Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 2 February 2017
WNBA been finalized yet. ence affiliation and took

Continued from page 17 The free agent market in the top eight teams into
the WNBA usually doesn’t the postseason helped cre-
involve the league’s mar- ate more opportunities.
“Certainly having your quee names because “I’d hear from teams out-
players on a roster with teams can put the fran- side my conference in the
other players that are po- chise tag on top players if past that were more mo-
tentially free agents is an needed. Because of finan- tivated to do a deal with
advantage,” Indiana Fe- cial constraints from the me than teams in their own
ver president and COO salary cap, there also can’t conference,” Krauskopf
Kelly Krauskopf said. “It’s be bidding wars. said. “Making it more bal-
unique about our league. Before free agency be- anced, creates more con-
They get a chance to see gan, the trade market had versation amongst teams in
what it’s like to play with been active. Phoenix ac- terms of player movement.
another player, you never quired All-Star point guard Often times, you’d exhaust
have that opportunity in In this July 22, 2016, file photo, Chicago Sky forward Elena Delle Danielle Robinson from San the opposite conference
another league. It’s unique Donne, right, drives as Connecticut Sun forward Morgan Tuck Antonio on Tuesday. New options first before you start
to us and can work to a lot defends during a WNBA basketball game in Rosemont, Ill. York received Kia Vaughn in your own conference.”
of people’s advantage.” Associated Press and Bria Hartley on Mon- Riley completed her first
Krauskopf has said she’s day from Washington in a season as general manag-
had players reach out are worth pursuing as free agents include Essence three-way swap. Connecti- er of the Stars last year. The
to her in the past about agents. They’ve also said Carson and Alana Beard of cut and Atlanta traded Robinson deal was her first
some of their teammates who to stay away from. the Sparks. Beard told the Aneika Henry-Morello for trade as a GM.
in foreign leagues that Other unrestricted free AP last month that she was ReShanda Gray last week. “I don’t have historical con-
going to stay in Los Ange-
les. Those deals have created text except what I saw as a
Like Delle Donne, Griner is more movement in the player,” Riley said. “It does
a restricted free agent, but WNBA via trade than all of make you more open to
she will re-sign with Phoe- last offseason. trading across the board,
nix, according to a person Krauskopf and San Anto- where there were definite
familiar with the situation. nio Stars general manager barriers within conferences
The person spoke to the AP Ruth Riley both agreed that in the past.”
on condition of anonymity the new playoff format that The WNBA season begins
because the deal hasn’t basically scrapped confer- on May 13.