Gamecocks in the WNBA: Week 5

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Destanni Henderson had a career game, while All-Stars A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston battled it out again.

Atlanta Dream (5-7)

Laeticia Amihere (6 games, 6.3 mpg, 3.2 ppg, 1.0 bpg, 0.7 rpg)

85-73 loss vs Dallas: 9 minutes, 4 points, 2 blocks, 2 rebounds

110-80 loss at New York: 12 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, assist, block

Allisha Gray (12 games, 12 starts, 32.2 mpg, 17.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.8 apg)

85-73 loss vs Dallas: 29 minutes*, 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists

110-80 loss at New York: 30 minutes*, 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

At some point, Amihere has to break into the rotation, right? She has played almost exclusively in blowouts, but she has been remarkably productive in limited playing time. It might be time to find out if she can do it in meaningful minutes. It could be a big week for Gray, who is expected to be named to her first All-Star game when reserves are announced on Saturday.

Upcoming games:

Wednesday, June 28 at Washington (7:00 ET, NBA TV)

Friday, June 30 vs Washington (7:30 ET, Ion)

Sunday, July 2 vs Los Angeles (3:00 ET, ESPN3)

Connecticut Sun (12-3)

Tyasha Harris (15 games, 11.9 mpg, 3.9 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 1.0 apg)

85-79 win at Seattle: 5 minutes, block

89-68 win at Minnesota: 19 minutes, 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists

96-72 win vs Chicago: 11 minutes, 3 points, 2 assists

Last week the Sun lost center Brionna Jones to an Achilles injury. Harris won’t directly assume Jones’ minutes, but all of Connecticut’s bench players will have to take on additional responsibility, like Harris’ 19 minutes played at Minnesota.

Upcoming games:

Tuesday, June 27 vs New York (7:00 ET, NBA TV)

Saturday, July 1 at Las Vegas (3:00 ET, ABC)

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Indiana Fever (5-8)

Aliyah Boston (13 games, 13 starts, 29.5 mpg, 15.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.5 bpg, 65.1 FG%)

80-68 win at Seattle: 31 minutes*, 9 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks

101-88 loss at Las Vegas: 31 minutes*, 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, block

Victaria Saxton (4 games, 1.5 mpg, 0.8 rpg)

80-68 win at Seattle: 3 minutes, 2 rebounds

101-88 loss at Las Vegas: 1 minute, no stats

A’ja Wilson easily got the better of Boston in the first game between the two this season. She did so again in the second game, but Boston made significant, impressive strides in between. Boston no longer looked intimidated and multiple times beat Wilson one-on-one. The gap is still there, and Wilson still benefits from the Aces’ superior ball-movement. Indiana is really good at using screens to get opposing guards switched onto Boston in the post, and really bad at getting Boston the ball to take advantage of the mismatch. Round three of the Battle of the Goats is tonight in a rare Monday game.

Upcoming games:

Monday, June 26 at Las Vegas (10:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)

Thursday, June 29 at Phoenix (10:00 ET, NBA TV, Fever Facebook)

Sunday, July 2 vs Chicago (4:00 ET, ESPN3, Fever Facebook)

Las Vegas Aces (12-1)

A’ja Wilson (13 games, 13 starts, 29.6 mpg, 19.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.2 spg, 2.2 bpg)

99-79 win at Phoenix: 26 minutes*, 20 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks

101-88 win vs Indiana: 30 minutes*, 28 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks

If it’s possible for the reigning MVP to be overlooked, it is somehow happening to Wilson. Her stats are down slightly, Jackie Young leads the Aces in scoring, and Boston is grabbing headlines as the next great center. Make no mistake, Wilson is still the best player on the best team and everything the Aces do begins with her.

Upcoming games:

Monday, June 26 vs Indiana (10:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)

Thursday, June 29 vs New York (10:00 ET, Amazon Prime Video)

Saturday, July 1 vs Connecticut (3:00 ET, ABC)

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Los Angeles Sparks (7-7)

Zia Cooke (14 games, 2 starts, 11.8 mpg, 3.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.8 apg)

67-61 loss vs Minnesota: 4 minutes, turnover

76-74 win vs Dallas: 6 minutes, 2 points

93-83 win vs Dallas: 6 minutes, 3 points, assist

Destanni Henderson (4 games, 14.0 mpg, 7.8 ppg, 1.8 apg, 1.0 rpg)

67-61 loss vs Minnesota: 6 minutes, 2 points, steal

76-74 win vs Dallas: 26 minutes, 18 points, 2 steals, rebound, assist

93-83 win vs Dallas: 18 minutes, 9 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds

Henderson has made the most of her second chance. She scored a career-high 18 points in the first game against Dallas, helping to lead the Sparks back from a 17-point deficit. Henny’s success has led to fewer minutes for Cooke, however. Cooke isn’t getting the same kind of quality looks that she got earlier in the season. 

Upcoming games:

Wednesday, June 28 at Chicago (noon ET, NBA TV)

Friday, June 30 at Chicago (8:00 ET, Ion)

Sunday, July 2 at Atlanta (3:00 ET, ESPN3)

Minnesota Lynx (4-9)

Tiffany Mitchell (13 games, 11 starts, 28.4 mpg, 10.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.5 apg)

67-61 win at Los Angeles: 26 minutes*, 8 points, 5 steals, 4 rebounds, 2 assists

89-69 loss vs Connecticut: 19 minutes*, 6 points, 3 rebounds

Mitchell continues to be a reliable starter for the Lynx. She is the nominal starting point guard as Minnesota plays point guard by committee.

Upcoming games:

Tuesday, June 27 vs Seattle (8:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)

Thursday, June 29 at Seattle (10:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)

Saturday, July 1 at Phoenix (10:00 ET, NBA TV)

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