Jon and Paul talk about some of the exciting recruits coming into the college game NEXT YEAR as national signing week is well underway and the vast majority of the top prospects have declared. The King-Sized-Queens also take a stab at some of the hot topics in women’s college basketball including the dominant Oregon Ducks, and South Carolina’s historic Freshmen class. Te’a Cooper and Aliyah Boston earn spotlight queen honors.
Jon and Paul are back bringing you all the info you need about women’s basketball as we embark on the NCAA season. In this episode, Paul breaks down some important information you need to understand how the NCAA season works and what to expect from the podcast in season 2. They also debut their new segment: Hot Topics. Maryland’s Kaila Charles and Oregon’s Satou Sabally earn spotlight queen honors.
Queens of the Court
QotC Season 2: Everything you need to know about NCAAW...and Hot Pockets
Jon and Paul recap the WNBA finals, the 2019 WNBA season, and look ahead to whats next for Team USA Basketball, WNBA 2020, and the 2019-2020 NCAAW season.
Queens of the Court
QotC Season 1 Finale: Playoff Emma and Season 2 preview
Jon and Paul recount the first two rounds of the WNBA playoffs with emphasis on the teams advancing to the semifinals. Nneka Ogwumike and A’ja Wilson receive the spotlight and are two players to watch moving forward.
We’ve been off the radar for a while because we moved from NYC to Broomfield Colorado! While we are still getting settled in we have not forgotten about the Queens of the Court. The season is over! The playoffs are upon us and we can’t wait to watch these matchups and see what happens. The final standings for the season are as follows:
Washington Mystics
Connecticut Sun
Los Angeles Sparks
Las Vegas Aces
Chicago Sky
Seattle Storm
Minnesota Lynx
Phoenix Mercury
Indiana Fever
Dallas Wings
New York Liberty
Atlanta Dream
Big Matchups this week:
9/11 – 8pm EST – Phoenix Mercury @ Chicago Sky
9/11 – 10pm EST Minneosta Lynx @ Seattle Storm
9/15 – 3pm EST Winner Storm/Lynx @ Los Angeles Sparks
9/15 – 5pm EST Winner Mercury/Sky @ Las Vegas Aces
Make sure to tune in and listen to this week’s QotC episode for our analysis and picks through the first two rounds and make sure to check back next week for our Semi-finals preview show!
Jon and Paul return from a short hiatus with your favorite comments, opinions, analysis and blunders. Don’t miss this last minute look before the WNBA playoffs begin. Spotlight Queens: Courtney Vandersloot and Napheesa Collier.
Our WNBA Power Rankings for Week 12 Monday, August 19th:
Washinton Mystics (20 – 7) X – Washington was the first team to clinch a playoff spot and have held down the number spot in the standings and our power rankings as they extended their league leading active win streak to 6. While they currently look like the favorites to win it all this year behind likely MVP Elena Delle Donne, they’re not invincible, particularly against a team with superior size.
Connecticut Sun (19 – 8) X – Spots 2 and 3 in our rankings might as well be interchangeable. Both Vegas and the Sun are deserving and are dangerous in different ways. We’re giving the edge to the Sun who have scraped out some close wins this week and look as though they’ve put an emphasis on fourth quarter play this past week. It’ll come down to the wire for the coveted top two spots but the Sun have it as of now.
Las Vegas Aces (18 – 9) X – Vegas returned A’ja Wilson yesterday who came off the bench and led the team in scoring in her 25 1/2 minutes, securing a solid victory against the Sky. With Liz Cambage also back and looking focused on a title, Vegas knows how dangerous they can be come playoff time. While at times they have looked like this may not be the year they put it all together, heading into the playoffs, it is hard not to pick them to at least make the final.
Las Angeles Sparks (15 – 10) – The Sparks had a rough week at a bad time losing two in a row while the other competitors for the top two playoff spots recorded victories. Who isn’t on the court continues to be the story for the Sparks who even after returning Candace Parker have a number of key players sidelined. They have all the weapons and then some to put together a deep playoff run, but will likely have to win at least 1 one game playoff to advance.
Chicago Sky (15 – 11) – The Sky have been the most consistent slightly above average team this year. They have rarely gone on long winning or losing streaks despite a roster full of talent and young players emerging as stars. Despite sitting in 5th place, I don’t foresee a particularly long playoff run as the Sky have not fared well against the league’s elite teams this year going 3 – 7 against our teams ranked 1 – 4.
Seattle Storm (15 – 13) – This fairy tale season for the Seattle Storm is likely to end without the fairy tale ending. Despite some encouraging development from Natasha Howard and a young crop of players, Seattle likely won’t have enough weapons to make any significant noise in the playoffs. However, we’ve bet against this team before and been wrong so I will reserve judgment until I see where they finish the season heading into the playoffs.
Phoenix Mercury (13 – 13) – This season has been a battle for the Mercury both on and off the court between injuries, suspensions, and lackluster performances by 3 rookies from whom everyone expected more. Still they are in the fight and barring some dramatic turn around, will lock down one of the final playoff spots come September. And if there is one team you don’t want to face in a one game playoff, it is probably the Mercury. Brittney Griner will be hungry when she returns to the court, and that is one beast you don’t want to wake up.
Minnesota Lynx (13 – 14) – The Lynx close out the season with a stretch a tough games against better opponents and despite the 3.5 game lead over the Fever for the last playoff spot, Cheryl Reeve probably doesn’t feel real secure just yet. It has never been more apparent how much they miss Maya Moore than this week when they lost two very tight games in the 4th quarter. Closing out games is the biggest weakness for this super talented squad, but this organization has a lot to be proud of in what has been a transition year.
Dallas Wings (9 – 18) – Dallas has won 3 of their last 4 games and look like a team that is not ready to give up on their season just yet. With only 7 games left and sitting 4 games back of the 8th place Lynx, it is unlikely they’ll break into the playoffs, but Brian Agler has to be pleased with the development of this young team around rookie of the year candidate Arike Ogunbowale. The future is bright for the Wings who will need to add some size in next years draft.
Indiana Fever (9 – 17) – The Fever still have a glimmer of hope that they could make the playoffs but it is not probable. Still it has been a successful year for Indiana in my eyes as they’ve seen the emergence of all star Erica Wheeler, a glimpse of the extremely bright future of rookie Teaira McCowan, and boast a slew of young super talented guards and shooters that will only get better.
New York Liberty (8 – 18) – Perhaps the most disappointing season goes to the Liberty despite Atlanta’s abysmal year. For a minute, New York looked like they were going to make a run for the playoffs but have now lost 8 in a row. Asia Durr has had a difficult rookie season marred by injuries and lackluster performances and everyone not named Tina Charles has been inconsistent despite the occasional brilliant game here and there.
Atlanta Dream (5 – 21) – Who takes the heat for what has happened to the dream this season? Players? Coaches? Front office? All of the above? The Dream have lost 11 in a row and look they just want it to end so they can all get back overseas playing for their international clubs. What a difference a year makes. I’m at a loss as to how the dream proceed for next year but clearly some changes are needed and it probably begins with Nicki Collen whether that’s fair or not…
Jon and Paul recount an exciting week in the WNBA highlighted by a 6 ejection fight and a vulnerable look at one of the league’s most beloved players. Spotlight Queens is taken over by a pair of reserves who have made the most of their opportunities.
Our WNBA Power Rankings for Week 11 Monday, August 12th:
Washington Mystics (17 – 7) – After posting routine wins against the Lynx and Fever, the Mystics are back in first place despite All Star Kristi Toliver sitting with a knee injury in Sunday’s contest. Aerial Powers got the start and had a nice game while Meeseman continues to impress as the Mystics not-so-secret weapon off the bench.
Los Angeles Sparks (15 – 8) – The Sparks are riding a 5 game winning streak propelled by the return of Candace Parker (who will apparently have an overall rating of 93 in NBA2k20 coming out this fall). They look like the team I expected them to be at the beginning of the year and they are still missing key players to injury. No one would be surprised if this team made a deep run and took it all this year despite the up and down season.
Las Vegas Aces (16 – 9) – Liz Cambage wrote a must-read personal essay for the Player’s Tribune about her recent absences from the W, citing mental health and riptide like anxiety attacks and depression. And she came back with a super strong outing in Vegas’ win over the Sun. Dearica Hamby continues to impress in place of A’ja Wilson and number 1 overall pick Jackie Young is beginning to come into her own. Vegas will need Wilson back to steal a top 2 spot heading into the playoffs.
Connecticut Sun (16 – 8) – The streaky Sun have had an off week losing to the Lynx and the Aces. The only top 4 team that is mostly whole (Layshia Clarendon is still out but all 5 starters are active) will need to take advantage of their beleaguered opponents while they can. Holding onto a top 2 spot will be challenging down the stretch as Vegas and LA are cruising in.
Chicago Sky (14 – 10) – The Sky have been holding down the 5 spot in our power rankings for a while now and there’s no reason to think that will change anytime soon. They’ve proven that they can compete with anyone in the league but have lost some close games that will come back to haunt them when the playoff seedings come out. The veterans are performing admirably, so if they can get a bit more from their younger players not named Diamond Deshields, they could be dangerous in the playoffs.
Seattle Storm (14 – 11) – Jewell Loyd has conceded her starting spot to Sami Whitcomb for the time being who has been absolutely dynamic for the Storm since Loyd went out with Injury. Alysha Clark has been an unsung hero for this team as well providing solid defense and scoring not to mention much needed on the court leadership. Its difficult to predict where the Storm will finish the season though I wouldn’t be surprised if they found a way to win it all or miss the playoffs entirely.
Minnesota Lynx (12 – 12) – The Lynx returned WNBA legend Seimone Augustus this week and won 2 out of 3 losing in blowout fashion to the Mystics. However, with Augustus back, the Lynx are considerably more dangerous with significant scoring threats at each position and no one will want to face them in a one game playoff. The Lynx could easily come away with a number of individual year end accolades.
Phoenix Mercury (11 – 12) – The Mercury lost more than a close game against Dallas on Saturday. With three players ejected during an on court fight and the league looking into additional sanctions, the Mercury could soon be without Griner, arguably the leagues most valuable player to her team. If that happens, the Mercury may have a difficult time holding onto the last playoff spot as they simply can’t afford to lose anymore players. On a bright note, rookie Brianna Turner has made the most of her recent minutes recording back to back double digit rebounding games
Indiana Fever (9 – 16) – The Fever could be the Cinderella story we didn’t think we’d get this year. Picked almost unanimously to finish last this season, the Fever have found answers up and down the roster with contributions night in and night out from the hot hand. It won’t be easy to sneak into the playoff picture but there is most definitely hope, particularly in Phoenix loses Griner for any extended period of time.
Dallas Wings (7 – 17) – Many believe Arike Ogunbowale is now the front-runner for Rookie of the year. The Notre Dame grad has shouldered a heavy burden in her rookie season playing out of position and being asked to take the most meaningful shots late in games. Picking up Kristine Anigwe gives Dallas a lot to look forward to in the coming years. It won’t be long before Dallas is pushing for a championship.
New York Liberty (8 – 15) – The Liberty have been reeling since the all star break, losing their last 5 and looking fairly lost. Asia Durr is again out with a strained groin and Kia Nurse has been ice cold lately. Tina Charles continues to do her thing, but NY might think about trading the legend for a haul of younger players to plan for the future.
Atlanta Dream (5 – 19) – Despite a career high 34 point performance from Tiffany Hayes on Saturday against the Fever, the Dream are winless in their last 9 contests. At this point the silver lining is that the Dream are likely to secure a solid pick in next year’s draft, but beyond that, there isn’t much to look forward to for this team. Angel McCoughtry will likely sit out the rest of the season and be traded in the off season to a contender ready to give up some young talent for the veteran All Star.
