This is so frustrating to watch because the same things I was saying since 2023 remain true. They're still losing games they shouldn't, the younger players are still not being developed fully (save for Horston and possibly Malonga), Mackenzie Holmes is treated exactly the same as Nika Muhl was, there's basically been 100% bench turnover the past three seasons. I find it baffling that Noelle Quinn has not gotten any better about maximizing the bench's potential.
I didn't like the way Coach Quinn was installed at coach (and I will always think it was a rare instance of the Storm organization not doing something The Right Way), but I've always rooted for her because I never stopped wanting the Storm to win and my fandom hasn't changed, but I don't see how anyone else can think she's the right person to lead the team into the future right now. The Brittany Sykes trade felt like a Hail Mary to save Quinn's job, not a move in the long-term best interest of this team.
To me, trading for Sykes felt more like a play to stay in contention than anything else. The bigger picture question is, of course whether Quinn keeps her job and right now my money would be on “no.”
The players wanted to believe, and the fans to believe, that the mess that rolled out on Opening Night “wasn’t us (them).” Nothing could be further from the truth, and to believe otherwise was just delusional.
I agree that Nneka is still the best player on the team. However, I have to wonder if keeping her and Skylar is good for the franchise overall. It feels like Nneka and Skylar might be able to get the Storm to finish around 5th or 6th place, but lose in the 1st round of the playoffs. That doesn't really help the team much. The worst place to be in sports is a team that makes the playoffs, but isn't a true Championship contender. If you bottom out for 2-3 years, and get top draft picks, like the Storm did with Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart, it can then lead to Championship success. The Aces getting Kelsey Plum, A'ja Wilson, and Jackie Young in 3 consecutive drafts led to back-to-back Championships and another Finals appearance in 2020. Indiana seems to have a bright future with Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark. I don't see it happening, but if the Storm did go into a full rebuild and move on from Nneka and Skylar, and then miss the playoffs in 2027. Maybe they luck out and get JuJu Watkins in the draft. Just imagine having JuJu and Dom Malonga for the next 10 years.
However, maybe to your argument Pearl, it is possible that a new coaching staff could take the current group and lead them to a Championship. We can look at Becky Hammon taking over for Bill Laimbeer and leading the Aces to two titles.
Quinn was never the right choice for head coach and she has proven herself unqualified for the job. But the front office shares blame in signing old veterans on max salaries and sacrificing bench depth and not developing young talent. And not addressing 3 point shooting in the off season. Any front office knows, you can’t win a championship shooting so poorly from 3. Like Jeff said, the Aces won last night with 3 pointers. It really is a mess and even worse they aren’t fun to watch. IMO, they should have traded Jewell the year Stevie left for picks and been smart and patient to rebuild through the draft. Jewell the former “ franchise” player is coming off the bench under Becky Hammond. This team has no chemistry and lacks toughness and energy which is a reflection on the culture the coach has built. Skylar is pouting, Nneka is exhausted from playing heavy minutes and being asked to carry the team. Ezi hasn’t gotten better in all her years. I don’t know if it’s coaching or she doesn’t care. She plays with no passion. She only had three rebounds last night and two points in the paint. It was Dom’s amazing play and Gabby and Wheeler putting their heads down and making buckets, not any offensive sets, that got them back in the game
Quinn’s rotations, schemes and adjustments are subpar. Hammond out coached her again last night. It seems to me, Quinn coaches to save her job not strategically. Dom was amazing last night. But I didn’t like that Quinn kept her in for so long and let her get 5 fouls. She looked tired and should have subbed out for a few minutes earlier to catch her breath and build her confidence. She hardly played her in the first half and then over plays her in the 4th cuz the coach is desperate to win the game. And why is it so difficult to coach boxing out and rebounding? It’s not rocket science. If The Storm don’t fire the coaching staff ( all of them), I don’t know how to believe in this franchise. The owners should look at the front office too. Sad times for fans.
Curious about your opinion (and anyone else’s for that matter). Who does the Storm protect in the expansion draft next year? I know it’s early, but adding Sykes did create an issue on that front IMO.
Malonga, Sykes, Horston, Williams. Possibly Ezi, depending on the new coaching staff, and whether they can coax more out of her on a consistent basis. I would not protect the coaching staff 🤣. Everyone else is free to go. We don’t need to lose 25+ games AND clog cap space with high salaries.
You gotta protect 6, it doesn’t necessarily mean you keep them, but it ensures they don’t go to the new team. If I’m the Storm, I try to trade an asset to them for protection.
This is so frustrating to watch because the same things I was saying since 2023 remain true. They're still losing games they shouldn't, the younger players are still not being developed fully (save for Horston and possibly Malonga), Mackenzie Holmes is treated exactly the same as Nika Muhl was, there's basically been 100% bench turnover the past three seasons. I find it baffling that Noelle Quinn has not gotten any better about maximizing the bench's potential.
I didn't like the way Coach Quinn was installed at coach (and I will always think it was a rare instance of the Storm organization not doing something The Right Way), but I've always rooted for her because I never stopped wanting the Storm to win and my fandom hasn't changed, but I don't see how anyone else can think she's the right person to lead the team into the future right now. The Brittany Sykes trade felt like a Hail Mary to save Quinn's job, not a move in the long-term best interest of this team.
To me, trading for Sykes felt more like a play to stay in contention than anything else. The bigger picture question is, of course whether Quinn keeps her job and right now my money would be on “no.”
The players wanted to believe, and the fans to believe, that the mess that rolled out on Opening Night “wasn’t us (them).” Nothing could be further from the truth, and to believe otherwise was just delusional.
" It would make sense to go with a completely new coaching staff as well." Yes! and Yes!
Nneka is still the best player on the team. Keep her.
I agree that Nneka is still the best player on the team. However, I have to wonder if keeping her and Skylar is good for the franchise overall. It feels like Nneka and Skylar might be able to get the Storm to finish around 5th or 6th place, but lose in the 1st round of the playoffs. That doesn't really help the team much. The worst place to be in sports is a team that makes the playoffs, but isn't a true Championship contender. If you bottom out for 2-3 years, and get top draft picks, like the Storm did with Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart, it can then lead to Championship success. The Aces getting Kelsey Plum, A'ja Wilson, and Jackie Young in 3 consecutive drafts led to back-to-back Championships and another Finals appearance in 2020. Indiana seems to have a bright future with Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark. I don't see it happening, but if the Storm did go into a full rebuild and move on from Nneka and Skylar, and then miss the playoffs in 2027. Maybe they luck out and get JuJu Watkins in the draft. Just imagine having JuJu and Dom Malonga for the next 10 years.
However, maybe to your argument Pearl, it is possible that a new coaching staff could take the current group and lead them to a Championship. We can look at Becky Hammon taking over for Bill Laimbeer and leading the Aces to two titles.
Quinn was never the right choice for head coach and she has proven herself unqualified for the job. But the front office shares blame in signing old veterans on max salaries and sacrificing bench depth and not developing young talent. And not addressing 3 point shooting in the off season. Any front office knows, you can’t win a championship shooting so poorly from 3. Like Jeff said, the Aces won last night with 3 pointers. It really is a mess and even worse they aren’t fun to watch. IMO, they should have traded Jewell the year Stevie left for picks and been smart and patient to rebuild through the draft. Jewell the former “ franchise” player is coming off the bench under Becky Hammond. This team has no chemistry and lacks toughness and energy which is a reflection on the culture the coach has built. Skylar is pouting, Nneka is exhausted from playing heavy minutes and being asked to carry the team. Ezi hasn’t gotten better in all her years. I don’t know if it’s coaching or she doesn’t care. She plays with no passion. She only had three rebounds last night and two points in the paint. It was Dom’s amazing play and Gabby and Wheeler putting their heads down and making buckets, not any offensive sets, that got them back in the game
Quinn’s rotations, schemes and adjustments are subpar. Hammond out coached her again last night. It seems to me, Quinn coaches to save her job not strategically. Dom was amazing last night. But I didn’t like that Quinn kept her in for so long and let her get 5 fouls. She looked tired and should have subbed out for a few minutes earlier to catch her breath and build her confidence. She hardly played her in the first half and then over plays her in the 4th cuz the coach is desperate to win the game. And why is it so difficult to coach boxing out and rebounding? It’s not rocket science. If The Storm don’t fire the coaching staff ( all of them), I don’t know how to believe in this franchise. The owners should look at the front office too. Sad times for fans.
Preach!
It's over for this team. At this point they should start Dom and let her grow. Sky with ZERO points? That is s telling sfat.
Sky
Gabby
Nneke
Ezi
Dom
Playoffs aren't happening. Coaching changes need to happen.
I don't know what your list of players signifies. These are players you want to keep? or you want to let go?
Curious about your opinion (and anyone else’s for that matter). Who does the Storm protect in the expansion draft next year? I know it’s early, but adding Sykes did create an issue on that front IMO.
Malonga, Sykes, Horston, Williams. Possibly Ezi, depending on the new coaching staff, and whether they can coax more out of her on a consistent basis. I would not protect the coaching staff 🤣. Everyone else is free to go. We don’t need to lose 25+ games AND clog cap space with high salaries.
You gotta protect 6, it doesn’t necessarily mean you keep them, but it ensures they don’t go to the new team. If I’m the Storm, I try to trade an asset to them for protection.
I'm not sure it changes much because Sykes will be a UFA at the end of the season.
Everyone is a UFA, but if they aren’t protected, they can be snatched up by the new teams
Not *everyone, but ALMOST everyone