Phylesha Whaley

[labcoatguy]

I read that the Sooner grad went to the Minnesota Lynx in 2000, but i also know that shes assistant coaching in Texas. Does anyone know why she decided to leave pro-ball or how her WNBA career went? Basically, all I'm asking is what's the deal?

[schooner2]

Phylesha did not make the final cut with Minnesota. I had talked with her mom about, well, almost two years ago and she said Phylesha would like to try out again to make the WNBA, but apparently she never did.

[swok34]

I talked to Phylesha in San Antonio and she really likes it there...
I suspect she's really enjoying the coaching end....
Phylesha was the one really good player that had no position in the WNBA. I was afraid Caufield would suffer the same fate, but Caufield's defense makes up for her lack of height....and she found some creative moves around the basket this year.

The way Coale moves players around, I think, has been instrumental in preparing them for the WNBA.....I'm curious if we won't see a lot of Caton Hill on the wing next season, because she will probably not be "big" enough to make it as a power forward at the next level, solely. So, the more experience she gets on the wing this season, the greater I think her chances would be.

Look at Caufield....she can play 2 or 3 and some point. Roz can play the point or 2, haven't seen her slash much, but she could play the 3....and of course, Dales' versatility is well known.

[schooner2]

I'd be surprised if Caton developed some time of game as a wing player. She can get herself open underneath with some nifty fade away shots. And she is a great 3-point shooter - but practically all of her made 3-pointer come as an end result of a fastbreak where she is the trailer and is left all alone at the top of the key. And occasionally she is found open for a 3 along the baseline. I've never seen her create a shot from 19 feet out though. Typically only 5 to maybe 10 feet out.

I'd have to say her dribbling skills and lack of speed prevent her from really creating an outside shot. She is a tenacious warrior underneath and obviously gets the job done there at the collegiate level. She will be an interesting player to follow to see how her skills translate to a pro level.