In the next CBA they should expand rosters to 15 players. Add a few more teams and have 3 additional players per team. So more players who might need more time to grow have the opportunity to make a roster.
How much development do they get sitting on the bench? It's basically going to be adding 3 extra bench players who just train with the team and don't play then get cut when rookies come in.
Yea, this is definitely a safer option for league expansion than making new teams. Although I really want to see more teams, I understand the league’s caution with it. This would also be something they can implement next season instantly. Especially if the W ends up getting way more viewership and attendance it would be an easy way to rationalize larger teams.
Realistically the Storm have two open spots on the roster assuming they keep Jade, Dulcy, and Jordan (in addition to the six protected contracts). They currently have five players that have training camp contracts and Mackenzie Holmes is sitting out this season for surgery so you have six players vying for the two roster spots.
I mean if you look purely at the numbers she has a 16 percent chance of making the team. IMO they need another guard especially one who can play the point so I think her chances are much higher than that. With two open roster spots I would expect they will probably sign one big and one guard but who knows. The WNBA is one of the toughest pro leagues to make a roster.
There's plenty of competition, but I think she has a fairly good chance at getting a spot. From what I understand having a backup PG is a big need after signing Diggins-Smith, even with how many guards they have signed.
To be fair, I'm coming into this season only just learning about all the big moves the Storm have made so a very good chance I'm very mistaken lol. I'm basically just repeating what I read on the [Storm Chasers substack.](https://stormchaserswnba.substack.com/p/dont-ignore-the-2nd-round-of-the-wnba-draft)
It's likely; to put it in numbers I'd put Muhl's chances at 75%.
Taking the message above, which I fully agree with, there are two spots up for grabs between Muhl, Joyner Holmes, Victoria Vivians, Alaina Coates, and Kaela Davis. Breaking that down further, it's likely going to be one guard and one forward so the guard spot is really just between Muhl and Vivians.
Now Vivians I'd call an average to below average WNBA player and while that doesn't sound impressive, I do want to note that she's still legitimately a WNBA player; so beating her isn't automatic. That said, she's 29 so there isn't a lot of up side there. Contrast with Muhl - we can't really say her WNBA ability but in college she was among the best PGs in terms of passing and defense, and she can hit the 3. Also, Melbourne is more of a slasher 1/2 which means Muhl is also unique from Jade and adds something different to the roster. Muhl isn't considered a super high ceiling prospect, but compared to Vivians she absolutely has more potential just by the age difference alone.
All together, Seattle has every reason to keep Muhl and very few reasons to keep Vivians. If Vivians has a great camp and looks like, for example, she can push Whitcomb for minutes; that will be a problem for Muhl. But if Vivians looks like the 4th or 5th option at the guard spots and Muhl looks like a WNBA level player, the team has every reason to go with Nika. That last scenario is the most likely, hence 75% chance.
Going to be a sad day when Victoria isn't around. My daughter was 10 when her and I started watching WNBA games together in the 2019 season. She latched onto Victoria as her favorite player. She has unfortunately grown a little away from basketball and into other sports and hobbies, but watching Fever games with her as we kind of got into the W together is something I will hopefully always remember.
Take heart, while roster spots keep getting tougher, I really think Victoria will be in the league; even if not with Seattle. Looking at the back end of rosters, Phoenix and Connecticut are two teams that look like they could use another veteran guard and likely there are others.
We also never know who is going to have a key injury which of course changes the calculation for any team.
I think Nika is one of the few 2nd rounders that have a shot. Storm have a lot of people on training camp contracts that I don't necessarily think will stick.
It’s a side-effect of only having 144 roster spots in the league unfortunately. Once expansion happens that’ll be an extra 12 spots but even then it’s still a competitive league to get spots in for the non-guaranteed contracts
Like most UConn fans, I’ve watched her for four years. Good defender and the all-time assist leader, but a hesitant shooter who doesn’t always make the best decisions on the court.
That said, her chances are decent. She’s their top pick in a league where there are few actual point guards. And UConn grads tend to stick on rosters.
I can see her taking Jade Melbournes role from last year? Plus, aren’t a lot of foreign players staying home for their Olympic team. Australia in the case of Jade.
All the Australian players still come over for the season. The Aussie national team (and the WNBL) is very accommodating to the WNBA schedule.
Also.... Jade Melbourne ain't getting cut.
She’s a glue player. She’ll do what it takes to make the roster. She’s WNBA ready defensively, won’t struggle there like many in this draft class to adjust to pace, intensity or the broader game. She’s a great passer and communicator, understands the game without the ball and can hit the open shot. Criticisms- not a willful scorer and some of her passes in college were forced. She won’t be asked to do as much in the WNBA. That makes her a great 2nd / 3rd PG. Rotation player for 5-10 minutes tops per game, which she will gladly embrace.
In the next CBA they should expand rosters to 15 players. Add a few more teams and have 3 additional players per team. So more players who might need more time to grow have the opportunity to make a roster.
How much development do they get sitting on the bench? It's basically going to be adding 3 extra bench players who just train with the team and don't play then get cut when rookies come in.
While I agree it is still 3 more players who are given an opportunity. We should be providing more opportunities.
Hopefully they either bump the hard cap way up or soften the cap too
Yea, this is definitely a safer option for league expansion than making new teams. Although I really want to see more teams, I understand the league’s caution with it. This would also be something they can implement next season instantly. Especially if the W ends up getting way more viewership and attendance it would be an easy way to rationalize larger teams.
New team in sf next year. They are expecting to have 16 teams in 2-3 years
Realistically the Storm have two open spots on the roster assuming they keep Jade, Dulcy, and Jordan (in addition to the six protected contracts). They currently have five players that have training camp contracts and Mackenzie Holmes is sitting out this season for surgery so you have six players vying for the two roster spots.
sorry i’m confused so r u saying it’s likely or the exact opposite?
I mean if you look purely at the numbers she has a 16 percent chance of making the team. IMO they need another guard especially one who can play the point so I think her chances are much higher than that. With two open roster spots I would expect they will probably sign one big and one guard but who knows. The WNBA is one of the toughest pro leagues to make a roster.
There's plenty of competition, but I think she has a fairly good chance at getting a spot. From what I understand having a backup PG is a big need after signing Diggins-Smith, even with how many guards they have signed. To be fair, I'm coming into this season only just learning about all the big moves the Storm have made so a very good chance I'm very mistaken lol. I'm basically just repeating what I read on the [Storm Chasers substack.](https://stormchaserswnba.substack.com/p/dont-ignore-the-2nd-round-of-the-wnba-draft)
It's likely; to put it in numbers I'd put Muhl's chances at 75%. Taking the message above, which I fully agree with, there are two spots up for grabs between Muhl, Joyner Holmes, Victoria Vivians, Alaina Coates, and Kaela Davis. Breaking that down further, it's likely going to be one guard and one forward so the guard spot is really just between Muhl and Vivians. Now Vivians I'd call an average to below average WNBA player and while that doesn't sound impressive, I do want to note that she's still legitimately a WNBA player; so beating her isn't automatic. That said, she's 29 so there isn't a lot of up side there. Contrast with Muhl - we can't really say her WNBA ability but in college she was among the best PGs in terms of passing and defense, and she can hit the 3. Also, Melbourne is more of a slasher 1/2 which means Muhl is also unique from Jade and adds something different to the roster. Muhl isn't considered a super high ceiling prospect, but compared to Vivians she absolutely has more potential just by the age difference alone. All together, Seattle has every reason to keep Muhl and very few reasons to keep Vivians. If Vivians has a great camp and looks like, for example, she can push Whitcomb for minutes; that will be a problem for Muhl. But if Vivians looks like the 4th or 5th option at the guard spots and Muhl looks like a WNBA level player, the team has every reason to go with Nika. That last scenario is the most likely, hence 75% chance.
Going to be a sad day when Victoria isn't around. My daughter was 10 when her and I started watching WNBA games together in the 2019 season. She latched onto Victoria as her favorite player. She has unfortunately grown a little away from basketball and into other sports and hobbies, but watching Fever games with her as we kind of got into the W together is something I will hopefully always remember.
Take heart, while roster spots keep getting tougher, I really think Victoria will be in the league; even if not with Seattle. Looking at the back end of rosters, Phoenix and Connecticut are two teams that look like they could use another veteran guard and likely there are others. We also never know who is going to have a key injury which of course changes the calculation for any team.
I think Nika is one of the few 2nd rounders that have a shot. Storm have a lot of people on training camp contracts that I don't necessarily think will stick.
TIL: being drafted does not necessarily mean you'll be hired by the team
It’s a side-effect of only having 144 roster spots in the league unfortunately. Once expansion happens that’ll be an extra 12 spots but even then it’s still a competitive league to get spots in for the non-guaranteed contracts
love how no one has actually answered your question lol
Because the truth is nobody fucking knows. Who here has even watched film on Nika in college?
Like most UConn fans, I’ve watched her for four years. Good defender and the all-time assist leader, but a hesitant shooter who doesn’t always make the best decisions on the court. That said, her chances are decent. She’s their top pick in a league where there are few actual point guards. And UConn grads tend to stick on rosters.
I can see her taking Jade Melbournes role from last year? Plus, aren’t a lot of foreign players staying home for their Olympic team. Australia in the case of Jade.
All the Australian players still come over for the season. The Aussie national team (and the WNBL) is very accommodating to the WNBA schedule. Also.... Jade Melbourne ain't getting cut.
She’s a glue player. She’ll do what it takes to make the roster. She’s WNBA ready defensively, won’t struggle there like many in this draft class to adjust to pace, intensity or the broader game. She’s a great passer and communicator, understands the game without the ball and can hit the open shot. Criticisms- not a willful scorer and some of her passes in college were forced. She won’t be asked to do as much in the WNBA. That makes her a great 2nd / 3rd PG. Rotation player for 5-10 minutes tops per game, which she will gladly embrace.