Looking to next year --

The good: next season will see the strongest rookie class ever, with Taurasi, Beard, Powell, and others. Diana's skills, combined with her confidence and charisma, could change the game.

"There's nobody more perfect to come into the league and help move it into the next few years," said Sue Bird. "She does everything and, to be honest, you haven't seen it all yet. She's made for the WNBA."

The bad: the Olympics threaten to muck up the whole season. Val has already indicated that the league will likely take a break for the Games. But the national teams want their players for several months of practice, not just a couple weeks during the actual Olympics.

Australia, in particular, has been taking a hard line -- it wants LJ and others to start playing with the squad in May, which would mean missing a huge chunk of the WNBA season.