A’ja Wilson continues to climb the record books, and Ta’Niya Latson made the most of a rare opportunity. Catch up on all the Gamecocks in the WNBA.
Atlanta Dream (19-12)
Allisha Gray
31 games (31 starts), 32.9 mpg, 19.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.4 spg
vs Las Vegas (109-87 loss): 30 minutes*, 7 points, 2 assists, rebound
vs Phoenix (96-82 win): 29 minutes*, 20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, block
at Washington (79-74 loss): 38 minutes*, 26 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, steal, block
Madina Okot
30 games (2 starts), 9.0 mpg, 5.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 59.6 FG%
vs Las Vegas (109-87 loss): 7 minutes, 3 rebounds
vs Phoenix (96-82 win): 1 minute, no stats
at Washington (79-74 loss): 5 minutes, 4 points, block
Te-Hina Paopao
24 games (1 start), 12.5 mpg, 3.9 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 36.7 3P%
vs Las Vegas (109-87 loss): DNP – Right leg
vs Phoenix (96-82 win): DNP – Right leg
at Washington (79-74 loss): DNP – Right leg
Karl Smesko seems determined to get his starters killed. Gray, who got hit in the head twice and fell on her head another time, played 30 minutes against Las Vegas despite Atlanta trailing by 20 points for the entire second half. Gray also injured her ankle against Washington and came back in the game.
Meanwhile, Okot is no longer eligible for the league lead in field goal percentage (she would be third) because she barely plays anymore.
This week:
Monday, August 10 vs Toronto (8:00 ET, Peacock/NBCSN) (“Goggle Lish Night”)
Thursday, August 13 at Connecticut (7:00 ET, League Pass)
Sunday, August 16 vs Indiana (5:00 ET, ESPN)
Chicago Sky (12-20)
Kamilla Cardoso
31 games (31 starts), 26.5 mpg, 14.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.5 bpg
vs Phoenix (106-101 loss): 28 minutes*, 16 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, block
vs Los Angeles (95-88 win): 29 minutes*, 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
vs Indiana (90-86 loss): 26 minutes*, 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, steal, block
Cardoso had a rather quiet week, yet her averages went up across the board. That’s a testament to her growth as a player and how consistent she has become.
This week:
Monday, August 10 at Seattle (10:00 ET, USA)
Wednesday, August 12 at Golden State (10:00 ET, USA/CNBC)
Sunday, August 16 at Seattle (5:00 ET, League Pass)
Golden State Valkyries (23-9)
Laeticia Amihere
28 games, 11.2 mpg, 3.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.8 bpg
vs Toronto (92-81 win): 4 minutes, 3 rebounds, steal
at Dallas (94-76 win): 10 minutes, 1 point, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks
at Los Angeles (84-78 win): 12 minutes, 2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, assist
What Amihere does isn’t sexy (olay, some of the blocks are pretty nice), but she comes in every game, plays defense, and grabs some rebounds. It’s winning basketball.
This week:
Wednesday, August 12 vs Chicago (10:00 ET, USA/CNBC)
Indiana Fever (20-12)
Aliyah Boston
29 games (29 starts), 27.2 mpg, 16.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.2 bpg, 1.4 spg, 44.9 3PT%
vs Las Vegas (86-84/OT loss): 38 minutes*, 21 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, 2 blocks
at Chicago (90-86 win): 29 minutes*, 13 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, steal
Bree Hall (Developmental player)
2 games, 5.5 minutes, 2.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg
vs Las Vegas (86-84/OT loss): Inactive
at Chicago (90-86 win): Inactive
Tyasha Harris
27 games (4 starts), 14.2 mpg, 3.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 2.1 apg
vs Las Vegas (86-84/OT loss): 12 minutes, rebound
at Chicago (90-86 win): 3 minutes, assist
Raven Johnson
29 games, 11.9 mpg, 3.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.4 apg
vs Las Vegas (86-84/OT loss): DNP-CD
at Chicago (90-86 win): 9 minutes, 2 points, rebound, assist
Indiana choked away a devastating loss to Las Vegas, and then nearly choked away another game against Chicago. Boston was outstanding in both games, but mostly in the first half. Indiana seems to go away from her late.
Meanwhile, the Fever decided to roll with Harris instead of Johnson as the backup point guard. But Harris hasn’t been making much of an impact, so they turned to Johnson on Saturday, and she looked rusty.
This week:
Tuesday, August 11 vs New York (7:30 ET, ESPN)
Friday, August 14 vs Dallas (7:30 ET, Ion/League Pass)
Sunday, August 16 at Atlanta (5:00 ET, ESPN)
Las Vegas Aces (22-11)
Ta’Niya Latson (Developmental player)
3 games, 9.9 mpg, 8.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 63.6 FG%, 50.0 3PT% (with Las Vegas)
10 games, 5.0 mpg, 1.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.3 apg (with Los Angeles)
at Atlanta (109-87 win): 2 minutes, 2 points
at Indiana (86-84/OT win): DNP-CD
at Minnesota (98-87 loss): Inactive
at New York (111-71 loss): 24 minutes, 20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, steal
A’ja Wilson
30 games (30 starts), 32.0 mpg, 26.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.0 bpg, 1.5 spg, 42.9 3PT%
at Atlanta (109-87 win): 30 minutes*, 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks
at Indiana (86-84/OT win): 37 minutes*, 26 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, steal
at Minnesota (98-87 loss): 33 minutes*, 16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, assist, steal
at New York (111-71 loss): DNP – Rest
Wilson got to cruise in the blowout against Atlanta, netting a plus-38 plus/minus, and then had a monster game against Indiana. She dominated the final minutes of regulation and overtime, including the steal from Caitlin Clark to set up Chelsea Gray’s game-winner.
During the week, Wilson moved into sixth place on the WNBA’s career blocks list, 11th on the defensive rebounds list, and 12th on the all-time scoring list.
Las Vegas played five games in eight days, including less than 24 hours between the tipoffs of the last two games. Fatigue was already starting to show against Minnesota, and with a cross-country flight before another game on Tuesday, Becky Hammon rested her starters.
That gave Ta’Niya Latson a chance to play heavy minutes for the first time, and she used the opportunity to prove she belongs in the WNBA.
Latson scored a team and career-high 20 points, nearly equaling the 22 points she had scored in the rest of the season. She got to the rim and drew fouls, making 7-8 free throws (the rest of the team went 4-6).
This week:
Tuesday, August 11 vs Washington (10:00 ET, League Pass)
Thursday, August 13 vs Washington (10:00 ET, Amazon Prime)
Saturday, August 15 vs Minnesota (8:00 ET, CBS)
Portland Fire (13-19)
Sania Feagin (Developmental Player)
3 games, 3.4 mpg, 0.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.7 apg (with Los Angeles)
Portland announced on July 9 that Feagin tore her left ACL and will miss the remainder of the season. She had successful surgery on July 22.
Seattle Storm (6-28)
Zia Cooke
34 games, 14.6 mpg, 7.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.9 apg
at New York (95-83 loss): 8 minutes, 4 points
at New York (92-86 loss): 13 minutes, 4 points, 2 rebounds, assist, steal
at Portland (100-93 loss): 11 minutes, 7 points, rebound, assist
Last week, the Storm became the first team eliminated from the playoffs. Cooke and Seattle continue to plug along and try to stay competitive.
This week:
Monday, August 10 vs Chicago (10:00 ET, USA)
Friday, August 14 vs Portland (10:00 ET, Ion/League Pass)
Sunday, August 16 vs Chicago (5:00 ET, League Pass)