Get caught up on all the Gamecocks in the WNBA as we\u2019ve reached the final week of the regular season, including A\u2019ja Wilson\u2019s MVP statement.<\/p>\n
The Las Vegas Aces launched their MVP campaign for Wilson last week, including an \u201cMIVP\u201d logo that plays off the roman numeral for four (It works well graphically, but not in print). On Sunday, Wilson\u2019s teammates wore shirts with the logo.<\/p>\n
Coach Becky Hammon and her son Sam have also been a part of the push. Hammon added a pink wig to the shirt, a reference to the first edition of A\u2019Ones and Wilson\u2019s pink hair for media day. Sam wore a pink A\u2019One hoodie and shoes, and dyed his hair pink for the game (he initially wanted to wear Becky\u2019s wig).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wilson didn\u2019t wear the shirt, but she still did her part by setting the WNBA record with her 13th 30-point game of the season. It was also her 10th 30-point double-double of the season. Nobody else in the league has more than one.<\/p>\n
Hammon had to get creative to explain how well Wilson is playing, saying she\u2019s running out of adjectives.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s the only person in the gym, in the world, that is both lion and gazelle,\u201d she said. \u201cShe\u2019s both. She can dance around you, or she can eat you up physically and dominate you. There\u2019s not very many players who can be Shaq and Clyde the Glide. She\u2019s just kind of an anomaly in the way she can impact a game, and the way she does it on both ends.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilson leads the league in scoring, blocks, and efficiency, is second in rebounds, and third in steals. She is also shooting 38% from three.<\/p>\n
Atlanta Dream (28-14)
Allisha Gray
40 games (40 starts), 35.3 mpg, 18.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.1 spg
Gray sat out two games with a sore left knee that she hurt late in the game against Connecticut. She was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for August, becoming the first guard in league history to win the award three times in one season.<\/p>\n
Last week:
at Connecticut (93-76 win): 37 minutes*, 17 points, 5 rebounds, assist
vs Los Angeles (86-75 win): DNP \u2013 Left Knee
vs Los Angeles (104-85 win): DNP \u2013 Left Knee<\/p>\n
Te-Hina Paopao
41 games (14 starts), 16.4 mpg, 5.8 ppg, 2.3 apg, 1.6 rpg, 40.7 3P%
With Gray out, Paopao stayed in Atlanta\u2019s starting lineup even though starting point guard Jordin Canada has returned from injury. It also appears that the Dream has finally realized you can play both Paopao and Canada in the same game instead of having one play 38 minutes while the other barely breaks a sweat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Last week:
at Connecticut (93-76 win): 20 minutes*, 3 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1-5 3PT
vs Los Angeles (86-75 win): 15 minutes*, 5 points, 2 steals, assist, rebound, block, 1-2 3PT
vs Los Angeles (104-85 win): 21 minutes*, 7 points, 4 assists, rebound, 1-3 3PT<\/p>\n
Upcoming games:
Monday, September 8 vs Connecticut (7:30 ET, League Pass)
Wednesday, September 10 at Connecticut (7:00 ET, League Pass)<\/p>\n
Chicago Sky (10-32)
Kamilla Cardoso
38 games (37 starts), 27.2 mpg, 13.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.1 bpg, 52.9 FG%
After Angel Reese trashed the Sky publicly (and missed the next two games due to a league suspension and half-game team suspension), it has been suggested that Chicago should get rid of Reese and build around Cardoso. I\u2019m not going that far, but this season Cardoso has proven that she can be the centerpiece of a WNBA team. She even scored on a dribble drive past A\u2019ja Wilson on Sunday and tied her career-high with 15 rebounds.<\/p>\n
Last week:
vs Connecticut (88-64 win): 23 minutes*, 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists
at Indiana (97-77 loss): 33 minutes*, 18 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks
at Las Vegas (80-66 loss): 31 minutes*, 10 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, block<\/p>\n
Upcoming games:
Tuesday, September 9 at Las Vegas (10:00 ET, League Pass)
Thursday, September 11 vs New York (8:00 ET, NBA TV\/League Pass)<\/p>\n
Dallas Wings (9-34)
Tyasha Harris
5 games, 16.5 mpg, 4.6 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 2.6 apg, 45.5 3P%
Harris injured her left knee against Connecticut on May 27. Initially, there was optimism that it wasn\u2019t long-term, but unfortunately, Harris underwent season-ending surgery on June 10.<\/p>\n
Golden State Valkyries (23-19)
Laeticia Amihere
28 games, 13.6 mpg, 5.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.0 apg
Amihere\u2019s playing time continues to fluctuate, but she fills up the box score regardless of how long she plays and has helped Golden State become the first expansion team to make the playoffs in year one.<\/p>\n
Last week:
vs New York (66-58 win): DNP-CD
vs Dallas (84-80 win): 10 minutes, 5 rebounds, steal
vs Minnesota (78-72 loss): DNP-CD<\/p>\n
Upcoming games:
Tuesday, September 9 at Seattle (10:00 ET, League Pass)
Thursday, September 11 at Minnesota (8:00 ET, League Pass)<\/p>\n
Indiana Fever (23-20)
Aliyah Boston
43 games (43 starts), 30.2 mpg, 15.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.0 bpg, 1.2 spg, 53.8 FG%
Boston helped the Fever get a little bit of stability last week, and they finally clinched a playoff spot (after bringing back Bree Hall). The Fever is pushing Boston for All-WNBA. She is fifth in field goal percentage, sixth in rebounds, and 17th in scoring, which makes a good argument.<\/p>\n
Last week:
at Phoenix (85-79 loss): 36 minutes*, 11 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks, steal
vs Chicago (97-77 win): 19 minutes*, 11 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, steal
at Washington (94-65 win): 32 minutes*, 12 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, steal<\/p>\n
Bree Hall (first three games with Golden State)
4 games, 4.4 mpg, 0.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg
Hall had a busy week. She was waived by Golden State on Monday and then signed by Indiana on Thursday.\u00a0 Thanks to the blowout win over Washington on Sunday, Hall got to make her Fever debut.<\/p>\n
Last week:
vs Chicago (97-77 win): DNP-CD
at Washington (94-65 win): 5 minutes, rebound<\/p>\n
Upcoming games:
Tuesday, September 9 vs Minnesota (7:30 ET, ESPN)<\/p>\n