The W League: Battle of Bigs and Point Guards

The W League's Jamboree gave the players an opportunity to meet their teammates and check out their opponents. This week the players were ready to compete. The amount of defense and physicality played in these games were high. Nothing was given. Everything was earned. Neither game was a blow out. Both went to the wire. What I enjoyed most. It was pure competition.   Game 1 was a great matchup of post players:    Shania is very talented and a high IQ post player. She needed it all as she faced single, double and even triple coverage tonight. Throughout the game she took a beating, however, you wouldn't know if it affected her because she just kept playing.  Just like she did in the Jamboree - She got to the rim either with a straight attack or spin move. She out ran players in transition. If she wasn't running her lane, she was initiating transition after rebounds with outlet passes.      Aalveyah is ultra athletic and active on the floor. She uses her athleticism to get rebounds and stick backs but it doesn't stop there. She gets opportunities to score and contribute because she doesn't stop moving. She sets screens.  She flashes. She dives. She runs the floor. Plus, she can score beyond the block. She shot at the high post and from short corner.      Jordan played in Game 2. Compared to other posts in the W League, she is undersized. But it doesn't matter. What she showed tonight—you have to come out and guard her. There were several possessions she was left unguarded at the 3 point line. She knocked down 2 three pointers!! Although she is undersized and faced tight defense, she uses shot fakes and the up-and-under move to get shots off.    Game 2 had two unselfish point guards going at it.     After last week's Jamboree, Caidyn's teammates were prepared to get out and run the lanes in anticipation of getting a pass from her.  I had her down with 3 assists in the first half. What impresses me about Caidyn is her ability to read the defense especially in ball screen situations.  Tonight she impressed me by showing off her 3 point shot and how she understood to reject a handoff for a bucket.      Marlicia travels over 40 minutes from Mississippi twice a week to play in not one but 2 leagues in Memphis. She is only a 9th grader. Every time she steps on the floor,  she brings energy and tenacity. Again, tonight she started the game with a pull up 3 pointer. She competed at the PG spot and showed that she can find her teammates also. I also had her down for 3 assists in the first half. Two of the 3 were inside attacks for dump offs.     Here are 2 more players that stood out in Week 1 action:    Trinity is a lefty shooting guard and starting to come into her own. As a freshman, she was more reserved as a player. Now with a year of high school under her belt, she is playing with more intention and confidence. She has three pointer range and a strong paint attack. However, tonight it was all about her defense. Transition offense was shut down because Trinity was reading everything getting steals, tips and deflecting the ball. She had at least 3 steals in the game.     London can run point and play off the ball. She initially caught my attention with her entry pass into the post. She did something else tonight that caught my attention. She was vocal. On one possession she yelled for a teammate to roll after setting a screen. Then on another possession she simply called out her man on defense.

The W League's Jamboree gave the players an opportunity to meet their teammates and check out their opponents. This week the players were ready to compete. The amount of defense and physicality played in these games were high. Nothing was given. Everything was earned. Neither game was a blow out. Both went to the wire. What I enjoyed most. It was pure competition.