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WNBA training camps open today and after a brief overview of the Eastern Conference rosters yesterday, today we do the same with the Western Conference rosters.
The same caveats that applied to yesterday's post apply here, though I might add a brief note about some of the things that stand out as anomalies, with Penny Taylor being particularly interesting here.
Most people wouldn't consider Taylor a "distributor", choosing instead to reserve that label for point guards. However what's interesting about Taylor is that she created assists at a higher rate than many players who filled the "point guard" slot and was by far one of the most efficient distributors in the league. She's a big loss, but without a proven point guard on the team her ability to facilitate scoring opportunities for others will be as big a loss as anything else.
At the other end of the distributor spectrum, it's interesting that the L.A. Sparks are currently without anyone who classified as a distributor last season (and Sharnee' Zoll didn't exactly qualify in her last season of play either, albeit in limited minutes). But what's interesting is that despite their lack of an experienced WNBA distributor, they have a number of versatile players who are capable of distributing the ball. The challenge for them this season will be whether they can overcome their lack of a true distributor (as the roster stands now) with their versatile set of players. That also obviously has major implications for clearing up what is a clear log jam on the perimeter - any of those rookies has an opportunity to make the roster if they prove they can fill that distributor spot.
Western Conference Rosters
Players in alphabetical order organized by player styles. Player names linked to WNBA.com profiles.
Update on May 16: strikethrough = cut, italics = last cut, *** = player absent for Olympics.
Rookies eligible for the 2012 WNBA Draft are indicated with an asterisk.
Los Angeles Sparks
| Distributor | Perimeter | Interior | Mixed/Utility |
| Sharnee' Zoll | Alana Beard | Nicky Anosike | Marissa Coleman |
| Ebony Hoffman | DeLisha Milton-Jones | ||
| Jantel Lavender | Jenna O'Hea *** |
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Nneka Ogwumike * |
Candace Parker | ||
| April Sykes * |
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| Kristi Toliver | |||
*** O'Hea is taking this season off for the Olympics.
Minnesota Lynx
Phoenix Mercury
** Taylor is injured and will miss the 2012 season.
San Antonio Silver Stars
| Distributor | Perimeter | Interior | Mixed/Utility | |
| Tully Bevilaqua | Shameka Christon | Danielle Adams | Tangela Smith | |
| Becky Hammon | Shenise Johnson * |
Jayne Appel | Sophia Young | |
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| Danielle Robinson | Jia Perkins | |||
| Ziomara Morrison | ||||
Seattle Storm
*** The Storm have placed Silvia Dominguez on the suspended list.
Tulsa Shock
| Distributor | Perimeter | Interior | Mixed/Utility |
| Temeka Johnson | Karima Christmas | ||
| Chante Black |
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| Elizabeth Cambage *** |
Jennifer Lacy | ||
| Ivory Latta | Tiffany Jackson *** |
Kayla Pedersen | |
| Jene Morris | Glory Johnson * |
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| Scholanda Robinson | Lynetta Kizer * |
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Riquna Williams * |
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** Mokango is injured and out for the season despite being signed by Tulsa.
*** Cambage is out at least until the Olympic break, Jackson will miss this season due to pregnancy.
What are your initial thoughts on each team's roster? Which teams do you think will have the most difficult decisions to make?
Leave your thoughts in the comments.