I am seeing comments on instagram about a conspiracy about the Fever/Stephanie White and Caitlin. I don’t know anything about it, could someone explain?

After playing 72 games in Season 1, last season, Victor Wembanyama was ruled out due to thrombosis half way into the season for the rest of the season only playing 46/82 games.

The Spurs played Wemby for 64 of 82 games in the regular season this season (would be even lower if not trying to reach the awards minimum).

In the 64 games he played, he played only 29.1 minutes per game.

In total he played only 47.3% of the team’s minutes this season. He still won DPOY, was third in MVP voting and didn’t lose a bit of popularity.

Now it’s playoff time and he played 49 minutes in game 1 against a hostile physical defence which is amongst the best in NBA history and put up 41/24 and won the game for his team against an unbeatable OKC team which was 8-0 before this and now played 37 minutes in Game 2 putting up 21/17/6 with 5 stocks. Most people watching the playoffs agree he is the clear best player in the world now.

If your goal is to win above anything else and have a generational prospect coming off a year long injury who has a not small chance of getting injured or reaggravating past healed injuries if they go full tilt for 40 games in a brutally physical league, I think it’s a defensible idea to treat them super cautiously and coddle their health.

I’d rather Caitlin feel fully energised and locked in go full tilt walls to the fall 39 min and put up 28/12/10 to win playoff games which are on a demanding schedule rather than her being exhausted come playoff time and running on fumes after a long recovery and season or worse, injured for the playoffs.

I am not advocating a full Wemby regime. What I’m saying is, we have the depth. Treating her cautiously and resting her whenever possible when we can otherwise win is great strategy imo.

And if you have to do this sneakily because you can’t just write load management in all caps on the injury report, god bless you.

I’d go as far as to say, if you can block the outside narratives out, winning a regular season game without CC is better than winning it with her because you both get her rest and secure the W.

At the end of the day, the goal has to be win a championship above all, both for the Fever and CC.

Man, what a bummer about these games airing on USA. There is literally no way to stream them unless you have some sort of expensive live TV package through Hulu or Sling or Direct TV. I thought they wanted to attract as many viewers as possible? I don’t have cable. I do have Hulu but can only watch if I pay $90 a month for their live TV plan. I’ve got League Pass but that’s useless… 😭

Vote for your player of the game!

View Poll

https://reddit.com/link/1tj5l1j/video/8uxtxy1w7e2h1/player

https://xcancel.com/NekiasNBA/status/2057246843289911627

At one point, Raven's defending against two Fire players at the same time, LOL.
But also, what is that pass from Emily Engstler. 😑

https://reddit.com/link/1tj4v77/video/wimd9g7g2e2h1/player

Day by day, MHA is moving up my favorite players list.

Hear me out. I

I'm not a fan like the Fever front office, but this seems to be a team she could so well against.

1. Portland is an expansion team -players who never played together/coach new to the WNBA.

2. Portland's centers are both below average and scare no one.

3. Fever have everyone healthy though I'm sure more rest can only help AB and KK.

4. Why risk AB in a game Fever should easily win?

5. Dantas is a shooter and she never plays long enough to get into a rhythm and routine.

6. It will be a good test vs. a weak team in case we need Dantas vs. a strong team later.

7. Maybe Dantas is better than we think and just needs to get minutes to get into a "zone".

https://reddit.com/link/1tj4yva/video/wnfkf35a3e2h1/player

AB shooting three pointers is so important for her game.

https://reddit.com/link/1tj4j62/video/ghya5lyszd2h1/player

Big Lexie!

https://preview.redd.it/w5bozn5e0e2h1.png?width=591&format=png&auto=webp&s=c35b89718d6be0f0b41b486cb0b018ba0116c510

https://preview.redd.it/8l22lzbj0e2h1.png?width=427&format=png&auto=webp&s=7a901b764ceee793e2adee3c15970b5a0190d740

https://preview.redd.it/6p0wauy9fe2h1.png?width=480&format=png&auto=webp&s=ccb7a329eba3eec0c76bcbbfb1919b67a8f092af

That's wild!

Edit: Accidentally posted the SW photo twice. Fixed now.

https://reddit.com/link/1tj4x04/video/pt0e0qmt2e2h1/player

I hope AB continues to get a lot of scoring opportunities.

https://reddit.com/link/1ti5v0x/video/7sp026x8u62h1/player

Full media interviews:
https://youtu.be/NsJUCusH-Wc?si=X30zZZKVU_W2lWjj

NGL, MHA has become one of my favorite players on the team. She's so well spoken, she's a dawg on the court. Such a good get for the team!

Transcript:

Myisha Hines-Allen: "Yeah. I mean, I feel pretty good. I'm still getting used to playing with my new teammates, but I mean for the most part it's just basketball um universal sport. So, uh pretty cool." (2:47 - 2:54)

Interviewer: Is it different though in that a lot of it is more read-and-react versus sets and that type of thing? (2:55 - 3:00)
Myisha Hines-Allen: "Uh not difficult cuz like we have high IQ um players here. So, it's like makes it a lot easier that you just reacting and just playing off of each other. Um but that's just going to come from chemistry like when it starts clicking a little more. But, you know, high IQ player, so it's a lot easier." (3:01 - 3:17)

Interviewer: What do you feel like hasn't clicked perfectly so far? (3:18 - 3:23)
Myisha Hines-Allen: "I mean, defensively right now. Yeah. I mean, our defense um can be a lot better, I think. Um we're challenging, well, the coaches are challenging us and we're challenging ourselves to be the one of the best uh defensive teams in the league cuz we know that we can do that, especially with the type of players that we have. Um but that just comes from like communicating. Uh so I think right now that's where uh we're a step slow with everything with the communication." (3:23 - 3:45)

Interviewer: The communication is that just the result of still trying to build chemistry? (3:47 - 3:51)
Myisha Hines-Allen: "Yeah, for sure. And then also I mean you have a couple players from different organizations. So you call coverages a little different or how they want to play it a little differently. So I think it's just getting used to how Indiana wants to play defensively. But from like how uh BJ talks, how uh Steph talks, we know what they what they want from us and we know that we're able to do it. So, it just comes down to just like wanting to do it and needing to do it. But I think um we're taking a step in the right direction um defensively. So, that's always a positive." (3:51 - 4:20)

Interviewer: How much do you think practice time will help with all that? (4:21 - 4:26)
Myisha Hines-Allen: "Yeah, I mean we seen it last year where like that practice and we're not getting a lot of it. So, a lot of it will come from film. A lot of it will come from us just communicating off the court and seeing and talking and seeing like what do you guys see? Um, I know me and Mo talk a lot like when we're talking to each other about basketball, that's just how we communicate. What do you see or how can I help you? Like defensively, offensively. So, I think that um like the film and just us continuing to communicate." (4:27 - 4:56)

Interviewer: When Aaliyah was out or is out moving forward, whatever, what does that how does that change maybe your approach or what they need from you at that center position? (4:56 - 5:05)
Myisha Hines-Allen: "No, but I mean what Aaliyah brings to this team is undeniable. Like no one person can change that. And I mean this is my ninth season in the league, so everyone knows what I bring. Um, and I'm not going to change or try to do something outside of myself cuz honestly that's being a disservice to my teammates if I'm trying to do what Aaliyah does or trying to emulate anything that she does. So, I mean, for me, it's just continuing to be myself. Um, bring minutes, bring energy, bring defensive in um intensity to the team um and finish like the quick bunnies that I've been getting." (5:16 - 5:50)

Interviewer: Kind of on that same thing. How much more important is communication? (5:51 - 5:58)
Myisha Hines-Allen: "Yeah, I mean um it's extremely important. I mean, we always keep going back to communication cuz like I felt like that's a foundation basketball world. Um like all around the world, doesn't matter where you go, like the communication part is definitely um a part that's needed. So, I mean um we're still continuing, like I said before, we're like we're still like getting to know each other on and off the court. So, um, y'all see a turn for sure on the defensive side." (5:58 - 6:22)

Interviewer: You mentioned, uh, you know, you know what your role is, what you bring to the table. You've been a player at this level. You probably prior to this level been the best player wherever you were. So, how quickly did you maybe have to adopt that mindset when you got to the WBA, just whatever I can do to stay on the floor, contribute to winning and things like that? (6:23 - 6:38)
Myisha Hines-Allen: "No, I mean, um, high school, I can say I was best player on the court, but like in my college years, I played with some phenomenal players. Uh, so I wouldn't say I was the best in college. So just honestly just the way I grew up, how I grew up, how how my coaches have always um taught me, just be ready when your number is called. It doesn't matter how many minutes you play. It doesn't matter if you play, if you don't play, if you're playing the whole game, it doesn't matter. Just be ready. Know exactly what our schemes are defensively and know what you do in order for the team to go. Um, and I've always had that mindset and I always will have that mindset." (6:39 - 7:13)

Interviewer: Is that easy or hard? Cuz I feel like people always say, "Oh, be a pro." like I never been in that position. (7:13 - 7:18)
Myisha Hines-Allen: "Yeah. Um I mean it's different from if somebody says be a pro. Being a pro maybe look different. It's different from you me to to all y'all. So it's like what can you do? Like what is your niche for the team? Um and then you going a long way. Like I said like I've been in this for 9 years now. So like for me being a pro is showing up every single day bringing that energy. Defensively if I'm coming off the bench defensively when I accept into the game I'm making sure I get a stop. And that's just the mindset that I have. But being a pro is different. It looks different for everybody." (7:18 - 7:48)

Interviewer: It seems like you're becoming a fan favorite pretty quickly. How has it felt for you connecting with fans? (7:48 - 7:53)
Myisha Hines-Allen: "It's news to me. Hey. Um, no. I just like I like I consider myself a connector. Uh, so I mean if I'm becoming a fan favorite, I like that. (😂) It's cool to me though, I guess." (7:53 - 8:06)

Interviewer: Speaking of connectors, I know you said one of the reasons you were interested in coming here is to play with someone like Caitlyn. Seems like you're connecting with her. How's that relationship growing? (8:06 - 8:13)
Myisha Hines-Allen: "Oh, amazing. Um, just getting to know her off the court um has been like the best part because like again I've never talked to her before um until I got here. So, it's just like actually communicating like seeing her vibe is like pretty pretty cool actually. I was not expecting her to like be so outgoing, open, um knowing a lot of different music. Like it's it's been really impressive. I've been in awe of it actually." (8:13 - 8:40)

Interviewer: I know this is hard to summarize in one answer. We saw the video of your brother Josh watching you on on Friday night. Oh yeah. Can you speak to your relationship and having a a brother in professional sports? (8:40 - 8:51)
Myisha Hines-Allen: "Um it's been really special honestly. uh when I got injured and had to um sit out and and got surgery on my knee, like he was someone I leaned on. Um we leaned on each other. Uh he's never been in like that situation, but he was going that season he was going through an injury himself. So like just leaning on him in in that moment. Um and then just hearing out like um it was my nephew who was like talking in the background of that video. Um, I mean he's he's the cutest, but um I mean it's just fun. Like for us it's not necessarily sports. Like we don't always talk about sports. Like it's always like family oriented and how we how we like navigate our relationship." (9:03 - 9:59)

Interviewer: Is that is that you with him when he's playing? Like are you are you with? (10:00 - 10:05)
Myisha Hines-Allen: "Okay. Honestly, I'm not even going to hold you guys. Not really. But but but also guys, that's because I'm overseas playing, so I can't really watch a lot of the games. But like um like when I see him on social media, like his clips on social media, like I get excited cuz I was like that's my that's my brother. Like he's out here doing his big ones. So I'm just a a proud sister, honestly. Big sister. proud big sister honestly." (10:05 - 10:29)