Watching the WNBA, it is apparent that the WNBA tends to run quick actions early in the possession and early in the shot clock. If they don’t get a shot, then they are left for isolations or classic dribble drive with kick or dump options.
As Coach White of the Fever said,”Our point guard recognized Mitchell was hot, and ran the same action three straight trips to create shots for her.”
Double Drag Action- Everybody does this but Dallas probably runs it as well as anyone with Paige Bueckers. Paige can be the dribbler so she then sees over the top to read slips or if they run a fade for the last screener. But where Dallas is effective is that they put Paige as the first screener of the double drag. From that spot she can:
Dunker Spot- In the WNBA, there are not many “dunkers”, yet they effectively use the “Dunker Spot.” If you watch both the NBA and WNBA, fewer and fewer teams use 5 Out offensive any more because the spacing doesn’t allow penetration. Instead what most of them are doing is going with more of a 4 Out with a Dunker (weakside short corner). They do not necessarily put a post in this spot, some teams actually get an athletic, non-shooting point guard to the spot. And they will back screen with the Dunker on a Wing- and the Wing then becomes the Dunker. It is all designed to create the bigger gaps that you get with 4 Out, and eliminate the easier help in the 5 Out.
Football- Many are calling the classic Dribble Hand Off action, “football.” This is a great action for posts and guards. Indiana initiated all of their stagger actions also from a DHO. So they can have Boston dribble at the two-man side and create all the same things they get out of their stagger series.
Corner Backdoor- This is set up because many teams at the end of transition have the point guard dribble hand off with the player coming up out of the corner. Then when they hand off, a post comes to screen the player coming off the hand off with the ball. Anticipating this, defenders bite on that step up action by the corner person, who plants and goes backdoor. This is a staple of Clark to Hull.
Long Threes- Not all WNBA players take long threes, but probably half of the “shooters” in the WNBA will shoot threes on the arc and also shoot threes where they are 5-6 feet off the arc. It makes sense to me- will a player be more accurate with space and less pressure from the defense. I think HS guards should work on shooting threes 4-6 feet off the arc.
Many of the WNBA teams always run a quick action after time outs, free throws, and deadballs. The common actions in the WNBA would be easy for any coach to effectively use as part of whatever offense they are using.
Staggers- This is the staple of the Indiana Fever. They will run into it off transition but most often, they flow into it in late clock situations. It is not something that they have to set up, they flow into it when a post at the top passes away from a two-man side- they are in it. Things they do:
A- Classic action of good shooter at the bottom coming off two screens.
B- Screeners slipping
C- First cutter curling off first screen, and then first screener going up for shot.
D- Classic action but first screener turns and back screens for last screener.
E- First cutter curls top, and first screener comes up for shot.
Double Drag Action- Everybody does this but Dallas probably runs it as well as anyone with Paige Bueckers. Paige can be the dribbler so she then sees over the top to read slips or if they run a fade for the last screener. But where Dallas is effective is that they put Paige as the first screener of the double drag. From that spot she can:
A- Pop and have an isolation.
B- Have the second screener come screen her to allow her to cut back for shot, going to the ball handler.
C- Roll into a high low. She will usually have the point guard defender on her then, and the second screener is the high passer.
Early, High Ball Screens- This is what eventually caused the Pacers to quit picking up SGA in the backcourt, and it is what allows Caitlin Clark to have more space. In the NBA, more teams pressure full court so a point guard will be guarded as they cross half-court. In the WNBA, more point guards are picked up high because the WNBA doesn’t call fouls on the ball. The early ball screen relieves some of the ball pressure but offensively by setting the screens so far out, it give your point guards the space to create some great 4 on 3 situations because usually the post defender cannot contain the point guard.
Dunker Spot- In the WNBA, there are not many “dunkers”, yet they effectively use the “Dunker Spot.” If you watch both the NBA and WNBA, fewer and fewer teams use 5 Out offensive any more because the spacing doesn’t allow penetration. Instead what most of them are doing is going with more of a 4 Out with a Dunker (weakside short corner). They do not necessarily put a post in this spot, some teams actually get an athletic, non-shooting point guard to the spot. And they will back screen with the Dunker on a Wing- and the Wing then becomes the Dunker. It is all designed to create the bigger gaps that you get with 4 Out, and eliminate the easier help in the 5 Out.
Short Roll- Right now, the best offensive situation in basketball is to have the ball attacking from the top of the key or from ft lines- with someone in the strong side corner and someone in the weakside Dunker spot. The WNBA has a boat load of #4’s and some #5’s who can catch on a short roll and attack to get in the classic dribble drive option- shot, kick to corner, dump to Dunker.
Football- Many are calling the classic Dribble Hand Off action, “football.” This is a great action for posts and guards. Indiana initiated all of their stagger actions also from a DHO. So they can have Boston dribble at the two-man side and create all the same things they get out of their stagger series.
UNC Backdoor Action- On ION’s Friday night WNBA lineup, I saw three different teams use the old Dean Smith backdoor. The player with the ball at the top takes 1-2 dribbles away and spins back. They start toward the wing player as if going into the DHO, instead the offense goes backdoor.
We become focused on the point guards but often in the WNBA, they start actions with either the #4 or #5.
Corner Backdoor- This is set up because many teams at the end of transition have the point guard dribble hand off with the player coming up out of the corner. Then when they hand off, a post comes to screen the player coming off the hand off with the ball. Anticipating this, defenders bite on that step up action by the corner person, who plants and goes backdoor. This is a staple of Clark to Hull.
Fade Screen, Slip Screen- Dallas uses this often. Bueckers can bring the ball up as a point guard, she passes to one wing. The opposite wing (often a post), sets a fade screen. The post then slips the screen to the basket.
Long Threes- Not all WNBA players take long threes, but probably half of the “shooters” in the WNBA will shoot threes on the arc and also shoot threes where they are 5-6 feet off the arc. It makes sense to me- will a player be more accurate with space and less pressure from the defense. I think HS guards should work on shooting threes 4-6 feet off the arc.
Underhand, Reach Layups- I realize skill coaches work on 25 different finishing moves. The best finish move in both the WNBA and the NBA is when the defender is on the hip of the offense reaching out and shooting the layup underhand. The next time you watch a game, count how many times the move is used in the game. And how many times players can make that with their weak hand.
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