Allisha Gray did something that hadn’t been done since the WNBA’s first season, and Zia Cooke is playing her best basketball. Catch up on all the Gamecocks in the WNBA.
The WNBA now takes a roughly two-week break for the FIBA World Cup. Every team has played 40 games at this point. They will play four more games after the break, and then start the playoffs.
Atlanta Dream (26-14)
Allisha Gray
40 games (40 starts), 33.0 mpg, 19.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.3 spg
at Los Angeles (78-71 win): 33 minutes*, 20 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds
vs Portland (101-83 loss): 35 minutes*, 11 points, 3 assists, steal, block
vs Minnesota (89-81 win): 35 minutes*, 23 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists
Madina Okot
39 games (2 starts), 9.2 mpg, 5.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 57.6 FG%
at Los Angeles (78-71 win): 8 minutes, 2 points, rebound, steal
vs Portland (101-83 loss): 7 minutes, 2 points, rebound
vs Minnesota (89-81 win): 1 minute, no stats
Te-Hina Paopao
31 games (1 start), 11.2 mpg, 3.6 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 35.6 3P%
at Los Angeles (78-71 win): 5 minutes, assist, steal, 0-1 3PT
vs Portland (101-83 loss): 10 minutes, 4 points, 2 assists, rebound, 0-0 3PT
vs Minnesota (89-81 win): 4 minutes, assist, 0-1 3PT
In the win over Minnesota, Gray became the 25th player in WNBA history with 500 three-pointers. She also became the first player since 1997, and the second player ever, with at least 10 rebounds, six threes, and three steals in a single game.
Atlanta added veteran forward DeWanna Bonner last week, and she made her debut against Minnesota. It’s too early to know how Okot and Paopao’s roles will change with Bonner in the fold.
Big picture, the bad loss to Portland dropped Atlanta into a tie with Indiana in the standings. Atlanta has the tiebreaker, but a tiebreaker and one-game advantage would have been nicer.
This week:
Atlanta’s next game is on September 17 against Connecticut.
Chicago Sky (15-25)
Kamilla Cardoso
39 games (39 starts), 26.7 mpg, 14.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.5 bpg, 54.8 FG%
at Connecticut (87-81 loss): 29 minutes*, 24 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks, assist
at New York (85-66 loss): 20 minutes*, 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
As usual, I praised Chicago last week, so the Sky wasted a huge game from Cardoso in a bad loss to Connecticut, and then barely showed up against New York.
This week:
Chicago’s next game is on September 17 against Washington.
Golden State Valkyries (29-11)
Laeticia Amihere
35 games (1 start), 11.5 mpg, 3.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.7 bpg
at Minnesota (80-66 win): 5 minutes, 2 rebounds, block
at Connecticut (89-64 win): 18 minutes, 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, assist
at New York (79-60 win): 2 minutes, no stats
at Portland (86-69 win): 22 minutes, 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, assist
Amihere’s playing time fluctuated last week, but it’s hard to argue with the results. Golden State went 4-0 and is now just two games behind Minnesota for the top seed in the playoffs. It’s still a long shot, but just a week ago it looked impossible.
This week:
Golden State’s next game is on September 18 against Portland.
Indiana Fever (26-14)
Aliyah Boston
36 games (36 starts), 27.6 mpg, 16.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.3 bpg, 1.5 spg, 40.8 3PT%
vs Connecticut (111-91 win): 25 minutes*, 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks
Bree Hall (Developmental player)
4 games, 3.4 minutes, 2.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg
vs Connecticut (111-91 win): 2 minutes, 0-2 FTs
Tyasha Harris
35 games (4 starts), 14.0 mpg, 4.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 2.0 apg
vs Connecticut (111-91 win): 13 minutes, 6 points, 2 assists, rebound
Raven Johnson
35 games, 10.3 mpg, 3.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.2 apg
vs Connecticut (111-91 win): 2 minutes, 2 points, steal
Indiana got to coast into the World Cup break with an easy win over Connecticut. Boston now heads to Germany for her first World Cup.
This week:
Indiana’s next game is on September 18 at Toronto.
Las Vegas Aces (27-13)
Ta’Niya Latson (Developmental player)
7 games, 7.1 mpg, 4.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.6 apg (with Las Vegas)
10 games, 5.0 mpg, 1.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.3 apg (with Los Angeles)
vs Toronto (93-73 win): Inactive
A’ja Wilson
37 games (37 starts), 32.0 mpg, 26.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.0 bpg, 1.4 spg
vs Toronto (93-73 win): 30 minutes*, 27 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, steal
Like Indiana, Las Vegas got to coast into the break with an easy game. Wilson put up her normal stat line. Latson wasn’t activated because Dana Evans, who plays essentially the same role, returned from injury.
This week:
Las Vegas’ next game is on September 17 at Seattle.
Portland Fire (16-24)
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 (8-32)
Zia Cooke
40 games, 15.1 mpg, 7.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.1 apg
vs Toronto (90-78 win): 15 minutes, 10 points, 5 assists, 2 steals, rebound
vs Los Angeles (90-74 loss): 26 minutes, 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, block
Cooke probably wishes the break wasn’t coming. She played two strong games last week, arguably one of the best stretches of her career. Cooke might be playing for a contract for next season, and she’s making a solid case.
This week:
Seattle’s next game is on September 17 against Las Vegas.