5/3/26...
Shows what I know...Miela Sowah was waived by the Valkyries. To me, she could have been one of the most exciting players in the WNBA. Going out on a limb...I think there was a choice of keeping Kate Martin or Miela Sowah. I wouldn't want to be the one to make that decision. Oh...I first saw Sowah play last season for the Townsville Fire...I never knew she had played for Duke. So...I hope someone (the Fever?) picks her up before she heads back down under. The preseason is over, I suppose. It's not easy to evaluate the strengths of the teams because so much effort had to be made to evaluate rosters. Can't wait to see who stays with the Fever...Dantas may have shot herself off the lineup but for some reason the management is sold on her...and everyone seems sold on Raven Johnson...She's kind of a bull in a china shop out there. Oh...I saw something about Iriafen throwing Reese to the floor during their game. While I don't think much of Angel Reese, I think a whole less of Iriafen. As I recall, she's a particularly violent and arrogant player...the sort that Caitlin Clark should stay far away from. After all, my primary interest in women's basketball is Caitlin Clark. If she's not playing...I'm not watching.
4/30/26...
The Fever got hammered by Dallas in today's pre-season game. Caitlin Clark played for a while and did just fine (she's the reason for my interest in the sport). I guess Paige Bueckers really is pretty good. This game was more of a tryout opportunity than a competition to win and, as I've mentioned before, it's so sad that not every player will remain with each team. Dallas doesn't have any of the violent players that attack Clark so it's still not clear if the officiating is any better than last year. Anyway, it was satisfying to see Clark make some shots. To change the subject a bit...I didn't like the female announcer's adding "at" at the end of so many sentences, so many times..."...know where her teammates are at...", for example. She's a college graduate...don't they teach English in school? It's just plain incorrect to end those sentences with "at". The season hasn't started yet and there isn't much to comment about but I thought I might mention...there are some coaches I don't like. Tyler Marsh...I don't know why but I just don't like looking at him...the same with Rachid Meziane...and as for Sydney Johnson, I don't like him or trust him since I watched him in a game last year, hugging one of the female players somewhat inappropriately. Why the hell are there so many men coaching women's basketball in the first place? If I had any daughters, I would not want them to have a male coach...although I understand one of those guys has four daughters and is probably okay with other people's daughters. Oh...I must say I have been utterly surprised to see how many Australians are playing in the WNBA. I watched a lot of the WNBL games last season. So many of those players are really good...and there isn't the same level of violence as the WNBA has.
4/28/26...
So I watched the Mystics play so I could see how Lucy Olsen is doing with the hope that she'll stay with the team. She played under control unlike so many of the Mystics players who just ball-hogged and didn't pass. Lucy looked like she's a good team leader. Oh...I think Melbourne (from Australia's WNBL) is great. Speaking of great, I also watched the Valkyries. Anneli Maley, to me, is almost every bit as exciting as Caitlin Clark...and Miela Sowah is right up there with her. (This is an update, added on Wednesday, 4/29...I made a mistake. It's Sowah who is the really exciting player to watch...with Maley far behind her.) When I watched so many WNBL games, I thought lots of the players were really good but I wondered how they would do in the WNBA. Well, I've seen enough of them to realize that they really are good in the WNBA too. I was hoping to see Erica Wheeler in the Storm/Valkyries game. She wasn't there. Where is she? And Kate Martin better be kept in the Valkyries lineup...and I haven't found out yet where Fagbenle is either.
4/25/26...
Finally! It was the first preseason game, the Fever and Liberty. Caitlin Clark looked a bit rusty, especially on the dribble. Three Fever players sat out the game. Cunningham was great! Actually, the entire team looked good and, as usual, it's so sad knowing they all can't remain on the team. I realize that I really like the Liberty. They don't have any punks or thugs on the team...they're just a bunch of good people. I did like their previous coach but the new guy looks okay too. Oh...it was a pleasant surprise to see three players from the WNBL on the Liberty. I watched their games all last season and...I could never understand how Maley got so many rebounds while still being able to handle the ball, pass well and score. When I saw her in Australia, I remember thinking I'd like to see her play for the Fever. Oh well. Actually, I also thought it would be okay by me if Caitlin Clark quit the WNBA and went to play in the WNBL...they're not as violent in that league. Along that line...in today's game, it looked like the referees called the whole thing fairly...called fouls when they occurred. I didn't recognize them and I wonder if they're new to the league. However, I should keep in mind that neither the Fever nor the Liberty has any of those particularly nasty players, so I suppose it remains to be seen if the WNBA has made the necessary adjustments to the officiating. Now, since I developed an interest in the game because of Caitlin Clark, as long as she keeps playing, I'll be watching some of the games where her ex-teammates that I like are...Lucy Olsen, Erica Wheeler, Temi Fagbenle, etc. As far as ex-teammates go, it's to bad Hannah Stuelke wasn't signed anywhere, although she never did develop her shooting skills...and Kiley Feuerbach doesn't seem to be going pro either...her game is so much like Lexie Hull's. I now not many people ever read any of this but it's mainly for my own benefit that I write this stuff.
4/16/26...
As an Iowa Hawkeye fan (due to Caitlin Clark), I'm curious if Stuelke and/or Feuerbach will have a chance to play in the WNBA. Stuelke certainly would need to develop a mid-range and 3 point shot. Feuerbach reminds me so much of Lexie Hull that I can imagine her in the pros. As to the Fever...I don't know much about the players drafted but it looks good to me what they've been doing. I think I read that Natasha Howard is gone and I don't have a problem with that. I have to comment on a couple of players who are gone...I had high hopes when Bonner was brought in and I have no idea why she chose not to perform. Also, Erica Wheeler is one of my favorite players...her attitude, her energy, her ball handling...I was sorry to see her go. I was kinda hoping Skyler Diggins could move to the Fever but that didn't happen. So...the core of the team remains and I have to learn to ignore the various headlines that are critical of team management's efforts to limit Caitlin Clark's role with the offense. As far as I'm concerned, she is the face of the team and the entire WNBA. I want her to have free rein to run the offense whenever she's in the game. For me, Caitlin Clark is essential to maintaining my interest in the league. If she is playing, I keep an eye on other teams and occasionally watch their games, developing curiosity elsewhere. It's her influence that creates my attraction to other players and other teams.
4/13/26...
Another WNBA season is coming. Tonight is draft day and I have no idea who the Fever will select but the only thing that matters to me is that they build around Caitlin Clark. I don't know what to believe about what's been reported on the internet...the Fever have signed various free agents but with so much bullshit on line, a lot of it is just plain lies. So I'll wait to see who's on the roster when on opening day. I have grave concerns about Caitlin's well-being and I hope the league has addressed the issues of violence and poor officiating. It was somewhat refreshing to see so many NCAA games that were for the great majority officiated fairly...fouls were called when they occurred and most games were decided by the actual players. It would be so nice if the WNBA referees could keep the games under control. However, if Caitlin Clark is attacked constantly and is unable to play due to injuries, I'll have to drop out. I think she has already demonstrated enough that she is a far superior player and I'd be satisfied if she just hangs it up for her own physical well-being.
