Fever

5/23/26...

The Fever beat the Valkyries. I had a difficult time watching this game because of a severe lag in my connection so I might rewatch parts of it later. Anyway, for a lot of the game I thought the Valkyries would win and I never dd see how the Fever regained control. However, Caitlin Clark did her thing and Boston and Mitchell did too. I'm not convinced that Boston should be handling the ball so much as a dribbler and I remember how effective her pick-and-roll offense with Clark works so well. Clark did get her share of fouls called on her so it's a good thing that fouls are being called more tightly this year. When I saw Hull get a technical foul, I could only think how the games would have been so much better in the past if the officiating was fair...I thought of Chennedy Carter's hit on Clark. Even though the fouls are being called, I wonder if such violent offenses like Carter's would result in more serious punishment now...like immediate ejection...or suspension...or would they still be just fouls? I think Kelsey Mitchell is a wild card in every game...a good wild card. It's like...the team is running an offense with everyone playing a proper role...except for Mitchell...she darts in and out of the play like they're all standing still and she's at warp speed. I don't think she can be guarded when she doesn't want to be and with Clark doing her magic, either scoring or assisting, the Fever can be unbeatable. Oh...I didn't see Dantas in the game. Maybe she's on the way out. There was also a new player...Van Slooten? I don't know anything about her. However, I think Anneli Maley is available...she would be great on the Fever team! Another thing...I didn't see any friction between Clark and White. I hope that's over with...and I hope Clark's back issues settle down. Hull and Cunningham are like clones of each other...with Hull a bit better on defense and Cunningham on offense. With Clark healthy, this really is a good team. Oh...something else...I really REALLY hate when Caitlin Clark sticks her tongue out! I think it's gross, childish, unappealing and self-demeaning. (I thought the same when Jordan used to do it too.)

5/20/26...2nd comment of the day...

So...I got home and turned on the Fever/Portland game about halfway into the first quarter...the Fever were up 19-13 or something like that. Caitlin Clark was not in the game.I watched for a while...long enough to see Boston dribble all the way up the court, get trapped and throw the ball away. She is not a ball handler! Stop it! What the heck is this team trying to do? Do they want her to forget how good she was working at the post? This is a really bad sign for the Fever. At the end of the quarter when I had still not seen Caitlin Clark, I looked it up...she's out for the game...and I'm out from watching it. I did see one thing that made me think a bit during the brief time I watched...There was a play where Hines-Allen (I think) received the ball about 2 or 3 feet from the basket...she dribbled once and then when up in traffic and scored. The thing I thought at that moment was how Jan Jensen and probably every other coach worth their salt taught players under the basket...do not dribble the ball...not even once...take a step if you need to, one way or the other but...do not bounce the ball...go up with the shot. You don't have to dribble the ball under the basket. You're right there...shoot the damn ball. I've seen the same thing with Boston and most of the bigs near the basket. Boston is not a point guard and should never dribble the ball anywhere near any defensive player...oh...I got side-tracked there...the point is, when a big is so close to the basket, do not put the ball on the floor! As to today's Fever game... I suppose they'll win and maybe I'll watch the replay tomorrow or something...I do still get some enjoyment watching Mitchell, Hull and Cunningham...I'm not sure yet about the rest of them...and as for Boston...if she's not going to play the same role she has played for so long, I don't care to see her play...I just cringe when she's trying to be a point-forward...or point-center. I wonder if Caitlin Clark is really injured...she barely played at the beginning of the 4th quarter of the last game...I wonder if there's something more to her absence...like maybe all the internet talk is correct...like maybe her being out is fallout from her clashes with White...some kind of political power play going on. 

5/20/26...

Just to keep up with this stuff...I did watch the Fever beat Seattle. Caitlin Clark did all I could hope for and barely played at all in the 4th. While it would have been great if she triple-doubled, I understand the coach's decision to allow her the time to rest...if that was the really reason White took her out. There's an awful lot of criticism of the Fever coaches for how Clark is handled. I just don't know what is correct. Anyway, Mitchell continues to mount up the points and even had an assist! Hull and Cunningham both played an inspired game on both ends of the court...but what about the rest of the team? There's a lot of inconsistency. Also, if Boston comes back for today's game, I hope she doesn't still think she should be a ball handler and remembers how to set a screen and roll to the basket like the team needs her to do. I don't know what her lower leg injury, suffered during play with Unrivaled, is but it should be a lesson for her and every other WNBA player...if they consider the WNBA to be their primary focus, they should never put themselves at risk in the off-season. I do see an exception in Lucy Olsen's, Han XU's and a few others' case...they are not key players for their WNBA teams and can benefit from the additional play...XU and Olsen were outstanding in the WNBL as were several other current WNBA players which I'm pleased to see in the WNBA. Back to the Caitlin Clark/Stephanie White issue...it appears there's a lot of friction between them and how the offense should run...and the heated argument Clark had with one of the other coaches too is something that should not be happening. Whether it's Caitlin Clark or any other player, the coaches should never be the source of stress. The players have enough stress just playing the game without having more added by a coach. Another thing...I may be wrong but it sure looks to me like the WNBA has tightened up the officiating...although Clark hasn't run into the most violent thugs yet.

5/15/26...

I didn't have much to say about the Fever's win against the Sparks...they did almost manage to lose though. Clark and Mitchell got their points, Boston did not look very good and the team seemed somewhat disjointed. Today, the Fever lost to the Mystics. I was hoping to see Lucy Olsen but she never played a minute...but their other guards are really good...and their bigs completely outclassed the Fever's bigs. Mitchell and Clark were both pretty cold until the 4th and then, especially Caitlin Clark lit it up...and that is why I watch the games...it doesn't matter so much who wins...if Caitlin Clark makes just one three-pointer and gets some assists...that's all I need. Boston looked like she was huffin and puffin every early in the game...like she's just not in good shape...or she's sick or something. And...whatever happened to the unstoppable Fever play where Boston sets a screen at the top of the key, rests a pick olls to the basket and gets a pass from Clark for an easy score? Boston was dribbling the ball up the court...trying to make her own shots off the dribble...this is not how to win a game. If she plays like that, she's a liability. Let's get back to what works. From what I've seen so far, the Fever are just above half the teams I've seen...like maybe they get in the playoffs...but they're not a championship team...maybe that will change...that would be nice. Is it coaching decisions about how to play the game...or are the players not good enough? I kinda think it's mainly the coach's game plan that's at fault...why else would Boston think she's a point-center? Another thing...there were sure a lot of missed, easy shots by the Fever...Clark would have had several more assists if her teammates could shoot better. Actually, Clark's performance in the fourth quarter was astounding. Oh...right after the Fever game, the Sparks against the Tempo came on...I was able to see Kate Martin play for the few minutes she was in the game...and Erica Wheeler looks like she's just as fast as ever...I thought Fagbenle was with the Tempo but I didn't see her.

5/7/26...

What the heck! The Valkyries waived Miela Sowah and then resigned her to the practice squad. This is a person who can completely take over a game. Now...they also just waived Kate Martin...and they had previously gotten rid of Fagbenle. Unless Sowah is playing, I have no interest in that team. In fact, I hope they tank! Some team MUST pick up Martin....I'd want the Fever to have her but they are completely stacked at the guard position. With all the cuts still going on, I have hopes that Lucy Olsen will stay with the Mystics. It's no wonder that the new Portland team traded away Chloe Bibby. I watched their last game and the one dimensional ball-hogs on the team never passed the ball to Bibby no matter how open she was. That Portland team looks like they might never win a single game. Enough venting...for now. OH yeah... at least Erica Wheeler is still playing! With her great attitude and energy, she's one of my favorite players.

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.