This columnist has never envied the job of a head coach. From high school to the pros, it is a public position that invites scrutiny from all corners.
Late last week, the Dallas Wings lost a close game to the Minnesota Lynx after leading for most of the contest. First-year head coach Jose Fernandez was blunt in his postgame press conference Thursday night.
“It’s real talk, and it’s accountability,” Fernandez said. “That’s what I told them. I go, ‘There’s selfishness in this locker room.’ There is. You gotta look in the mirror and be accountable on how you played, and don’t get upset if you think that you should’ve played more, or you didn’t play enough, or you didn’t get the shots you think you should’ve gotten.”
Dallas fans noted it was only the third game of the season and called Fernandez’s critique arrogant. However, players Maddy Siegrist and Aziaha James voiced support, and the team responded with a commanding 23-point win over the Washington Mystics on Monday night, including a season-high 30 assists.
Public criticism by a coach can backfire, but it can also motivate a team.
A recent example is University of Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell saying, “I have a team that’ll just quit on you,” after a brutal 43-point loss to South Carolina in February. Tennessee lost eight of their last nine games and had zero players on their roster at the end of the season. That same week, Texas head coach Vic Schaefer said his team had “no heart” after a 16-point loss to Vanderbilt. He added, “I wear it. I’m accountable. That’s my team, but it’s so disappointing. It’s probably the softest team I’ve had in years.” The Texas players responded by rattling off 12 wins in a row en route to a Final Four berth.
The outcome varies. To help WNBA coaches, here are questions to answer before speaking negatively to the media. Results may vary.
First question: Will my team take this personally?
A common basketball acronym is KYP – know your personnel. Coaches must understand their roster’s temperament. If certain that public criticism will motivate and refocus, it may be a valuable tactic. If uncertain, keep it private.
Second question: Will this put a bad spotlight on the team?
As the leader, your comments to the press will drive social media quotes and clickbait clips.
Take Los Angeles Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts. After the first game of the season, she was asked postgame why a scoreless Cameron Brink – the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft – was limited to eight minutes. She said, “We need Cam to produce … We have so much confidence and belief in her. She’s gotta get out on the floor with some confidence and do what she’s capable of doing.” The next few media scrums centered on that comment, Brink had to answer questions about it, and her box score was under a microscope. Three days later, Roberts seemed peeved to answer another question about Brink’s “slow start”: “She didn’t have a slow start. We’ve played two games … So the narrative of like, ‘What’s going on with Cam,’ it’s nothing. She’s doing great. So we got to stop the narrative.”
With respect, that coach created the narrative.
Third question: Do I want my team and star player to trust me?
For first-year coaches, trust is critical. The Wings are one year removed from a last-place, 10-win season with a fired head coach.
If the answer is yes, stay silent. If not, air grievances – but expect calls for firing.
Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks was praised for a baggy, pinstriped denim outfit perfect for a Hollywood tunnel.
Gabby Williams of the Golden State Valkyries defied fashion norms with a unique look.
Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream wore jorts with a Gucci belt, sandals, and Hermès purse, described as “Rich Auntie Running Errands.”
“Truthfully, I think it’s bullshit. Obviously, I needed to get a tech. A lot of people think I’m a crashout, but it was very intentional because I will be damned if a player gets hurt on our team [from] something that was controllable by the referees. That is a part of their job.” – Natasha Cloud on the refereeing during the Chicago Sky’s 86-79 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.
Cloud’s teammate Rickea Jackson suffered an ACL injury that will end her season. Cloud blamed officials for not controlling physicality. Referees said they were emphasizing freedom of movement this season.
The Golden State Valkyries face the New York Liberty on Thursday, May 21, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Amazon Prime.
The Liberty dominated last season, but both teams have retooled for what promises to be an epic duel in Brooklyn.
On Friday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on ION, the Dream play their first game since a nail-biting 85-84 loss to the Las Vegas Aces.
Both teams seek wins. Can Paige Bueckers lead her team past the duo of Allisha Gray and Angel Reese?
This is an extract from WNBA 30, where Jordan Robinson covers the league’s biggest stories weekly. Subscribe for free. Email wnba30@theguardian.com with breakout season predictions.
📝 This article was rewritten with AI assistance based on content from
The Guardian.
WNBA coaches: know your team before calling them out
This columnist has never envied the job of a head coach. From high school to the pros, it is a public position that invites scrutiny from all corners.
Late last week, the Dallas Wings lost a close game to the Minnesota Lynx after leading for most of the contest. First-year head coach Jose Fernandez was blunt in his postgame press conference Thursday night.
“It’s real talk, and it’s accountability,” Fernandez said. “That’s what I told them. I go, ‘There’s selfishness in this locker room.’ There is. You gotta look in the mirror and be accountable on how you played, and don’t get upset if you think that you should’ve played more, or you didn’t play enough, or you didn’t get the shots you think you should’ve gotten.”
Dallas fans noted it was only the third game of the season and called Fernandez’s critique arrogant. However, players Maddy Siegrist and Aziaha James voiced support, and the team responded with a commanding 23-point win over the Washington Mystics on Monday night, including a season-high 30 assists.
Public criticism by a coach can backfire, but it can also motivate a team.
A recent example is University of Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell saying, “I have a team that’ll just quit on you,” after a brutal 43-point loss to South Carolina in February. Tennessee lost eight of their last nine games and had zero players on their roster at the end of the season. That same week, Texas head coach Vic Schaefer said his team had “no heart” after a 16-point loss to Vanderbilt. He added, “I wear it. I’m accountable. That’s my team, but it’s so disappointing. It’s probably the softest team I’ve had in years.” The Texas players responded by rattling off 12 wins in a row en route to a Final Four berth.
The outcome varies. To help WNBA coaches, here are questions to answer before speaking negatively to the media. Results may vary.
First question: Will my team take this personally?
A common basketball acronym is KYP – know your personnel. Coaches must understand their roster’s temperament. If certain that public criticism will motivate and refocus, it may be a valuable tactic. If uncertain, keep it private.
Second question: Will this put a bad spotlight on the team?
As the leader, your comments to the press will drive social media quotes and clickbait clips.
Take Los Angeles Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts. After the first game of the season, she was asked postgame why a scoreless Cameron Brink – the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft – was limited to eight minutes. She said, “We need Cam to produce … We have so much confidence and belief in her. She’s gotta get out on the floor with some confidence and do what she’s capable of doing.” The next few media scrums centered on that comment, Brink had to answer questions about it, and her box score was under a microscope. Three days later, Roberts seemed peeved to answer another question about Brink’s “slow start”: “She didn’t have a slow start. We’ve played two games … So the narrative of like, ‘What’s going on with Cam,’ it’s nothing. She’s doing great. So we got to stop the narrative.”
With respect, that coach created the narrative.
Third question: Do I want my team and star player to trust me?
For first-year coaches, trust is critical. The Wings are one year removed from a last-place, 10-win season with a fired head coach.
If the answer is yes, stay silent. If not, air grievances – but expect calls for firing.
Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks was praised for a baggy, pinstriped denim outfit perfect for a Hollywood tunnel.
Gabby Williams of the Golden State Valkyries defied fashion norms with a unique look.
Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream wore jorts with a Gucci belt, sandals, and Hermès purse, described as “Rich Auntie Running Errands.”
“Truthfully, I think it’s bullshit. Obviously, I needed to get a tech. A lot of people think I’m a crashout, but it was very intentional because I will be damned if a player gets hurt on our team [from] something that was controllable by the referees. That is a part of their job.” – Natasha Cloud on the refereeing during the Chicago Sky’s 86-79 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.
Cloud’s teammate Rickea Jackson suffered an ACL injury that will end her season. Cloud blamed officials for not controlling physicality. Referees said they were emphasizing freedom of movement this season.
The Golden State Valkyries face the New York Liberty on Thursday, May 21, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Amazon Prime.
The Liberty dominated last season, but both teams have retooled for what promises to be an epic duel in Brooklyn.
On Friday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on ION, the Dream play their first game since a nail-biting 85-84 loss to the Las Vegas Aces.
Both teams seek wins. Can Paige Bueckers lead her team past the duo of Allisha Gray and Angel Reese?
This is an extract from WNBA 30, where Jordan Robinson covers the league’s biggest stories weekly. Subscribe for free. Email wnba30@theguardian.com with breakout season predictions.
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