2022 Season

Well, we will get some WNBA action in the next 5 days. Been a lot of player trades and teams are still finalising their rosters before deadline. Once rosters are finalised, will post my power rankings but already it looks like they usual teams will be up there and the likes of Indy and Atlanta will struggle once again. 

EDD actually suited up in a pre-season game which is a good sign for the Mystics, Aces got rid of Cambage and I like that move as it frees up A’ja to do her thing. Never liked those two players on the same team together. Aces may lack depth though. It’s a fairly short season, with the playoffs starting in late August as well, so not sure these ladies are prepared for all these games in 3.5 months. 

Biggest news which is what Fazz posted about Griner, still locked up in a Russian prison. Not good at all and no news. Collier is pregnant for the Lynx so her return is unknown but apparently she thinks she can return at some point. 

BOL this season everyone, I do expect a roller coaster season. Will post my power rankings once I know final rosters. 

LFG bro 

@lik122

 Good to see you Lik… The WNBA can be crazy, if not crazier than the NBA mate. We have seen teams put on 25 points 1Q and than score 8 the next. Tough league and with more people betting this league, spreads and totals are usually pretty sharp after the teams have played a few 

Hey Oz!

Any rule changes this year?

Last year was a down year for me. I’m fully vested this year. With Covid & Olympics I couldn’t pick winners. 

@imsoti8

 Hey mate,

Also found last season difficult as well. Don’t think there are any rule changes this season. They still have the in-season Commissioners Cup trophy and money to play for which is always a nice added bonus for these ladies but I don’t think there are any new rule changes. I did see that the Lynx are calling this season the “Syl Final Ride” season for Sylvia Fowles who will retire after this season. 

ADU  

Atlanta Dream 

Players: Kia Vaughn, Monique Billings, Megan Walker, Kristy Wallace, Cheyenne Parker, Tiffany Hayes, Nia Coffey, Erica Wheeler, Rhyne Howard, Aari McDonald, Maya Caldwell and Naz Hilmon

Mixed bag once again for the Dream. They do have Hayes and Aari McDonald and if those two can stay fit, they will be competitive some nights. They bring in a new coach with former player Tanisha Wright getting a chance. Also they have an assistant coach named “Paul Goriss” who spent many years in Australia coaching as well and he is fairly decent. For me, once again this team will miss the playoffs and should be down there again with Indiana. They appear to be going with 4 rookies this season and that could be catastrophic for them if these rookies don’t play well. A few good veterans in their line up but really, don’t see them doing too much this season.

Prediction: 10th-12th spot

Connecticut Sun

Players: Yvonne Anderson, DeWanna Bonner, DiJonai Carrington, Nia Clouden, Natisha Heideman, Joyner Holmes, Jonquel Jones, Brianna Jones, Kiara Smith, Jasmine Thomas, Alyssa Thomas and Courtney Williams

I was completely wrong with this team last season. But they have brought their core back and brought back Courtney Williams who might be looking for some redemption after leaving several years ago and not really doing much since leaving. As long as they have Jonquel, this team will be a contender. Yvonne Anderson is a nice surprise as well, she has so much International basketball experience so it’s nice to see her get a contract. They are big everywhere, guard play looks good and as long as Miller can keep Courtney Williams under control, I don’t see why they cannot be a top 4 team this year. They are almost unstoppable at home in the reg season and they just need to go that extra step when it comes to the post-season so let’s see if they can do it this season.

Prediction: 2nd - 4th

Not like it matters too much, but the first round of the playoffs is going to be a 3 game series, then 5 games after that.

@Casey163

 Good call out mate, I wasn’t aware that they finally changed that format. Very good change, at least the teams that finish 3rd and 4th cannot be eliminated but one poor game 

Seattle Storm

Players: Jewel Loyd, Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, Brian January, Mercedes Russell, Ezi Magbegor, Stephanie Talbot, Reshanda Gray, Gabby Williams and Jantel Lavender

One word, STACKED…. team looks ridiculous on paper. All these players have been in the league a few years now and it seems like they have recruited very well. If Stewie stays fit, they will always have a chance to win the title. I like the fact that have gone with some tall Timbers and also veteran guards. Not much more to say about this team but I do think they will contend if they stay healthy. 

Prediction: 1st or 2nd

Los Angeles Sparks

Players: Liz Cambage, Kristi Toliver, Nneka Ogwumike, Britney Sykes, Chennedy Carter, Amy Atwell, Jordan Canada, Katie Lou Samuelson, Jasmine Walker, Lexie Brown, Rae Burrell and Olivia Nelson-Ododa

Having Cambage and Carter on the same team should be very interesting as both clearly have massive egos and don’t like being told what to do. Has to be some fireworks in that locker room throughout the season. Fisher is still not a coach good enough for any league IMO so don’t understand why the Sparks kept him. Cambage will always beast when he mind is in the game and apparently she is loving life in LA. Maybe too much partying, who knows. Plenty of rookies on this team but they lack guards. Canada is a nice signing but Toliver should be let go, her mind is elsewhere these days. Nneka will always be amazing no matter what and Sykes is ok at the best of times. Don’t see them making a top 4 spot with this squad but potentially the lower seeds

Prediction: 6th-8th

Chicago Sky

Players: Courtney VDS, Allie Quigley, Kahleah Cooper, Julie Allemand, Emma Meesseman, Acura Stevens, Ruthy Hebard, Candace Parker, Dana Evans, Li Yueru and Rebekah Gardner

A very nice well balanced team with rookies mixed with these amazing players. Glad that dumped DeShields and brought in Meesseman because she is just a beast. This team could definitely go back to back if they stay healthy and the Parker/Meesseman combo works. Allemand is a nice pick up as well as she has got plenty of experience playing with Meesseman in the Belgian National team. Wade proved last year that he is a good coach and I think they do very well again this season, just always hard to win back to back championships

Prediction: 2nd-4th

Indiana Fever

Players: Alaina Coates, NaLyssa Smith, Bria Hartley, Victoria Vivians, Kelsey Mitchell, Queen Egbo, Lexie Hull, Tiffany Mitchell, Alana Smith, Emily Engster, Danielle Robinson and Destanni Henderson

LONG, long season ahead. If they win more than 5 games I would be surprised. Going into the season with 5 rookies, like the Liberty did in the bubble season. That didn’t work out well even though Sabrina got injured. The Mitchell’s will always play hard but they arent 20+ point players which you need. Hartley runs hot and cold, not consistent at all. Robinson is old and not a true scorer, she can dish them out but still, not up to the standard of this league anymore. Their lines in most games will be huge so they will be hard to fade but also I wouldn’t take them even with a double digit spread.

Prediction: 12th

Minnesota Lynx

Players: Sylvia Fowles, Angel McCoughtry, Rachael Banham, Odyssey Sims, Damiris Dantas, Bridget Carleton, Aerial Powers, Natalie Achonwa, Jessica Shepherd and Kayla McBride 

Big news is that Collier is pregnant and will most likely miss the season. Massive loss. They brought in a banged up Angel who in the bubble was very efficient but at the same tome played limited minutes. Hard to see her playing more than 20 mins per game. It’s Fowles’ last season and they have dedicated this season to her. Squad looks good on paper and I’m a big fan of McBride, love her play. They will do some damage but Collier for me is just too big of a loss for them to compete for a top 4 spot. 

Prediction: 5th-8th

New York Liberty

Players: Rebecca Allen, Sami Whitcomb, Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Howard, Lorela Cubaj, Betnijah Laney, Michaela Onyenwere, Didi Richards, Jocelyn Willoughby, Sika Kone, Han Xu and Stefanie Dolson

Howard needs to stay fit for this team to have any chance. Not sure Dolson fits their team, she is sluggish and slow and NY love to push the pace so let’s see if she can keep up with them. Whitcomb and Ionescu are a nice guard pairing and we saw glimpses last season of what Ionescu can do but this team was a turnover machine last season and I don’t think that will change much. By memory they were turning it over almost 20 times per game which is ridiculous. I do like their chances of making the top 8 if they can stay healthy but wouldn’t be surprised if they just missed out.

Prediction: 7th-10th

Phoenix Mercury

Players: Diana Taurasi, Kia Nurse, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Tina Charles, Kristine Anigwe, Sam Thomas, Diamond DeShields, Sophie Cunningham, Megan Gustafson, Shay Peddy and Britney Griner (suspended).

So as we all have read, Griner is still in a Russian prison and no idea when she will be released. No good at all. They did sign Tina Charles which we all know is fantastic, they also brought in Gustafson to come off the bench to pose a threat in the paint. Good team on paper, definitely could surprise a few this year but who knows what the Griner situation will do for them mentally. DT loves Griner and they have played for years together in the WNBA and spent some time in Russia together so her focus might be all over the place. New coach as well as Brondello went to NY and this could be an up and down season for them. I just think their bench is too weak and with a few injuries a to some key players and they might be in trouble. 

Prediction: 5th-8th

Las Vegas Aces

Players: A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kiah Stokes, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, Teresa Plaisance, Dearica Hamby, Kirsten Bell, Sydney Colson, Aisha Shepherd and Riquna Williams.

Good squad and so glad they got rid of Cambage, it just was not working with A’ja. They got rid of Bill Laimbeer as well after repeated failures and brought in Becky Hammon which is amazing IMHO. She has a lot of respect in the league and I definitely think this team can challenge for the title. They have a small roster but I do think they have the players to contest. Hamby off the bench is great, Stokes decent as well. Not sure if Plum will start or come off the bench as well.

Prediction: 1st-4th

Dallas Wings

Players: Satou Sabally, Kayla Thornton, Alisha Gray, Moriah Jefferson, Marina Mabrey, Isabelle Harrison, Arike Ogunbowale, Veronica Burton, Awak Kuier, Jasmine Dickey, Teaira McCowan, Charlie Collie and Tyasha Harris.

I have high hopes for this team this season. Mabrey coming off a nice off-season here in Oz and got her team to the finals but lost. Arike hopefully found her shot during the off season and makes better choices, hopefully not a volume shooter this year and actually spreads the ball around. Like the McCowan addition as she is just so hard to stop with her size and will always get you boards and a few points. Big fan of Alisha Gray as well and feel like she wasn’t used enough last season. I think this team will surprise a few this year and can rally push for a top 4 but I think they will just fall short

Prediction: 5th-6th

Washington Mystics:

Players: EDD, Alysha Clark, Natasha Cloud, Ariel Atkins, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Rui Machida, Elizabeth Williams, Tianna Hawkins, Shakira Austin, Katie Benzan and Myisha Hines-Allen

Good looking team, EDD has apparently been looking good. She is injury prone so much of their season balances on her status. Clark is also back, not sure if she will be back straight away but she is good to go. Rui Machida is a fun player to watch so excited to see her in the WNBA. Atkins and Hines-Allen play hard every game and even though Cloud isn’t a scorer, provides the team with great assists. Williams is another nice signing and they brought back Hawkins as well. It’s a well rounded team and I do like their chances if EDD can last the full season.

Prediction: 2nd-4th

Very hard to predict a clear winner this season with some teams evenly balanced. Some new coaches as well and for me, this is going to be out of either Sky, Sun, Storm, Aces or Mystics. I know, you’re probably thinking “Aussie, that’s five teams out of twelve that you have said that could win it” but I truly think this season is going to be tough to pick a clear winner. One thing I do know is that the Fever will be awful so be careful betting them. Dream will win a few games but once again, think they will struggle. I’m expecting big things out of Dallas this season as that core has been together a few seasons now and who knows what Cambage can bring to the Sparks. No doubt she is an amazing player with talent but we all know when her mind isn’t in the game, she is a mess.

Good luck this season everyone, a few players still missing to kick start the season off due to being overseas still so tread lightly. 

Amazing write-ups aussie, much appreciated. Wings are +200 to make to playoffs on fanduel. Seems like amazing value as Dream and Fever are basically locks to miss, and I agree with you about Dallas and expect them the be very competitive this year

@ThaFazz

 Cheers Fazz. I do like that bet for sure mate. Definitely have them in the top 8 especially when you have Indy and Atlanta being so bad.. 

@AussieDownUnder

 Fantastic summary Aus .... you hit the nail on the head with the 25/8 point scenarios and that's the unpredictability of these 'gals' .... noting your rankings let's hope we can make a 'quid' or two in the season 

I like your 'rare' picks in the NBA play offs, like a sniper .... great tipping ....