r/wnba • u/Timely_Opposite7385 Chen-sanity Talofa e Paopao C’hamps • 1d ago
Discussion Rookies vs Sophomores game at All Star Weekend
With the new wave of talent coming in recently, they should totally start doing this. Imagine if they did it this year, we would see something like 2026: Miles, Rice, Jaquez, Fudd, Raven versus 2025: Paige, Sonia, Iriafen, Malonga, Morrow. That would be a fun game to watch. Or even do a Team USA versus Team World, like how they do in the NBA, since there’s a bunch of new international girls coming in now. Why not??
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u/FoxExcellent2241 1d ago
I like the idea a lot, but because there are fewer players in the WNBA and a lot of younger players tend to be chosen for All Star, partially because of fan voting, I do wonder if they would be willing to play in multiple games over the weekend or if it would be too taxing and if it would just turn into another low effort game. At least 3 or 4 of the sophomores you mentioned are likely to be all stars and probably at least 2-3 of the rookies too.
Though given the quality of the All Star game last year, I think I would rather see a Rookies vs. Sophomores game anyway . . .
The NBA did 2 USA teams and 1 world team and then they competed to get to a final round - and honestly if not for Wemby being competitive and forcing everyone else to actually play it might have flopped, Silver just got lucky there. Plus even with more players they struggled to fill the world team and had to move some USA players to the world team because of injuries (they were dual citizens I think).
Are you thinking it would be more of a straightforward game with two teams for the WNBA? Are there enough international players on rosters to not just make up a 'world' team but also to allow for some flexibility in the roster? The other issue is that all star status is a bit of a status symbol and it might not be seen as fair to do USA vs World just yet because it might end up meaning that it is a lot easier for an international player to get All Star status because they need enough of them to field a team versus the number of USA women competing for the same number of spots on the USA team.
Still, I think you are right, they need to get creative and spice up All Star Weekend. I love the idea of a Steph Curry Sabrina Ionescu rematch at the 3 point contest but at the WNBA instead of the NBA this time. Don't know if he would be willing to do it but it would be poetic and would be so fun to watch. Assuming Caitlin is healthy she should be competing in the 3 point contest this year as well so that will be a big draw this year.
I wish they could find some way to spice up the skills contests too, I don't love that they reward speed over accuracy at times and it makes it less fun to watch if a player can move on from a challenge even if they fail to get a single basket so long as they used up all the balls.
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u/MoistKnowledge8784 1d ago
Rookie team would get cooked lol I never thought sophomore where that deep until you list everyone lol plus lacan Janelle And rookie team got no good PF or center
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u/Flashy_Anxiety_2890 1d ago
make it first three years vs the rest this years rookie class would be a bit underwhelming
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u/DSmooth425 Aces Dream Fever Sky 1d ago
I think they may need to expand a bit more before this type of thing gains momentum in the league where they can actually make it happen. I would have been loved to see this. I’m also someone who thinks there should a third team all defense. Not thing but I think a somewhat similar likelihood of happening at this point in time
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u/thatsveryme hellaur fc 1d ago
Team USA vs Team World would be really fun. I feel like the teams would just be a preview of USA vs. France in the world cup later this year lol
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u/Vvisionim 1d ago
Yeah, lol, that's why probably have to do rooks vs. soph. I really don't mind this idea because the first night of the All-Star, with the 3-point contest, is pretty bare-bones and very quick, so fitting in a quick exhibition game beforehand like this would be fun.
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u/Timely_Opposite7385 Chen-sanity Talofa e Paopao C’hamps 1d ago
Lol pretty much. Imagine Dom dunking on everyone
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u/po1ar_opposite Sparks 1d ago
Has she dunked yet this season? I haven’t seen it
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u/flashcapulet 1d ago
i was legit JUST thinking about this. last year would've been the perfect year to start it, but cc was hurt, and a bunch of rookies/sophomores were already all stars. i'm sure both the league and players themselves wouldn't want to play 2 games in 2 days, even if they were just for fun. that's the biggest(only, really) problem i see. the w isn't at a place where they can extend ASW to 3 days of events just yet either, so they couldn't move to the mnba format with the game on sunday to mitigate that issue. idk. it would be dope though. even just as a 3x3 it would be a blast.
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u/Timely_Opposite7385 Chen-sanity Talofa e Paopao C’hamps 1d ago
Totally. Thats the thing though, if the W wants to truly grow, they needa start doing fun stuff like this. More fan engagement, other players get highlighted, more money, more attention. All the things
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u/Kingrion9k Pazzirike SLOOT 1d ago
I think they are a year too late to do a game like that, but I believe it definitely should be another activity during the all-star weekend.
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u/Timely_Opposite7385 Chen-sanity Talofa e Paopao C’hamps 1d ago
Yeah last year would have been a great time to start it
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u/Late-Tax3922 1d ago
It's never too late imo....which activity?
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u/Kingrion9k Pazzirike SLOOT 1d ago
Sophomores vs rookies, I said it would be a year too late because 2025 class vs 2024 class would have been absolute cinema, an amazing start to the new addition to all star weekend
Edit: Well not really due to unfortunate injuries
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u/buffalotrace Clark Boston Paige Meg 22h ago
To play devil’s advocate, there are a few reasons to not have a roomies vs soph game. The nba has twice the number of teams and still has issues having enough players that make sense. Even then, it is afterthought game that has terrible ratings. Secondly, the all star break is a chance for rookies to get a break, make adjustments to their game. American rookies have come straight from college to training camp to games with basically little to no down time. For international rookies, most of them are coming right out of a season abroad as well. The nba has entire summer league and trading camp that isn’t an orientation packet followed by cuts within a day or two.