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2025 WNBA Playoff Race Heats Up

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The WNBA standings have taken shape with some surprising contenders and disappointments as we analyze the potential playoff race through the league's current top and bottom teams.

• Minnesota Lynx stand as the top team with Napheesa Collier playing like a top-three player in the league
• Teams that lost Commissioner's Cup finals have historically won the championship, boding well for the Lynx
• Angel Reese showing improvement with the Chicago Sky (14pts, 13rebs, 45% FG, 78% FT) despite their 11th place standing
• Atlanta Dream (5th) struggling with injuries but still possess championship potential with Allishia Gray and Brittney Griner
• Seattle Storm (4th) benefiting from Nneka Ogumike's arrival alongside All-Stars Skylar Diggins and Gabby Williams
• Connecticut Sun rebuilding at 13th place but have promising young talent in Saniya Rivers and Aneesah Morrow
• Washington Mystics surprising at 7th place with All-Star Brittney Sykes leading alongside Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen

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Speaker 1:

What's up everybody. It's your favorite show's favorite show. Get a Bucket. I'm your host, trey, and as usual, I hope you're all having a wonderful, wonderful day. Today we're going to talk about my WNBA updates, but before we do that, please make sure to hit that like and subscribe button. Comment tell anyone who's anyone about the show, trying to get the ratings up a little bit. You know just a little bit, but, like I said, we're going to right back onto the program because we're gonna talk about the updates.

Speaker 1:

So, ladies and gentlemen, as y'all can see on the screen, these are the listings, the orderings for the teams. Um, y'all might be wondering why one is highlighted all over the other. Well, I'm a sparks fan, but unfortunately we kind of close to the bottom right now. Let's see if we can get into the playoff race. But speaking of playoffs, here's who we got right now. Uh, we got the links at number one, the liberty at number two, the mercury at number three, the storm at number four, the dream at number five, the fever at number six, the mystics at number seven, the aces at number eight, the valkyries at number nine, my sparks at number 10, the sky at number 11, the wings at number 12 and the sun at 13.

Speaker 1:

So who do I want to talk about today? I think I'm gonna talk about the links. I'm gonna talk about the links. Reason why I say the links, ladies and gentlemen. Reason why I say the links matter of fact, let's go ahead and pull up their tab, right? Let's go ahead and pull up their page plot out there it is hope y'all like it.

Speaker 1:

So the links defending finals runner-ups right, uh, they've been looking like possibly the top team in the league thus far. Now other teams have had injuries, right, right, but the Lynx have been fairly consistent. When we think about Nafisa Collier, well, she's been a dog. But when you think about the big three, I think sometimes she gets kind of shortchanged, right. When you think about the Lynx in general, they have a chip on their shoulder more than likely. Yeah, they lost the finals last year but also players like Kayla McBride. She was not going to be voted an all-star unless injuries occurred. Now she's all-star worthy, but that might put a little chip on your shoulder. So I'm expecting to see Kayla McBride this second half put foot to tail, and we already saw what Fee did in the all-star game with 36 points, and keep in mind. I've held her as a top three player of all time, I mean in the in the wmba currently. So you pair that with courtney williams, who's having a career year, hence the all-star, hence the all-star season too. Not mad at her, and I've always thought she could be. She should be the sixth woman courtney's showing she's actually a solid floor general as well too, and she gives good activity on the defensive end capable score.

Speaker 1:

I think this Lynx team very tough, very tough to beat and there's only a couple teams that I think can actually beat them. I'm just calling a spade a spade. I mean when you look at the team that they have thus far, we can say they might be underperforming. It sounds kind of weird to say but the Lynx consistency, should they get to the finals, don't be too surprised if they get back and if they win it. Because let's not forget, over the history, at least for the last past two seasons at least, the winner of the of the commissioner cup lost in the finals. But the finals but the. But the team that lost in the final and the commissioner cups won the finals, let's not forget that. And they, they did lose the finals for the commissioner cup this year. So maybe they'll win the finals this year. Let's see what happens. But, uh, you know that's cool. You know that's cool. You know we can talk about the Lynx all day, but instead we're going to slide on down and talk about the Chicago Sky. Now, ladies and gentlemen, remember, okay, the Chicago Sky are currently third from the bottom, all right, tenth seed in the league. They have a chance at making it to the playoffs, but, like I did think before the season, they were going to just miss it.

Speaker 1:

Okay, now again, chicago Sky, headlined by Angel Reese. You know what I'm saying. Y'all see who we rocking with. You know what I mean? Well, angel Reese has been improving. I mean, when we look at her production, we got 14 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, 1.5 steals and .6 blocks. Turnovers we can bring down a little bit. The shooting is going up 45% from the field, 21% from three. We can improve on, but notice, 78% from the free throw line. Ladies and gentlemen, that's pretty solid numbers. And again, it looks like she's actually improving as a basketball player, and this is her sophomore year too. So, yeah, I like some of the things that I'm seeing from her that do see progression from Angel Reese, which, if I'm a Chicago Sky fan, I might be excited

Speaker 1:

about. Okay, now, does Angel fit with Cardoza? Some people were wondering should we trade one or the other? I'm not a Chicago fan. I say we because I'm talking for Chicago fans. Right now, I don't think you need to trade Cardoza, and I do want to see what Cardoza does ultimately. What's her motor like? We still got to see that. Also, what is a trade possibility for Cardoza? Because I don't know if you want to trade Angel Reese right now, although Cardoza's height does make you think damn. Maybe I should trade Angel Reese. Maybe her stock is a little high, but both players are extremely valuable right now, so I think it's a bit premature to even try to think about trading those

Speaker 1:

two. So, having these two as your building blocks for the future, I think Chicago Sky is in a good situation, good spot right now, and they just got to figure out how their guards are shaking out, which I do, like some of their guards. You got Ariel Atkins, you got Haley Van. They got a lot of possibilities. Are they going to make the playoffs? Like I said, I think they're going to be just short of missing the playoffs. But next season, though, y'all got to figure out what happens. The only thing I will say this the Chicago Sky do not have a first-round 2026 pick. That will go to the Minnesota links, which is crazy. But that's another time for that's another time for another discussion. But the future of the Chicago Sky does at least seem fairly decent. But again, ladies and gentlemen, this is what we got to work with. Y'all see what the Chicago Sky rank in the

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WNBA. Now we do want to talk about. I'm going to say the Atlanta dream. All right, now hear me out, because I said at one point in time the Atlanta dream. Right, these girls can get a bucket. These girls can and they can, and I do believe that they come off as

Speaker 1:

contenders. Still, is their big three ready? For starters, I got question marks on do they have a defined big three? Ryan Howard, I love Alicia Gray. I rock with Brittany Griner you know I'm a fan. Breonna Jones is playing well too, though. So do we have a big four? Do we have a big three? Can we say BG is lackluster thus far? That's that's. That's tough. I mean. I wanted to hear BG and the depoy conversations, but we only given 1.3 blocks BG, like we only given 1.1 steals BG. That's not really saying depoy level. Now I think even with this team, you could have gotten deep boy levels. I would love to see Brittany Griner get back to deep boy level and I think she has that

Speaker 1:

capability. Still, there have been some injuries. That has affected the cohesion of the Atlanta dream, and that's why I'm on the fence about where I ultimately land with them, because they could win the championship still or get out in the first round, because, again, the injuries they are like Ryan Howard's knee injury. She will be out all of July. How does she, how does she bounce back? If we bounce back, well and we and we and we a healthy team, all

Speaker 1:

right. I still got some question marks in land of dream, but I at least like what I've seen thus far. So maybe not this season, but possibly next season, if y'all keep the same team together, right, run it back, I can see them winning next year. This year, though, at point in time as in july 2025, it is looking a little tough to say they're going to win it right now, but I do like the chance, the possibility that they have. But again, we got to see what happens with the Dream and to note, too. This little stint of Ryan Howard being out is going to question their depth. So I'm going to be paying attention to see exactly what they're looking

Speaker 1:

like. And let's not forget, ladies and gentlemen, let's not forget the Atlanta Dream. They are fifth in the league and it's been an up-and-down season for them health-wise. So I mean, I can't be but so mad at them because end of day they hooping, but a team that has been kind of outperforming them but yet has had less injuries, I'd say the Seattle Storm. Now, as y'all can see here, the Seattle Storm, like I said, fourth, right Fourth, in the league, and I've been a Seattle Storm fan ever since Nneka Ogumike went on to the squad, ladies and gentlemen, and you can see well, one since Nneka Ogumike went on to the squad, ladies and gentlemen, and you can see what won Nneka's top five for me, but she also has a little help as well. You got Skylar Diggins-Smith playing well. You got Gabby Williams playing well. Keep in mind those are two all-stars in addition to Nneka Ogumike, who is a 10-time all-star in her career. That's third time all-time in WNBA history. So you got two other All-Stars. And then you got someone like Erica Wheeler, who's a bucket. You got someone like Ezzie Magbogor who can stop players from getting a

Speaker 1:

bucket. I like this Storm team and of coach Noelle Quinn is the head coach. Of course I'm sorry Noelle Quinn is the head coach. Of course I'm sorry noel quinn is the head coach. But, ladies and gentlemen, they're well coached. So I I do expect the storm to show out, although I would like to see if they can creep up to that second or third spot. If they can do that, that, that might be saying that might change my my tune a little bit on this storm team, because I do think you can consider them contenders, but like a soft contender though right now. But I don't know, I still got to fill it out and think about it because again, they have all the pieces that you would

Speaker 1:

need. I'm torn as to why I'm still on the fence about them. I can't hold, you Can't hold y'all. But again, ladies and gentlemen, the Storm got good depth, we have a star, they got what you need. It's just about getting the job done at the end of the day. But again, ladies and gentlemen, y'all see where they are. I told you all, the Storm, the Seattle Storm, are the fourth team in the

Speaker 1:

league. No-transcript. They say save the best for last, but we not. This ain't the final team, but we are going to talk about the last team thus far, which is the Connecticut Sun. Ladies and gentlemen, the 13th and I did feel like they were going to be 13th for a minute too like this was my prediction, because again we got Tina Charles. I thought Marina Mabry was going to potentially get traded. There might be a little friction there. I thought it was going to be really controversial over in Connecticut. I can't hold y'all. I really truly cannot, and it's looking that way still

Speaker 1:

Now. Granted, you got some things we can pay attention to, right, like Olivia Nelson-Odota she playing well. She's still relatively young too. I do like Saniya Rivers, who I thought could have gotten drafted earlier, but hey, on this Sunday she gets to showcase her talents across the board, which I do love. So again, the Sun do have some nice things to focus on. Also, like maybe the number one pick next year, like they could definitely get that if they keep it at this pace. Win that lottery, ooh, like Sun, maybe that's what their goal

Speaker 1:

is. But overall, I mean I got to ask myself is this Tina Charles's last season? That is something to consider. She got a lot in the tank left she putting up 16 points, six rebounds, like she can at minimum come off the bench for somebody, at minimum, ladies and gentlemen. So I'm hoping it's not Tina's last year, but we'll wait to find out. How about, like Marina Mayberry? Will she get traded Like? Will she get traded Because we wasting away Marina's years right now on the Sun no disrespect to the Sun had a wonderful five-year stint where they was dominant, they were active, but that's over and done with now. So I would love for Marina to actually be on the team where she can help them win. But you know, that's just me. And then, like I said, their

Speaker 1:

youth. I'm looking out for Sanaya Rivers, anissa Morrow all right, because if you want to look at something like per 36 minutes, which is just forecasting what they might do in 36 minutes of play, those two are looking pretty stout. I can't hold you Like them two looking pretty good. So the Sun at least have something to build upon, just that building part. I don't know how long it's going to take. I really I don't know how long it's going to take. I really truly don't. But again though, as y'all can see, the Connecticut Sun are the 13th team right now, point in time. I don't think that's changing for a minute, but let's wait and find out

Speaker 1:

Now. I think this team might be one of the bigger surprises of the WNBA season thus far. We got the home team Washington Mystics. Baby, you know what I'm saying. All right now, hear me out. I've always said, or at least I've been saying, brittany Sykes is a WNBA star. She just does not have the same cachet that the others do, but she can get a bucket and I'm so happy that she got into the WNBA All-Star game. I thought she deserved it personally and I personally, I'm so happy that she got into the WNBA All-Star game. I thought she deserved it personally and I personally voted her as a WNBA All-Star. And the fact that she got voted, the fact that she was in there because other people were injured to me that's a slap in the face, brittany. I thought you should have won it outright. But you know what, if it was in there, you did your thing, she was active, she hooked, she got a bucket and, most importantly, she's helping the Washington Mystics stay

Speaker 1:

relevant. Ladies and gentlemen, we are in the playoff contention. Okay, like we are, like we're seventh right now. I'll give you credit, we're seventh, but we doing all right. Not to mention, though because it's not just Brittany Sykes, it's not like she's carrying a team by herself. We, sykes, it's not like she's carrying a team by herself we do have two other all-stars on the squad in Sonia Citrone and Kiki Irieff. Now here's the crazy thing they have two other all-star caliber players on their team in Aaliyah Edwards and Shakira

Speaker 1:

Austin. So this is actually making me wonder what is a lineup like with Brittany Sykes at the 1, sonia Citrone at the 2, aaliyah Edwards at the 3, kiki Irieffin at the 4, and Shakira Austin at the 5? Because, on per 36, they're ridiculous, and I think, constructed-wise, this team could actually make. That team could make some noise. They just a little young right now, are they just a little bit young? But again, everyone that I just named, with the exception of britney sykes, is six, one and above. Britney sykes is five, nine, but she played like she's six". That defensive unit would be monster, god

Speaker 1:

damn. And just think about the offense, too, bro. You can jack up a shot, and you got players who can get you a rebound easily across the board, like yo power forward, averaging 10 rebounds. Yo center can average 10 rebounds and yo small forward can average 10 rebounds and your small forward can average 10 rebounds. Eight to ten damn that's tough. And then your shooting guard and your point guard can get you at least four to five on a bad day. That's

Speaker 1:

crazy. I'm just saying the mystics, they look like they have something that they could potentially build, and I thought britney sykes was gonna get traded, and I'm happy she has not gotten traded because, again, I wasn't saying she gets traded. They look like they have something that they could potentially build and I thought Brittany Sykes was going to get traded and I'm happy she has not gotten traded Because, again, I wasn't saying she gets traded because of her talent. I'm saying because I thought the Mystics could get a huge haul for her. But now we're looking to see. Maybe they can make something shake over here in Washington. I don't know, we might have to find out what they're talking about, but again though, ladies and gentlemen, the Washington Mystics, they are one, two, three, four, five, six, seven in the WNBA and they're doing quite

Speaker 1:

well. You know what I'm saying. Like we definitely going to show a little support. We definitely going to show a little support, but I mean that about does it for the updates at least. Um, so I hope y'all are. I hope you all are watching the WNBA and continuing to support the WNBA. Um, y'all might be wondering well, what happened to the other teams? Aren't there like more teams in the WNBA? I've talked about them. That that's on another episode, so you know, come back and you'll get to hear the other ones another time. But I want to hear from y'all. Hopefully you all have been liking the content thus far, but if not, hey, let me know. I'm a big boy, I can take it. But thank you all for listening. I greatly appreciate it, and with that I mean that does about wrap up the show. So hope you all enjoy it. Please make sure to like, subscribe, comment, tell anyone who's anyone about the show. My name is Trey. I'm the host of Get a Bucket. Hope you all are having a good one. Take care.