2019 WNBA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Player Team Position Votes
Napheesa Collier Minnesota Lynx Forward 11
Teaira McCowan Indiana Fever Center 11
Arike Ogunbowale Dallas Wings Guard 11
Jackie Young Las Vegas Aces Guard 11
Brianna Turner Phoenix Mercury Forward 7
But she’s considered to be a top player. Plus how do you win.2 out of 3 Rookie of the Month awards and not win it?
Kinda like a Heisman campaign. Not sure if Dallas did the same for Arike.
What else could Arike have done? I watched a lot of WNBA this season. Arike was by far the most exciting player in the league. She tied or broke several records. She was even playing out of position. She deserved and earned this award. I don’t get it.
Arike's team is not. I think the voters used this as a tiebreaker.
Which of course, would make the award more about MVP and not best rookie (Arike).
ND Women's Basketball should be using 3 out of 5 on the WNBA rookie team to it's fullest - paint that on the south dome of the JACC - every recruit should have that on the tip of their tongue like "40 year decision"
and other e-based media, which for current and future recruits is the equivalent of you and I looking at the Joyce Center or other such domes!
I've received e-mails about it and my 23-year-old alum daughter knew about it (and she's not really a hoops freak) via e-media.
But, Yes, I'd recommend Irish staffers keep plastering it (I personally think they're getting much better and creative at it.)
Agree with your marketing points and the one on Arike about Minnesota being in the playoffs. Another point I see brought up that I can live with is that Napheesa Collier was consistent from the get-go for Minnesota, while Arike took awhile to find her stride. Granted, she and Elena Della Donne might've been the best players in the league after the all-star break, but the Minnesota PR campaign was solidly in play by that point (along with the support of other Minny-related b-ball folks (remember, Cheryl Reeve was Geno A's assistant on the U.S. National team for years).
Still, Arike is going to be a presence at the WNBA and international team level for many a year...not too concerned.
Years in a row in the final four. Plus she's from Uconn so she must be adored.
Sorry sour grapes.