In Reply to: A couple of other things that have changed for the better posted by TheHappyBurgermeister on March 10, 2026 at 10:49:48
While I’m still a bit pessimistic about the men’s side—even after a solid couple of weeks—I’m choosing to stay optimistic about the women. The team has its flaws, but they feel like the kind that can be worked through.
I share the concern about getting beaten with speed by the top-tier teams. That said, the women have done a really good job of dictating the pace of games. When they’re scoring, they’re usually the ones controlling how the game is played. Laurenn has been unstoppable. There’s still some room for growth with her on the initial post touch—particularly in recognizing the double team and finding the open shooter. Too often, teams are sending help from the opposite side, and she doesn’t always anticipate that someone will be there the moment she catches the ball. Coach Close might be able to help by encouraging her, at least occasionally, to catch and immediately look opposite instead of going straight into scoring mode. If that part of her game improves even a little, this team will be very tough to deal with.
I’ve also really liked Charlize at the point. She seems more natural than Kiki at getting others involved. She plays completely unselfishly but still knows when it’s her moment to score. That change has been a big upgrade, and it also frees Kiki up to do what she does best—attack.
Overall, I think this is a special team, and it’s already been a special season. Maybe I’m being greedy, but I want to see them finish the job. This might just be the year.