04 June 2011
Moore/Cambage/Vandersloot
As I mentioned yesterday, Maya Moore had a very impressive WNBA debut. Swish Appeal says that "six out of eight players who were #1 WNBA Draft picks and who have scored at least 15 points in their rookie debut have won Rookie of the Year." Not that anyone really doubts that Maya Moore will be ROY!
[From that Swish Appeal article: "The only exceptions, believe it or not, are Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird. Lauren Jackson lost the ROY to Jackie Stiles in 2001 in an inexplicable decision and Sue Bird lost to Tamika Catchings in 2002 (in a completely explicable decision)." BTW, Tamika Catchings was the #3 pick in 2001 -- the year that LJ was #1 -- but she didn't play that year because of an injury, thus making her eligible to be ROY in 2002.]
Elizabeth Cambage also had an impressive debut. I haven't watched any of the game online, but according to the box score, she had 18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Most of those points came from the free throw line, where she was 12 of 14.
I did watch some of Courtney Vandersloot's debut with Chicago. Unlike the other two, she didn't start. But she ended up playing a starter's minutes (third on the team), because the starting point guard got into foul trouble (I think). She only scored 7 points, but she was the team leader for assists with 7, with 3 rebounds as gravy.
Apparently she recently got mistaken for Sue Bird???
All three of the teams lost their opening game, but that's to be expected, I think. These teams were at the bottom of the league last year, after all, and they've only had a few weeks to adjust to the new players. But I think Maya Moore, Elizabeth Cambage, and Courtney Vandersloot all justified their top draft pick spots.
[From that Swish Appeal article: "The only exceptions, believe it or not, are Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird. Lauren Jackson lost the ROY to Jackie Stiles in 2001 in an inexplicable decision and Sue Bird lost to Tamika Catchings in 2002 (in a completely explicable decision)." BTW, Tamika Catchings was the #3 pick in 2001 -- the year that LJ was #1 -- but she didn't play that year because of an injury, thus making her eligible to be ROY in 2002.]
Elizabeth Cambage also had an impressive debut. I haven't watched any of the game online, but according to the box score, she had 18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Most of those points came from the free throw line, where she was 12 of 14.
I did watch some of Courtney Vandersloot's debut with Chicago. Unlike the other two, she didn't start. But she ended up playing a starter's minutes (third on the team), because the starting point guard got into foul trouble (I think). She only scored 7 points, but she was the team leader for assists with 7, with 3 rebounds as gravy.
Apparently she recently got mistaken for Sue Bird???
All three of the teams lost their opening game, but that's to be expected, I think. These teams were at the bottom of the league last year, after all, and they've only had a few weeks to adjust to the new players. But I think Maya Moore, Elizabeth Cambage, and Courtney Vandersloot all justified their top draft pick spots.
Labels: Seattle Storm, WNBA
# posted by mamurd @ 11:39 PM 
