"The WNBA, or Women’s National Basketball Association, finished its 25th season in October. New records were made, new star players emerged, for an overall very exciting season."-- Maya Mastropasqua, 7th grade
The WNBA, or Women’s National Basketball Association, finished its 25th season in October. New records were made, new star players emerged, for an overall very exciting season.
The NBC sports article 2021 WNBA Power Rankings: End of season standing written by Tyler Byrum gives us a recap on teams individual performances. The Atlanta Dream’s record for this season was 8-24, and they unfortunately missed the playoffs, “Drama continues to unfold after a video of an off-court fight involving players surfaced,” Byrum says of the team, “It's just the latest chapter on the unraveling of the Atlanta Dream over the past handful of seasons as they continue to be surrounded by controversy. Two coaching changes, an unknown relationship with Chennedy Carter, a former player becoming their owner, now add the fight and the multiple reports that those involved (Courtney Williams namely) will not return.”
Indian Fever was another struggling team that also missed the playoffs, their record being 6-26. “There are still several fixes that need to be had in Indiana before the Fever can be considered a playoff team,” the Byrum admits. It goes on to state that while they’re players ranked, it wasn’t in the ways they wanted, “This year they had the second-worst scoring offense in the league, the third-worst shooting, the fewest made 3-pointers and the second-worst assist-to-turnover margin.”
Missing the playoffs, and with a record of 12-20, the Los Angeles Sparks couldn’t keep up. “When looking at the injuries and how bad the Sparks were offensively, it's quite a shock they remained in the playoff hunt until the final game of the regular season” Byrum wrote, going on to state that the trouble might be because of they’re 30+ team, asking the question, “Can an aging team build its future around Amanda Zahui B and Brittney Sykes?”
On the other hand, the Phoenix Mercury really gave their A-game. Their record being at 19-13, and they ultimately lost in the finals. “Easily this is the best the franchise has put together with this iteration of the roster but still fell short in a Finals where they perceived themselves as the better squad,” Byrum writes, “When healthy, they were one of the best offensive teams in the league this season. That should give them the confidence to be able to repeat their efforts next year.”
With a 26-6 record Connecticut Sun performed really well this season. “The playoffs signify the start of a whole new season and no one experienced that more than the Sun. All the pieces appeared to be in place for the franchise to finally break through.” Things are looking good for the Sun's future.
Scoring their first ever Championship, Chicago Sky took it all this year, with a record of 16-6. “As the darkhorse entering the playoffs,” Byrum wrote, “Chicago surely lived up to that billing by claiming their first-ever WNBA championship.” In the fourth game, Sky beat Mercury with an 80-74 score, making the team's first ever WNBA championship. Point guard/ shooting guard, Allie Quigly scored 26 points for Sky; Candace Parker scored 16, with 13 rebounds, and five assists in the game. Courtney Vadersloot added 10 points and 15 assists, all the players' hard work leading to their 3-1 win.
Former President Barack Obama even tweeted after Sky made finals saying, “It’s always good to be from Chicago, but this year is especially sweet. Congratulations to the Chicago Sky for making it to the WNBA Finals, and to the legend, Candace Parker, for making all of us proud. We’ll be rooting for you.”
The NBC sports article 2021 WNBA Power Rankings: End of season standing written by Tyler Byrum gives us a recap on teams individual performances. The Atlanta Dream’s record for this season was 8-24, and they unfortunately missed the playoffs, “Drama continues to unfold after a video of an off-court fight involving players surfaced,” Byrum says of the team, “It's just the latest chapter on the unraveling of the Atlanta Dream over the past handful of seasons as they continue to be surrounded by controversy. Two coaching changes, an unknown relationship with Chennedy Carter, a former player becoming their owner, now add the fight and the multiple reports that those involved (Courtney Williams namely) will not return.”
Indian Fever was another struggling team that also missed the playoffs, their record being 6-26. “There are still several fixes that need to be had in Indiana before the Fever can be considered a playoff team,” the Byrum admits. It goes on to state that while they’re players ranked, it wasn’t in the ways they wanted, “This year they had the second-worst scoring offense in the league, the third-worst shooting, the fewest made 3-pointers and the second-worst assist-to-turnover margin.”
Missing the playoffs, and with a record of 12-20, the Los Angeles Sparks couldn’t keep up. “When looking at the injuries and how bad the Sparks were offensively, it's quite a shock they remained in the playoff hunt until the final game of the regular season” Byrum wrote, going on to state that the trouble might be because of they’re 30+ team, asking the question, “Can an aging team build its future around Amanda Zahui B and Brittney Sykes?”
On the other hand, the Phoenix Mercury really gave their A-game. Their record being at 19-13, and they ultimately lost in the finals. “Easily this is the best the franchise has put together with this iteration of the roster but still fell short in a Finals where they perceived themselves as the better squad,” Byrum writes, “When healthy, they were one of the best offensive teams in the league this season. That should give them the confidence to be able to repeat their efforts next year.”
With a 26-6 record Connecticut Sun performed really well this season. “The playoffs signify the start of a whole new season and no one experienced that more than the Sun. All the pieces appeared to be in place for the franchise to finally break through.” Things are looking good for the Sun's future.
Scoring their first ever Championship, Chicago Sky took it all this year, with a record of 16-6. “As the darkhorse entering the playoffs,” Byrum wrote, “Chicago surely lived up to that billing by claiming their first-ever WNBA championship.” In the fourth game, Sky beat Mercury with an 80-74 score, making the team's first ever WNBA championship. Point guard/ shooting guard, Allie Quigly scored 26 points for Sky; Candace Parker scored 16, with 13 rebounds, and five assists in the game. Courtney Vadersloot added 10 points and 15 assists, all the players' hard work leading to their 3-1 win.
Former President Barack Obama even tweeted after Sky made finals saying, “It’s always good to be from Chicago, but this year is especially sweet. Congratulations to the Chicago Sky for making it to the WNBA Finals, and to the legend, Candace Parker, for making all of us proud. We’ll be rooting for you.”
The WNBA also released this season’s awards. The article, Connecticut Sun’s Jonqel Jones named 2021 Kia Most Valuable Player goes into what made Jones so great this season. “This is the first WNBA Most Valuable Award for Jones, who was the 2018 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year and 2017 WNBA Most Improved Player,” the article states. Going into the statistics of the win they say, “In her fifth WNBA season, Jones averaged 19.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.26 blocked shots and 1.26 steals in 31.7 minutes in 27 games.”
Minnesota Lynx center, Sylvia Fowels won this season’s most defensive player of the year. As, Sylvia Fowles Named 2021 Kia WNBA Defensive Player Of The Year says, “This is the fourth WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for Fowles, who joins five-time winner Tamika Catchings as the only players in league history to win the award four or more times.” In terms of Fowles stats, she“averaged 16.0 points and 10.1 rebounds and shot a WNBA-high 64.0 percent.”
The most improved player award went to another Connecticut Sun player, Brionna Jones. Connecticut Sun Brionna Jones Named 2021 KIA Most Improved Player writes of her success. “A five-year WNBA veteran, Jones has won the Most Improved Player Award for the first time and joins Jonquel Jones (2017), Kelsey Bone (2015) and Wendy Palmer (2004) as players to earn the honor with the Sun.” The article compares her performance from this year and last. “Jones averaged career highs of 14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 30.6 minutes while starting all 32 games for the Sun this season. Her previous career highs in each of those categories were all set with the Sun in 2020, when she averaged 11.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 26.1 minutes in 21 games.”
One exciting prospect released at the end of this year’s season is the rumor thatOakland will get its very own WNBA team. On NBC Bay Area, Melissa Colorado covers it with the article Push to Attract WNBA Team to Oakland Gets Major Star Power. “She [Alana Beard] is spearheading the effort to bring a women’s professional basketball team to Oakland,” Colorado writes, “The WNBA legend is partnering up with the African American Sports and Entertainment group, who want to create a new franchise, right where the Warriors used to play.” It seems as though the future team has a strong support structure too. “Support is coming from the Oakland City Council and the Joint Powers Authority Commission, which agreed to a term sheet with the black-owned sports & entertainment group to purchase or lease 50% of the Oakland Coliseum Complex.”
Next WNBA season is one being very much looked forward to. We’ll just have to wait to see if Chicago Sky will come back for the first repeat championship since Los Angelas Sparks in the 2000s. With the strong possibility of an Oakland league and possibly others too, it’ll be interesting to see how the WNBA changes.
Minnesota Lynx center, Sylvia Fowels won this season’s most defensive player of the year. As, Sylvia Fowles Named 2021 Kia WNBA Defensive Player Of The Year says, “This is the fourth WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for Fowles, who joins five-time winner Tamika Catchings as the only players in league history to win the award four or more times.” In terms of Fowles stats, she“averaged 16.0 points and 10.1 rebounds and shot a WNBA-high 64.0 percent.”
The most improved player award went to another Connecticut Sun player, Brionna Jones. Connecticut Sun Brionna Jones Named 2021 KIA Most Improved Player writes of her success. “A five-year WNBA veteran, Jones has won the Most Improved Player Award for the first time and joins Jonquel Jones (2017), Kelsey Bone (2015) and Wendy Palmer (2004) as players to earn the honor with the Sun.” The article compares her performance from this year and last. “Jones averaged career highs of 14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 30.6 minutes while starting all 32 games for the Sun this season. Her previous career highs in each of those categories were all set with the Sun in 2020, when she averaged 11.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 26.1 minutes in 21 games.”
One exciting prospect released at the end of this year’s season is the rumor thatOakland will get its very own WNBA team. On NBC Bay Area, Melissa Colorado covers it with the article Push to Attract WNBA Team to Oakland Gets Major Star Power. “She [Alana Beard] is spearheading the effort to bring a women’s professional basketball team to Oakland,” Colorado writes, “The WNBA legend is partnering up with the African American Sports and Entertainment group, who want to create a new franchise, right where the Warriors used to play.” It seems as though the future team has a strong support structure too. “Support is coming from the Oakland City Council and the Joint Powers Authority Commission, which agreed to a term sheet with the black-owned sports & entertainment group to purchase or lease 50% of the Oakland Coliseum Complex.”
Next WNBA season is one being very much looked forward to. We’ll just have to wait to see if Chicago Sky will come back for the first repeat championship since Los Angelas Sparks in the 2000s. With the strong possibility of an Oakland league and possibly others too, it’ll be interesting to see how the WNBA changes.