There isn\u2019t a lot that is clear about Laney-Hamilton\u2019s current situation. What is clear is that she can\u2019t help the team if she\u2019s not playing. So, let\u2019s now turn to a familiar face: Sandy Brondello. Laney-Hamilton was a crucial member of the Liberty\u2019s starting lineup when they won a title under Brondello. Toronto also has $557,557 in cap space per HerHoopStats<\/a>\u2014more than enough room to fit Laney-Hamilton\u2019s $400,000 contract\u2014and the league\u2019s worst defensive rating. Laney-Hamilton could help and, if the price is right for both sides, Toronto may be one of her best landing spots.<\/p>\n Blake Silverman: Maddy Siegrist traded to the Mystics. Washington is 14\u201312 with a 3.5-game cushion on the Fire for the last playoff spot at the All-Star break. The \u201cbig three\u201d of Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin has balled out this season and put the Mystics in position to be a frisky playoff team. Michaela Onyenwere, who\u2019s in the midst of a career season herself, has put up 10.1 points per game and shot 43.2% from three-point range. The Mystics need more shooting, though, and Siegrist is on the outs in Dallas with her minutes cut in half since Azzi Fudd\u2019s arrival<\/a> as the top pick this year. Siegrist has shot well on minimal volume this season and she got up threes at a high rate during her standout career at Villanova. It\u2019s a move that would help Washington around the fringes. Maybe the Mystics make a play for a star like Chicago\u2019s Skylar Diggins, but with how the young team has thrived, I wouldn\u2019t rock the boat too much.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s your bold prediction for the second half of the season?\u00a0<\/p>\n Brennan: A team other than the Liberty or Aces will win the WNBA championship. Either New York or Las Vegas has ruled the league over the last four seasons, but there will be a changing of the guard this year. The Lynx look most poised to usurp the giants, but the Wings and Valkyries are right there with the league\u2019s top teams. With Napheesa Collier\u2019s future in Minnesota somewhat unknown, and considering Olivia Miles\u2019s unprecedented rookie campaign<\/a>, is this the year to get it done for this iteration of the Lynx? After a run of falling just short of a fifth banner, there is a now-or-never feeling growing inside the Target Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n Falkenheim: The Dream tighten up in the half-court and earn the No. 2 seed. Atlanta\u2019s numbers\u2014fifth in offensive rating, fourth in defensive rating\u2014look good because it is the league\u2019s best transition team on offense and allows the fewest fast-break opportunities on defense. That\u2019s a good combination to have. Entering the All-Star break, though, the Dream have the league\u2019s second-worst half-court net rating<\/a>. Between Brionna Jones\u2019s return and the defensive personnel that Atlanta has, it\u2019s hard to see how the Dream\u2019s play won\u2019t improve on both ends of the floor. If it does, watch out.<\/p>\n Silverman: Portland or Toronto sneak into the playoffs. The top eight teams seem to be solidly in place, but whether it’s Washington falling off or even the Liberty completely going off the rails, the playoff field can\u2019t be completely set at the All-Star break\u2014right? As the league\u2019s newest teams, both the Fire<\/a> and the Tempo<\/a> have had their fair share of ups and downs. That said, Portland has been much better than initially anticipated while Toronto started out hot but has fallen off since Brittney Sykes\u2019s injury. Sykes is progressing toward a return and the Tempo should get Kiki Rice back at some point, too. Meanwhile in Portland, Carla Leite has had a breakout year while Bridget Carleton, Megan DiLeo and Emily Engstler have been key to coach Alex Sarama\u2019s operation. If any team sneaks into the playoffs, expect it to be one of the expansion franchises.<\/p>\n
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