WNBA Predictions
Goody makes her picks
By Adrienne Goodson
Whoa… preseason was bananas, just look around on WNBA.com, USA Today or any other sports forum and you will notice. The “Expect Great” campaign with Tamika Catchings, Cheryl Ford, and Candace Parker are constantly being played during the NBA playoffs and every newspaper from the Hartford Courant to ESPN.com are trying to predict the 2008 season. So I feel compelled to speak and give my non-political predictions.
MVP: Deanna Nolan (deserves more respect in the league)
Coach of the Year: Brian Agler (No disrespect to Bill Laimbeer or Micheal Cooper)
Rookie of the Year: Sylvia Fowles (based on overall performance)
Scoring Champion: Seimone Augustus
League Champion: Detroit Shock
East Conference Champions: Detroit Shock
West Conference Champions: Seattle Storm (will battle the Sparks for this title)
Top of the East:
1. Detroit - is loaded and returns all of their guns. Deanna Nolan, Katie Smith, Cheryl Ford, Kara Braxton and Plenette Pierson all return as well as the addition of National Champion Alexis Hornbuckle to man the point. The bench is deeper than deep with Sheri Sam, Latoya Thomas, Tasha Humphrey and sleeper Tyresa Smith from out of Delaware. Bill and Company has put together another bomb squad. You’d better believe it.
2. New York - are a bunch of athletically gifted females and I must add that they’re quick as mustangs at the guard spot. Loree Moore, Ashley Battle, Shemeka Christon and newly acquired Essence Carson will definitely spell trouble for any defense. Jen McCarville didn’t have a problem keeping up last year and she certainly has plans for 2008. Can u say, A-L-K-A S-E-L-T-Z-E-R… A few teams will surely be upset by the Liberty this season.
3. Chicago - has returned all of their core players. Sophomore Armintie Price, Jia Perkins, Candace Dupree, Chasity Melvin, and #1 Draft Pick Sylvia Fowles guarantee to be tough but the lack of depth and inexperience will be sure to catch up in the playoffs.
4. Atlanta - Is the sleeper. They have experience and youth mixed together. This new franchise consists of : Betty Lennox, Iziane Castro Marques (who plays exactly like Leandro Barbosa from Brazil), Ivory Latta, Chantelle Anderson, Katie Feenstra, and Erica De Souza (another Brazillian). The unique thing is that Coach Meadors can play Latta when she needs to run or Kristin Haynie when she needs to set the tempo. Look out for this team they can surprise a few.
Top of the West:
1. Seattle - has a lot of big names this season. Lauren Jackson, Yolanda Griffith, Sue Bird, Sheryl Swoopes, and Swin Cash. If the Maestro Brian Agler can strum all the minds and conduct all of this individual talent, the orchestra may play nicely in Seattle. The storm just may be over. This one will be fun to watch.
2. Los Angeles - will be tough once again but remember they have to fit a few pieces together. The ideal line-up would be Temeka Johnson, Marie Ferdinand-Harris, Delisha Milton-Jones, Candace Parker, and Lisa Leslie. If they catch fire then that west coast prediction is over but they will have to go through Seattle.
3. San Antonio - has everyone coming back except Brian Agler. Veteran Helen Darling, Becky Hammon, Vickie Johnson, Sophia Young, and Ruth Riley along with a healthy Erin Buescher should make some noise out west. Hopefully, Edwige Lawson and Ann Wauters will give them a boost from the bench.
4. Phoenix - should be able to hold down the fort until the return of Penny Taylor. They are still fully loaded with Cappie Pondexter, Kelly Miller, Diana Taurasi, Kelly Mazzante, and Tangela Smith. My only concern is who will be that sixth-woman to emerge and contribute immediately. They will battle with Sacramento for this final spot.
These predictions I have made are only predictions. Injuries and trades can change things up immediately. The other teams in the league that I didn’t mention (Connecticut, Indiana, Washington, Houston, and Minnesota) all have the same record in the beginning and can wipe out my predictions but for now we’ll just wait and see.
Until next time stay peace but most of all stay tuned…
22 Responses to “WNBA Predictions”
May.20 at 12:29 pm
hoop says:
…I still think they’ll win 10 games MAX.
Anyway, nice article, Goody. I’m SOOO glad the season has FINALLY arrived!
My western conference predictions are very similar to yours (slightly different order though). In the East, I got Detroit, Chicago, NY then Indy (although Indy is a bit up in the air with Catch’s injury, so they may be replaced by Conn in the top-4). But hey, at least you’re consistent with regards to your confidence in the Atlanta Dream
May.20 at 1:07 pm
d.Y. says:
I’m with it, but stop sleeping on Candace Parker. 34-12-8 in her first game?
May.20 at 1:19 pm
Co Co says:
Sylvia Fowles is going to have to put up otherworldly numbers to beat Candace Parker for ROY. It is predetermined.
May.20 at 1:42 pm
Goody says:
I agree that she is the man right now and will be in the end but she has to stay healthy. Candace has a history of injury. Most people come out of the box in the first week of the season. I’m looking for consistency. I don’t sleep I just tell it like it is. Love is what got me here and love is what I put out. Let’s not forget about the Wiggins kid and the great story Links did on her. Thanks for the comments and tell a friend. We need more strong women in here. Change is created in numbers.
May.20 at 3:18 pm
Matt Caputo says:
Liberty looked pretty tough from what I saw of them on tv for a quarter over the weekend.
May.20 at 5:44 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
Candace parker is already the best player in the WNBA. i’m serious
May.20 at 6:11 pm
Co Co says:
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves Khalid.
May.20 at 6:42 pm
Candice says:
I’m with you Khalid. She took over that game on Sunday and did her thing. If she would have hit her freethrow’s she would have had 40.
May.21 at 3:35 am
Michael says:
it’s almost like goody didnt pick parker for roy cos it was too obvious…i mean, she is an mvp chance
May.21 at 2:17 pm
Roseanne says:
Ms Goodson, is there any reason why you left out comments on the Ccnnecticut Sun? The only team to have won both their first two games thus far and you just ignore their capabilities? I call that “disrespect” and I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Why?
May.22 at 9:24 am
k says:
deanna nolan is the best guard in the wnba.go shock,pistos.
May.23 at 12:51 am
Blackberry says:
Interesting Choices Goody, you know cause you been there (like what you said about Nolan!)reminds me of how you didn’t get a lot of the props you deserved. keep tellin’ it like it is. Oh yeah Roseanne Seattle won their first 2 games too and their 3rd.
May.23 at 9:02 am
tinheart says:
What about that 0-3 start by the Mercury? I know you can’t go on three games, but blowing a 21-point lead against the Storm? Fourth place in the West may be generous.
May.23 at 3:54 pm
Honey says:
Goody,
your articles are truth ….straight from the horses mouth. i love your fire,keep pumping um out (the stories) ONE!!!!!!!
May.23 at 7:00 pm
hoop says:
If Phoenix lays an egg this year, I hope it’s Minnesota that steps in and takes that 4th spot…
May.24 at 9:48 am
Goody says:
The top two predictions in the east and west should remain but the rest is up for grabs. Minnesota is young but have seemed to gel. The two man game is over in the WNBA. Five to six all-stars on a team will be required to win this year. Hoop Atlanta is looking good. Remember what I said about them. Betty Lennox and the Brazillian crew will be tough to beat.
May.25 at 10:22 am
overandback says:
Who’s Jen McCarville?
May.26 at 6:29 pm
Hoopla says:
Jump ova and back again. Crack is a serious drug ya know. U should leave it alone.
May.27 at 6:35 am
Goody says:
Janelle, Jay Jen she goes by it all that’s my babygirl…
May.29 at 4:40 pm
Chipper says:
I pretty much agree with your predictions… I think this season is going to be an exciting one… and the WNBA is making history this season to with that First pro outdoor basketball game, the Outdoor classic with New York Liberty vs. Indiana Fever.. that should be an interesting game.. I wonder if the change in atmosphere will effect the players performances.
http://www.wnba.com/liberty/news/outdoor_classic_2008.html
Jun.2 at 2:04 pm
Dee Ell says:
What’s up #15? Still got love for you from your H-town days - wish you were still in the league. The only prediction I have is that when it is all said and done and the book is written, you will go down as one of the baddest players in the “A”, the “W”, and Brasil! Props to your defense like nobody plays no more, props to your blocking out and knowing how to put some butt and elbow on folk, props to that sweet baseline jumper, props to the head fake and up and under, props to you being able to pivot off the elbow face the basket and take somebody, props to being able to ck bigs & points, mad props to all of your community work
in SA - hey you wrote the book AND the award for community service (only team SASS to win back-to-back), props to you making all of your rookie teammates better with the little lessons in life, props to you really knowing what happen in Houston, props for you keeping it real and being a loyal friend, and most of props for giving your knowledge to SLAMONLINE - cause you sure know the hell out of your basketball!!! Dee Ell
Jun.5 at 12:02 pm
Goody says:
U show me big love Dee Ell that’s why I love u man. When u coming home my friend. Houston is our motivation now. That’s why we keep plugging. God’s grace is sufficient. Keep it Movin….