Brief Summary
This video discusses potential future developments in the WNBA, including expansion teams, coaching changes, and the league's talent pool. It also touches on potential changes to the league's structure, such as increasing roster sizes and game minutes, and the impact of these changes on the quality of play.
- Don Staley's potential move to a Philly WNBA team in 2030.
- WNBA expansion to 18-20 teams and its impact on talent dilution.
- The need for investment in AAU programs and development of fundamental skills.
- Potential changes to media rights deals and player salaries.
- The possibility of merging with the upshot league.
Don Staley's Future and WNBA Expansion
The speaker predicts that Don Staley will leave the University of South Carolina in 2030 to coach a new WNBA team in Philadelphia, potentially reuniting with Asia Wilson. The speaker recalls bringing up Philly as a potential expansion team nine years ago, along with Miami, St. Louis, and Houston. The speaker believes Houston deserves a team back, potentially coached by Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson, or Cynthia Cooper, and advocates for a 30 for 30 documentary on the Houston Comets.
WNBA Expansion and Team Dynamics
The speaker discusses the upcoming WNBA expansion, noting that Cleveland will get a team in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030, bringing the league to 18 teams. They anticipate the league aiming for 20 teams, with Colorado and either Houston, Nashville, or Miami as potential candidates. The speaker expresses concern that the talent pool may not be deep enough to support so many teams, potentially diluting the quality of play.
Talent Pool Concerns and Development
The speaker expresses concerns about the talent pool in women's college basketball and its impact on the WNBA. They suggest increasing roster sizes to accommodate more players and address the issue of diluted talent. The speaker believes the WNBA needs to invest in AAU programs to develop fundamental skills and have conversations with the NCAA to ensure college coaches are preparing players for the pro level. The speaker predicts that by 2030, there will be a significant increase in foreign players in the WNBA due to the lack of skill development in American players.
WNBA's Offensive Struggles and NBA Influence
The speaker points out that the WNBA is currently experiencing all-time lows in three-point and field goal percentages, along with increased turnovers and fouls, resulting in a decline in the quality of the product. The speaker attributes some of the blame to the WNBA's adoption of the NBA's pace-and-space style of play and the hiring of NBA coaches. They suggest that the league should focus on developing players with diverse skill sets, including post moves and mid-range shooting, rather than solely relying on three-point shots.
Future of WNBA: Expansion, Media Rights, and Player Development
The speaker discusses the league's desire for expansion, driven by the potential for larger media rights deals. They mention the possibility of increasing the number of games and minutes per game to generate more revenue. The speaker also touches on the potential for the league to allow players to enter the WNBA straight from high school or after one year of college. They believe that if the WNBA product remains strong, the league can opt out of its current media rights deal and negotiate a more lucrative one, potentially leading to higher player salaries.
CBA Negotiations and Player Salaries
The speaker emphasizes the importance of negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that reflects the future value of the league's media rights deal. They argue that veteran players should be earning millions of dollars, and top rookie picks should be making close to a million, if not more. The speaker stresses that the quality of the product is crucial for the league to be able to opt out of its current media rights deal and secure a more lucrative one.
NCAA and AAU Collaboration
The speaker reiterates the need for the WNBA to have conversations with the NCAA and invest in AAU programs to develop players with the necessary skills and fundamentals for the pro level. They acknowledge that the NCAA may be resistant to these changes, as they could potentially hurt the popularity and profitability of women's college basketball. The speaker also mentions the Upshot League, a new professional league for women, as a potential partner for the WNBA in expanding into new markets.
Upshot League and Potential WNBA Expansion Markets
The speaker discusses the Upshot League, a new professional women's basketball league, and its potential to merge with the WNBA or provide expansion markets. The Upshot League has teams in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; and Jacksonville, Florida. The speaker suggests that the WNBA could consider merging with the Upshot League and bringing teams back to Charlotte, Greensboro, Savannah, or Jacksonville. They also mention Nashville, Houston, and Denver as potential expansion markets.
Connecticut Sun's Struggles and Potential Relocation
The speaker discusses the struggles of the Connecticut Sun, attributing their underperformance to nepotism and poor roster decisions. They mention that the team is being shopped around and that Boston is interested in acquiring a WNBA team. The speaker believes that the Sun's poor performance is hurting the market and making it more difficult for the team to stay in Connecticut.
Experimenting with Three-Point Shooting in 2K
The speaker shares an experiment in the video game NBA 2K where they created a team that only attempted three-point shots, inspired by Grinnell College's basketball strategy. They adjusted player tendencies and playbooks to maximize three-point attempts, resulting in high-scoring games. The speaker reflects on how this strategy could potentially work in real life with a team of skilled three-point shooters.
Marquette's Unique Roster and Modern Basketball
The speaker recalls Marquette's basketball team, which featured a roster consisting entirely of guards, as an example of innovative and creative team construction. They highlight the team's perimeter shooting, ball-handling, and speed as key factors in their success. The speaker draws a parallel to modern basketball, where teams are increasingly relying on guard-heavy lineups and perimeter-oriented offenses.
Creating Hannah Stalky in 2K and Roster Adjustments
The speaker demonstrates how to add a created player, Hannah Stalky, to the Indiana Fever in NBA 2K, replacing an existing player. They adjust Hannah's attributes, tendencies, and contract to make her a key player on the team. The speaker also discusses roster adjustments and starting lineups, aiming to create a competitive and balanced team.
