WNBA Playoff Picture and Commissioner Cup Race Check-In

We run through the current WNBA standings and what they reveal about the real contenders as the season pushes toward the halfway mark. We also talk injuries, All-Star voting chaos, and why certain teams feel one hot streak away from flipping the whole playoff bracket. 
• Current WNBA standings and why seeding matters now 
• Kelsey Plum’s injury and what it means for the Sparks’ playoff chances 
• The case for optimism if the Sparks can survive four weeks 
• Indiana Fever progress and Caitlin Clark’s efficiency vs turnovers 
• Golden State Valkyries earning real respect and how fast they can contend 
• Dallas Wings chemistry, Paige Bueckers as a point guard, and matchup worries 
• Commissioner’s Cup Championship hype and what history says about contenders 
• Point differential talk and what it hints about Minnesota and Las Vegas 
• Atlanta Dream’s talent, injury watch, and pressure to reach the next round 
• New York Liberty depth, absences, and why they still look terrifying 
• All-Star fan voting complaints and who fans should reward 
• Physical play spotlight after the Mercury games and what “keep it clean” means 
Please make sure to hit that like and subscribe button. Comment, tell anyone who’s anyone about the show. Also make sure to tune into the National Special Olympics. 

Transcript

WNBA Updates And Housekeeping

SPEAKER_00 0:00

What's up, everybody? It's your favorite show's favorite show, get a bucket. I'm your host, Trey, as usual. I hope you're all having a wonderful, wonderful day. Today we're gonna talk about the 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. And you wonder where you heard this before. That's because you've been listening to me Monday through Friday at 11 o'clock AM Eastern Standard Time. So I greatly appreciate your support. Now, WNBA, right? You know how this goes. I was gonna talk about this on Wednesday, you know, my Woman Crush Wednesday, my WNBA Wednesday, but the draft happened. Now we had the second round of the NBA draft go on, but I ain't gonna talk about them. Although shout out to Isaiah Evans, you know what I'm saying? Whoop de whoop. I'm a Duke fan, and he and we both from Fayetteville. I had to give my shout out. But, and also, you know, I've been talking about my time at the National Special Olympic Games out in Minnesota. So I'm gonna take a little pause for that because we got playoffs today, starting today. So you know there's gonna be some good times, some good energy. And of course, I'm gonna talk about a little referee. So I might make that a separate episode, a special episode tonight, and then another one for the championship game tomorrow. After the games, of course. But back to the WNBA. Y'all know how

Standings Snapshot And Sparks Concern

SPEAKER_00 1:12

this goes. We're gonna talk about the standards real quick. Number one, Minnesota Lynx, number two, Las Vegas Aces, number three, Atlanta Dream, number four, New York Liberty, number five, Dallas Wings, number six, Golden State Valkyries, number seven, Indiana Fever, number eight, Los Angeles Sparks. Y'all know the Sparks is my team. Y'all might have peeped that I didn't have as much energy about my Sparks, right? That's because Kelsey Plum just got injured yet again. She's gonna be out four weeks. We're gonna re-evaluate her, see if she can come back. And I I I I can't argue. If we lose her, that's gonna be a devastating blow. The season might be done. I know we got NECA, I love NECA. I know we got Derrick, I love Derrica. Amen. Say, man. It might not be too good for us, bro, because we need Kelsey Plum. Keep in mind, we go up against the Mercury, right? This is just one game as an example. We played, what, 16 now, but one game. We play against the Mercury. Kelsey Plum, Khalia Copper. First time in WNBA history, two players have dropped 40 points in a game. That's regular season and playoff included. And again, I said it was Kelsey Plum who dropped 40 plus points. Career highs for both. She's been hooping. She's been able to get a bucket. She's always been able to get a bucket for sure, but she's been getting a bucket this season. It's early, but she's still been getting a bucket. Now she might be gone for the season. That's tough. Because I've been saying, Dag, my sparks has not been able to sneak into the playoffs. And, you know, we we've been here for about what, two weeks now? Technically, we did get bumped down by the Mystics, but then the Mystics lost to the Liberty. So now we're right back in the thick of things. But because of this Kelsey Plum situation, I'm gonna be curious how we look over the next four weeks. If we can remain in the playoff hunt, oh, we might have something, ladies and gentlemen. Because keep in mind, now we get Kelsey Plum able to shake off the rust. Because four weeks is a

Kelsey Plum Injury And Playoff Math

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lot of time missed. But when she comes back, and let's say we get to the playoffs, can you say fresh legs? I love it. I love it. Now we just gotta make sure the cohesion's straight. There's a world, there's some optimism I'm trying to have for myself, maybe, that my sparks can do something. But we just gonna have to wait and see. Kelsey Plum, wishing you the best. I've talked to look, I've had some negative things to say before about you in the past. But one thing I will not do is miss this moment to say, I hope you get better soon. Please. And that's not even just because you're on my team, you know what I'm saying? Like, I just don't want any athletes to be injured. I love the game basketball too much. I love people too much. You know what I'm saying? So speedy recovery, Kelsey. Speedy recovery as a Sparks fan. The Indiana Fever number seven is kind of surprising. Kind of surprising. You know, Caitlin's been improving over the last, what, week or so now? You know, the efficiency is getting a little better. Turnovers are still there, but you see flashes, whereas like, all right, we're getting the two to one assist turnover ratio. Sometimes we even sneak in a little three to one. Like, that's not bad. So cool, maybe Caitlin Clark is turning the corner. Aaliyah Balls and Kelsey Mitchell, y'all been hooping still. We know what you do. Y'all have been producing consistently over the last three seasons. Caitlin's numbers are there until you get to turnovers and efficiency. So if we can clean that up, fever might be, fever might be on to something. But in the meantime, I'm not going to harp on the fever too too much. Because again, we've talked about them before. We know what they are. They got a big three, they got some decent depth. They're trying to retool just a little bit because last year's team did dissipate Justin Smidge. You know what I'm saying? They had, like, for example, Natasha Howard. That was a critical piece gone. So again, I do like the fever, but I mean, I'm kind of hoping that they remain at the seventh seed or realistically, wherever the wherever the aces are for the playoff race, I hope they remain there because I do want to see that playoff matchup. So fingers crossed so we can get that playoff matchup. But yeah, fever. I ain't gonna talk about y'all too too much. It is what it is. Golden State Valkyrie still in the playoff race. I do appreciate it. Because at the time, at the beginning of the season, there it did start to look like the three newest teams were gonna make the playoffs. Golden State made it last season. So running it back just proves, all right, that they really there. And how far off is the organization from winning a championship? Like, we may have to start questioning that. Because again, they win if they get to the playoffs, and let's let's say they win a playoff round, right? Like, let's say they go up, because right now they're slated to go up against the Atlanta Dream. If they beat the dream, the dream can be beaten, to be clear. So if they beat the dream, we got to start questioning how many years, how many seasons would it take for the Golden State Valkyries to win a title? Because if they can win a title, hey, that'd be pretty spectacular. I can't lie to you. Gabby Williams

Fever Trends And Caitlin’s Efficiency

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has been playing phenomenal, a bona fide, surefied all-star. And we might even talk about her as a W as an all-WNBA player. She got that kind of talent. And we saw that in the Olympics, too, by the way. The World Games. So again, ladies and gentlemen, Golden State Valkyrie, number six. I can't be but so mad at them. You gotta love them, you gotta respect them at bare minimum. And they're gonna make it to the playoffs. We close to the twin. We are close to the halfway mark, ladies and gentlemen, of the WNBA season. They still in the thick of things. Yeah, I like them. Dallas Wings, I said they the fifth seed. They've been remaining the fifth seed, and they've been showing me they might have some good team chemistry. Paige Beckers, you know what I'm saying? That's an all-star, all WNBA, MVP caliber player. Jessica Shepard has been playing some good ball. Shep. Shepy. Yo, you you you hooping. You hooping. I see you, baby. I see you. And it's crazy because she was on the links, right? She won't doing this. Imagine if she was doing this on the link. Oh, they would have been nasty. But Paige got her. And that can be smooth. Also, real quick, for people who are saying that Paige Becker is not a point guard, I need y'all to stop. Y'all sound too ignorant. You really do. How is it that this girl has been playing point guard damn near her whole life? And she's not a point guard now? Why? Because she can get a bucket? For real? Y'all not paying attention to the assist-turnover ratio where she's getting about six assists and two turnovers. But she's not a point guard, though. Yeah, y'all sound foolish. I just need to say that right now. Because I've heard this on my social medias. We gotta stop that narrative. Now, Jessica Shepard, you playing that all-star caliber. If they can get a Rik to be who Ari K is, who we think a Rik is, Dallas Wings can be scary. And it's crazy too because they could go up against the New York Liberty. I don't know if the New York Liberty would lose to the Dallas Wings. Not right now. I don't think so. New York too deep. They got it like, yeah, bro. I don't see it happening. I don't see it happening at all. I'm sorry. Wings, I love y'all. I really truly do. Dallas fans, please don't get upset with me. If y'all are pairing up against New York

Valkyries Respect And Title Timeline

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Liberty right now, I don't see y'all advancing. Honestly, top four seeds. Your best case might be the Atlanta Dream, but I mean, I don't know. Because they're kind of tough too now. But the Wings, for sure, they're gonna get to the playoffs. They're gonna make some noise. I do think because Shepard has been playing pretty well, I can see Paige Becker's not being in the MVP discussion as much. But I also think, too, she should be in the MVP discussion. Because again, we're talking about maybe what, three all-star caliber players now? AZ Fudd starting in the lineup now. Cool, heard you. We gotta wait to see, though, how she produces. I don't think she's gonna be an all-star player this season. Other teams have had, what, like Asia, right? She has a gang of All-Star Caliber players. Liberty, a gang of all-star caliber players. The Dream, at least three. So again, and I'm talking about three this season. And last season. So again, well from last season, because Angel wasn't on the team last season, but she was an all-star last season. So I may still want to keep Paige Becker's in the MVP discussion. Again, I didn't have them in the playoffs per se, so that's the reason why she's still there. But if if if some of her teammates start turning up a little bit more, we may have to drop Paige's MVP rankings, Al Justice Mids. Just to be fair to how I've done the other teams. Liberty, Dream, Aces, and Lynx. I told y'all before, I tell you again, these are the contending teams. Now, the Commissioner Cup Championship is supposed to take place June 30th. 7 o'clock Eastern Standard Time. And I can't wait to see this. I've told y'all before, ladies and gentlemen, outside of the Seattle storm in 2021, which is the only reason why this happened, two things. One, there were less games to be played. I believe it was like one game, right? Two, Brianna Stewart was injured that time. So if she had played, they probably would have won. No lie. And I think they went up against the Mercury, right? Who ended up going to the to the finals? So that's the path that the storm went on that season. But every team outside of that that has gone to the championship has at least gone to the second round of the WNBA playoffs. So we can expect to see the Aces and the Liberty both in the second round. Barring injuries, of course. Barring injuries advance to the second round. Because they're playing in the championship game. But when it comes to advancing to the championship game itself in the WNBA,

Wings Chemistry And Paige Point Guard Debate

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these four teams, I got high expectations. Let's just talk about the point differentials, right? Minnesota Lynx leads the league with 11.4, meaning that they outscore their opponents by 11 points on average. Aces. Their point differential is actually lower than the dream, the Liberty, the Wings, the Valkyries. Alright, we above the we above the fever now. But that's the that that's the point differential they're working with. These two teams won, because these were my contenders before the season started. This no, I'm sorry, the Liberty were. The Lynx is telling me that they're winning blowout games. They've won close games too, but they've lost some close games as well, too. Now like I went to see the Liberty, um, the Lynx play in person, put eyes on them, versus the Mystics, who, by the way, you know, the Mystics could shake up things because my plum, my, my, my Lakers losing plum, they could, you know what I'm saying, drop. And the Mystics could rise. Because I had the Mystics in the playoffs before the season started. And they could be a mismatch or matchup nightmare for the Lynx. They could cause problems. Now, the only thing that may change my mind is because Nafisa Callier has not played yet. But the Mystics did keep it close the entire time. Rebounding was a big thing. And although this was, you know, maybe an anomaly, but Olivia Miles did make a critical turnover in the game. Late game, by the way. And that's what cost them the game. And it was an out-of-bounds play, too. That's it was so disgusting. So disgusting. Tough. But the Lynx, if they can't win close games, if they can't show that a little bit more, which again, they have won some, but this point differential does make me wonder when they go up against the better teams, when the game gets tight. What they looking like. And Olivia Miles and the Fisa Collier, they still gotta figure out who's gonna win it at the end. Now, I only thing that makes me feel better is I will say this the Lynx are an unselfish team. They are looking like that. And the Fisa Collier, I've never known to be a selfish player. So when she returns, I'm not expecting much issue there. But I still gotta wait to see what it looks like, too. Because who knows? Eagos could form. We gotta wait to see what happens. The aces. Y'all winning close games tell me, okay, well, y'all are the champions, so people might may put a little more energy when they come against y'all. So that could explain the point, the lower point differential. But the fact that y'all are still the second seed speaks volumes. I can't deny that. Asia Wilson having a hell of a season. Jackie Young, hell of a season. Chelsea Gray, you already know who she is. Like Kennedy Carter, hooping. She can get a bucket. So they got good players on their team for show. And honestly, when it's all said and done, too, we could talk about this team as the arguably the great, at least the trio as one of the greatest trios in WNBA history, if not the greatest trio in WNBA history. They could get four championships. They already got four. Let me do my math again. But what happens if they get five? Because remember the Houston Commons got four, and we talk about them. So if they get five, hey, this might be the greatest. So that's what we're thinking when we're talking about Las Vegas. And again, they're getting older. Their players are getting older. Other players are starting to evolve, mature, improve. So if they can get it now, hey, might as well. But there are some teams that will challenge that. The dream has been looking pretty interesting, right? Granted, Alicia Gray did get injured recently. So we'll just wait to see what happens when she returns. Hopefully she's cool. I think she'll be alright. But we're gonna wait and see. But the dream on paper and somewhat

Contenders, Point Differential, Cup Stakes

SPEAKER_00 14:42

production too are pretty spectacular. Not just because they have Ryan Howard, Alicia Gray, Angel Reese. We forget players like Jordan Canada, who, when I talked about that Storm team, Sue Bird was on that team, right? Guess who else was on that team? Jordan Canada getting tutelaged by Sue Bird, one of the greatest point guards the WNBA has seen. So they have that type of player on their team. Can't scoff at that. Short guard, heard you. She got confidence. Good playmaker, and she can get a bucket. So again, ladies and gentlemen, I like the dream. And it's just a matter of time to wait and see how they produce. I'm ex- They need to get to the second round and advance. They need to. Because I think I said last season to one of my boys on the show. Maybe Ryan Howard and Alicia Gray have like a two-year championship window. Now that was before they got Angel Reese, so maybe that sneaks in an additional two years. But it's still looking like they need to, they need to prove to us, hey, we can at least get to the finals. If they can do that, I think that'll be stellar. And again, they have the talent. But I hear you if they don't. That's why I'm not gonna be upset if they don't get to the finals. Because again, a team like the Aces or even the Liberty could knock them out. If they get knocked out in the first round, though, we're gonna have to have some conversations. Now, speaking of the Liberty, these girls is nice. And it's crazy because they're really trying to piece stuff together still because they've had so many injuries, so many absences. It's crazy work. So the fact that they're a four-seed is kind of commendable. Like I appreciate y'all. You know what I'm saying? And again, on paper, this is the best team in the WNBA. They are the deepest team in the WNBA. The only problem I have is I made that same statement last season. It's the only problem I have. So if the Liberty can continue to get their cohesion, I was wondering what their starting lineup would look like, what their bench would look like. There was a world where I was thinking, hey, maybe Satu can come off the bench, get saucy, and then finish the game. I think she's in the starting lineup now. And I ain't mad at it. I'm just saying Satu off the bench just says how stout your team is, how stacked your team is. Sabrina Ionescu coming back, got her first double-double this season. Holla at me. Amen, say main. We looking alright. And then, of course, John Quell Jones doing her thing. Stewie doing her thing. Leone Phoebe's coming back, being the player she is, efficient and a defender. Guarding one through five. They nasty with it. They nasty with it. But Najee Lainey Hamilton, when she comes back to true form, oh wow. That's gonna be a problem. Tell you that right now. Matter of fact, one of these expansion teams definitely gonna have to poach from the Liberty. Because if they don't, yo, I don't know how you beat the Liberty right now. I'm telling you, if they start gelling properly, ladies and gentlemen, they might be dog walking everybody in the WNBA. So we just gotta wait and see how that looks. But again, we will be watching The Liberty. And keep in mind, they're in the Commissioner Cup Championship without being healthy for the full season. They just beat the breaks off the Aces recently. Speaks volumes. I'm not saying they're my favorite to win the championship, but they're my favorite to win the championship. But ladies and gentlemen, oh, before I go, because again, all-star break is coming up around the corner, right? Fan voting is starting up. I get it, it's fan voting. I hear you. We gotta cut the we gotta we gotta stop the cap. We gotta end this facade.

Dream Window And Liberty Depth Problem

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Aaliyah Balston, number one in fan voting. Like, I'm not gonna act like I have too much of a gripe with it. I understand why Caitlin Clark is high on the list, right? I do. I'm not gonna act, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not ignorant. I get it, okay? I understand it. But the issue is some of the other names that I've seen. Like, how in the world is someone like I like I'm I'm sorry, I'm still flabbergasted right now, ladies and gentlemen. I apologize. Cause look, so we got here Sophie Cunningham, top 15. Like, if the fans are voting because they think she's cute, alright, I guess. Lexi Hole at 20. Again, if the fans voting because they think she's cute, alright, I guess. But we got some other cute girls in WNBA too. Like, we gotta make sure that we pick and play as based off talent, production. And I'm not trying to slight these two at all, even though it's coming off like a slight for show. But there are other players who we could vote for. And I get it, it's the fans, right? Like Indiana Fever fans. I don't know what y'all are doing, but other fan bases need to steal y'all's formula. Because ain't like if these girls get into the get into the all-star games, partially because these fan votes, that would be ridiculous, man. Because I'm telling you, I'm looking at my Sparks fan base, like, bro, what are we doing? You know what I'm saying? Like, how come the Indiana fans are doing better than us? How come the Indiana fans are doing better than the than the New York fans, man? Because hey, whole time New York got a lot of players on their team that can actually make the all-star. So why not New York? And y'all just won a championship, too, with the WNBA and now the NBA. Because what, Liberty won two seasons ago? I need to see New York stand up a little bit more. Because Indiana right now, I know Indiana is a basketball state. I get it. But damn. Lie down. You know what I'm saying? Like these, they, they, they, they, they doing their thing. I'm hey, this is the tip of the cap to the Indiana fan base. Because again, in no world should Sophie Cunningham or Lexi Hull be WNBA All-Stars, unless there are a bunch of players that have been injured. Like, they gotta be the alternates, alternates, alternates, alternates, alternate. And and and and and and if you look at this list right now, Lexi and Sophie got a shot. Like, if you were if we were just to base it off the fan base, meaning. So again, I I tip the cap to the Indiana Fever fan base. But at the same time, I'm looking at everybody else. Y'all ain't got no other all-stars or all athletes on your team that you can like, that you can vote for? That's all I'm saying, ladies and gentlemen. We gotta stop the cap, please, ladies and gentlemen, please. But again, kudos to the fan base of the Indiana Fever. But ladies and gentlemen, oh, also, speaking of the Indiana Fever, because I just forgot about this. I have been talking with people on social media. They're like, well, you know, Caitlin Clark be getting bullied and this, that, and third. She, you know, she alright. But hear me out though, okay? Because they recently played against the Phoenix

All-Star Fan Voting Frustrations

SPEAKER_00 21:36

Mercury back-to-back games. Phoenix won the second game. Caitlin Clark, I think, is out with a back injury or something like that. But she also got hit in the throat as well, too. And I didn't appreciate that. One, Caitlin, speedy recovery, right? Hopefully you return soon. But Alyssa Thomas, I love, look, I love a gritty player. I really truly do. But it does seem like you got a problem with Caitlin Clark. Like, bro, we cannot be putting our hands on folks' throat, especially when they're on the ground, man. And keep in mind, too, Alyssa Thomas is like rather stocky, like kind of strong. Like, I'm not trying to get into a fight with Alyssa Thomas myself. And like Caitlin Clark is shorter than me, skinnier than me. I don't I think it's fair to say I'm stronger than Caitlin Clark. And I'm making that statement about Alyssa. I'm not trying to see hands, I'm not trying to have a fight with Alyssa at all, bro. Alyssa, you gotta calm down, baby. I get it. I love your passion. I'm not telling you to change your game. I'm just saying, watch your hands, baby. This is all. Just watch your hands a little bit. And I would have said it if it was for anybody, to be clear. I just know that this is gonna get more views because it's about Caitlin Clark. And you've there there is a history now between you and Caitlin. That is a factual statement now. So we do, when I say we, I mean you, gotta chill out when it comes to Caitlin Clark. Because the optics don't look that stellar. They really truly don't. But outside of that, baby, keep doing what you're doing. Because I will say this now for the Phoenix Mercury. I had y'all, I had y'all in the playoff race. At the bottom, y'all were in my number 18. And because my sparks are now injured, y'all can start climbing up the ranks. Because y'all have won some tough games already. And y'all got the talent to actually win and get to the playoffs. Problem is though, y'all have some injuries as well, too. Y'all suspended one of your players. It's it's it's not looking like the best season. Khalia Copper and Dewana Bonner. Well, DeWana's been playing okay, but still kind of subpar is too. She's been looking like a quality defender still. Khalia Copper averaging 19, right? Alyssa Thomas still doing what she does. I'm telling you right now, if the Phoenix Mercury gets to the playoffs, we may have to talk about Khalia Copper and Alyssa Thomas in the MVP discussion. Because, at least as a right now point in time, they're not healthy, the Mercury. And if they start climbing up the ranks, I get it, my my sparks are injured. The Mystics, youngest team in WNBA

Caitlin Contact Talk And Mercury Outlook

SPEAKER_00 24:00

history. But damn, the Phoenix and Mercury, they just they they it's it's a tough season right now. So if they can climb up, that's gonna speak some volumes. So I did want to note that. So tip of the cap to them, you know what I'm saying? But ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, that does conclude the end of the episode. So I am curious. One, who are you rooting for still this WNBA season? Who are your favorites or your favorite team to win a championship? Who are you rooting for? Who do you believe is gonna win? Who are some disappointing teams thus far for you? Who are your surprise teams? Who do you think gonna win the Commissioner Cup game? ACES, Liberty. We'll find out June 30th at 7 o'clock PM Eastern Standard Time. I had to make sure I add that P.M. because I don't want people saying, oh, I thought it was AM. No, shut up. Like it's P.M. You know what I'm saying? Like, let me know your thoughts. Who do you believe should go to the All-Star game? Because I talked about that last week. So let's pin the block back with it. Keep bringing up, let me know. But ladies and gentlemen, boys, good, like I said, we we done. So please make sure to like, subscribe, comment, tell anyone who's anyone, one, about the WNBA, and two, about my show. My name is Trey. I'm the host of Good of Bucket. I hope you're all having a good one. Oh, also make sure to tune into the National Special Olympics. Your boy's still refing. But yeah, take care.