WNBA Press Game Quotes 6/27-6/28

Covering the last two days of games heading into Sunday. Coach speak is great way to try to get an edge up on the sportsbooks.

The next few days, everything will be a little delayed due to being on vacation but once July 6th hits, we will be on normal schedule again.

6/27

New York Liberty

Coach Sandy Brondello on Game Plan Execution and Defensive Scheme:

"We didn't execute our game plan in the beginning... we played as soft as we did and had no toughness on defense and we didn't make them feel uncomfortable one bit."

"Second half at least we competed a little bit... we made a run here and there and I was proud of that, but... we've got to be learners out on the floor too."

"Semi is a shooter... we got to get locked in, we got to be mentally engaged and that starts with me. I've just got to find a way to get more effort from these players."

"We shot 51%. It wasn't an offensive game... we gave up 106... we had no fight. I think we went away from what our strength is—our strength is we're doing things together... we've got to find a way to dig deeper."

"If you don't bring effort, you're going to get exploited and this is a really good team that can shoot the crap out of it."

On open threes: "It's not what the game plan was... a lack of communication if anything, lack of toughness and then not communicating and then two people running to the ball and... wide open."

"We can't change this result but we got to be better if we want to be one of the best teams."

Nyara Sabally on Usage and Aggression:

"It was just kind of the positions I was in... Sandy told me all day to just get down and post up and be aggressive, so just kind of that mindset."

Nyara Sabally on Defensive Adjustments and Team Effort:

"You obviously play a variety of coverages but... what is the thing you have to do to enforce that toughness... and make sure you're bringing the right effort energy whatever defensively?"

"Just playing harder, that's really what it is. I don't think there's like a magical thing to do, it's just being aggressive on the court and just putting in the effort... it has to be all five players on the court that are connected, especially on defense... it really is effort."

Phoenix Mercury

Kahleah Copper’s Usage and Impact

“It makes a huge difference to have her on the court… she draws three people every time she drives it to the basket and she's just so fast and finesse with it and spreads the floor… I'm just happy we're all back together—that was kind of as perfect a game as you can get on both sides of the ball against a really, really elite team.”

Offensive Schemes and Shooting

“Like I always say, no one has to take tough shots. I think when you just read what the defense is giving you, I think an open shot is better than anything and when you have so many shooters like that it just makes it that much more easier.”

“Three-point shot has been just a hallmark of the offense all season… it's massive for us, it’s a big part of what fuels our offense… we know we're going to generate really good threes… for us it's about getting really good open looks, the best shot… we're able to do that though when we get stops so that's been our biggest focus.”

Three-point shooting:

“It's easy to make the extra pass when you know you got a shooter next to you.”

Defensive Adjustments and Focus:

“I thought we really competed against Sabrina. We competed against Stewie. I didn’t think our defense was as good as it’s been… we’ve kind of relied on our defense, tonight obviously was our offense… we’ve kind of hung our hat at that defensive end, it is extremely important.”

Offensive Usage and Adjustments:

“We struggled to get much going inside today… Golden State, you know, it’s one of the calling cards of their defense is protecting the paint, and so we had to find other ways to score. We shot it well from three tonight, but I think the points in the paint were the difference tonight.”

Golden State’s Offensive Scheme

“They put a lot of pressure on you with paint touches and being able to drive and kick and create outside shots for their shooters… you can see how they're connected together on and off the court.”

“They knocked down some tough ones… that’s the pressure they put on you when they have the homecourt advantage and also when they’re able to knock down threes. It’s just a matter of time, honestly… they continue to take them with confidence and they make them in big moments.”

Defensive Adjustments and Fourth Quarter Run

“We took some quick shots, which allowed them to get in transition a little bit… we didn’t stop fighting, we kept competing, but… they knocked down some tough ones.”

“We struggled to get stops at times, which inhibits your ability to get out in transition… there were moments where we got stops but had to set up in the half court and try to get momentum going that way.”

Player Usage and Matchups

“Kayla Thornton… can play off the dribble and use her size and strength to power her way into the lane, but she’s also a really good cutter, really good mover off the ball… you can’t lose her, you can’t overhelp too much because she can knock down the three and she was able to get to the line 10 times tonight.”

“The backcourt of Kaitlyn Chen and Kate Martin… just fit perfectly into how they want to play—constant movement on and off the ball, the pressure they put on you defensively as well. It allows them to play big minutes and in big moments.”

Golden State Valkyries

Kayla Thornton Usage

“On having a more featured offensive role: “Yeah, the role might be a little different but I kind of don’t look at it that way… I just come and do what I do normally… I just allow the game to come in me… I don’t do nothing out the ordinary or what I haven’t been doing in previous teams in New York or Dallas.”

Kate Martin on Scheme

On taking three-pointers: “That might not be a shot I would previously take in previous years but it really stems from the confidence that my teammates and my coaches have instilled in me and the confidence that I’ve instilled in myself from my offseason prep… I know I can knock down shots like that… I’m just reading the defense and… shooters shoot, you just got to be ready for the moment and just knock it down. Honestly, my teammates would want me to shoot that, my coaches would want me to shoot that, so that’s what I did.”

Seattle Storm

Paint Usage

“We had 42 points in the paint—you know, that's our identity. We're one of the top teams in the league in points in the paint, we talked about that.”

Rebounding and Team Goals

“I always criticize our rebounding and I thought we did a little bit better there… our goal was to go plus 10 tonight and we went plus six… let a few go at the end there.”

Ball Movement and Offensive Scheme

“Like how we're sharing the basketball—we had 27 assists on 34 made baskets so sharing the ball there, getting into the paint.”

Defensive Scheme and Individual Impact

“Defensively… Gabby… 16, 7, 8, four steals, one block shot… and Dom, you know, coming in, getting meaningful minutes off the bench… everybody got to contribute tonight.”

Bench Usage and Player Development

“Dom… getting double digits, five rebounds… she was challenged this week and for this game particularly and I thought she did a great job responding… finishing around the basket… she took her licks and then I was telling her in this league sometimes you got to say hello back when somebody knocks on your door… she did a great job standing her ground for us… proud of her in the game she had tonight… really coming of age game for her.”

Dominique Malonga Growth

“They put me in the situation where I can just be good on the court… they know how I like to have the pass on the roll, the high passes, I run the floor and they know… we just play really good together and so that's how I can be good when I step on the court.”

Zia Cooke’s Role and Defensive Usage

“Her number one role is to be an aggressive perimeter defender for us… when she's up like that she comes in with her physicality on defense, being able to take whoever on the perimeter—ball handler, big guards… her ability in transition to attack and get to the basket, get downhill is very unique in this league… now you saw her line up some spot up threes… another young player on our team who… wasn't even sure at the start of camp if she was going to make the team but she worked her tail off and she made this team, she earned her time… she was also challenged this week and so I was really proud of our young players how they responded in this game particularly but all week and just how they continue to get better.”

Connecticut Sun

Nothing important from a scheme, usage or adjustment perspective.

Atlanta Dream

Jordin Canada’s Usage and Confidence