WNBA Player News

Amoore spent her four seasons at Virginia Tech before following head coach Kenny Brooks to Kentucky for his final college campaign. A two-time Associated Press All-American and an All-SEC selection in her lone season at Kentucky, the 5-foot-6 guard averaged 19.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 2.5 three-pointers per game. Amoore is one of three players in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history to record at least 2,300 points and 800 assists in a career, joining Sabrina Ionescu and Caitlin Clark. Holding three of the first six picks in Monday’s draft, the Mystics clearly needed backcourt help. The selections of Amoore and third-overall pick Sonia Citron undoubtedly help, and they’ll have the opportunity to earn rotation minutes immediately.

Allen made her season debut Sunday afternoon, serving as Bria Hartley’s backup. Due to the amount of time missed, Allen’s lack of production and playing time aren’t surprising. Hartley played 27 minutes on Sunday, finishing with six points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals. Given how busy the Sun will be next week, as they play four games, Allen’s playing time may not increase much as she works her way back from Achilles and hamstring injuries.

While Nelson-Ododa struggled with her shot on Sunday, the rebounding and defensive stats were there for the fourth-year center. Matching her season-high in rebounds, ONO also recorded a blocked shot for the first time since Connecticut’s May 30 win over the Fever. Nelson-Ododa does not offer much value as a scorer, but the rebounding and steals (eight over her last five appearances) make her worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues for managers needing those stats. Also, the Sun will play four games next week, starting with Indiana on Tuesday.

Charles was at her best during the first and third quarters of Sunday’s game, shooting 7-of-16 from the field in those frames. However, the veteran center missed both of her shot attempts during the fourth quarter as Chicago pulled away to hand Connecticut its eighth defeat of the season. Charles has scored at least 17 points in three consecutive games, shooting 46 percent from the field. The upcoming week will be a good one to have her rostered, as the Sun play four games, beginning with the Fever on Tuesday.

Mabrey finished the first half of Sunday’s game well, shooting 4-of-6 from the field. The Sun guard was responsible for 16 points and four three-pointers in the first half, but she cooled off considerably. Mabrey shot 1-of-6 from the field after halftime, missing all three of her shot attempts during the fourth quarter. While the final stat line was solid, Mabrey’s game was a tale of two halves. She’ll look to bounce back when the Sun visit Indiana on Tuesday.

Atkins had to exit Sunday’s game during the third quarter after taking a shot to the right ear from Sun guard Marina Mabrey, but she did return during the final frame. The veteran guard, who has served as the starting point guard after Courtney Vandersloot suffered a torn ACL on June 7, recorded a complete stat line against the Sun and boasts a slightly higher fantasy ceiling. However, Atkins has recorded at least five turnovers in two of Chicago’s last three games, including six in Sunday’s victory. While that isn’t a scoring category in most fantasy leagues, the Sky will need Atkins to be more consistently efficient in that regard.

With the Sky intent on bringing Van Lith along slowly, there have not been many situations for the rookie guard to flourish. That was not the case on Sunday, as HVL played 24 minutes off the bench and had the best game of her debut season thus far. Van Lith shot 4-of-6 from the field after halftime, spearheading an effort in which the Sky reserves outscored their Sun counterparts by a 36-2 margin. Courtney Vandersloot’s season-ending knee injury did not result in Van Lith’s minutes increasing immediately, but Sunday’s performance may get the rookie on the floor more.

To say Nurse needed a game like Sunday would be an understatement. After scoring 11 points in a May 31 win over the Wings, the veteran guard totaled 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting in Chicago’s three-game losing streak. Nurse was able to snap out of her slump in the state where she played her college basketball, shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the field. In addition to matching her season-high point total, the Sky guard finished one three shy of her previous high. With Courtney Vandersloot (knee) done for the season, Chicago will need a more consistent Nurse to rebound from their slow start.

Reese notched a personal milestone in Sunday’s Commissioner’s Cup victory, recording her first career triple-double. While she did not have the best day from the field, the second-year forward did her usual handiwork on the glass and hit a new career-high in assists. Add in the defensive stats, and this was an excellent day to have Reese rostered. The field-goal shooting can be a nuisance, but percentages aren’t scoring categories in standard ESPN leagues. Sunday’s performance was a friendly reminder of what Reese is capable of, especially with the Sky playing without injured point guard Courtney Vandersloot (knee).

After missing a few days of practice with an illness, Rivers was officially cleared to play in Sunday’s game. However, Jacy Sheldon received the starting nod, and the rookie wing’s name ultimately was not called by Sun head coach Rachid Meziane. Connecticut went with an eight-player rotation, and Rivers’ absence may have been a precautionary measure due to the missed practice time. Sheldon played 28 minutes, finishing with 12 points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals and two three-pointers, a solid stat line for fantasy managers who have her rostered. Connecticut visits Indiana on Tuesday in the team’s final Commissioner’s Cup game.

Due to multiple players leaving the team for international duty, the Valkyries have been busy from a transaction standpoint. Bibby is back with the team after being waived on May 14, providing added depth in the frontcourt. Fantasy managers can afford to hold off on adding her immediately, as the Valkyries will have Kayla Thornton and Monique Billings to call on.