Category: Featured

Photo Courtesy of Lorie Shaull

WNBA Weekly Wrap-Up (Week 1)

The WNBA is hosting 264 regular season games over the course of just seven weeks. In order to help fans keep up with all of the action we will have a weekly series breaking down all of the games for each week every Monday. Only one Monday over the season has games scheduled so even on their off day you can consume the WNBA.

Talking about the opening weekend of the WNBA has to start with how the players themselves started it, social justice. Layshia Clarendon of the New York Liberty and Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm spoke about the player’s initiative for Breonna Taylor, the Black Lives Matter Movement, and the Say Her Name campaign.

After the players’ statement and the reveal that every uniform will don Breonna Taylor’s name both teams exited the court before the National Anthem was played. Players in all six games this past weekend also left before the National Anthem was played.

Game Breakdowns

Seattle Storm 87, New York Liberty 71

The return of Stewart and Sue Bird did not disappoint Storm fans. The pair combined for 29 points which helped keep the Storm out in front for much of the game.

As expected the Liberty had to rely heavily on their rookies for most of the game especially when Kia Nurse went down with an injury early in the game (the injury was later diagnosed an ankle sprain). Clarendon, the only Liberty player with more than five years of experience led all scorers with 20 points. Sabrina Ionescu’s debut was not overwhelming but she did manage 12 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Los Angeles Sparks 99, Phoenix Mercury 76

The matchup of the big threes with Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike and Chelsea Gray of Los Angeles facing Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith of Phoenix. The five years the LA trio has spent together proved to edge out the new trio of the Mercury. Parker, Ogwumike and Gray combined for 47 points and five turnovers while Taurasi, Griner and Diggins-Smith had 38 points and 12 turnovers.

Washington Mystics 101, Indiana Fever 76

This game may have been the biggest unknown since both teams are missing multiple key players. The Fever are hoping theirs will join them soon, but the Mystics will be without the MVP Elena Delle Donne and usual starter Natasha Cloud all season. However their 101 point performance may have proven they can hold their own in 2020. The Mystics had five players in double digits for scoring, led by Myisha Hines-Allen’s double-double (27 points, 10 rebounds).

Minnesota Lynx 77, Connecticut Sun 69

The first game of day two proved to be the tale of two halves. Connecticut went into halftime with a 37-28 over the Lynx. Connecticut still had the lead going into the fourth quarter but the Lynx outscored them 22-20 in the third. The Lynx posted their best quarter of the game throwing up 27 points and the Sun barely scraped double digit points in the fourth and saw their lead vanish.

Chicago Sky 88, Las Vegas Aces 86

Perhaps the game everyone had circled for opening week was the game between the Aces and Sky. Less than a year ago the Sky’s season ended from a half-court dagger in the second round of the playoffs. Ali Quigley redeemed the Sky in the opening game with a separation step at the left corner of the three-point line to give her team the lead.

Atlanta Dream 105, Dallas Wings 95

The final game of the weekend provided plenty of offense putting both teams close to the century mark. The scores in every quarter were within 1-5 points of each other. Monique Billings of the Dream just could not be contained leading all WNBA players for the weekend with 30 points.

Standout Stats

Nneka Ogwmike

Perfection in sports is often unheard of but that was what Ogwmike achieved shooting 8-8 from the field. She added 3-3 from the free throw line giving her a total of 21 points. Not to mention Ogwmike had seven rebounds and accomplished all of this in just 24 minutes.

Chennedy Carter

There has been a lot of talk about the rookie class and what they will bring to the league. Unsurprisingly Carter showed up big on day one, leading all first year players with 18 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Carter is suppose to be one of the best rookies of the year and her team the Dream hope she can keep up these stats in all 22 games.

Team of the Week

Los Angeles Sparks

The second biggest margin of victory for the weekend belonged to the Sparks. The game was tied after the first quarter and then the Sparks took over with their best quarter coming in the third outscoring the Mercury 30-8. The season has just 22 games per team but it’s over a short span so longevity of the players is a question. The Sparks were able to rest their starters and give some minutes to their bench.

Photo Courtesy of Lorie Shaull

WNBA 2020 Preview

The WNBA is back for the 2020 season competing at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. The first game tips off today (7/25) at 12 pm ET on ESPN with the Seattle Storm and the New York Liberty. 22 regular season games will decide which of the 12 teams will earn a spot in the postseason.

Like most sport leagues picking back up, COVID-19 and social justice has impacted the restart. Big name players are sitting out the season due to health concerns or the desire to focus their efforts on the issues across the United States.

Teams will have to adjust and look to other players to step up. Will the usual suspects rise to the occasion or will a team often on the outside looking in win the 2020 WNBA Championship?

Below is a breakdown of what to expect for the upcoming season.

Who Won’t Be There?

Understanding how the season will shape up has a lot to do with who is at IGM Academy and who is electing to stay home.

The defending Champions of the Washington Mystics may have been hit the hardest with missing players. What first looked like an exciting off-season for the mystics signing the 2012 MVP and five-time All-Star Tina Charles has turned into a roster of lesser known players. Reigning MVP Elena Delle Donne penned a letter in the Player’s Tribune detailing her battle with Lyme disease and the WNBA not granting her a medical waiver. Despite the ruling Delle Donne will not be in Florida with the team nor will Charles (medical waiver for extrinsic asthma) or Natasha Cloud (fight for social justice).

A successful season last year for the Las Vegas Aces reaching the WNBA semifinals looked to be duplicated or bettered this season. However All-Star Liz Cambage and JiSu Park have opted to sit out, not to mention Kelsey Plum will miss the whole season due to a torn achilles.

The Los Angeles Sparks will also look to replace three key players in Chiney Ogwumike, Kristi Toliver and Maria Vadeeva who have all opted out. Same for the Atlanta Dream since Renee Montgomery, Tiffany Hayes and Maite Cazorla are opting out.

Just as the New York Liberty are looking to rebuild after losing Charles to Washington they will have to do so without some notable players. Their three internaional players in Steohanie Talbot, Marine Johannes, and Han Xu will remain overseas while Rebecca Allen and Asia Durr have opted out for the season.

Far from their powerhouse lineup from 2016 the Minnesota Lynx will have plenty of new faces this season. They will miss Maya Moore once again as she continues to sit out from basketball for social justice. Jessica Shepard and Cecilia Zandalasini are sitting out this season for personal reasons.

Teams like the Phoenix Mercury, Indiana Fever, Seattle Storm, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, and the Dallas Wings have only one or none players missing the 2020 season. Jessica Breland (medical exemption) for Phoenix, Bernadett Határ (injury) for Indiana, Jantel Lavendar (foot surgery) for the Sky, Jonquel Jones (opted out) for Connecticut and Imani McGee-Stafford (pursuing law degree) for Dallas.

Big Off-Season Moves

A league not known for players changing teams very often had plenty of surprises this year. If you picked a team for your favorite player you may be changing allegiance.

The Mercury traded away longtime player DeWanna Bonner, but ended up landing one of the most versatile players in the league in Skylar Diggins-Smith. Having sat out last season due to maternity leave, Diggins-Smith’s 2018 stats do enough explaining of what kind of player the Mercury just picked up averaging 20.7 PPG along with 7.2 RPG and shooting 56.4 FG%.

Another player who sat out the 2019 season only to join another team in 2020 is Angel McCoughtry. Known for her scoring in both the regular season and post season scoring coupled with her lock-down defense McCoughtry is a player every team hopes to have. The Aces are the ones who will be benefiting from her. While they will have to wait to see what McCoughtry paired with Cambage looks like the duo of A’ja Wilson and McCoughtry will be on full display this season.

Rivals become teammates this season as Seimone Augustus joins the Los Angeles Sparks after spending 13 years with the Minnesota Lynx. Augustus currently ranks 11th all time for scoring in the WNBA and the Sparks will hope she has plenty of points left in her after and injury crippling 2019 season.

Notable Rookies

With so many key veterans missing the upcoming season a lot of responsibility will fall to the rookies. Aside from the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces every WNBA team has rookies ready to make an impact.

Not only does the New York Liberty have the most anticipated rookie on their roster in Sabrina Ionescu, but they also have the most first year players with seven, accounting for 64% of their roster.

Six of the seven rookies were picked up in the draft (Joyner Holmes as signed as a free agent) and picked within the first 15 draft spots. The two most notable are Ionescu and Megan Walker. Ionescu who you may know as the first player in NCAA history to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists or earning the most career triple-doubles with 26. Walker spent just three seasons at UConn, choosing to leave a year early for the WNBA and in her last season she averaged 13.7 PPG, 1.3 APG with a 38.3% FG%. Ionescu will have to wait a bit longer to try and work with Walker, since Walker tested positive for COVID-19 but is now in Florida following quarantine protocol.

If the play from the NCAA can translate to the WNBA and translate fast the Liberty will be the biggest for that experiment.

Ionescu may be the most known rookie and the most anticipated but the player that people are projecting to have the biggest WNBA career is Chennedy Carter with the Atlanta Dream. After watching her explosiveness at Texas A&M the Dream drafted her #4, their highest draft pick since their last franchise player Angel McCoughtry. With McCoughtry joining the Mercury in the off-season the Dream hope Carter’s 21.3 PPG and 4.3 RPG will carryover this year.

The Dallas Wings had three picks in the first seven draft spots including the #2 pick with Satou Sabally. On a star studded Oregon Ducks team Sabally averages 16.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and a 46.4 FG%. Perhaps the most athletic rookie in the draft class.

A team that is in need of a rookie to immediately add impact is the Indiana Fever. The last three seasons the Fever had one of the worst records in the league, but they’re hoping their #3 draft selection Lauren Cox can help turn things around. A key member on Baylor’s 2019 NCAA Championship team and one of their leaders that helped them throughout the season. Cox has versatility making her a fantastic rebounder and natural scorer.

How the Season Shapes Up

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Skylar Diggins-Smith will be in a new environment with plenty of veterans around her not having to carry the majority of the weight. The frees up Diggins-Smith to be a playmaker like fans have seen her before. Look for her assists to go up with Griner and her ability to get open will see her scoring go up as well.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Lauren Cox is not joining the best team in the WNBA rather a team still looking to find their identity since Tamika Catchings retired in 2016. Cox will not be the same player as Catchings but that isn’t what the Fever need. Cox will get to work alongside Natalie Anchonwa and TeairaMcCowan in the post along with Kelsey Mitchel and Tiffany Mitchell at the guard. Cox has proven she can score (10.1 PPG) along with dish out assists (5.0 APG), not to mention what she can do on the defensive end. The Fever and Cox are the perfect recipe for one another to have a big year.

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

An entire WNBA preview article and neither of Sue Bird or Diana Taurasi have been mentioned. No they are not skipping the season or moved teams for the first time in their career. In fact this could be a big season for both of them. 22 regular season games over the course of seven weeks is the perfect recipe for the longtime veterans along with no wear and tear from long travel days. For a long time since both teams were in the Western Conference they could not meet in the Championship but this could be the year.

Bird is joined along Breanna Stewart coming off an MVP season in 2018 and missing 2019 due to injury, Natasha Howard the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, a healthy Jewel Lloyd, and free agent pick up in Epiphanny Prince. Stewart and Bird were missing due to injury last year and Seattle still earned a playoff spot, look for this duo to carry them to the Championship.

Taurasi has been riddled with injuries lately in unable to compete an entire season for Phoenix, but committing to just 22 regular season games will hopefully be in the cards for her. Losing Bonner who made up the Mercury’s Big 3 alongside Taurasi and Griner was a blow, but picking up Skylar Diggins-Smith could be equally exciting. Running a guard system with Diggins-Smith and Taurasi will free up space for both playmakers and give Griner double the players giving her the ball down low. If these three can gel look for them to face off against the Storm in the Championship.

Photo Courtesy of BDZ Sports

NWSL Players of the Week: September 16th – 29th

The first player of the week, or double week really is Sam Kerr who plays for the Chicago Red Stars. On Saturday September 21st, Kerr tallied two goals against the Washington Spirit in an important 3-1 win for the Red Stars. The two goals were Kerr’s 17th and 18th of the season which breaks the season goal-scoring record. Kerr’s 17th goal tied her own record and then her second of the game broke it. The Australian attacker has scored five goals over her last five matches.

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It only took Kerr nine minutes to tie her record after she chipped a delightful finish over the Spirit goalkeeper and into the far corner from a tight angle. Katlyn Johnson was credited with the assist. Kerr then broke her record in the 49th minute when Yuki Nagasato used the outside of her foot to deliver a through ball down the left side right into the path of Kerr who then cut in and fired back into the near post beating the goalkeeper easily. The 3-1 win was Chicago’s fourth in a row before they went on to make the streak five in a 2-1 win over the Utah Royals. The five-game winning streak has slingshotted the Red Stars into second place only two points back of the first place North Carolina Courage. The Red Stars have finished all of their regular season matches and have secured a second-place seeding for the postseason.

Due to the recent play of Kerr she was awarded the NWSL Player of the Month, league officials announced on Wednesday.

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The second player of the week comes in the form of goalkeeping greatness from Aubrey Bledsoe who plays for the Washington Spirit. The Spirit goalkeeper was up to the task when she tallied seven saves against the offensive powerhouse and first placed North Carolina Courage. The Courage have been on a tear lately scoring sixteen goals in their four previous games. Bledsoe came up big, time and time again in the Spirit’s 2-1 win over the visiting North Carolina Courage on Saturday September 28th. The win gave the sixth placed Spirit a chance to still make the playoffs. Other results around the league have since ended that possibility, but the performance from Bledsoe could not be discredited. The win ended a six game winning streak for the Courage.

In the 21st minute Bledsoe was called into action when a Courage corner kick fell to Debinha on the far side. Bledsoe reacted quickly to Debinha’s shot and was able to direct the rebound out of danger.

In the 38th minute it was Lynn Williams this time that was denied by Bledsoe from close range as she did a tremendous job to close down on Williams and keep the score knotted at 0-0. Bledsoe denied Williams again in the 65th minute when she got her angles just right in order to keep the ball out of the net. Over the course of 22 games Bledsoe has been able to tally eight clean sheets. The Washington Spirit are next in action on Saturday, October 5th when they travel to Orlando to take on the Pride.

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The last player of the week is rookie Bethany Balcer who scored in yet another game for the Seattle Reign. Balcer has now scored six goals on the season, but has been on fire lately with three goals in her last four matches. Her goal was the second of two as the Reign picked up an impressive 2-0 win against the Portland Thorns who have been out of form as of late. The victory for the Reign has secured them the last remaining postseason spot and gives them the opportunity to finish as high as third considering they win their final match and Portland loses or draws. The victory was an important one as it ensures the Reign a place in the postseason. Jodie Taylor tallied the other goal on the day.

In the 81st minute of play Balcer received a pass with her back to goal from about 14 yards away. The defender was not tight, which allowed Balcer time to turn, cut in quickly onto her left foot and rifle a low dipping shot into the right corner catching the Thorns goalkeeper out at her near post. The swiftness with which Balcer snapped the shot on frame seem to cause a late reaction from the Thorns goalkeeper and Balcer wheeled away to celebrate. Balcer will be a player to watch as the Reign move forward into their last game of the season and into the postseason. The Reign are next in action on Saturday, October 12th when they travel to Orlando to take on the Pride in their last regular season match-up.

All remaining matches can be seen on the YAHOO! Sports Network.

Photo Courtesy of Lorie Shaull

2019 WNBA Finals: Connecticut Suns vs Washington Mystics Game 2 Preview

On Sunday, the WNBA Finals began as the Washington Mystics hosted the Connecticut Sun.

After an exciting, competitive playoffs, it has come to this. Two of the league’s best teams will compete against each other to become the WNBA champion. While some teams started their championship pursuit in the first round, the Mystics and the Sun were an exception. Both teams had double byes and sat out the first two rounds of the playoffs. They waited for their semifinals opponents as they competed in the single-elimination first and second rounds.

In the Semifinals, the Mystics faced the Las Vegas Aces, and the Sun faced the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sun ended their series early, as they swept the Sparks 3-0. The Mystics beat the Aces 3-1, as the Aces won Game 3 at home. Now, the Mystics and the Sun meet in this series.

In Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, the Mystics beat the Sun 95-86. Elena Delle Donne led the Mystics with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Her teammates chipped in, as Delle Donne was one of five players to score in double figures. Ariel Atkins scored 21 points, Kristi Toliver scored 18 points, Natasha Cloud scored 13 points and Emma Meesseman scored 11.

Delle Donne played her typical game, but one of the most noteworthy performances was from Atkins, who went 3 of 4 from 3-point range and 6 of 7 overall. Toliver, Atkins’s teammate, spoke on her performance.

“I mean, people always ask me about little A,” Mystics point guard Kristi Toliver said of Atkins. “They’re like, all right, what is little A going to bring, is this moment too big for her, da da da. I’m like, listen, little A is little freaking A, and she plays hard all the time and she gives everything all the time and she’s a selfless kid.”

For the Sun, Courtney M. Williams scored 26 points. Three of her teammates also scored in double figures as Alyssa Thomas scored 20, Shekinna Stricklen scored 13 and Jonquel Jones scored 12. Jones was relatively quiet in this game as she took only eight shots.

When discussing his team, Sun head coach Curt Miller spoke on the importance of offensive execution and transition.

“We can make shots,” Sun coach Miller said. “We can make people – we can execute offensively, and that’s going to be the challenge for both of us all series, can we string consecutive stops together. Our transition is so important to us, and we’ve got to be able to get defensive stops or turn them over so we can get in transition.”

Game 2 takes place later tonight. The Mystics have a chance to gain a 2-0 lead over the Sun, or Connecticut can tie the series as they head home for Game 3. If the Sun get Jones more involved in the offense, there is a good chance they can tie the series. We’ll see what happens later tonight.

You can watch Game 2 of the WNBA Finals at 8 pm ET on ESPN.

Photo Courtesy of Jamie Smed

NWSL Players of the Week: Sept 9th – 15th

Lynn Williams who plays for the first-placed North Carolina Courage is the first player who highlights this week’s edition of NWSL Players of the Week.

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Williams scored four goals over two games in the past week. On Wednesday, September 11,Williams played a big role by scoring a hat-trick in a 6-0 statement win, on the road, against the second-placed Portland Thorns who have sat atop the NWSL table for much of the season. After already being up 1-0, it only took Williams 21 minutes to get on the board when she tapped home a Debinha shot turned cross. After only a minute Williams got her second in similar fashion when she used her left foot to tap home a low cross from the right wing. In both of her first two goals the close proximity gave Thorns goalkeeper Adrianna Franch no chance. Williams secured her hat-trick in the 67th minute when a Courage counter-attack set up a 3v2 advantage. Debinha drew in the defense and slipped a pass to Williams who made no mistake and fired a shot past Franch at her near post. The goal increased the lead to 5-0. On Saturday, Williams tallied one goal in another demolition job when the Courage beat the Orlando Pride 6-1. Williams grabbed her goal early in this one after she guided a Kristen Hamilton cross out of the air past the Pride goalkeeper from a few yards out. The last four goals has brought Williams total to 11 on the season. The Courage are riding a wave right now after beating their last two opponents by a combined score of 12-1. The Courage sit in first place with 40 points which is four clear of the second-place Thorns. The Courage also have a game in hand. Lynn Williams and the Courage are next in action Tuesday, September 17 when they take on the Houston Dash.

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The next player of the week is Sofia Huerta who plays for the Houston Dash and scored two goals to propel the Orange past the fourth-placed Utah Royals. The luck was with Huerta and the Dash on this Friday the 13 as they slipped past the visiting Royals for a final score of 2-1. Huerta gave the Dash the lead in the 27 minute after an intelligent backheel pass from Kristie Mewis fooled the Royals defense and allowed Huerta to place a finish in the bottom left corner from close range. Huerta struck again in the 62 minute when Daly sent a ball into space down the right wing. Huerta used her pace and intelligence to slip in behind the Royals defense. She then controlled the pass and went for power as she fired a shot that flew past the Royals goalkeeper off the crossbar, down and into the net for 2-0. The pair of goals brings Huerta’s tally to five on the season. The second goal was vital as it proved to be the winner and give the Dash a much-needed cushion to avoid losing three straight games. The win leaves the Dash in seventh place only a point behind the Washington Spirit in sixth. The Houston Dash are next in action when they take on the North Carolina Courage on Tuesday.  

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The third and final player of the week is Casey Short a defender who plays for the Chicago Red Stars. On Wednesday, September 11, Short scored the game winning goal for her side in dramatic fashion against the Orlando Pride. Her goal came in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give the Red Stars all three points in the competition. On top of that, the Red Stars played the remaining 30 minutes of the competition with only ten players after Katie Johnson was issued a second yellow. Short was involved in the initial attack that won the game as her first shot attempt was blocked. The ball was then redistributed to Sam Kerr on the right wing who floated a ball in which was to be the last action of the game. Short showed determination as she came from no where to rise above her marker and power a header through the Pride goalkeeper. The header which was close to Orlando Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris was too powerful as it skipped off her gloves into the back of the net for the winner. The goal which was only the defender’s second of the season, but was a monumental one as it brought the third-placed Red Stars within one point of second place. The Red Stars would go on to win their next matchup against Sky Blue FC handily by a score of 3-0. That win is the third in a row for the Red Stars who now sit in second place behind the North Carolina Courage. The Chicago Red Stars are next in action against the Washington Spirit on Saturday, September 21.

NWSL coverage continues on YAHOO! Sports and ESPN2.   

Photo Courtesy of Lorie Shaull

2019 WNBA Playoffs: Chicago Sky vs Las Vegas Aces Preview

After an exciting first round on Wednesday, the WNBA playoffs are back. The second round is set to begin as the Los Angeles Sparks host the Seattle Storm. Then, the Las Vegas Aces host the Chicago Sky.

Like the first round, the second round is single elimination. If the fourth seed Aces win this game, they advance to the Semifinals to play the Washington Mystics. Or, if the fifth seed Sky wins, they will have to wait on the first game today between the Storm and the Sparks to decide their opponent since it is all based on seeding each round.

The Mystics and the Connecticut Sun earned a double-bye after becoming the top two seeds of the league.

The Sky advanced to the second round after a 29-point win over the Pheonix Mercury. Diamond DeShields led the Sky as she finished the game with 25 points. She was one of five players to score in double-figures as starters Stefanie Dolson and Astou Ndour scored 16 points each and Allie Quigley had 15. Cheyenne Parker had 11 points off the bench.

The Sky beat the Mercury as Phoenix dealt with injuries. Their guard Diana Taurasi missed the game due to a hamstring injury. She missed this game and only played six games all season. Then, the Mercury lost another critical player, as Brittney Griner left the game after knocking knees with Quigley in the second quarter. She would return to the game but she was limited in her minutes. The Mercury battled injuries while the Sky played their game. Now, they face a tough opponent in the Aces.

The Aces are a team to watch in the playoffs. They landed at the fourth seed after going 21-13 in the regular season.

Unlike the Sky, the Aces have not played in a week. The Aces received a first-round bye. In the WNBA playoffs, the third and fourth seed receive first-round byes and wait for opponents until the second round. With the Sky’s win, the Aces have their second-round opponent.

In the regular season, the Aces won the season series 2-1. Their first win was a 90-82 win in July and the other in August.

Photo by Lorie Shaull

In their wins, Aces star A’Ja Wilson played in both games. When the Aces lost, Wilson was battling an injury. So, Wilson who is averaging 16.5 points per game, will be a factor in whether the Aces advance or not.

For the Aces, their key players in Liz Cambage who leads the team with 8.2 rebounds per game, Kayla McBride and Wilson have a total of three playoff games combined. They are the team of youth and talent that are inexperienced, but that nativity can play in their favor.

The Sky are riding high off their win in the first round. DeShields played well, and they won by 27-points. Their offense ran smoothly in that game, and if they do the same in this game, there have a good chance at winning.

The Aces and Sky game should be a good one. The Aces barely nudged out the Sky for the higher seed and home court advantage. The Sky could have some revenge tonight and have this game show who is truly the better team. This will be a tight close game, possibly the best playoff game so far in 2019.

You can watch this game today at 5 pm ET on ESPN 2 after the Storm vs Sparks game.

Photo Courtesy of Susan Lesch

2019 WNBA Playoffs: Los Angeles Sparks vs Seattle Storm Preview

The second round of the WNBA Playoffs start today with a single elimination game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Seattle Storm. The Sparks earned the third seed giving them a first round bye while the sixth seeded Storm had to defeat the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday. The Storm were in control the whole game against the Lynx winning 84-74. But today’s matchup flips the script for the Storm who come into this game as the underdog.

Not only is Seattle the lower seed, but they lost the regular season series to L.A. (3-1) and their most recent matchup, just ten days ago, saw L.A. win 102-68. In that game, Candace Parker had 20 points accompanied with nine rebounds for the Sparks alongside her teammate, Nneka Ogwumike who had a double-double with 14 points and ten rebounds. The Sparks have won three straight games and are tied with the Connecticut Sun for the best home record in the WNBA with a record of 15-2.

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The Storm will have their hands full when they walk into the Spark’s home court later today, but they are hoping their players can step up like they did last game against the Lynx. Seattle’s leading scorer, Natasha Howard, was limited to just two points on Wednesday and would typically be cause for concern, however they had other players shooting lights out on the court. Jordin Canada had a career-high 26 points. She has the task of filling the role of Sue Bird, who is out with injury, and Canada will need another career-best night to help the Storm advance. Jewell Lloyd also carried some of the offensive load putting up 22 points.

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The lone win for the Storm over the Sparks had Parker and N. Ogwumike combined for only 12 points while Howard and Lloyd combined for 43 points. Shutting down Parker and N. Ogwumike would be the easy answer to saying how the Storm could pull out the win today, but denying two former MVPs twice in a season seems a bit out of reach.

The game cannot be talked about purely with offense. The Storm have this year’s Defensive Player of the Year in Howard and the Sparks have the 2017 and 2018 Defensive Player of the Year in Alana Beard. Who may very well find themselves guarding one another throughout the game, but also called upon to take on the other offensive powers on the opposing teams.

Regardless of who is guarding who be ready for an aggressive back and forth game. The Sparks have the advantage in this game to advance to the next round, but if the Storm can recreate their June 21 game against the Sparks they may just come away with the upset.

You can match this game today at 3 pm ET on ESPN 2.

Photo Courtesy of Lorie Shaull

2019 WNBA Playoffs: Minnesota Lynx vs Seattle Storm Preview

The second WNBA Postseason matchup showcases the Minnesota Lynx and the Seattle Storm. This is a single elimination game, meaning win or go home tonight.

On paper this will be a tight game. Seattle is the sixth seed and Minnesota is the seventh seed, both have 18-16 overall records with 7-10 road records and 11-6 home records. For tonight’s contest the Storm will be hosting the Lynx with the Storm winning both of their home games against the Lynx this season and a 3-1 overall series lead.

These two teams are the most recent WNBA Champions, Minnesota in 2017 and Seattle in 2018. However, both of these teams are missing key pieces from their championship wins. The Lynx are without Maya Moore, who decided to sit out the 2019 WNBA season and Lindsay Whalen who has retired from professional basketball. On the other side, the Storm are without Breanna Stewart, 2018 MVP, and Sue Bird, both due to injury. But these teams have dealt with that all year and will not use missing players as an excuse in the postseason.

Instead they will be relying on their other top players to carry each team into the second round. Minnesota still has veteran leader, Sylvia Fowles, who has 13.6 points per game with 8.9 rebounds per game. The Lynx has also seen heavy contribution from Odyssey Sims who is averaging 14.5 points per game along with 5.4 assists per game. But perhaps the most intriguing player to watch for Minnesota is possible Rookie of the Year, Napheesa Collier, who has stepped up this year notching 13.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

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For Seattle, they have All-Star and recently announced Defensive Player of the Year, Natasha Howard, who will be busy all game guarding Fowles. She also produces on the offensive side of the ball with 18.1 points per game. A player who has stepped up this season has been Jewell Lloyd. She gives the Storm an average of 12.3 points per game.

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The Storm do come into the game with the slight edge over the Lynx given their head-to-head record and the home court advantage. But the WNBA makes the first round interesting and throws away series records for a single elimination game.

You can watch this game at 10 pm ET on ESPN 2 which immediately follows the Phoenix Mercury vs Chicago Sky game.

Photo Courtesy of Lorie Shaull

2019 WNBA Playoffs: Phoenix Mercury vs Chicago Sky Preview

The 2019 WNBA Playoffs have officially begun! Today is the first day of what will be an exciting playoffs. The festivities start with a game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Chicago Sky.

The 2019 playoffs begin today (Sept.11) and will potentially go on until Oct.10. Today’s games will be single elimination, which means either the Sky or Mercury will go home, and the later game, between the Storm or Lynx will have one of them go home as well. So, this is a must-win situation for these four teams.

The first game of the playoffs is the matchup between the Mercury and Sky. The Sky are the fifth seed of the playoffs as they finished the regular season with a record of 20-14. The Mercury are the eighth seed as they finished the season 15-19.

In the regular season, the Sky won their season series against the Mercury 3-0. In their first matchup, they beat the Mercury 82-75 in Chicago. Then, in August, the Sky beat the Mercury 94-86. Their final matchup took place this month, as the Sky beat the Mercury in a blowout win. They beat them 105-78.

All-Star Diamond Deshields has had a standout year for the Sky as she led the team in scoring with 16.2 points. Deshields played well throughout the season and had help from other players such as Allie Quigley, who averaged 13.8 points and shot 39 percent from deep. If Chicago plays like they did in the regular season, there is a good chance that they advance to the next round. However, we cannot count out the Mercury.

While the Mercury lost their last four games in the season, they are still a threat. They are led by veteran players Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner, both of which were on the Mercury’s Championship team in 2014. Griner was the league leader in scoring with 20.7 points. Bonner wasn’t too far behind as she was fifth in scoring with 17.2 points. Even though Griner averaged 20 points in the Seattle series this season and Bonner averaged 19.3 points both will have to put up even more points in this game if the Mercury want to pull out the win.

  • The Phoenix Mercury are ready to go (Photo Courtesy of Lorie Shaull)

While the Mercury have dealt with injuries (such as Diana Taurasi, who is doubtful in this game), they are not a team to take lightly. If they play well, they can give the Sky a challenge.

The WNBA playoffs are already off to a good start. These two teams want to win and have what it takes to get to the next round and anything can happen in postseason.

Tip-off is set for 8:00 pm ET over on ESPN 2.

Photo Courtesy of Gage Skidmore

A Look at the Career of Lisa Leslie

When it comes to the WNBA, there are several players that impacted the league. Players such as Swin Cash, Becky Hammon, Sheryl Swoopes and others have played in the WNBA and had successful careers.

When it comes to WNBA greats, there is another player that comes to mind. A player who recently accomplished two great things, even after years of retirement. That player is former Los Angeles Sparks center, Lisa Leslie.

Leslie was a special player who like Swoopes and others, made an impact on the WNBA. She was the seventh pick of the league’s Initial Allocation phase of the inaugural WNBA draft in 1997. The Los Angeles Sparks selected Leslie, in a draft pool that consisted of players such as Rebecca Lobo, Teresa Weatherspoon and more. In her rookie season, Leslie averaged 15.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.4 steals.

In her first few years, Leslie helped the Sparks make the playoffs in five-straight seasons. Then, the Sparks won their first championship in 2001. Leslie and the Sparks kept their success going by winning another championship the following year.

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In those seasons, Leslie averaged 19.5 points and 9.6 rebounds, and 16.9 points and 10.4 rebounds respectively. Her RPG in 2002 (10.4) was a career-high that went along with a career-high in blocks with 2.9. Leslie played so well during this period that she won the MVP award in 2001.

After winning her second championship, Leslie played with the Sparks for six more years. Her final season was in 2009 when she averaged 15.4 points and 6.6 rebounds.

Throughout her career, Leslie had several accomplishments. She was a three-time MVP, a two-time Finals MVP, an eight-time WNBA All-Star and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. She also made several All-WNBA teams and was named one of the WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All Time in 2011. Leslie also became a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member in 2015. Now, she is accomplishing a few more things post her playing career.

Earlier this summer, Leslie became a head coach in the Big3 League. The Big3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz. Leslie joined the league as the head coach of the Triplets, one of the leagues newest teams. She became the second female head coach in the league, as Nancy Lieberman was the league’s first.

Leslie went on to become the Big3 Coach of the Year and led her team to a championship. Her and Lieberman have both won championships as the league recently finished its third season.

Shortly after winning the championship, there were reports that Leslie will receive a high honor. According to Arash Markazi of the Los Angeles Times, Lisa may receive a statue outside Staples Center. She would be the first female athlete to receive a statue outside of the legendary arena. She would join other greats such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal, who have statues outside of Staples Center. Leslie had an excellent career with the Sparks, and a statue is another way to honor her and her career.

Lisa Leslie accomplished so much in her career. She is one of the greatest players to play in the WNBA and has the accolades to back it up. With her accomplishments even after retirement, she continues to add to her legacy.