This week on The IX Sports Podcast Basketball Edition, hosts Jackie Powell and Howard Megdal discuss the benching of the Chicago Sky’s Skylar Diggins and the release of Chennedy Carter from the Las Vegas Aces.
But before getting into all that, the hosts commemorated a new milestone in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBA). This week, Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve passed Mike Thibault for most wins ever in the WNBA, with 380.
“And obviously it’s a very interesting storyline because Mike Thibault’s son, Eric, is on her staff,” Powell said.
“For me the conversation with Eric was really illuminating because this is somebody who was able to see what both of these legendary figures in the WNBA were able to accomplish,” Megdal said.
All-Star roster
Then the hosts turned to a discussion of the official All-Star Game roster. Megdal said there was no one on the roster who didn’t belong. He added that he still thought Veronica Burton and Nia Coffey should have made the cut.
Powell said she was surprised about the inclusion of Dominique Malonga on the roster, but added it was likely a show of how much coaches respect her as a player.
Listen now to The IX Sports Podcast and Women’s Sports Daily
We are excited to announce the launch of TWO new podcasts for all the women’s sports fans out there looking for a daily dose of women’s sports news and analysis. Stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts, and make sure to subscribe!
“But then I compared her stats to Alyssa Thomas’,” Powell said. “And I was like, I don’t know, like Alyssa Thomas is putting up close to a triple-double again, and the Phoenix Mercury and the Seattle Storm are not winning teams, so I guess it begs the question of is it a popularity contest for the coaches too?”
The hosts closed the segment with an interview Powell conducted with Jonquel Jones, who shared her feelings after being named an All-Star for the sixth time.
Skylar Diggins and Chennedy Carter
This week Diggins shared some complaints about the Chicago Sky with the world, noting the lack of a new practice facility. She also said she has been benched.
Megdal took Diggins’ comments under advisement.
“We do need to take a moment and understand that Skylar Diggins, who is one of the great players of her generation — despite that — has worn out her welcome every single stop she’s made in the WNBA. She did so in Dallas, she did so in Phoenix, she did so in Seattle, and so the fact that this is now happening in Chicago, we’re talking about north of 25% of the league where this has happened, and the other 75% isn’t a bit surprised,” Megdal said.
In discussing Carter, who was waived by the Aces this week, Megdal said something similar.
“I wish Chennedy Carter would get out of her own way in order to have the career that a player of her skill should have, but — and again we go back to this, like you talked about it again and again and again. When the same player with dramatically different circumstances keeps wearing out her welcome, it’s silly to sit there and say the problem is the world,” Megdal said.
Make sure to subscribe to The IX Sports Podcast for in-depth coverage of women’s soccer, hockey and basketball; and tune in each weekday morning for a quick overview of the biggest headlines on Women’s Sports Daily, like WNBA news and PWHL expansion updates.
What you missed on Women’s Sports Daily: Inside how the Atlanta Dream is handling their latest losses & trouble brewing in Chicago
