SURVEY SAYS!

Yeah, yeah!  We're just a day away from the inaugural tip off of the 2012 WNBA season, the league's sixteenth.  We've seen some exciting play during an early, crash course type of preseason.  We've also seen some drastic cuts made (the proper term "waived" doesn't make any such player feel any better).  And, as with every sport, we've been bombarded with a gang of team and player predictions before opening day. 

The league has released the results from their own 2012 Predictions survey on wnba.com.  The questions that stood out most?  

Which “sleeper” rookie is most likely to be a success?

Riquana Williams            36.36%

Tiffany Hayes                   18.18%

Shekinna Stricklen          18.18%

LaSondra Barrett            9.09%

Sasha Goodlet                  9.09%

Shenise Johnson              9.09%

So much depends on team chemistry and which player becomes the focal point of the offense.  That makes the above survey question tough to answer.  Riquana performed well during preseason, and everyone knows she played with all kinds of awesomeness throughout her college career.  However I would but Shekinna second and Shenise Johnson third.   I love Shenise's all-around energy.  I also believe Shekinna will be one the game's premier perimeter players. 

Which team will win the Eastern Conference?

Indiana Fever                   41.67%

Connecticut Sun               25%

Atlanta Dream                  8.33%

Chicago Sky                      8.33%

Always held the Fever in high regard, but I still have Sky winning the East despite their mediocre play in their final preseason game.   I just don't see the Fever being dominate as they were in '09 this year.  I think depending too much on older veterans Katie Douglas and Tamika Catchings for offense will get the best of them in the home stretch.  They need to trade for younger players.  

Which team made the best off season moves overall?

Chicago Sky                   45.4%

Los Angeles Sparks       27.3% 

Tulsa Shock                    18.2%

Washington Mystics      9.1%

I'd switch the Sky with the Sparks.  Don' get me wrong.  The Sky did well in trading for Swin Cash, LeCoe Willingham, and Ticha P. but the Sparks went buckwild.   They brought onboard a exceptional, more than qualified coach in Carol Ross, plus acquired Marissa Coleman and a healthy Alana Beard from the Mystics.  What am I missing?  Oh.   They drafted some so-so forward from Stanford.   I believe the Sparks are the only franchise that could possibly give the Lynx problems in postseason.  

The Shock have also made some interesting power moves.  They won't be a major threat but they won't be boring.  I say they finish 14-20.

Which was the most underrated acquisition?

Mistie Bass by Connecticut     18.2%    
Ruth Riley by Chicago             18.2%
Ketia Swanier by Atlanta         9.1%
Sharnee Zoll by Los Angeles    9.1%
Ticha Penicheiro by Chicago   9.1%
Tina Thompson by Seattle        9.1%
Temeka Johnson by Tulsa        9.1%
Noelle Quinn by Washington   9.1%
Kelly Miller by New York       9.1%

I agree that Bass did her thing for the Sun in preseason and could potentially be a secret weapon in some close games.  With that said, I don't think Riley will be as much of a factor for the Sky as Swanier will be for Atlanta.   I can picture the underrated Swanier filling an crucial void left by Izi Marques.   With her on the roster, Atlanta retains its quickness and adds perhaps better shooting efficiency.  It makes perfect sense (though Ericka DeSouza not being with the team for a good portion will hurt).

-WNBA Jones