Another disappointing loss for us that we couldn't beat the Lynx even when they didn't have (presumed) MVP Phee. That came after getting really good news that we are getting Brittney Sykes and only giving up one of our 3 first round picks in 2026. Is she a free agent after this season? I think between her and Dom playing close to 20 minutes a game, we may be able to turn this ship around yet. I certainly hope so.
Yes, good question. Brittney Sykes is a UFA next year after this season. That means Seattle will have to protect her in the expansion draft if they are interested in re-signing her beyond 2025. That's also a good point; if Sykes and Dom can get more minutes, that might be able to help the starters get over some of their fatigue. I wrote about that in Part 2.
Jeff, what do you think of the officiating in this game? My seats are right under the basket and I did not see many Seattle fouls ignored, but I saw a massive number of Minnesota fouls not called. Then there was the "inadvertent whistle" which really should have been a reset of the shot clock. There are always going to be errors by the referees, but it seems like since the coach complained the court has been decidedly tilted against the Storm.
To my understanding, the inadvertent whistle was blown because that ref thought the shot clock was supposed to reset from the jump ball, but it didn't. But she was wrong. The ball got knocked to the backcourt, but I don't believe Minnesota ever had full possession, so when the jump-ball was called, it was based on the Storm's previous shot clock, which was down to seven seconds. Basically, she thought it was supposed to reset so she blew the whistle, but it shouldn't, so she was wrong and that's why they called it an inadvertent whistle.
Regarding the referees in general, I think it was the LA game that I thought was the most egregious. I thought they missed several calls in the first half of that game. And obviously, that's the game that Coach Quinn went off in the press conference because Skylar played 43 minutes and didn't have a single FT attempt. Anyways, I felt that the refs were worse in the LA game but if we look at the box score of all 3 home games over this past week, this Minnesota game was the most lopsided as the Lynx had more than double the amount of free throw attempts as the Storm. However, that is skewed a bit because Seattle had to force fouls at the end of the game.
Unfortunately this aging core once again fell short against an actual contender. I definitely hope Mitchell is ok. No one could have foreseen her injury. But it certainly, in hindsight, compounds the tragedy of sending Washington one of their three first round picks earlier. They could be building a new championship core though the draft. Instead they chose to prop up this core.
This is the great debate. I wonder how we will look back at the decision to recruit Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins instead of embracing a full rebuild after Stewie and Sue were gone. I've written about that a few different times before.
They could have kept Pick #4 and either drafted Rickea Jackson, Angel Reese, or Aaliyah Edwards. If they missed the playoffs again in 2024, they might have landed #1 overall and drafted Paige Bueckers, or they would still get Dom Malonga.
I don't think they will, but I really hope they don't make another trade before the deadline and part with another first-round pick. Having two first-round picks next season still gives them the opportunity to add some more pieces, even if neither ends up a lottery pick. The way the LA Sparks are playing, I think it's appropriate to switch the focus toward players that could be taken in the 8-12 range instead of the Top 5.
Was this regarding trade deadline? Free Agency? Or the draft?
If referring to next year’s draft, before the LA Sparks became the hottest team in the league, I was thinking their pick would come down to Olivia Miles, Azzi Fudd, or Flau’jae Johnson. Unfortunately, I think it’s pretty obvious LA is going to make the playoffs. I think Seattle’s draft picks are going to be in the 8-10 range. I’m not as familiar with a lot of the players mocked in that area. Cotie McMahon was a player I was very high on when she was a Freshman. But her stock has dropped some. I’m responding on my phone. I can send more later.
Another disappointing loss for us that we couldn't beat the Lynx even when they didn't have (presumed) MVP Phee. That came after getting really good news that we are getting Brittney Sykes and only giving up one of our 3 first round picks in 2026. Is she a free agent after this season? I think between her and Dom playing close to 20 minutes a game, we may be able to turn this ship around yet. I certainly hope so.
Yes, good question. Brittney Sykes is a UFA next year after this season. That means Seattle will have to protect her in the expansion draft if they are interested in re-signing her beyond 2025. That's also a good point; if Sykes and Dom can get more minutes, that might be able to help the starters get over some of their fatigue. I wrote about that in Part 2.
Jeff, what do you think of the officiating in this game? My seats are right under the basket and I did not see many Seattle fouls ignored, but I saw a massive number of Minnesota fouls not called. Then there was the "inadvertent whistle" which really should have been a reset of the shot clock. There are always going to be errors by the referees, but it seems like since the coach complained the court has been decidedly tilted against the Storm.
Yeah, I feel like I caused that damn whistle by yelling because WTF…why was our shot clock @ 6sec? They never listen to me when I beg for a foul…
To my understanding, the inadvertent whistle was blown because that ref thought the shot clock was supposed to reset from the jump ball, but it didn't. But she was wrong. The ball got knocked to the backcourt, but I don't believe Minnesota ever had full possession, so when the jump-ball was called, it was based on the Storm's previous shot clock, which was down to seven seconds. Basically, she thought it was supposed to reset so she blew the whistle, but it shouldn't, so she was wrong and that's why they called it an inadvertent whistle.
Regarding the referees in general, I think it was the LA game that I thought was the most egregious. I thought they missed several calls in the first half of that game. And obviously, that's the game that Coach Quinn went off in the press conference because Skylar played 43 minutes and didn't have a single FT attempt. Anyways, I felt that the refs were worse in the LA game but if we look at the box score of all 3 home games over this past week, this Minnesota game was the most lopsided as the Lynx had more than double the amount of free throw attempts as the Storm. However, that is skewed a bit because Seattle had to force fouls at the end of the game.
Unfortunately this aging core once again fell short against an actual contender. I definitely hope Mitchell is ok. No one could have foreseen her injury. But it certainly, in hindsight, compounds the tragedy of sending Washington one of their three first round picks earlier. They could be building a new championship core though the draft. Instead they chose to prop up this core.
This is the great debate. I wonder how we will look back at the decision to recruit Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins instead of embracing a full rebuild after Stewie and Sue were gone. I've written about that a few different times before.
They could have kept Pick #4 and either drafted Rickea Jackson, Angel Reese, or Aaliyah Edwards. If they missed the playoffs again in 2024, they might have landed #1 overall and drafted Paige Bueckers, or they would still get Dom Malonga.
I don't think they will, but I really hope they don't make another trade before the deadline and part with another first-round pick. Having two first-round picks next season still gives them the opportunity to add some more pieces, even if neither ends up a lottery pick. The way the LA Sparks are playing, I think it's appropriate to switch the focus toward players that could be taken in the 8-12 range instead of the Top 5.
Hi Jeff! What are some players you would like for us to target?
Was this regarding trade deadline? Free Agency? Or the draft?
If referring to next year’s draft, before the LA Sparks became the hottest team in the league, I was thinking their pick would come down to Olivia Miles, Azzi Fudd, or Flau’jae Johnson. Unfortunately, I think it’s pretty obvious LA is going to make the playoffs. I think Seattle’s draft picks are going to be in the 8-10 range. I’m not as familiar with a lot of the players mocked in that area. Cotie McMahon was a player I was very high on when she was a Freshman. But her stock has dropped some. I’m responding on my phone. I can send more later.