Thanks for this Jeff. I wonder what you are thinking at this point about all the fouls being called this season. Is it having the positive impact that everyone hoped for? I know there were 54 fouls called in the first mystics game and it felt like there were more called in last night’s game. As a fan, I found it very annoying. There was one space of two minutes where it felt like five calls were made. have things gone too far?
There were 43 fouls called in last night's game. Sunday was more egregious, but I think this game felt worse because the Storm were down big. Also, for some reason, there were only two referees in last night's game. There should always be 3. We're still trying to learn what happened there. But that could also explain why there were some more calls because the refs had to make more judgment calls than normal because they couldn't see everything.
From a wider view, I don't love how the foul calls have increased so much this season. I grew up watching excellent defenders on the Sonics like Gary Payton and Nate McMillan, so I've always been a fan of good, tough defense.
While trying to keep an open mind, I don't think I've ever seen this much scoring in the WNBA. I feel like there's been more 100+ point games in May than there may have been all of last season (probably not, but it feels like it). Last night, Toronto beat Chicago 111 to 104. I have to imagine the WNBA wants more games like that and less of what we saw in Seattle with the 78 to 64. Even though Sunday's game featured even more fouls, the offenses were also a lot better (97-85), and that's probably another reason why yesterday's game felt worse. I think the league wants better offense and more points. And they hope that'll result in growing their audience even further.
I believe this initiative was started because some of the physical play got out of control last season, or the past couple of seasons. While I don't think Caitlin Clark's lingering injury issues were specific to uncalled fouls last season, the league also doesn't want their top attractions to get beaten up and miss that many games. Napheesa Collier was taken out of the playoffs, missed all of Unrivaled, and is missing a good portion of this season because Alyssa Thomas bull-rushed right through her body in the playoffs, causing Collier to have to get surgeries on both of her ankles.
Overall, I am OK if the league wants to decrease some of the physicality if it protects the players more. And if it results in higher scoring games and more entertainment, which brings in more viewers, more money for the players, etc. I just don't want to see the WNBA get anywhere close to the NBA, where you literally have an entire team in OKC flopping their way to another Championship because the refs blow a whistle on everything, including times when there is literally no contact. That's garbage, and I hope that type of play stays far away from the WNBA.
If they are truly trying to avoid certain injuries like the ones we saw last season, then their approach seems haphazard and overwrought. Why wouldn’t they take a look at what happened on those plays and say “ok, we need to call x better”. The Collier injury, from what I remember, happened away from the basket, and that’s not where I’m seeing most of the fouls being called this season.
Great recap for a tough game! Jade hit the nail on the head, Mystic’s pressure on D and better offense put the spotlight on the Storm’s half-court offense. Work to do!
Last thought. Can we just sign Alicia Florez Getino to our roster? Like seriously, she’d be a good addition.
She could be signed by the Storm, I believe, if Mystics were to relinquish protection rights. I’d like more than one data point, but she’s got some feisty in her.
The Storm would have to sign her to the main roster, so who are you getting rid of? They can't cut Taina or Taylor; it would have to be someone on the main 12 (and not Joyner Holmes, who is on Hardship). Florez was impressive. I didn't think she completely swung the game in Washington's favor, but she definitely made a positive impact in my eyes for the Mystics. Of course, as Eric points out, one game is not enough of a sample size to make a major decision.
The team already waived Grace, and Mack has been playing really well. Plus, it's possible Ezi misses all of June, so they're thin in the post. God forbid if Dom got another concussion this season; she would likely be out for the year.
It’d have to be Lexie and I get why they aren’t doing that. I personally hold out hope she’ll get a trade to a playoff bound team. Dolson, Heideman, KLS, and Ezi seem like enough veterans to keep the team steady.
Alicia looked talented though, one game is not enough but if other tape holds up, it could be worth it. She likely played with Awa some on Valencia before she got loaned to Ensino, and played against her this year with Ensino in the playoffs.
The roster doesn’t seem good enough that there wouldn’t be outside upgrades to be had on waivers/dev spots, but Sonia’s just learning the team and patience/development is usually a good thing.
While I've said my piece about Lexie in the past. I don't see any way they'd waive Katie Lou. She signed a two-year deal for relatively low money. Even if she never turns into her Top 5 draft status, she still offers a lot of things most players don't. There aren't a lot of guards/wings that have her size and length. It was nice to see her score 8 points in just her 2nd game back. The Storm need her to be an effective scorer off the bench for them.
I would say there is a good chance they already realize this. They're going to see players in practice and other situations that we aren't able to witness. I will be curious to see if she starts playing more for them or if this was more of a one-time thing.
Thanks for this Jeff. I wonder what you are thinking at this point about all the fouls being called this season. Is it having the positive impact that everyone hoped for? I know there were 54 fouls called in the first mystics game and it felt like there were more called in last night’s game. As a fan, I found it very annoying. There was one space of two minutes where it felt like five calls were made. have things gone too far?
There were 43 fouls called in last night's game. Sunday was more egregious, but I think this game felt worse because the Storm were down big. Also, for some reason, there were only two referees in last night's game. There should always be 3. We're still trying to learn what happened there. But that could also explain why there were some more calls because the refs had to make more judgment calls than normal because they couldn't see everything.
From a wider view, I don't love how the foul calls have increased so much this season. I grew up watching excellent defenders on the Sonics like Gary Payton and Nate McMillan, so I've always been a fan of good, tough defense.
While trying to keep an open mind, I don't think I've ever seen this much scoring in the WNBA. I feel like there's been more 100+ point games in May than there may have been all of last season (probably not, but it feels like it). Last night, Toronto beat Chicago 111 to 104. I have to imagine the WNBA wants more games like that and less of what we saw in Seattle with the 78 to 64. Even though Sunday's game featured even more fouls, the offenses were also a lot better (97-85), and that's probably another reason why yesterday's game felt worse. I think the league wants better offense and more points. And they hope that'll result in growing their audience even further.
I believe this initiative was started because some of the physical play got out of control last season, or the past couple of seasons. While I don't think Caitlin Clark's lingering injury issues were specific to uncalled fouls last season, the league also doesn't want their top attractions to get beaten up and miss that many games. Napheesa Collier was taken out of the playoffs, missed all of Unrivaled, and is missing a good portion of this season because Alyssa Thomas bull-rushed right through her body in the playoffs, causing Collier to have to get surgeries on both of her ankles.
Overall, I am OK if the league wants to decrease some of the physicality if it protects the players more. And if it results in higher scoring games and more entertainment, which brings in more viewers, more money for the players, etc. I just don't want to see the WNBA get anywhere close to the NBA, where you literally have an entire team in OKC flopping their way to another Championship because the refs blow a whistle on everything, including times when there is literally no contact. That's garbage, and I hope that type of play stays far away from the WNBA.
If they are truly trying to avoid certain injuries like the ones we saw last season, then their approach seems haphazard and overwrought. Why wouldn’t they take a look at what happened on those plays and say “ok, we need to call x better”. The Collier injury, from what I remember, happened away from the basket, and that’s not where I’m seeing most of the fouls being called this season.
I was at the game on Sunday, and the 4th quarter was nearly unwatchable… General vibe in my section as the game ended was boredom and confusion.
Great recap for a tough game! Jade hit the nail on the head, Mystic’s pressure on D and better offense put the spotlight on the Storm’s half-court offense. Work to do!
Last thought. Can we just sign Alicia Florez Getino to our roster? Like seriously, she’d be a good addition.
She could be signed by the Storm, I believe, if Mystics were to relinquish protection rights. I’d like more than one data point, but she’s got some feisty in her.
The Storm would have to sign her to the main roster, so who are you getting rid of? They can't cut Taina or Taylor; it would have to be someone on the main 12 (and not Joyner Holmes, who is on Hardship). Florez was impressive. I didn't think she completely swung the game in Washington's favor, but she definitely made a positive impact in my eyes for the Mystics. Of course, as Eric points out, one game is not enough of a sample size to make a major decision.
The team already waived Grace, and Mack has been playing really well. Plus, it's possible Ezi misses all of June, so they're thin in the post. God forbid if Dom got another concussion this season; she would likely be out for the year.
It’d have to be Lexie and I get why they aren’t doing that. I personally hold out hope she’ll get a trade to a playoff bound team. Dolson, Heideman, KLS, and Ezi seem like enough veterans to keep the team steady.
Alicia looked talented though, one game is not enough but if other tape holds up, it could be worth it. She likely played with Awa some on Valencia before she got loaned to Ensino, and played against her this year with Ensino in the playoffs.
The roster doesn’t seem good enough that there wouldn’t be outside upgrades to be had on waivers/dev spots, but Sonia’s just learning the team and patience/development is usually a good thing.
I cut Lexie or Katie Lou. In a heartbeat. Why on earth should this year not be about bringing in new young talent?
While I've said my piece about Lexie in the past. I don't see any way they'd waive Katie Lou. She signed a two-year deal for relatively low money. Even if she never turns into her Top 5 draft status, she still offers a lot of things most players don't. There aren't a lot of guards/wings that have her size and length. It was nice to see her score 8 points in just her 2nd game back. The Storm need her to be an effective scorer off the bench for them.
And also, if you wait for the sample size to be longer, you’re just giving the Mystics more time to realize that they should protect/keep Florez.
I would say there is a good chance they already realize this. They're going to see players in practice and other situations that we aren't able to witness. I will be curious to see if she starts playing more for them or if this was more of a one-time thing.