Apr 15, 2021 · 24 min · 7 segments
In this Hot Take, Amira Rose Davis is joined by ESPN and SEC Network basketball analyst Andraya Carter. They discuss their 2021 WNBA draft predictions and the bright future of the league. This episode…
Andraya CarterGuest
Amira Rose DavisHost
you know, it's so interesting because I feel like there, I think there definitely could be one or two more teams, right? Like obviously, you know, you put one on the East, maybe you put one on the West.
And because there are so many talented players, like there are franchise players and like a few, and you want to have a few like on each team, right? Like in the NBA, there's like a big three on certain teams or a big two, right? And I think that in the WNBA, there are, a lot of teams with like franchise players that you could separate and create a whole new team with, you know, and like build a team around players that are on teams together right now.
So I absolutely definitely think that there could be more teams, you know, and you see, you people that have a ton of money, right.
mean? Just because like you said with Sue, the energy is so strong around these women and these athletes and what they're doing.
And why not? create one more team and generate more hype around these women right and so I think that there's definitely momentum I think that there could be conversations for sure and obviously I don't know the logistics or ins and outs or dynamics of what it takes to create a team but if the facilities are there and the space is there during the WNBA season you know who knows so I definitely think that the league is going to grow and expand because the talent level like if you think about Sabrina Unescu, right? When Paige Beckers comes into the league, Sabrina Unescu is going to be a
right? She's not even going to be a rookie anymore, right? And then some of the vets, Skylar Diggins is probably still going to be playing at that time, right? So it's like where we have to create room for the amazing rookies that are coming in, right? Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Unescu, all these, Aaliyah Boston, right? You know, Zaya Cook.
When those players get into the WNBA, There's still going to be some veterans that are here right now that are still playing so we need, we need room we need more spaces and it's going to be way even more fun and more competitive or more roster spots I mean the league there are a lot of games so having a few more spots on each team could also give some of the franchise players more rest time.
could either generate more hype if we add more teams or go for create even better basketball if we add more roster spots and can take a little pressure off the wear and tear of these women.
So a lot of options that I hope that whoever is in decision-making chairs, which I hope to be in one day, I hope it just keeps going with this momentum.
And I would say the other thing I'm really excited for is just like what happens when the game changes and you watch vets have to reinvent their game.
Because one of the things that I took away from, you know, watching people like Cameron Brink, who is, by the way, my favorite player because she played like I used to play, which is super aggressive.
players like Cameron and like you know we talked about this, some of these other plays in the draft is, is that they literally are a new kind of prototype of player, like, who can out rebound you can play down low who can, you know, shoot from behind the arc who can shoot mid range who can get down and back and on D. It's just going to be so interesting to watch how the league contends with players who have trained in a kind of new type of versatility that are really kind of coming on.
you know, it's so interesting because I feel like there, I think there definitely could be one or two more teams, right? Like obviously, you know, you put one on the East, maybe you put one on the West.
And because there are so many talented players, like there are franchise players and like a few, and you want to have a few like on each team, right? Like in the NBA, there's like a big three on certain teams or a big two, right? And I think that in the WNBA, there are, a lot of teams with like franchise players that you could separate and create a whole new team with, you know, and like build a team around players that are on teams together right now.
So I absolutely definitely think that there could be more teams, you know, and you see, you people that have a ton of money, right.
mean? Just because like you said with Sue, the energy is so strong around these women and these athletes and what they're doing.
And why not? create one more team and generate more hype around these women right and so I think that there's definitely momentum I think that there could be conversations for sure and obviously I don't know the logistics or ins and outs or dynamics of what it takes to create a team but if the facilities are there and the space is there during the WNBA season you know who knows so I definitely think that the league is going to grow and expand because the talent level like if you think about Sabrina Unescu, right? When Paige Beckers comes into the league, Sabrina Unescu is going to be a
right? She's not even going to be a rookie anymore, right? And then some of the vets, Skylar Diggins is probably still going to be playing at that time, right? So it's like where we have to create room for the amazing rookies that are coming in, right? Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Unescu, all these, Aaliyah Boston, right? You know, Zaya Cook.
When those players get into the WNBA, There's still going to be some veterans that are here right now that are still playing so we need, we need room we need more spaces and it's going to be way even more fun and more competitive or more roster spots I mean the league there are a lot of games so having a few more spots on each team could also give some of the franchise players more rest time.
could either generate more hype if we add more teams or go for create even better basketball if we add more roster spots and can take a little pressure off the wear and tear of these women.
So a lot of options that I hope that whoever is in decision-making chairs, which I hope to be in one day, I hope it just keeps going with this momentum.
And I would say the other thing I'm really excited for is just like what happens when the game changes and you watch vets have to reinvent their game.
Because one of the things that I took away from, you know, watching people like Cameron Brink, who is, by the way, my favorite player because she played like I used to play, which is super aggressive.
players like Cameron and like you know we talked about this, some of these other plays in the draft is, is that they literally are a new kind of prototype of player, like, who can out rebound you can play down low who can, you know, shoot from behind the arc who can shoot mid range who can get down and back and on D. It's just going to be so interesting to watch how the league contends with players who have trained in a kind of new type of versatility that are really kind of coming on.
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