You sure are posting a lot about her for someone that doesn't care at all

Kiki looks to be the best player on the #16 team.

https://gocards.com/sports/womens-basket...ath=wbball

In tonight’s WNBA draft, Kiki was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx. Congratulations to her!!!!!

Third round, so maybe she'll get a cup of coffee with them, or maybe she'll actually work her way into the rotation. We shall see. It kind of depends on how desperate the Lynx are at the moment. I think they're pretty desperate, since they finished near the bottom of the league.

(04-16-2024 07:04 AM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  Third round, so maybe she'll get a cup of coffee with them, or maybe she'll actually work her way into the rotation. We shall see. It kind of depends on how desperate the Lynx are at the moment. I think they're pretty desperate, since they finished near the bottom of the league.

I am sorry you are such a glass half empty kind of person. Out of almost 90 women who filed for the draft and countless other women who exhausted their eligibility, Kiki is one of only 32 women who got the call. I am very excited for her and I know she will give it her all and try her best to make the team. Rather than dis her ability and the team who drafted her, why not be happy that one of our own (I don't count the Louisville year) has an opportunity to fulfill her dream???

(04-16-2024 08:09 AM)LovethoseDukes Wrote:  

(04-16-2024 07:04 AM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  Third round, so maybe she'll get a cup of coffee with them, or maybe she'll actually work her way into the rotation. We shall see. It kind of depends on how desperate the Lynx are at the moment. I think they're pretty desperate, since they finished near the bottom of the league.

I am sorry you are such a glass half empty kind of person. Out of almost 90 women who filed for the draft and countless other women who exhausted their eligibility, Kiki is one of only 32 women who got the call. I am very excited for her and I know she will give it her all and try her best to make the team. Rather than dis her ability and the team who drafted her, why not be happy that one of our own (I don't count the Louisville year) has an opportunity to fulfill her dream???

Its a problem with the WNBA currently where even first rounders might be out of the league by the end of their first season. Just not enough teams to allow all the great talent to have careers.

I am hoping the ratings boost women's basketball is getting right now leads to a few new franchises and their 12 extra roster spots. Rumor is 4 new franchises are on their way which would allow 48 more roster spots. Also would help to get up to 15 roster spots to match the NBA.

(04-16-2024 08:52 AM)Dukes_Royals Wrote:  

(04-16-2024 08:09 AM)LovethoseDukes Wrote:  

(04-16-2024 07:04 AM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  Third round, so maybe she'll get a cup of coffee with them, or maybe she'll actually work her way into the rotation. We shall see. It kind of depends on how desperate the Lynx are at the moment. I think they're pretty desperate, since they finished near the bottom of the league.

I am sorry you are such a glass half empty kind of person. Out of almost 90 women who filed for the draft and countless other women who exhausted their eligibility, Kiki is one of only 32 women who got the call. I am very excited for her and I know she will give it her all and try her best to make the team. Rather than dis her ability and the team who drafted her, why not be happy that one of our own (I don't count the Louisville year) has an opportunity to fulfill her dream???

Its a problem with the WNBA currently where even first rounders might be out of the league by the end of their first season. Just not enough teams to allow all the great talent to have careers.

I am hoping the ratings boost women's basketball is getting right now leads to a few new franchises and their 12 extra roster spots. Rumor is 4 new franchises are on their way which would allow 48 more roster spots. Also would help to get up to 15 roster spots to match the NBA.

Yep. And if I'm Kiki, or really any other 3rd round pick, I take my best stab at making the roster and sticking, but I'm also happy to go spend a decade in Europe making good money and living like a king (queen?). Same is true for Fatt next year on the men's side. Give it all you got, but if it's not enough, the opportunities in Europe are worth it. Isn't Juwann James still playing overseas?

(04-16-2024 08:52 AM)Dukes_Royals Wrote:  

(04-16-2024 08:09 AM)LovethoseDukes Wrote:  

(04-16-2024 07:04 AM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  Third round, so maybe she'll get a cup of coffee with them, or maybe she'll actually work her way into the rotation. We shall see. It kind of depends on how desperate the Lynx are at the moment. I think they're pretty desperate, since they finished near the bottom of the league.

I am sorry you are such a glass half empty kind of person. Out of almost 90 women who filed for the draft and countless other women who exhausted their eligibility, Kiki is one of only 32 women who got the call. I am very excited for her and I know she will give it her all and try her best to make the team. Rather than dis her ability and the team who drafted her, why not be happy that one of our own (I don't count the Louisville year) has an opportunity to fulfill her dream???

Its a problem with the WNBA currently where even first rounders might be out of the league by the end of their first season. Just not enough teams to allow all the great talent to have careers.

I am hoping the ratings boost women's basketball is getting right now leads to a few new franchises and their 12 extra roster spots. Rumor is 4 new franchises are on their way which would allow 48 more roster spots. Also would help to get up to 15 roster spots to match the NBA.

Exactly, and that was my point. There are only 15 roster spots, and a 3rd round pick doesn't stand much of a chance under the current system. The WNBA really needs to expand, and there are markets, including a good one in Tennessee, which has a better market for women's pro ball than for men's---as opposed to Milwaukee, which is quite the other way. The W could put a team in either Knoxville or Nashville and make money, or maybe even split the games between two sites if they have imagination. Both cities have the venue space. Milwaukee, OTOH, has a men's pro team, the Bucks, but doesn't seem to have a strong following for the women's game.

I didn’t take OTPs comments as a knock on Kiki. All of us are rooting for her success. I took her comments as being realistic of Kiki’s chances. I also agree with Lovethosedukes that Kiki is getting her shot and she might just work her way unto the roster and maybe more. She has a place at the table which is why she went to Louisville so she could prove to the WNBA that she can play against top tier talent. She made the most of that opportunity so on to the next one!

Congrats to Kiki for being drafted by the Linx!!!! Hope she does well in preseaon camp..

Making a WNBA roster is probably the hardest thing to do in pro sports in the USA. With only 12 teams and a max of 12 roster spots, most teams due to salary cap issues only carry 11 players so that means there are only 132 or so roster spots available. Every year a number of the first round picks do not make the roster of a team. Getting drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round makes it almost an impossibility unfortunately. Will be ROOTIN for her every inch of the way since the Linx only had 2 picks last night and might be in a roster turnover I hope. If she does not stick with a WNBA team I am sure she will be able to play many years on high level teams in Europe or where ever if that is what she wants.

Go Kiki!!! Will be cheering for you.

Brian

Did she help her draft status by moving on to the ACC? Tough to say. There were 4 players from non power 4 conferences drafted. 2 from Gonzaga in the 2nd round. 1ea from the Ivy and the SWAC in the 3rd round.

Exactly. It's hard for players to make it onto a WNBA roster, even the ones chosen in the first round. I wish Kiki the best, but at the same time, gotta be a realist.

More important for next year's team, Mikaya Tynes is listed at 6'1" on the website. The same height as Kiki and an inch shorter than Barnes. With Ouderkirk moving on, there's going to be playing time available for Tynes. But it won't be in the post with her back to the basket. She really needs to expand her game in the off-season. I think she's athletic enough to do it.