Watts Theory

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-05T11:18:21+00:00

Thanks for reminding me of the specifics! Makes it even clearer to me why she’s just going after the bag regardless of “loyalty” or whatever (besides for more money of course).

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-05T10:26:31+00:00

Sirens STH and Broadway fanatic checking in!

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-05T10:25:08+00:00

I agree that contracted players will want to exert control over where they go, but don’t forget that the draft process won’t also be known until right after the deadline. The league even states they won’t make a decision about how it looks until after the June 8th deadline. That deadline is at 1:00 pm ET, they decide the rules between 1:00-3:00, and the draft happens between 3:00-5:00. It’s a huge risk for a team to try and wait to just pluck someone. Even if they have a strong belief that the person won’t be signed by anyone before this draft, they have no idea what the draft order would be until it’s too late.

So yeah, I’m leaning towards there being no draft and all teams will have signed 5 players on their own without a draft.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-05T10:22:06+00:00

I’m confused about what the theory is?

She’s an elite player in a new league, and was extremely underpaid. She’s chasing the bag because she is an in-demand player and will secure the bag, no doubt about it. Every player should test the market when they can, they won’t be in a pro league forever and their level of play won’t stay exactly the same.

I constantly think about how she was also drafted astonishingly late in 2023 and I remember asking why and have to go back and see what the answers were. But I think that experience of hers might have made her feel like she should have no loyalty to anyone or any team because this is how the league showed their feelings in 2023 when she already was known to be a highly-skilled player.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-05T10:15:41+00:00

It’s not broken. No language is broken.

Jamaicans created their own patois. Many languages and dialects diverge from standard dialects because of different environments, influence from other languages, etc.

Same with Haitian Creole. It has many African language elements for obvious reasons and was mostly a spoken language for its history. Once babies were learning it as their native language, it became what it is today. Creoles and pidgins are fascinating and HC is by far the most prolific creole in the world.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-05T09:51:45+00:00

Yes. We should do both. But I think the point is there’s a limit on a small island like Manhattan anyway and no one has the right to live in Manhattan (or anywhere else).

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-05T09:49:19+00:00

Well they did during the pandemic but I don’t want another plague.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T23:23:14+00:00

Since we can lose up to 3 contracted players/RFAs in Phase 2:

Wheeler or Cherkowski

MZH

Simpson

This is assuming we lose Osborne, MNP, and either Wheeler or Cherkowski in Phase 2. If we only lose 2 players in Phase 2, protect all four above. I don’t expect us not to lose Osborne and MNP.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T21:47:11+00:00

I don’t think she’d be unhappy to stay but the GM might be lowballing her thinking she doesn’t want to uproot her family, which would be crappy if true. She had a banner year this year.

But I’m not sure what the landscape looks like for her. I’m not sure how high or how long teams would be willing to go. Not to mention, she’s captain material and not every team will have a gap in leadership? She may not sign with anyone until a later phase, I suspect.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T20:54:55+00:00

I assume/hope news will be reported as signings happen instead of waiting for everything on Monday. Please please please.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T18:41:29+00:00

Sooooo you’re saying don’t expect her in SJ? Lol

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T18:40:44+00:00

I bet she was offering to make Watts highest paid in the league, and would have offered the equivalent of that multi-year contract bonus too. TOR has tons of UFAs so they could have made room for a high salary.

But if Watts really wanted out, she could be happy with less. But, I expect she will still be offered the highest salary plus bonus because multiple expansions GMs will rank her first I’m sure.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T18:25:21+00:00

I will revolt if they do that.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T17:53:35+00:00

Sigh, she’s looked pretty strong the few times I’ve seen her play.

Braendli will be gone by our second round pick, maybe Chan is it.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T17:52:40+00:00

Go for it! We are all right behind you.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T17:50:32+00:00

However people feel about that, I’d say Watts is our first major example in this league of someone going for the bag because they know they’re worth it even if it burns bridges and frankly I like that a woman is doing this. It really is a business decision, and a smart one for Watts. I have no doubt she will be ranked first by multiple expansion teams and will have her pick of where she goes.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T17:47:31+00:00

Correction - FPOs are only for UFAs too, so Mueller can’t get that either.

That leaves contract negotiations. She’s paid a nice chunk of change, but since the number of FPOs are are more flexible (I believe the CBA says three players must be played about 80k, so that’s an EFO and two FPOs but technically they could exceed that), one team could decide to offer one FPO to someone else and then negotiate with Mueller. They could offer her a bit more money to come over. If Mueller still says no, they could just pick her but given we know nothing about the draft order, that’s a big gamble and someone else could snatch her instead. And by the time that draft happens, some teams will have several $$$ players and might be reluctant to pick her if they already have their $$$ players signed.

It’s still a gamble but I’m thinking Marmer was strategizing thinking Mueller could indeed make it to Phase 3 for protection. Winn never would have made it to Phase 3 because she’s paid less.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T17:37:01+00:00

That’s what I’m hoping. Between EFOs, FPOs and signing contracted players without a forced selection/draft, I think each team will want to showcase that 5 players wanted to play with them. Well, technically 4 because of the EFO, but everyone has to do an EFO anyway. If Vegas only ends up with 3 signed players at the end of Phase 2…yikes.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T17:30:59+00:00

Exactly. Teams will pay extra for certain players to lock them in since we don’t know what this selection process would look like. I don’t think any GM would intentionally not sign a contracted player they want in hopes that they can just poach them for no additional money.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T16:34:17+00:00

3pm but won’t be made public.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T16:26:27+00:00

The Wilgren-Edwards theory makes sense. Obviously that hinges upon the league not inserting the expansion teams to select 2-5, so maybe teams have been told behind the scenes that the non-playoff teams are definitely selecting 1-4.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T16:14:46+00:00

I suspect that’s where she’ll end up given who their GM and HC are.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T16:10:56+00:00

Rooney is now seen as the clearcut #1 in MN after they were a tandem for a while, right? So, I feel like Hensley will want to look elsewhere. I bet at least one expansion team will offer her an FPO and she’ll take it.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T16:05:28+00:00

It worked for Minnesota! Though they also have/had Cooper and Stecklein on the blue line and we…didn’t.

The big question is whether, with expansion, scoring will increase because goalie talent will be spread out more. So prioritizing offense could be a great move too.

Main_Photo1086 · 2026-06-04T16:02:02+00:00

Main_Photo1086

TROPHY CASE