Rec’ing on…WNBA All-Decade Team Selections

Seems everyone is weighing in on this, so I figured I might as well. I’ve noted that some people only consider the players with the most comparable longevity; others look only at the stats. There is some merit to both methods. I prefer to be a little less dogmatic. Yes, stats are important. Yes, the charter members of the league deserve the respect of their accomplishments. But what about heart? What about impact? What about catalysis? I think these should be considered as well.

Oh…and before I start, let me say upfront that unlike some in the media, I will be picking point guards. Stat sheets often fail when considering their contributions. So, the nominees (more-or-less by position):

Sue Bird, G
Shannon Johnson, G
Ticha Penicheiro, G
Dawn Staley, G
Teresa Weatherspoon, G
Ruthie Bolton, G
Cynthia Cooper, G
Tamecka Dixon, G
Becky Hammon, G
Katie Smith, G
Andrea Stinson, G
Diana Taurasi, G
Vickie Johnson, G/F
Deanna Nolan, G/F
Nykesha Sales, G/F
Janeth Arcain, F
Swin Cash, F
Tamika Catchings, F
Chamique Holdsclaw, F
Lauren Jackson, F
Mwadi Mabika, F
DeLisha Milton-Jones, F
Sheryl Swoopes, F
Tina Thompson, F
Natalie Williams, F
Jennifer Gillom, F/C
Yolanda Griffith, F/C
Taj McWilliams-Franklin, F/C
Lisa Leslie, C
Rebecca Lobo, C

First, the no-brainers. These are the players I think have the stats, awards, and the intangibles for enough years that there isn’t much point in discussion or debate. They not only win and make their own teams better, they force(d) other teams to become better themselves:

Cynthia Cooper, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Yolanda Griffith, and Lauren Jackson.

The running total is now at five. Five more to go. Now it gets tougher.

I think Tamika Catchings is a near-no-brainer…if she had one more great year under her belt, I’d have put her in the above list to begin with. I also think the sole member of the 5,000-point club should have a spot, so Katie Smith gets a nod.

Three spots left. So far, I’ve picked 2 shooting guards, 2 small forwards, 2 power forwards, and 1 center. Time for some tough choices.

Though she has the stats and creds, I simply can’t give Jennifer Gillom a nod. She was a force in Phoenix, but wasn’t quite enough of a force in the league. So, it looks like there will only be one center (or forward/center) on my list. Ticha Penicheiro seems like an easy choice, but for too much of her career she hasn’t brought all of her skills to the fore. As for Dawn Staley…what she has done for USA basketball is very praiseworthy, but this is a WNBA list, and despite her pedigree, she was never able to lead her teams to a championship. Looking at Diana Taurasi…despite her obvious talent, two years in the league just doesn’t quite merit inclusion on this list. On the other hand, we have a player like Teresa Weatherspoon, who played eight years and was the heart of the Liberty. Again, this is one of those times, as with Ticha, that I have to bow to the stats. Weatherspoon simply wasn’t personally offensive-minded enough, and I think that’s a key component in point-guardery.

I should stop beating around the bush. Two picks have got to go to Janeth Arcain and Tina Thompson. They, along with Swoopes and Cooper, made a team that was nearly unbeatable.

And I said I was going to make sure I included a point guard. In all honesty, I’d probably pick Tully Bevilaqua, if only for her spunk (I’ve been a fan since she was with the Fire), but she wasn’t a nominee. With that option unavailable, I give Sue Bird my pick. She’s not very flashy, and she takes over a game only when she needs to…but when she comes back to the court after an extended break, the difference in her team (and more importantly, the other team) is obvious.

So there you have it.

Update: June 13, 2006

The All-Decade Team has been announced.

Well, I got nine out of ten.  The difference being that I selected Janeth Arcain instead of Dawn Staley.  I’m still sticking with my decision that only one of the point guard candidates really had enough qualities for the position to be included on the list.  This is one pick that I think was made more on reputation outside the WNBA than within it. 

I’ll concede that Arcain isn’t the most obvious pick and another choice could be made.  I just wouldn’t have picked Staley.  Sorry.  She’s been a fantastic ambassador for basketball and USA sports…but I still don’t think that’s enough to make this choice, here.  With that said, there’s still much to be said for including Staley in the list.

At least now we know.