Friday, June 3rd, 2011 at 12:10 pm  |  14 responses

Steady As She Goes

The definitive 2011 WNBA preview.

by Ben York / @bjyork

“This is a significant milestone for the WNBA,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said on March 8, 2011, International Women’s Day, while announcing the festivities planned to celebrate the league’s 15th season. “The league continues to be the destination for the greatest women’s basketball players in the world.”

To commemorate the 15-year milestone, a panel comprised of media members and experts [including the writer of this preview—Ed.] will select and honor the Top 15 WNBA Players and the Top 15 Greatest Moments in WNBA history. All season long we’ll see team-themed celebrations, fan promotions and events, all focusing on how far the league has come in just 15 short years.

If you haven’t given the WNBA a shot, now is definitely the time…and here’s how we think the Crystal Anniversary campaign will play out.

Eastern Conference

1. Atlanta Dream: Probably the deepest team in the league with the fewest weaknesses. The addition of Lindsey Harding at point guard solidifies the backcourt and superstar Angel McCoughtry could very well lead the league in scoring in 2011.

2. Chicago Sky: New coach Pokey Chatman brings instant credibility and a track record of success to this Sky team. Look for Sylvia Fowles to again be a candidate for MVP in 2011. Rookie Courtney Vandersloot is an upgrade at pg and Epiphanny Prince is a force at the 2.

3. New York Liberty: After making it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals this past season, the Liberty made some roster moves in the offseason to get Cappie Pondexter some help. They’ll be deeper and even more dangerous now that Pondexter doesn’t have to do it all.

4. Indiana Fever: The Boston Celtics of the WNBA? Indiana has a wealth of talented veterans and with the supreme Tamika Catchings at the helm, they can never be counted out.

5. Washington Mystics: After missing the entire 2010 season with an ankle injury, All-Star Alana Beard returns with a vengeance in 2011. However, Washington is a different team than they were in 2010, and with the Dream, Liberty and Sky all improving the playoffs might be a stretch for the Mystics.

6. Connecticut Sun: Tina Charles proved she’s a force to be reckoned with, winning Rookie of the Year in 2010 while setting a league record for double-doubles (22). In an extremely competitive East, the young Sun will have a tough time getting past the Sky and Fever for the fourth Playoff spot.

Western Conference

1. Phoenix Mercury: We saw what the Mercury were capable of toward the latter half of the 2010 season after finally integrating Candice Dupree into their run and gun system. This season, a rested Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor (at left) are more motivated than ever to capture their third WNBA crown.

2. Seattle Storm: As long as Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird and Swin Cash are healthy, the Storm has to remain a favorite. It will be difficult to completely dominate the league as they did in 2010, but at the very least they’ll be in the thick of things.

3. Minnesota Lynx: No. 1 pick Maya Moore joins an already loaded Lynx team. Staying healthy is the thing that has troubled Minny in recent years. If the Lynx avoid injuries, they could be the most fun team to watch in the league.

4. Los Angeles Sparks: Now fully healthy, Candace Parker feels she has something to prove in 2011. And with grizzled veterans Tina Thompson, Ticha Penicheiro, and Delisha Milton-Jones pitching in, the Sparks will be a scary team come Playoff time.

5. San Antonio Silver Stars: Becky Hammon is one of the best point guards in the WNBA. Will she and the Silver Stars have enough talent to get back to the Playoffs? Or will they find themselves, yet again, on the outside looking in?

6. Tulsa Shock: The return of 40-year-old legend Sheryl Swoopes after a two-year break provides an interesting twist to the WNBA’s 15th season. While the Shock should finish better than their 2010 record of 6-28, it’ll still be a while before they can compete out West.

WNBA Finals
Mercury over Dream in 5 games
The Mercury has Diana Taurasi and the Dream doesn’t. Behind an MVP season from Taurasi, the Mercury will prove to be too much for the Dream and the rest of the league.

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  • Rigo Gonzalez Posted: Jun.3 at 1:18 pm
    I promise I’m going to try and catch some Connecticut Sun games.
    I need to show love to Eagle River, Alaska’s own Kelsey Griffin.

  • Stephen Posted: Jun.3 at 1:27 pm
    So, the Storm dominate the league in 2010, sweep through the 2010 playoffs by beating both the Mercury and the Dream, return their core 5, get significantly deeper on the bench, and you still pick the Mercury to come out on top in the West. I guess it’ll just make it that much more fun to root against the Mercury and DT this season, starting with tomorrow’s opening game at the Key. That’s when we’ll see the real definitive season preview – at least where the Storm/Mercury are concerned.

  • Ben York Posted: Jun.3 at 1:33 pm
    @Stephen – I picked the Fever to win in 2010 after the Mercury won in 2009. Storm fan, are you?

  • Stephen Posted: Jun.3 at 1:53 pm
    I am a Storm fan. But I’m really only looking forward to an exciting season. I love watching the Mercury play too. Last year’s, what was it, Triple OT game(?) in Phoenix. That’s exactly why I watch the WNBA. Would have loved to have actually been there.

  • Anonymous Posted: Jun.3 at 2:19 pm
    The Liberty has absolutely not surrounded Pondexter with more talent. No Taj McWilliams-Franklin or Janel McCarville. Come on, now. Picking the Mercury is merely wishful thinking, but I am hoping that the West is much more competitive.

  • Brandon Posted: Jun.3 at 3:17 pm
    I’m shocked that you think Chicago will be that good, Ben. They were mediocre at best in just about every single statistical category last season, and without Christon their roster still looks like the worst in the eest to me. I’m sure their interior defense will be great, but other than that I don’t see much to expect such a turnaround. I’d be very surprised if they finished ahead of Indiana and Connecticut. In the weak east I think Indiana and Atlanta run away from the other four teams by the 20 game mark. Good job on this, and the 12 team previews.

  • Ben York Posted: Jun.3 at 5:09 pm
    @Anonymous – This was written 2 months ago for the Magazine.

  • Ben York Posted: Jun.3 at 5:09 pm
    Thanks, Brandon.

  • Kelly Posted: Jun.3 at 5:10 pm
    Great article as usual Ben! I too think this is the Mercury/Dream’s years. Atl is so deep and so talented, and now have the finals experience to go with it. The Mercury are rested, healthy and motivated, and have added defensive depth. To the person who posted that it’s wishful thinking for the Merc…uh..no, it’s talent and great off-season moves. Also, hoping that the west will be MORE competitive? Can’t get much more competitive than last year..the league has great parity, but none more evident than in the very very dominant Western Conf! Happy Season 15 everyone!

  • Max Posted: Jun.3 at 6:00 pm
    15 years of making sandwitches competitivly
    No wait that was getting old
    15 years of cleaning basketball courts!

  • Max Posted: Jun.4 at 1:25 am
    15 years is how long I’ve been alive, and also a quarter of my IQ.

  • Damian Posted: Jun.4 at 11:11 am
    O.K. since Cheryl or Deanna won’t be coming to New York I’m counting on Kia,Jessica,Quanitra and Alex to do battle on the boards and I mean getting those loose balls and rebound.

  • Jay Posted: Jun.4 at 12:29 pm
    Max, you are an idiot. LET’S GO MERC!!

  • Max Posted: Jun.4 at 4:01 pm
    @ Fake Max
    I’m 16 brah ;)
    And I don’t know my IQ but I dare to say it’s higher than 60 :p

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