Gamecocks in the WNBA: Week 6

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Last week another Gamecock was named an All-Star, Alaina Coates got a cup of coffee, and Aliyah Boston and A’ja Wilson had an epic matchup.

Atlanta Dream (7-8)

Laeticia Amihere (9 games, 9.0 mpg, 4.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.8 bpg)

• 109-86 loss at Washington: 17 minutes, 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, steal, block
• 94-89 win vs Washington: 14 minutes, 5 points, rebound
• 112-84 win vs Los Angeles: 12 minutes, 9 points, 3 rebounds

Allisha Gray (15 games, 15 starts, 32.9 mpg, 18.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.9 apg)

• 109-86 loss at Washington: 36 minutes*, 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
• 94-89 win vs Washington: 40 minutes*, 26 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
• 112-84 win vs Los Angeles: 32 minutes*, 15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

It was a big week for both former Gamecocks. Gray went off for 26 points and then was named an All-Star reserve. Amihere finally broke into the rotation and is putting up solid numbers. Altogether it was a good week for the Dream.

Upcoming games:

• Wednesday, July 5 at Los Angeles (10:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)
• Friday, July 7 at Chicago (8:00 ET, Ion)
• Sunday, July 9 at Chicago (8:00 ET, League Pass)

Connecticut Sun (12-5)

Tyasha Harris (17 games, 12.9 mpg, 4.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.9 apg)

• 89-81 loss vs New York: 25 minutes, 7 points, 2 rebounds, assist, steal
• 102-84 loss at Las Vegas: 15 minutes, 6 points, rebound

Still trying to regroup after the loss of Brionna Jones, it was a bad week for Connecticut to have to face the top teams in the league. Harris is playing more with Jones out, but not at her natural point guard.

Upcoming games:

• Thursday, July 6 vs Connecticut (7:00 ET, Amazon Prime Video)
• Sunday, July 9, vs Washington (3:00 ET, ESPN)

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Indiana Fever (5-11)

Aliyah Boston (16 games, 16 starts, 30.0 mpg, 14.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.4 bpg, 61.8 FG%)

• 88-80 loss at Las Vegas: 34 minutes*, 20 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals
• 85-63 loss at Phoenix: 27 minutes*, 6 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists
• 89-87 loss vs Chicago: 37 minutes*, 4 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists

Victaria Saxton (5 games, 1.6 mpg, 0.8 rpg)

• 88-80 loss at Las Vegas: DNP-CD
• 85-63 loss at Phoenix: 2 minutes, rebound
• 89-87 loss vs Chicago: DNP-CD

On Monday Indiana and Boston went toe-to-toe with the reigning champs (Las Vegas) and the reigning MVP (A’ja Wilson). It was an impressive progression for Boston, who went from being badly outplayed by Wilson in their first matchup, to holding her own, and then playing Wilson to an MVP-caliber draw in the third even while Wilson. Unfortunately, the Fever and Boston ran out of gas at the end of the long road trip and followed Monday’s impressive game with a couple of disappointing losses.

Saxton has more photobombs of Dawn Staley tweets (1) than points this season (0). 

Upcoming games:

• Wednesday, July 5 at Minnesota (8:00 ET, Fever Facebook)
• Friday, July 7 at Washington (7:00 ET, Ion)
• Sunday, July 9 vs Dallas (4:00 ET, ESPN3)

Las Vegas Aces (15-1)

A’ja Wilson (16 games, 16 starts, 29.9 mpg, 19.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.2 spg, 2.0 bpg)

• 88-80 win vs Indiana: 34 minutes*, 24 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks
• 98-81 win vs New York: 31 minutes*, 16 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
• 102-84 win vs Connecticut: 29 minutes*, 23 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists

It was an exceptional week for the Aces and Wilson, who emphatically reminded everyone who the best team and player are. They edged Indiana to set up games against their alleged top challengers. Las Vegas didn’t need a big game from Wilson to rout New York in a game that wasn’t as close as the 17-point final margin. Wilson did have a big game when Las Vegas avenged its only loss of the season with a blowout of Connecticut. In between games, Wilson signed a two-year extension with the Aces. Wilson signed for less than the max to help keep the Aces’ core intact.

Upcoming games:

• Wednesday, July 5 vs Dallas (10:00 ET, League Pass)
• Friday, July 7 at Dallas (8:00 ET, Ion)
• Sunday, July 9 at Minnesota (7:00 ET, League Pass)

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Los Angeles Sparks (7-10)

Zia Cooke (17 games, 2 starts, 12.9 mpg, 4.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.9 apg)

• 80-63 loss at Chicago: 13 minutes, 2 assists, steal
• 86-78 loss at Chicago: 19 minutes, 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks
• 112-84 loss at Atlanta: 22 minutes, 11 points, 2 assists, 2 steals

Destanni Henderson (7 games, 1 start, 18.1 mpg, 5.6 ppg, 2.4 apg)

• 80-63 loss at Chicago: 11 minutes, assist
• 86-78 loss at Chicago: 24 minutes, 6 points, 3 assists
• 112-84 loss at Atlanta: 36 minutes*, 2 points, 6 assists, rebound, steal

It was a tough week on the road for the Sparks. Adding injury to insult, starting point guard Jordin Canada was injured against Chicago. In her absence, Henderson got her first start of the season and Cooke got more playing time (and points), but the outcomes were disappointing.

Upcoming games:

• Wednesday, July 5 vs Atlanta (10:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)
• Sunday, July 9 at Phoenix (5:00 ET, League Pass)

Minnesota Lynx (7-9)

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

• 104-93 win vs Seattle: DNP- Left wrist injury
• 99-97 win at Seattle: DNP- Left wrist injury
• 86-76 win at Phoenix: DNP- Left wrist injury

Mitchell is out indefinitely with a left wrist sprain. Fortunately, she is not expected to need surgery, but Mitchell is out indefinitely.

Upcoming games:

• Wednesday, July 5 vs Indiana (8:00 ET, Fever Facebook)
• Friday, July 7 vs Phoenix (8:00 ET, Ion)
• Sunday, July 9 vs Las Vegas (7:00 ET, League Pass)

Free Agent

Alaina Coates (2 games, 3.0 mpg, 1.0 ppg, 0.5 spg)

Professional sports can be cruel. Coates was signed on June 27. She played two minutes that night but did not register a stat. Two days later Coates had two points and a steal in four minutes. After the game, she was released.

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