Gamecocks in the WNBA: Week 9

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Last week in the WNBA, Tiffany Mitchell returned from injury while A’ja Wilson threw down the MVP gauntlet.

Atlanta Dream (12-10)
Laeticia Amihere (11 games, 8.4 mpg, 3.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.7 bpg)
82-73 win vs Minnesota: DNP-CD
82-71 loss at Connecticut: DNP-CD
86-78 loss vs Connecticut: DNP-CD

Allisha Gray (22 games, 22 starts, 33.2 mpg, 17.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.1 spg)
82-73 win vs Minnesota: 29 minutes*, 12 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
82-71 loss at Connecticut: 35 minutes*, 18 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, block
86-78 loss vs Connecticut:34 minutes*, 17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Atlanta’s Prove It Week started off well, with a win over Minnesota, but then two losses to Connecticut showed the Dream is still a notch below the league’s elite. Gray continues to stuff the box score, but Amihere is now buried on the bench.

Upcoming games:
Tuesday, July 25 vs Phoenix (7:00 ET, ESPN3)
Thursday, July 27 at New York (7:00 ET, Amazon Prime Video)
Sunday, July 30 vs Washington (3:00 ET, ESPN3)

Connecticut Sun (17-6)
Tyasha Harris (23 games, 15.2 mpg, 4.9 ppg, 1.6 apg, 1.0 rpg, 44.7 3P%)
72-66 loss at Phoenix: 24 minutes, 9 points, 2 steals, assist
82-71 win vs Atlanta: 8 minutes, 3 points, 2 assists, rebound
86-78 win at Atlanta:16 minutes, 2 points, rebound, assist

Connecticut’s Prove It Week was the mirror image of Atlanta’s. It opened with a very disappointing loss at Phoenix, then concluded with two major wins over Atlanta. We all keep waiting on the Sun to falter, but it doesn’t happen. Harris had a quiet week stats-wise, but after years of losing in Dallas, she’s surely happy to have an important role on a winning team. 

Upcoming games:
Tuesday, July 25 at Dallas (8:00 ET, ESPN3)
Sunday, July 30 vs Minnesota (1:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)

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Indiana Fever (6-16)
Aliyah Boston (22 games, 22 starts, 30.5 mpg, 14.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.3 bpg, 60.2 FG%)
82-76 win at Washington: 28 minutes*, 11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
101-83 loss at New York: 22 minutes*, 6 points, 3 assists, 2 blocks, rebound, 4 fouls

Victaria Saxton (7 games, 1.9 mpg, 0.7 rpg)
82-76 win at Washington: DNP-CD
101-83 loss at New York: 3 minutes, rebound

Still no points for Saxton, a streak that is going to get interesting in a few more weeks. With NaLyssa Smith still sidelined, opponents are able to focus entirely on Boston. Her numbers are down as a result of the increased attention and foul trouble against New York. But against Washington Boston did help Indiana end its losing streak. Boston continues to lead the league in field goal percentage.

Upcoming games:
Tuesday, July 25 at Los Angeles (10:00 ET, NBA TV, Fever Facebook)
Thursday, July 27 at Los Angeles (3:30 ET, NBA TV, Fever Facebook)
Sunday, July 30 vs Seattle (4:00 ET, ESPN3)

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Las Vegas Aces (21-2)
A’ja Wilson (23 games, 23 starts, 30.6 mpg, 20.5 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 2.0 apg, 1.3 spg)
79-63 win at Seattle: 35 minutes*, 23 points, 15 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks
98-81 win at Minnesota: 34 minutes*, 35 points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, 14-17 shooting

Wilson must’ve read all those midseason awards articles that had Breanna Stewart as league MVP, or that list that put her as the second-best player. She poured in 23 points and 15 rebounds against Seattle; that was just the appetizer. Against Minnesota, Wilson became only the third player with 35 points and ten or more rebounds on at least 80% shooting. In the process Las Vegas moved to 21-2, the best start in league history. The Aces are on a historic pace and if they keep it up there will be quite an MVP debate.

Upcoming games:
Tuesday, July 25 at Chicago (7:00 ET, ESPN)
Sunday, July 30 vs Dallas (6:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)

Los Angeles Sparks (7-15)
Zia Cooke (22 games, 2 starts, 13.5 mpg, 4.4 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.0 apg)
73-70 loss at Minnesota: 4 minutes, no stats
98-84 loss at Dallas: 7 minutes, 2 points, rebound, assist

The Sparks’ skid continues, and Cooke has seen her minutes shrink again. The return of guards Lexia Brown and Layshia Clarendon has pushed Cooke to the edge of the rotation.

Upcoming games:
Tuesday, July 25 vs Indiana (10:00 ET, NBA TV, Fever Facebook)
Thursday, July 27 vs Indiana (3:30 ET, NBA TV, Fever Facebook)
Sunday, July 30 vs New York (4:00 ET, ESPN)

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Minnesota Lynx (10-13)
Tiffany Mitchell (16 games, 11 starts, 26.1 mpg, 9.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.1 apg)
82-73 loss at Atlanta: 17 minutes, 2 points, assist, steal
73-70 win vs Los Angeles: 11 minutes, 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
98-81 loss to Las Vegas: 19 minutes, 8 points, assist

Mitchell returned from her left wrist sprain after missing seven games. She’s now in a reserve role as the Lynx get healthier, but Mitchell is still an important part of the rotation.

Upcoming games:
Wednesday, July 26 vs Washington (8:00 ET, NBA TV)
Friday, July 28 at New York (8:00 ET, Ion)
Sunday, July 30 at Connecticut (1:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)

Free Agents
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.

Coates has not been able to catch on with another team.

Destanni Henderson (10 games, 1 start, 16.9 mpg, 5.0 ppg, 2.5 apg)

Los Angeles terminated Henderson’s contract on July 15 in order to activate injured Layshia Clarendon. Clarendon, a former All-Star, started the first six games of the season before suffering a foot injury, so the move wasn’t a shock. 

The Sparks at least have the courtesy to leave Henderson on their website instead of scrubbing her stats like Phoenix did with Coates. And Henderson proved she belongs in the league. If she doesn’t get picked up by anyone else this season, she at least ensured she’ll get a training camp invite next year.

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