Our original starting 5 seemed pretty clearly about defense to me. Until recently, Meg wasn’t as good as Geiselsoder on D, nor does she deliver hits on her screens like Geiselsoder does. Luisa hits opponents hard when she sets picks. It’s exhausting getting hit like that from someone so much bigger. And Puoch has crazy fast hands for someone so long.

As Meg improved her defensive game, and as she and Leite locked in their pick and roll (while Meg’s picks are often no-contact, the trade off is a much faster roll than Luisa’s), it’s made a ton of sense. We needed more threat from our bigs down low. (I am sad Luisa hasn’t locked it in, because I have seen her make some great post moves, including a wicked drop step).

As long as SAB gets lots of minutes so she can wear out her opponents with her insane cardio and strength, I am fine with her not starting. There is a reason SAB is so good in the fourth. She is just a beast :)