South Carolina women's basketball in the WNBA - Week 1

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The first full week of the WNBA season is in the books and there have been a few surprises. A’ja Wilson is a defensive specialist and the Wings and Fever have winning records.

Kaela Davis

What a week for Kaela Davis. On Wednesday before the season began, Davis was waived by Chicago. On Friday afternoon, just hours before Chicago’s season-opener, the Sky resigned Davis to a hardship contract (Davis didn’t even show up on the league transaction list until the next day). She played 10 minutes that night against Los Angeles but was released on May 9, before Chicago’s next game. Davis was out of work for less than a week and was signed to another hardship contract by Seattle on Friday. 

Chicago and Seattle play Wednesday night in the Kaela Davis Classic, although she may be on yet another team by then.

Last week:

Chicago vs Los Angeles (98-91 OT loss): 10 minutes, rebound, assist

Seattle vs Phoenix (69-64 loss): DNP – Coach’s Decision

Upcoming:

Wednesday vs Chicago (10:00 ET, Facebook)

Friday vs Los Angeles (10:00 pm ET)

Dallas Wings (2-1)

Allisha Gray (3 games, 3 starts, 34.0 mpg, 14.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.7 spg, 1.3 apg, 1.3 bpg)

Gray is doing what she always does: stuffing the box score and making everyone around her better.

Last week:

vs Atlanta (66-59 loss): 33 minutes*, 12 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks

at Washington (94-86 win): 32 minutes*, 21 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals

at New York (81-71 win): 37 minutes*, 11 points, 3 rebounds

Tyasha Harris (2 games, 1 start, 19.0 mpg, 4.0 ppg, 5.5 apg, 1.0 rpg)

Three years in and the Wings still can’t figure out what they want to do with Ty Harris…

Last week:

vs Atlanta (66-59 loss): 9 minutes*, 2 points, 1 assist

at Washington (94-86 win): 28 minutes, 6 points, 10 assists, 1 turnover

at New York (81-71 win): DNP – Right ankle injury

Upcoming:

Tuesday vs Washington (8:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)

Thursday at Phoenix (10:00 ET)

Saturday vs Minnesota (8:00 ET)

Indiana Fever (2-3)

Alaina Coates (1 game, 8.0 mpg, 2.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg)

Coates got back stateside in time for Indiana’s game at New York but did not play. She made her debut Sunday and scored off a pass from Destanni Henderson.

Last week:

at Washington (84-70 loss): DNP – Overseas

vs Los Angeles (87-77 loss): DNP – Overseas

vs Minnesota (82-76 win): DNP – Overseas

at New York (92-86 win): DNP – Return to competition reconditioning

vs Atlanta (85-79 win): 8 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds

Destanni Henderson (5 games, 3 starts, 17.6 mpg, 7.2 ppg, 3.4 apg, 57.1 3P%)

After starting the first three games of the season, Henderson was moved to the bench when veteran Daniell Robinson returned. Henderson’s playing time and production decreased After an impressive start to her career, but she is 4-7 from three this season.

Last week:

at Washington (84-70 loss): 17 minutes*, 4 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds

vs Los Angeles (87-77 loss): 30 minutes*, 19 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 

vs Minnesota (82-76 win): 19 minutes*, 8 points, 5 assists

at New York (92-86 win): 9 minutes, 2 points, assist

vs Atlanta (85-79 win): 12 minutes, 3 points, 3 assists

Tiffany Mitchell (4 games, 3 starts, 19.8 mpg, 4.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg)

Mitchell has struggled to find her role for the rebuilt Fever. Not only is her production down, but Mitchell has only attempted one free throw this season. In the past, she could always be counted on to manufacture some points at the line. 

Last week:

at Washington (84-70 loss): 18 minutes*, 7 points, rebound, assist

vs Los Angeles (87-77 loss): 26 minutes*, 3 points, 2 steals

vs Minnesota (82-76 win): 22 minutes*, 7 points, 3 rebounds

at New York (92-86 win):

vs Atlanta (85-79 win): DNP – Personal reasons

Upcoming:

Tuesday vs Atlanta (7:00 ET, Facebook)

Friday at Connecticut (7:00 ET, Facebook)

Sunday vs Connecticut (2:00 ET, ESPN3)

Las Vegas Aces (3-1)

A’ja Wilson (4 games, 4 starts, 30.8 mpg, 15.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 3.8 bpg, 2.0 apg)

The Aces’ offense no longer revolves around Wilson, so her scoring is down. But her defense is better than ever and Las Vegas’ balanced offense looks tough to beat.

Last week:

at Phoenix (106-88 win): 29 minutes*, 15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, block

vs Seattle (85-74 win): 35 minutes*, 20 points,15 rebounds, 5 blocks

at Washington (89-76 loss): 30 minutes*, 10 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 assists

at Atlanta (96-73 win): 29 minutes*, 15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks

Upcoming:

Tuesday vs Phoenix (10:00 ET, CBS Sports Network)

Thursday vs Minnesota (10:00 ET)

Saturday vs Phoenix (3:00 ET, ABC)

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