Hey, I'm always happy to hear from anyone and everyone. I get notifications anytime people unsubscribe, and usually, they don't give a reason, so it can be difficult to know what they didn't like or if I did anything wrong. Obviously, there are also times when it has nothing to do with me, my writing, or reporting (people move away, lose a job, etc.).
I have pretty strong retention overall, so I know I'm doing something right, but it's always great to get feedback.
Thanks, Jeff, for your great analysis. The last two home games have been really exciting. Should their next game be their last, at least there were some really great moments to end the season. Helps to wipe away some of the less enjoyable moments of the season. We were at the Dallas loss after the break, the first and only time we have left a game before it ended. That was just too much ugly. But these last two are helping to push out those memories.
Don't get me wrong, I want nothing more than for the Storm to end the Aces' season. I also can't help but think how much of that comes down to what type of performance Dom has on Thursday. How crazy is that for a 19-year old? Obviously Nneka and Skylar are critical. But we've seen so many games this season where she seems to be a catalyst that gets everyone going. Hopefully she is able to avoid foul trouble.
I read a profile article this week about her on ESPN. The article itself wasn't so special, not really providing much in depth analysis of her game. Dom did talk about her lack of playing time. But she said she is trusting the process, and is absorbing so much from her teammates. These close games and playoffs will only add to that experience. Can't wait to see her and Jordan Horston on the court together, so much energy and athleticism.
Not sure what else the Storm's future holds, who will and will not be here next year. But, at least we have one more game until we have to worry about that. Go Storm!
Great point about ending on a great note if this is how the season ends. I thought they would have been more competitive in Game 1, but with how hot the Aces have been and how Coach Hammon has mostly had Coach Quinn's number, I thought a Las Vegas sweep was very likely. I'm glad that's not the case, and I'm glad the playoff format has changed to 1-1-1. I honestly wouldn't mind the first round being a 5-game series as well, but I'm thankful it's no longer a single-elimination like it used to be between (I believe) 2016-2021. That was bullshit and meant the regular season was almost pointless.
I'm sure there are a lot of great articles I need to read. It's funny, I do try to read others' work, but also often avoid it because I don't want to feel like I'm copying anyone else. But I will try to read some of these articles before Game 3.
Dom will have to play a big role on both ends of the court. It'll be key to keep her out of foul trouble. They need her and Ezi to share the defensive duties against A'ja to just try and slow her down slightly. It seems simple, but there is a huge difference between allowing Wilson to score 29 points versus 21 points.
Seattle will need big games from at least four of their players. Ideally, Skylar, Nneka, Dom, and at least one other (Gabby, Sykes, Wheeler). Win or lose, I just hope the game is a lot more competitive than Game 1.
I do find it funny reading people who will say Dom should have been starting from Day 1. As if Quinn, her staff, and the team haven't been developing her this entire season. Quinn makes mistakes, as most coaches do, but she has also helped develop Ezi Magbegor into an All-Star in 2023, Gabby Williams into an All-Star in 2025, and now Malonga into a legit contributor for a playoff team while Dom is still 19 years old.
Lastly, I'm so sad Jordy got her before this season started. As you said, the energy and athleticism between her and Malonga should be very exciting to watch. I'm also very excited to see what Lottery pick the Storm get and who they select. For now, I'm thinking Olivia Miles, Flau'jae Johnson, or Azzi Fudd. I could see all 3 of them working very well with Malonga for the next 5-10 years.
Yep, I also was not a fan of the single game elimination rounds. If not for everyone's "one more year" chant, that's how Sue Bird's career would have ended.
A'ja played over 38 minutes. I think she may have been a bit gassed midway through the 4th. Look at the lack of aggression on offense vs. Dom and the way Dom outran her downcourt for the game-tying layup.
I was honestly surprised that Wilson sat at all during the game. When she wasn't on the court to start the 4th quarter, I had to double-check because I was pretty certain she hadn't sat at all, and sure enough, she had played 30/30 possible minutes entering the 4th quarter. Some have also mentioned that A'ja had a hard landing on her elbow that might have affected her late in the game. That's possible. I also just think that Malonga presents nightmare matchups against anyone. Especially, as she becomes more defensively sound, doesn't leave her feet, or get tricked, etc. As amazing as A'ja Wilson is, it's a bad shot if a 6'6" player with a 7'1" wingspan is right in her face, and that's at least one of the reasons why she was so hesitant.
I'm not fan of subbing Dom for Ezi or Nneka to start, but I absolutely AM a fan of subbing E-Dub for Slim to start. Slim has what 4 points and 8 turnovers in the last two games? We need Ezi's defense and don't win without her. But we don't need Slim's sloppy passes and inability to make a layup.
I actually think Coach Quinn has done a pretty good job lately splitting time between Sykes and Erica Wheeler. They could consider bringing Sykes off the bench, but I think they like having Wheeler there for more offensive firepower. You can run more offense through Nneka and Skylar with Slim in the starting lineup. But if they make that swap, now you're relying on Sykes to be the offensive punch off the bench. And that's not what she's best at.
We can also look at the Aces. In no world is Kierstan Bell a better player than Jewell Loyd. But in a starting lineup that features A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and NaLyssa Smith, Las Vegas doesn't need Jewell's scoring. But they definitely need that when she comes off the bench, especially if Jackie is sitting. There's a reason why they've been so much better since Loyd moved to the bench. Lineups are about balance throughout an entire game.
I'm sorry you don't move on from a generational pg like Skylar Diggins you just don't 😭. Idc if they were swept. The way her and dom play together is beautiful and I think paramount in Dom's development. The biggest issue for the storm has always been roster construction. And the story of this season has been the refs against the storm. There's no way we don't win at least 10 games this season that were in the lost column if we were at least top 5 in FTAs. And no one is discussing this. It's dictated everything.
It's a difficult decision to make. And if I were a betting man, I don't believe the Storm will move on from Nneka and Skylar in the off-season. But if you take any emotion or fandom out of it and look at what's best for the long-term success of the team, if they had been swept, you can argue that the team is not headed in the correct direction. Nneka and Skylar were brought in to compete for championships, but if they couldn't even win a playoff game or series, then it's probably best to move on. It's not like they are a younger duo to build around long-term (5-10 years).
I don't really feel Skylar and Dom have an unbreakable chemistry up to this point. Diggins and Ogwumike certainly do. But I'm not sure if Skylar is Dom's long-term point guard. Maybe it's Olivia Miles or another point guard they draft in 2026 or 2027.
The worst place a sports team can be is a lower-end playoff team that never actually wins playoff games/series. They aren't good enough to win or even compete for championships, and they aren't bad enough to draft top prospects that completely change the outlook of a franchise (Bird, LJ, Jewell, Stewie, A'ja, Caitlin, Paige, Boston, etc.).
Seattle has literally won 4 WNBA Championships by being bad for a 2-3 year period, and then building around top prospects that they've drafted. The Aces won back-to-back Championships and still might win their 3rd in 4 seasons this year, because they landed the #1 pick 3 years in a row. It is a proven strategy to build a winning franchise. It's not everything, but it is a major piece.
Regarding the free throw disparity. You say no one is discussing this, but that's all I read on social media. And I feel I've written about it multiple times. I've posted during the season in certain games that Quinn should pick up a Technical Foul to get her players more respect.
I've been thinking about the Skylar-Nneka decision since you posted this article. No matter what happens tonight, I would give both of them as well as coach Noey another year to work things out. As you've pointed out, the team's development of our players, young and "old", has been phenomenal. This is a great set of veterans to keep around as Dom develops. I also agree with your earlier suggestions that we need to upgrade the support staff. Noey was super frustrated at times on Tuesday when she needed input on whether to challenge or not. And, we need energetic Noey every single game.
This is fair and a good argument. There's soooo much talent coming in to the league I guess I don't feel that you need to tear everything down to win a championship. And you're right you have discussed the foul discrepancy against the storm. I guess I'm moreso talking about the non storm faithful. So I am probably preaching to choir. I wished more of the national media picked up on this. Appreciate your commentary as always.
Be the Chicago Bulls or the Kings. Haha. The Storm should build around Dom and be patient. Get younger talent and a deeper bench. Also get the right coach and staff to develop the young players properly. Coaching is a big problem. Personally, I don’t think Diggins is a good leader or example for younger players and she is at the end of her career and inconsistent.
Nothing to add to the discussion but I've really enjoyed your content this year. Keep up the good work!
Hey, I'm always happy to hear from anyone and everyone. I get notifications anytime people unsubscribe, and usually, they don't give a reason, so it can be difficult to know what they didn't like or if I did anything wrong. Obviously, there are also times when it has nothing to do with me, my writing, or reporting (people move away, lose a job, etc.).
I have pretty strong retention overall, so I know I'm doing something right, but it's always great to get feedback.
Thanks, Jeff, for your great analysis. The last two home games have been really exciting. Should their next game be their last, at least there were some really great moments to end the season. Helps to wipe away some of the less enjoyable moments of the season. We were at the Dallas loss after the break, the first and only time we have left a game before it ended. That was just too much ugly. But these last two are helping to push out those memories.
Don't get me wrong, I want nothing more than for the Storm to end the Aces' season. I also can't help but think how much of that comes down to what type of performance Dom has on Thursday. How crazy is that for a 19-year old? Obviously Nneka and Skylar are critical. But we've seen so many games this season where she seems to be a catalyst that gets everyone going. Hopefully she is able to avoid foul trouble.
I read a profile article this week about her on ESPN. The article itself wasn't so special, not really providing much in depth analysis of her game. Dom did talk about her lack of playing time. But she said she is trusting the process, and is absorbing so much from her teammates. These close games and playoffs will only add to that experience. Can't wait to see her and Jordan Horston on the court together, so much energy and athleticism.
Not sure what else the Storm's future holds, who will and will not be here next year. But, at least we have one more game until we have to worry about that. Go Storm!
Great point about ending on a great note if this is how the season ends. I thought they would have been more competitive in Game 1, but with how hot the Aces have been and how Coach Hammon has mostly had Coach Quinn's number, I thought a Las Vegas sweep was very likely. I'm glad that's not the case, and I'm glad the playoff format has changed to 1-1-1. I honestly wouldn't mind the first round being a 5-game series as well, but I'm thankful it's no longer a single-elimination like it used to be between (I believe) 2016-2021. That was bullshit and meant the regular season was almost pointless.
I'm sure there are a lot of great articles I need to read. It's funny, I do try to read others' work, but also often avoid it because I don't want to feel like I'm copying anyone else. But I will try to read some of these articles before Game 3.
Dom will have to play a big role on both ends of the court. It'll be key to keep her out of foul trouble. They need her and Ezi to share the defensive duties against A'ja to just try and slow her down slightly. It seems simple, but there is a huge difference between allowing Wilson to score 29 points versus 21 points.
Seattle will need big games from at least four of their players. Ideally, Skylar, Nneka, Dom, and at least one other (Gabby, Sykes, Wheeler). Win or lose, I just hope the game is a lot more competitive than Game 1.
I do find it funny reading people who will say Dom should have been starting from Day 1. As if Quinn, her staff, and the team haven't been developing her this entire season. Quinn makes mistakes, as most coaches do, but she has also helped develop Ezi Magbegor into an All-Star in 2023, Gabby Williams into an All-Star in 2025, and now Malonga into a legit contributor for a playoff team while Dom is still 19 years old.
Lastly, I'm so sad Jordy got her before this season started. As you said, the energy and athleticism between her and Malonga should be very exciting to watch. I'm also very excited to see what Lottery pick the Storm get and who they select. For now, I'm thinking Olivia Miles, Flau'jae Johnson, or Azzi Fudd. I could see all 3 of them working very well with Malonga for the next 5-10 years.
Yep, I also was not a fan of the single game elimination rounds. If not for everyone's "one more year" chant, that's how Sue Bird's career would have ended.
A'ja played over 38 minutes. I think she may have been a bit gassed midway through the 4th. Look at the lack of aggression on offense vs. Dom and the way Dom outran her downcourt for the game-tying layup.
I was honestly surprised that Wilson sat at all during the game. When she wasn't on the court to start the 4th quarter, I had to double-check because I was pretty certain she hadn't sat at all, and sure enough, she had played 30/30 possible minutes entering the 4th quarter. Some have also mentioned that A'ja had a hard landing on her elbow that might have affected her late in the game. That's possible. I also just think that Malonga presents nightmare matchups against anyone. Especially, as she becomes more defensively sound, doesn't leave her feet, or get tricked, etc. As amazing as A'ja Wilson is, it's a bad shot if a 6'6" player with a 7'1" wingspan is right in her face, and that's at least one of the reasons why she was so hesitant.
I'm not fan of subbing Dom for Ezi or Nneka to start, but I absolutely AM a fan of subbing E-Dub for Slim to start. Slim has what 4 points and 8 turnovers in the last two games? We need Ezi's defense and don't win without her. But we don't need Slim's sloppy passes and inability to make a layup.
I actually think Coach Quinn has done a pretty good job lately splitting time between Sykes and Erica Wheeler. They could consider bringing Sykes off the bench, but I think they like having Wheeler there for more offensive firepower. You can run more offense through Nneka and Skylar with Slim in the starting lineup. But if they make that swap, now you're relying on Sykes to be the offensive punch off the bench. And that's not what she's best at.
We can also look at the Aces. In no world is Kierstan Bell a better player than Jewell Loyd. But in a starting lineup that features A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and NaLyssa Smith, Las Vegas doesn't need Jewell's scoring. But they definitely need that when she comes off the bench, especially if Jackie is sitting. There's a reason why they've been so much better since Loyd moved to the bench. Lineups are about balance throughout an entire game.
I'm sorry you don't move on from a generational pg like Skylar Diggins you just don't 😭. Idc if they were swept. The way her and dom play together is beautiful and I think paramount in Dom's development. The biggest issue for the storm has always been roster construction. And the story of this season has been the refs against the storm. There's no way we don't win at least 10 games this season that were in the lost column if we were at least top 5 in FTAs. And no one is discussing this. It's dictated everything.
It's a difficult decision to make. And if I were a betting man, I don't believe the Storm will move on from Nneka and Skylar in the off-season. But if you take any emotion or fandom out of it and look at what's best for the long-term success of the team, if they had been swept, you can argue that the team is not headed in the correct direction. Nneka and Skylar were brought in to compete for championships, but if they couldn't even win a playoff game or series, then it's probably best to move on. It's not like they are a younger duo to build around long-term (5-10 years).
I don't really feel Skylar and Dom have an unbreakable chemistry up to this point. Diggins and Ogwumike certainly do. But I'm not sure if Skylar is Dom's long-term point guard. Maybe it's Olivia Miles or another point guard they draft in 2026 or 2027.
The worst place a sports team can be is a lower-end playoff team that never actually wins playoff games/series. They aren't good enough to win or even compete for championships, and they aren't bad enough to draft top prospects that completely change the outlook of a franchise (Bird, LJ, Jewell, Stewie, A'ja, Caitlin, Paige, Boston, etc.).
Seattle has literally won 4 WNBA Championships by being bad for a 2-3 year period, and then building around top prospects that they've drafted. The Aces won back-to-back Championships and still might win their 3rd in 4 seasons this year, because they landed the #1 pick 3 years in a row. It is a proven strategy to build a winning franchise. It's not everything, but it is a major piece.
Regarding the free throw disparity. You say no one is discussing this, but that's all I read on social media. And I feel I've written about it multiple times. I've posted during the season in certain games that Quinn should pick up a Technical Foul to get her players more respect.
I've been thinking about the Skylar-Nneka decision since you posted this article. No matter what happens tonight, I would give both of them as well as coach Noey another year to work things out. As you've pointed out, the team's development of our players, young and "old", has been phenomenal. This is a great set of veterans to keep around as Dom develops. I also agree with your earlier suggestions that we need to upgrade the support staff. Noey was super frustrated at times on Tuesday when she needed input on whether to challenge or not. And, we need energetic Noey every single game.
This is fair and a good argument. There's soooo much talent coming in to the league I guess I don't feel that you need to tear everything down to win a championship. And you're right you have discussed the foul discrepancy against the storm. I guess I'm moreso talking about the non storm faithful. So I am probably preaching to choir. I wished more of the national media picked up on this. Appreciate your commentary as always.
Totally agree with your take. You don’t want to
Be the Chicago Bulls or the Kings. Haha. The Storm should build around Dom and be patient. Get younger talent and a deeper bench. Also get the right coach and staff to develop the young players properly. Coaching is a big problem. Personally, I don’t think Diggins is a good leader or example for younger players and she is at the end of her career and inconsistent.