Valks Merc recap GM-35
Added 2025-08-20 17:37:50 +0000 UTC
Comments
I’m hoping we get an exemption from the expansion draft which is what happened the last time the W had multiple expansion teams. Feels harsh to start a new team and then immediately put half of the players up for grabs.
Johnny
2025-08-23 18:59:24 +0000 UTCThanks for all the wnba coverage Alc! Keep it up
G
2025-08-23 17:55:00 +0000 UTCEven though the production might be similar, and LA has a lot of potential, I think Temi is far more valuable. I think it was the Mystics broadcast that said Nakase loves her because she is very direct and impassioned with her communication, and she holds herself and everyone to a high standard on the court. I think LA looks more like a rogue operator out there. Outside of individual shot creation and drive & kicks for threes, the VB/Temi pick and roll has been our most consistent offense, and I would go as far as to say that learning from and building with Temi has been a big part of Burton developing as a play maker.
Rory Noone
2025-08-22 19:54:33 +0000 UTCThere are two expansion teams next year, Portland and Toronto. If they follow the same rules as ours (no guarantee at all, but let’s run with it for this thought experiment), they can each pick one player that each team has the rights to. That does include players not currently on the roster. That’s how we got Carla and it does mean we need to protect Juste. The key component I think you didn’t consider is contract status. Expansion teams can only take one Unrestricted Free Agent in the whole draft. Tip, Temi, and Mo are all older UFAs, I doubt they’d be taken because there are an absurd amount of UFAs. Tip a slightly higher chance, but I’d be willing to bet she won’t be. I think there’s really only one spot up for grabs. VB, Ceci, and Ja are obvious. Then Juste gets a spot. And I think Carla is 5th, but solidly 5th. Then it’s the 6th that’s between Ili, LA, and Kate or MAYBE Tip if they really feel concerned.
Jacob Cohen
2025-08-21 04:58:39 +0000 UTCProtect the 5 younger players: Rupert, Salaün, Burton, Zandalasini and Jocytė. Though Burton is the only good defender in the group. Fágbénlé, I think will also be protected. The rest I don't really care, except for maybe Billings. I think we'll be a top and perhaps THE top free agent destination moving forward. Playing in front of a large and welcoming fan base. LGBT friendly city. First class front office. The top salary a player can earn is so low that the other amenities factor more than in the NBA.
Jon Cortelyou
2025-08-21 04:40:03 +0000 UTCYo Unc, I have all the equipment to record games. If you ever need any help, I can record a game and send you the video some how, some way.
Kahlil Baker
2025-08-21 04:27:10 +0000 UTCAgreed with your top 4, they’ll probably wait till the end of the season in case we get more injuries or insight into the players and how they perform down the stretch of the reg/postseason too Enjoy the game! Hope theres a bunch of valks fans down there
Abhi Kelkar
2025-08-21 00:02:34 +0000 UTCthe most exciting thing about the valks is that we are playing well because our young players are taking big steps mid season, . So this team is only going to get better in the foreseeable future. To me protectingCarla is a no brainer. She has a couple glaring issues that are typical of a young player but the upside is too much to give up, and we got the depth to make this kind of gamble.
Kevin Chan
2025-08-20 22:48:04 +0000 UTCthanks! I think she will always be streaky, but she is so confident and quick she just needs to make it enough. Its not like Kate where she has to be knockdown
Athletic Alchemy
2025-08-20 21:15:12 +0000 UTCExcellent analysis! I'm learning a lot. I really like Carla but maybe that is irrational. Do you think her outside shooting can be fixed? Maybe that's just who is.
ps4793
2025-08-20 20:20:54 +0000 UTCKayla is going to be out tho. Players are taking a year plus now for acl
Athletic Alchemy
2025-08-20 18:19:42 +0000 UTCKayla's the 5th lock fs, and I'd gamble on Carla as the 6th, her mentality fits well with our coach. Nakase building up her and VB over the next few years sounds exciting
mantarayla
2025-08-20 18:02:27 +0000 UTCnot seeing W there but that could help with Suns gm for sure
Athletic Alchemy
2025-08-20 17:46:28 +0000 UTCAlch, don’t know your stance on streaming but nbabite where I watch every game that’s not on League Pass
Mitch Coob
2025-08-20 17:42:15 +0000 UTC
