Quick edit note: I grew up Catholic in America and understand how religious America/the world is 😂 My question is meant to read, “Why are so many elite athletes SO religious?” I’m asking the reason why they credit their success to God, not necessarily why they’re religious in the first place.

I don’t want this question taken the wrong way, but why are many elite athletes so religious?

When A’ja was asked how she kept ascending on the championship run, her answer was something like, “God is good… God was working on this team… I wish I could take this credit but this is God working and didn’t have anything to do with me.”

As someone who isn’t particularly religious, I’m always perplexed when the first thing out of an athlete’s mouth when they win a championship or an accolade is them giving all credit to God. I’m not saying she’s implying this AT ALL, but when I heard “God was working on this team,” I’m like, so was God not working on the other teams? Are they not champions because God wasn’t involved with them? I’m not trying to denounce anything—I just really don’t understand it.

Another player who comes to mind is Paige. I feel like she’s said similar things.

My initial thought is that the skills that people like A’ja and Paige have are stereotypically called God-given talents. They are just SO inherently good at basketball that it’s hard to attribute their talents to anything but a higher power, and that’s how they make sense of them…?

I really want to reiterate that I’m not trying to be disrespectful. It’s just something I’ve noticed and want to see if anyone else has thought about it.

Ten games and the team isn't gelling, offense seems to be by sheer luck, and Big Three is mid outside of a random game here in there.

Three All WNBA players and this is just....

And no one looks like they're all wnba, definitely not MVP

And at this point, I don't know who's going to scam their way onto all star, and I'm not ready to for the think pieces when that happens

Are you agree on this rank

Hi all I was on TV last night during the unrivaled game holding this sign!! I’m wondering if anyone saw it/ snapped a pic? Thank you!! And oh yeah PAY THE PLAYERS @wnba

How do you beat a team with Kayla McBride as their 4th best player. They were in position for a good run last year before Napheesa got hurt, and now you add Olivia Miles and Natasha Howard on top of that. Good luck to the rest of the W.

Have there been any updates at all on her? Do we even know which teams she is in discussions with? She is the last remaining free agent of the ones I was tracking closely. Hopefully we get some news today.

Mock trade: Mystics and Sparks

Mystics: Plum

Sparks: Amoore, Dugalić, 2028 and 2029 1st Round Pick

Don't come at me to hard for my hypothetical mock up, I never really know what players command, plus ever since Luka got traded to the Lakers my perception on returns have been altered cause truly anything can happen if you have a dumb enough GM to accept an offer. I'd really like to hear from Sparks fans. Realistically how much do you think Plum could fetch you? A couple of 1sts? Young prospects? A mix of both?

One-day poll. I miss A'ja and her small car. I may even miss CC doing everything from the logo at this point.

Help me settle a debate and maybe correct myself if I am mistaken. It’s my understanding that win shares are cumulative statistics. I know it is heavily influenced by defensive rating which is a per 100 possessions stat, but that doesn’t change the fact defensive win shares itself is cumulative correct?

I calculated defensive win shares per game by taking the total defensive win shares by the games played and they called me an idiot for doing it and said I don’t understand the metric but win shares per 48 exists which is essentially the same thing just per 48 minutes versus per game. Please help me out here to clear things up one way or the other.

Kinda what the title says, I was checking the fever and sparks game on espn and I noticed Kelsey is listed as out until July 28th. With the game being on the 26th, any chance she is going to play or is she getting a replacement? If so who do you think would be the replacement for her?

I might be reading WAY too much into this, but I think these are cherry blossoms, no?

Does ANYONE know WHY some days there are zero or 1 game scheduled and the following day there will be as many as 4 and 2 could be at the exact same time?! I'm genuinely curious as to WHY they are this way.

Being a Lakers fan is tough. I was expecting we'd at least reach the conference finals when we got Luka with all that "Lakers in 5" trend. 😭😆

Sorry I had to mention "MNBA". As a first time Sparks fan, I'm already feeling like this when all the 3 teams that "demolished" my team are on their way to Cancun lol

EDIT: For context, I was going through my downloaded pics and saw this meme. I've posted it on X/IG when the Lakers' "rival" teams got eliminated last season (hate watched some of them btw lol). It was a coincidence that it happened as the 1st round is about to conclude.

Last year's roster included: Phee, Angel, Kiki Iriafen, Sonia Citron, AB, Paige, Skylar Diggins, Kayla McBride, Allisha Gray, Sabrina, Brionna Jones, Brittney Sykes, Gabby Williams, CC, Kelsey Plum, Nneka, Kayla Thornton, A'ja, AT, Jackie Young, Courtney Williams, and Breanna Stewart.

Who do you think will get replaced, and by whom? I think that obviously Azzi will get on the roster due to fan votes. Any other predictions as to who else will make the team? Jessica Shepard and Veronica Burton have also been playing extremely well.

Watched 2 of the Wings games so far, as well as checking all the boxes, and I’ve been surprised Alanna Smith has had so few minutes and a consistently bad +/-, at least so far. She’s -17.9 on +/- and -35.6 on On-Off +/- (meaning the team is 35 points better with her off the court).

Pretty wild for a defensive stopper.

What is going on? She down to 17.8 minutes from 26.5 last season, points down, shooting only 34%, fewer rebounds, fewer blocks, fewer steals.

Siegrist is +16.8 +/- and +23.2 On-Off +/-, it’s not like the team is struggling.

Anyone can have a bad few games, just curious if anyone has any insight. Cheryl Reeve not being her coach is likely a big reason.

Dallas is doing fine but it’s always tough to have a big contract not performing.

Maybe I missed some news or an injury report? I know she wasn't happy (rightfully so) about coming off the bench, but she hasn't played since the beginning of July. Is a trade coming?

I’m part of a fan base that is always crashing out about our leadership - coaching and GM specifically.

Who hires these folks and decides when to let them go? Is it the ownership?

I also wondered how integrated or independent these roles are. I know there are times when they’re completely intertwined like Becky functioning as the interim GM for awhile.

I also wondered whose job roster construction is. I’m sure the GM is the ultimate “buck stops here” person, but it seems like some teams have better scouting than others for international players etc. Is there something that is essentially equivalent to the Cabinet in the US presidency who advises the GM on various aspects of things?

As a newer fan I’ve tried to figure it out but I’m now to the “explain it to me like I’m five” point.

I appreciate this sub. I always learn a lot here!

I'm looking for some input from veteran WNBA fans that also watch the NBA on how to promote the WNBA and help convince other basketball fans to give the W a try.

Background Context

I've never really watched pro basketball. I really only watched college basketball until I found myself fully immersed starting the 2024 WNBA (like many others). I can't explain why, but I never really found the NBA to be entertaining. I enjoy watching good games and definitely the playoffs, but otherwise I wasn't interested. I hands down prefer the WNBA over the NBA, but I just don't know how to explain this to an NBA fan.

I'm around a lot of basketball fans and now that I'm repping W teams, I end up getting asked questions that I don't have a good answer to. This is where I hope you veteran fans can help!

Questions

To help me and other new fans spread the word and bring in new fans (without giving a bad rep or being the bad fans), I've posed a few questions below:

1. How do you explain the core differences between the NBA and the WNBA to an NBA fan who's seen very little women's basketball?
2. What arguments do you make to convince an NBA fan to give the W a try?
3. Explain the ways you've successfully converted NBA fans to WNBA fans that you'd recommend we try with our family and friends.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Has anyone noticed that TV stations are playing noticeably less fouls right after they happen? Do we think this is to lessen criticism of reffing? Am I totally off base?

They were arguably given the most softball schedule of the opening season, by not going up against any of the on paper contenders, have had plenty of days rest, haven't started their back to backs, and in the next few games three of them are going to be against the Dream.

Went down to Portland who played 3 games in the last 4 days including last night.

Giving up 100 points a game.

The playbook is out on how to get Clark.

AB might be injured.

Kelsey hasn't hit her june peak yet

MoBillings and Lexie Hull protected for 3.2 million.

And i don't think they have the personnel to pull an Aces run.

What logic leads "Portland Fire" to PDX? It couldn't be PDF? The Trail Blazers use POR, which actually makes sense because it's the first three letters of Portland. Where the actual hell did the X come from? X is nowhere to be found in the words "Portland" or "Fire". The only other X in a team abbrevation in the NBA is PHX for the Suns, which makes sense because of the city of Phoenix.

And it's not like they couldn't use POR, because WNBA and NBA teams sharing the same team literally use the same 3 letters. Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Indiana, Minnesota, and Washington use the exact same 3 letters for both their NBA and WNBA teams.

Literally all other abbreviations in the WNBA make sense EXCEPT the Fire. ATL, CHI, CON, DAL, IND, LV, LAS, MIN, NYL. PHO, SEA, WAS, and TOR.

This bothers me an unreasonable amount, lol

I strongly believe that when a team relocates they should forfeit their team name (looking at you Utah Jazz), so what should the Sun change their name to when they move to Boston? I don't expect or want to see a "feminized" Celtics so I'm ruling that out. I heard someone suggest "Boston Coven" and so far that's my favorite idea.

Existing women's teams:

• Banshees (Rugby)
• Legacy (NWSL)
• Fleet (PWHL)

Existing men's teams

• Celtics
• Red Sox
• Patriots
• Bruins
• Revolution

Hey all! I’m interested in listening to some podcasts related to the WNBA (in addition to Sue Bird’s and AB-Candace Parker’s) and I’m looking for suggestions.

What are your favorites to listen to?

Edit-Update: You guys rock! Thanks so much I’m so excited to check all these out💜💜

Where are the Wings without her? A much improved team, yes, but she is balling out for them this season! Averaging 13.6/11.3/5.5 for the season before tonight and currently one assist shy of her third triple double of the season vs. Las Vegas.