WNBA 2021 Season Preview
As the 2021 WNBA season approaches, this article will attempt to give an overarching view of some of the year to come in the WNBA. After a unique 2020 campaign, we have another one on tap due to the Summer Olympics interruption in July, cutting the season from 34 to 32 games. This also means there will likely be players coming and going at various times to participate for their respective countries. Regardless, it should be another fun season ahead!
Odds
Unsurprisingly, the
Las Vegas Aces and
Seattle Storm – last year s WNBA Finals participants – are the two favorites to bring home the championship again this season. Seattle holds a slight betting edge on all four of the sites RotoWire tracks, but the Aces and
USA U19 Women Will Face Tough Competition, Professionals This Summer
Date:
May 13, 2021
First step to competing against young, experienced international players begins with team trials May 14-16 in Denver
The FIBA U19 World Cup is one of the most difficult competitions on USA Basketball’s calendar, and this year likely will be no exception.
In the first three editions of the event, which was then known as the FIBA Junior World Championship, the USA teams, each of which featured future Olympians, finished no better than fifth place.
In 1997, the Americans broke into the medal standings in style – by defeating Australia in overtime in the gold medal game. From then on, the U.S. collected a medal at each competition, including seven gold medals (six in a row from 2005-2015), one silver medal in 2017 and one bronze medal in 2001.
AP Photos Days before Sky coach and general manager James Wade trimmed his roster to 11 players ahead of the 2021 WNBA season, he put forward Gabby Williams on the full-season suspended list. Three days later, Williams was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks for rookie Stephanie Watts and the rights to Leonie Fiebich. Once the move was finalized, Wade opened up that it was a trade Williams had requested in April. ‘‘I was told that she would never play for Chicago again,’’ Wade said. Related Wade said it was communicated to Williams’ team that he would be putting her on the full-season suspended list if she was unable to begin the season with the Sky.
AP Photos The Sky traded forward Gabby Williams to the Sparks for rookie guard Stephanie Watts and the rights to forward Leonie Fiebich, the team confirmed to the Chicago Sun-Times on Sunday. Williams will remain on the suspended list for the 2021 season to honor her commitments to the French national team, the Sparks said. ‘‘We’re excited to bring Gabby Williams into the L.A. Sparks organization,’’ general manager and coach Derek Fisher said. ‘‘At just 24 years old, Gabby is a versatile player who still has the potential to make a major impact in this league. She fits into what we’re building in Los Angeles, and we look forward to the future with her in a Sparks uniform.’’
Chicago Sky The Sky haven’t been shy about expressing their praise for two-time WNBA most valuable player Candace Parker and what she brings to the team every time she steps on the court. On Monday, during her first training-camp media availability with her hometown team, Parker shared what has impressed her about the Sky. One word sums it up: communication. ‘‘Everything that is expected of me and this team is communicated well,’’ Parker said. ‘‘That’s sometimes the thing that takes the longest, and it seems like we’re right there.’’ Parker has been balancing two careers, one as a player and another as an analyst on Turner Sports’ NBA team. That has included broadcasts that end at 1 a.m., followed by 9 a.m. workouts. Her key has been taking things day by day.