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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 13h

Aha! An update. #WNBA

Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 15h

They tend to use the world rankings for seeding pools, so virtually any game could have at least some tiny effect on seeding. But ultimately there's not much point for any of the teams already qualified. It just gives them some competitive games to play in which could help preparation.

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 17h

Remember this? Still no sign of those All-Defensive teams, but today is also when that schedule says we were meant to get the All-WNBA teams. Getting kinda late, even on the East Coast. Have to wonder what the hell is going on. Why give us a schedule if you're then going to ignore it? #WNBA

Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 5d

Unless I missed it, the league seems to have skipped/postponed a couple of scheduled award announcements. Did somebody decide it might've been a little awkward to announce Napheesa Collier on an All-Defensive team on Wednesday? #WNBA

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 18h

For those who don't know the system: Top four from each group qualify, but hosts and each regional winner are already in. So Germany, USA, Belgium, Australia, Nigeria are in regardless. Top-3 other teams from each group get in, except only two from the Germany/Nigeria group in France. #FIBAWWC

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 18h

The US will be making the short trip to Puerto Rico, Senegal are probably pretty happy, and if Brazil somehow don't make it this time they only have themselves to blame. #FIBAWWC

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 19h

If a national broadcaster doesn't buy them, I'd imagine they'll be on Courtside 1891, FIBA's streaming site.

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 20h

Draw for the FIBA Women's World Cup qualifying tournaments is underway, if anyone wants to watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qdS...

Well, 'underway' in that they've started the endless talking that always goes on before they actually draw anything.

LIVE DRAW | Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournaments

YouTube video by FIBA Basketball

www.youtube.com

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 1d

Can't wait for the upcoming generation of players who 'modeled their game' after Clark, but can't actually shoot. A whole generation of Andrea Rileys...

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 1d

They're very unlikely to have an expansion draft without a new CBA. I did wonder if they might try to cram it in between the end of the Finals and the CBA expiry on Oct 31, but even that was a longshot. So yes, it could be a while.

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 1d

Very true. When I saw that 'conflict of interest' line in the Shelburne/Andrews article my reflex response was "tough shit". Whole WNBA system was set up to let 'stakeholders' do other basketball things in the offseason. So they did. Key W players are going to be key leaders elsewhere, too. #WNBA

Kevin Pelton @kpelton.bsky.social · 1d

There's a delicious irony in WNBA sources complaining about Unrivaled's role in CBA negotiations when the league exists in no small part because of the prioritization rules the WNBA insisted on during the current CBA. Be careful what you wish for ...

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

Back when teams were being sold for $1+debt and attendance was sometimes in three digits and they could barely pay channels to show the games, at least the assholes had an argument. When people are fighting each other to pay $250-300m for a franchise and the TV deal's over $2bn... maybe shut up.

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

The Browns, Kalani and Lexie.

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

It's making far too many people far too much money. Over 60% of Americans have favoured stricter gun control laws for a long time. Where has that gotten anyone?

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

And now they even mentioned which two. Would've been the perfect moment to mention how they're aware of that information... #WNBA

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

Pretty sure they can't call a flagrant on you when you commit a common foul that causes an opponent to flagrantly foul one of their teammates. But, y'know, niche case. #WNBA

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

Jackie Young is absurd. #WNBA

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

Little surprised Phoenix didn't challenge that 4th personal on Thomas. She barely encroached on Wilson at all, and if she picks up one more anytime in the next 15 mins that's going to be huge. #WNBA

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

Only 8 official turnovers from the Mercury in the first half, but so many plays disrupted by Las Vegas's guards digging in and swiping at the ball. Gray's one of the best I've ever seen at that, but Evans, Loyd, Young all joining in as well. #WNBA

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

Chelsea Gray vs Playoff Chelsea Gray. #WNBA

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

The refs are letting the second defender make so much contact when Thomas barrels round those picks, so they can go after the ball *hard*. If you get a lot of her arm as well to knock the ball free, good chance it won't be called. #WNBA

Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

Not related to zone, but 3 of Alyssa Thomas's 5 turnovers in G1 came on those middle-screen plays where the PG sets a back screen for her. Each time, it was from the opposing guard digging in and disrupting her handle after the pick. Vegas found one thing that at least helps vs those sets. #WNBA

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

It amuses me how Bell's minutes to open halves have become *so* token that both teams basically seem to set their defensive matchups as if she's Jewell Loyd. #WNBA

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

The URL for these is just going to chage the last digit for each game of the Finals. So change it to ...02 for today's boxscore (which is actually up and running already!), for example. #WNBA

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

Not related to zone, but 3 of Alyssa Thomas's 5 turnovers in G1 came on those middle-screen plays where the PG sets a back screen for her. Each time, it was from the opposing guard digging in and disrupting her handle after the pick. Vegas found one thing that at least helps vs those sets. #WNBA

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

Predicted combined points scored by Loyd/Evans in Game 2 (after 39 in G1)?

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Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 2d

Watching back some of G1 to check how Vegas's zone affected things. I love how we've made it possible for Ruocco to say things like "all but two veterans will be free agents at the end of this season". Our database at HHS has enabled discussion like that. League constantly tried to block it. #WNBA

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