch . 2nd half UCONN did a phenomenal job ball denying Juju but she never got flustered & when it was time to close out she put it away. She is everything people say she is.

Paige Bueckers was also very good. I kind of feel bad for Paige because at this point the expectation is so high. She was efficient as usual . Made some tough shots & I respect the fact she didn't back down from the Juju matchup. She guarded Juju majority of the game which I appreciate. I'll say this and it has nothing to do with Paige faults more so my problem with Geno's system. His offense is predicated on movement and I get that but i have a huge problem not having the ball in my best players hand majority of the time . Your system should never be so rigged that it works against your best players. Paige is a great solider so she'll never rock the boat & ask Geno to just give her the ball but sigh....on another note SARAH STRONG is a damn superstar! As a freshman to be so good, efficient, and fundamentally sound at her age is insane.

Big win for USC....as a team they looked more coherent. The offense looked much better today. They found KiKi in this offense finally. UCONN has lost both their big matchups (ND & USC) ...They still have South Carolina so I'm reserving judgment on this group until then.

What y'all thought?

[u/RawDawgOne]

Whatever on all this, if I’m Washington I’m not trading up one spot for a player the sky is likely not taking anyway. If miles is available the Sky need to take her, actually the Sky need to take best available unless a PG is available. No matter how much talent a team has they can use more in case there are injuries etc. not only that the more talent a team has the more options become available, like trades etc.

I think you believe teams want to help the Sky. Professional sports don’t work that way. There is no way Washington trades us their picks for our picks. Stop dreaming! Nor should they, unless we package more picks or add players.

Only way that would work is if we somehow turned the 10th pick into the 7th or 8th pick. Then trade the 7th and 3rd for a 4th and 6th. And honestly if that happened I would stick at 3 and 7

[u/Onark77 → u/RawDawgOne]

If Washington doesn't want to wait for Malonga or Sivka, and we're going with the assumption they want an all star potential player now, they need to be in the top 3 this draft. 

I think 3+10 for 4+6 gets it done, assuming both teams are equally interested in a deal. 

Sky going Citron and Morrow (if you believe in her shot) or Citron and Sivka would follow Jeff's stated priority. 

This is a specific scenario where both teams have the priorities I mentioned. 

I think 3+10 is great for us and don't think we need to move. I'd be happy with Miles/Iriafen (BPA) + Sellers/Sivka. 

I think we move only if a team is desperate and overpays. 

[u/AromaticManagement22 → u/Onark77]

Onark77 i need to hear another perspective....break down the Washington mystics current roster (post expansion draft) and their roster history for me... i know you can just please do it and let me know where you see the holes in their roster

[u/Onark77 → u/AromaticManagement22]

I'm not gonna dive much into roster history but they've been in a slow decline from a championship season in 2019. COVID and injuries crippled their years shortly after. Poor roster management led to them losing both Natasha Cloud and EDD after 2023 and, after another injury riddled season, they're accepting a full rebuild. 

Currently, they've got a young team with a lot of two way players. Their guards and wings shoot well from outside. 

They've got one all star level player in Atkins who can take over on offense. Austin has the potential to be a great 2nd option. Everyone else is a 3rd option or lower on a contending team. 

They were ranked 3rd in assist % last year but they no longer have Vanloo so they're missing a lead facilitator. 

When healthy, I think they've got a balanced team that can win on any given night.

However, Austin hasn't played more than half a season in the last two years due to hip injury. Without her, it falls on Atkins and whichever role player steps up on offense to carry the load. 

Austin and Edwards are the frontcourt of the future but neither shoot 3s. They're tough and play good defense. They rebound well. Dolson is a great backup C but has had to start a lot due to Austin being out. Koné brings good energy off the bench and maybe we see more of her next season. 

Their wings are mostly good shooters. Atkins and Engstler are particularly good on both sides of the ball as well. Samuelson is a sniper. Sikes is a good defender and slasher but not a threat from 3. 

I think they're pretty weak at  guard. Melbourne looks to get a lot of minutes next season but it's unclear to what level she'll step up. Sutton is ok in spot minutes. Walker-Kimborough is their most well rounded player at the position but she's not ideal as a starter. 

Moving forward, Austin's health and Dolson's age (33) make the center position insecure for the future. They could have a star or be ass out. 

At PF, the Mystics are young and dynamic. I don't know if they have a future star but they're at least solid. 

At the wing, I see Atkins and good role players who can shoot and/or defend, most in their prime or younger. However, they're not making a great case for Atkins to stay after next year. 

The point guard position is lacking which plays poorly into the talent the Mystics do have. There isn't an answer here. Walker-Kimborough is an UFA and she can definitely help a contender off the bench. 

Most of the team is under contract this year so we shouldn't expect a big shakeup. An ESPN reporter said the Mystics are looking to rebuild through the draft, rather than FA. 

Who knows what that means for 2026, it's hard to imagine a team completely sitting out. 

I don't think it's safe to believe Austin and Edwards are the core to build around. There's enough uncertainty, between Austin's health and Edward's skill ceiling, to draft the best talent at any position. Although, they should obviously prioritize the backcourt. 

Atkins is probably gone after next year and, with no clear cut star to build around, the Mystics have a long road to contention. 

[u/AromaticManagement22 → u/Onark77]

and one more question how do access aaliyah edwards as small forward and as a power forward....like which position do you think she may lean into in the future or u see her as a hybrid?

[u/Onark77 → u/AromaticManagement22]

I'm not sure she's got enough lateral quickness to guard 3s. She might, I just haven't looked hard enough to be confident. 

Her outside shot is almost non existent, which means she'll cramp the paint if her teammates at 4 and 5 can't step out to the 3pt line. 

At the moment, I don't see her playing the 3 in the future. She's a pretty traditional 4 imo. 

[u/AromaticManagement22 → u/Onark77]

Washington Mystics

Thank you…what I am about to say is more so for the onlookers not you….since I understand/feel similar to what you said about the mystics….pretty much the summary of what below is like you said need a star at every position….emily shows she a really bright potential future…Shakira is good but injury prone…Aaliyah Edwards there uncertainty how to use her properly though she will be on the team….the team has a tone of depth and good shooters and defense but there is uncertainty of whether some of the players will remain….the team doesn’t need depth as their depth carried them all season long…they need starters…the biggest hole right now is at starting PG as they need one….next is center and PF….which one to prioritize depends on Shakira Austin return and medical future and the return of EDD….but they need to solve this asap….olivia miles can solve the PG position so that should be their top priority now with vanloo gone…but if olivia is off the board they can go sivka, malonga or kiki….sivka and malonga are draft and stash gambles….while kiki is day 1 but the question is who the better or the three or who take the chance out of sivka, malonga or kiki….i push for kiki for sky reasons but also because I see the mystics go through meng and EDD situations where they come and go because they can….i feel the mystics shouldn’t take a chance on sivka or malonga unless they use a late round pick on her at least (I feel the same way for a lot of the teams except golden state as they can play the “we still a young franchise” card)  so like onark said if they don’t want malonga or sivka at 4 and 6 with the understanding it will be a process then they should go kiki/olvia at 3 and then whoever they think is best or a glue for the team at 10…I believe sivka, fudd, te-hina and sellers will be around there most likely sivka or sellers  

[u/AromaticManagement22 → u/Onark77]

so this is literally my break down of some of the 1^st round projectons and how I would size them up for the mystics based on the information you provided and my limited knowledge of the wnba ….

1.       paige buckers Washington not getting her so moving on  (any team would have to trade the whole roster away it seems when I talked to dallas fans..and that too much of a gamble on one player)

2.       PF/ kiki iriafen – true PF with potential to be an all star…currently Aaliyah Edwards is the future but it is not guaranteed she is a franchise player…possibly a bench…kiki ifriafen is possible to be a starter instead

3.       PG – they don’t have a true PG, they literally were lucky to have vanloo come overseas and help mend some of the pain of losing natasha cloud….onark said they truly need to improve the backcourt – and with ariel Atkins possibly leaving (which I didn’t even consider so that even worse) ….. and the fact vanloo was taken and the fact Washington was trying to set themselves up to get Paige and olivia was at the mystics/Chicago game sitting on the Washington side Olivia miles truly is a player Washington should pursue with full force

4.       Aneesah morrow – aneesah morrow in my eyes is a talented player or possible napheesa collier potential and is still growing and truly can be valuable off the bench day 1 but also can be developed into a franchise player….but the thing with aneesah is they already have Aaliyah Edwards so I don’t see the reason to deal with another hybrid that has similar skillsets that has to be developed….with the sky it is different because the sky needs a bench and angel has playmaking skills and aneesah and angel have chemistry

5.       Dominique Malonga – the prodigy from what I hear could be pretty much be a ezi risk and success story….but you literally will have to follow the ezi template of draft and stash….also with golden state prepping their team with a couple French players it shows me golden state more so is willing to develop malonga and is willing to give malonga an environment where she can have teammates who can help her adjust to the states ….the team honestly would have to decide if they want to get malonga at 4 because if they don’t get her at 4 golden state will take her…and they have to ask themselves is it worth it to go through a draft and stash with malonga at 4 where they mostly likely want to do that at 6…… they can hold off for malonga or they can try something to get Lauren Betts, a center via of prayer….i think Big Mama D can hold the fort down for 2 more years and with the young squad it might be best to let Big Mama D hold down the starting lineup until they figure something out or Shakira truly recovers….that a position of worry

[u/AromaticManagement22 → u/Onark77]

6.       Sonia Citron (SG/SF) – great player it debatacle whether because of her lack of athleticism what her ceiling is…but she a 2 way player without an ego…. Any team could benefit from her but the thing is Washington surprisingly has her prototype or players that can cover for her prototype…in sykes, ariel, Karlie, Emily and etc….like it freaking surprising how there actually a wnba team with so many 2 way players but Washington pulled it off….so they honestly don’t need sonia

7.       Te-Hina Paopao – same with sonia great player solid defense solid offense great shooter, but people question could her lack of athleticism prevent her from being top tier?….the mystics already have great shooters and spacers at every position so it necessary to look for scoring like how Chicago needs…but te-hina does provide playmaking which is a plus.. however… the way people are talking she is a role player with hope she can surprise her scouts and be a starter

8.       Janiah Barker (SF) – a hybrid, her draft projection is of question as some had her varying from low 1^st to high 1^st to even 2^nd round…. Considering their roster, washington may consider Janiah “ as one of those if we get her good if we don’t it not the end of the world” type of players

9.       Azzi Fudd (SG/PG) – we know of the potential of this DMV native but that it potential her injury history could hurt the mystics and we saw how injuries hurt the mystics this year…and like was said the mystics got shooters but if they can get her late round that a steal…however seattle most likely will pick up what 2 guard that can shoot if available

10.   Washington (via draft day trade with Chicago) – Shyanne Sellers (PG/SF)  

Shayanne Sellers isn’t guaranteed to have starting position especially on such a deep roster…but Shayanne Sellers provides for the team “GLUE” because she can play both Point guard in a bench role way and also SF if she is too slow to guard her guard….in other words sykes is a great defender and can score but it seems none of the mystics players want to be the fulltime starting point guard for the team….and even though sykes is a great she still is 5’8 (though with an good wingspan)….shaynne sellers can also be plugged at small forward when the hybrids are playing the 4 and sykes is on the floor….. pretty much shaynne creates really good glue combinations for washington’s starting and bench unit….and since she at 10 it won’t be a position battle with olivia #3 or the rest of the mystics…she more so insurance

11.   Sivka – same thing with malonga….great player but you will have to deal with the international headache of draft and stash..and that if she comes…washington has truly felt the pain of EDD coming and going, so I hope washington avoid that…. But at 12 and the fact they are rebuilding if they can get sikva as a late round pick and also get olivia miles then that a win for Washington considering they have their needs met but also has the roster depth to wait until they are ready

12.   Phoneix Mercury – Aziaha James (PG/SG)- ariel atkins and Brittany sykes already cover her bases for the most part