The Evolving Western Conference

A lot has been said about the slow start of the 2007 WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury this year. In an interview before the game today between the Detroit Shock and Phoenix, Bill Laimbeer said that he believes that this year will be a match up between his Shock and Phoenix again. While that could be a possibility, I think a lot of people are not giving credit to the difference in quality in the Western Conference this year versus last year. I think that coupled with the loss of Penny Taylor are some of the reasons why Phoenix is not topping the conference this year.

In the off season, the Western conference had an extreme makeover. The Sparks got Lisa Leslie back from maternity leave and then drafted Candace Parker. Minnesota has perhaps the best group of rookies playing on the same team this league has seen. Seattle did a major overhaul and now has the veteran All Star lineup. Then you have your other Western conference teams who can never be counted out. With Ann Wauters added to their lineup and the ticking timebomb that is Becky Hammon, the Silver Stars are always a threatening team to face. When you look at the West and you look at playing any team out here, there are going to be difficult games with excellent defense played and stellar offenses to defend.

Phoenix may have been tops last season but their team was different and they were playing in a different conference. I have all the faith in the world that sooner or later when they have gotten their Paul Ball offense and 3-1 rover defense honed to perfection, they will be back in prime fighting position. Granted it is only the beginning of the season but with every Storm game I watch, I am always thinking about what our position is and what our position is going to be. I am concerned with all of our intra-conference games because I am always thinking in terms of the playoffs and home court advantage. I feel like the WNBA season is so short and so much can happen with all of the talent in this league that I really feel like it is any woman's game.