WNBA Player News

After averaging just over nine minutes per game with the Sky last season, Turner may have a slightly larger role with the Fever. However, 21 of the 42 minutes she played during the preseason were logged on Saturday, and Indiana remains without veteran forward Damiris Dantas. Turner will likely compete with Dantas for rotation minutes off the bench, which limits the fantasy ceilings of both players. The Fever open their season on May 17 against the Sky.

Counting Tuesday, Diggins has scored 20 points or more in three straight and four of her last five games. The Storm point guard shot 66.7 percent from the field against the Fever and recorded a complete stat line, her third in as many games. Among Storm players, only Nneka Ogwumike is averaging more fantasy points per game in ESPN leagues than Diggins. She’s already rostered in all leagues, and it will take a significant offer to acquire Diggins, regardless of league format. Seattle will look to bounce back on Friday when Connecticut rolls into town.

On a night when Caitlin Clark shot 3-of-13 from the field, Hull stepped up to help compensate for the Fever star’s off night. In addition to shooting 60 percent from the field, the fourth-year guard hit double figures in rebounds for the first time as a pro. Add in the steals and three-pointers, and Tuesday was an excellent night to have Hull rostered in fantasy leagues. In her three games prior, Hull totaled 18 points and 12 rebounds. While nights like Tuesday have not been the norm, she’s played at least 29 minutes in 10 straight games. With DeWanna Bonner (personal) still away from the team, now would be a good time to roll the dice on Hull if she’s sitting on the waiver wire.

While Clark’s assist and steals numbers were solid in Tuesday’s victory, she continues to struggle from beyond the arc away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Missing all six of her attempts against the Storm, Clark is now 1-of-28 from three in road games this season. As a rookie, Caitlin shot 36.7 percent from three on the road and 32.3 percent in home games. Add in eight turnovers, and Tuesday was a night to forget for Clark outside of her team getting the victory. The good news is that Indiana’s road trip is finished, as they head home to host the Sparks on Thursday.

Having scored 20 points or more in three of her last five games, Mitchell was at her best on Tuesday. The Fever guard finished with season-highs in points and three-pointers, and the four assists were the most Kelsey’s recorded in a game since May 30 against Connecticut. Mitchell also moved up the WNBA’s all-time three-pointers list (regular season only), passing Kara Lawson to move into 12th place. And she’s now 22 away from Tamika Catchings’ franchise record for most regular-season triples in a career. Along with Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hill, Mitchell stepped up to help shoulder most of the scoring load for the Fever as they snapped a two-game losing streak.

On a night when Caitlin Clark’s road struggles continued, Boston stepped up with the most productive night of her WNBA career. Recording her second 30-point game, Tuesday’s victory was the first in which Boston surpassed that mark. Over her last two outings, the third-year forward/center has scored 57 points on 25-of-37 shooting from the field. Just as important as the points are the shot attempts. Before Sunday’s loss to the Aces, Boston had not attempted 18 shots or more in a game since May 24 against the Liberty. While Clark may receive the mainstream attention, the Fever are at their best offensively when there’s a concerted effort to get Boston the ball in spots where she’s most effective early and often. Tuesday night, Aliyah’s effectiveness opened things up for others, helping Indiana compensate for Clark’s limited scoring.

Stevens made her first eight shots which included four three pointers made. The Chicago Sky defense was slow to contest Stevens who stands tall at 6'6 with a 6'10 wingspan. Stevens was responsible for 54.2% of the Sparks’ total points in the first quarter. But once Steven’s hot shooting streak ended in the fourth quarter, she didn’t hit another three or score another point. The Sparks only scored 17 points to the Sky’s 30 in that final frame.

Without Napheesa Collier for the second straight game with a back injury, Smith had to step up and in the first half she did. Her Lynx teammates found her cutting to the basket for most of her scores. The Mystics defense lost sight of Smith on these cuts, keeping their attention glued to Lynx guards Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams. Smith hit 60% of her shots in the first half, but that changed in the second half where Smith was less efficient and her looks weren’t as easy. Shakira Austin was more keyed into Smith especially, contesting a lot of her jump shots.

Austin continues to go on a tear coming off her eastern conference player of the week honors. Austin made a bunch of difficult and acrobatic shots through multiple Lynx defenders in the first half. Austin was her most successful when she was guarded by less athletic and less lengthly post players in Jessica Shepard and Maria Kliundikova. The Lynx had trouble keeping up with Austin’s drives coming off closeouts. Austin read the defense well in the second half, drawing two and passing instead of trying to score through multiple Lynx defenders. Her final field goal, an offensive rebound putback in the fourth quarter, tied the game at 64 with 32 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Sky’s starting center was dominant against the Sparks’ front court out-muscling Los Angeles’ Azurá Stevens on the block and out running Dearica Hamby to the rim on pick-and-roll lob passes. Cardoso cut well in the quarter court and 80% of her made field goals were assisted mostly via Rachel Banham and Ariel Atkins. Tuesday night’s win over the Sparks was Cardoso’s final game before she jets off to Chile for the AmeriCup to compete for the Brazilian National team until the second week in July. In her absence expect more minutes from center Elizabeth Williams in addition to Michael Onyenwere when Sky head coach Tyler Marsh opts to play Angel Reese as a small ball center.

Jones shot just 30 percent from the field on Tuesday, but a solid night at the foul line boosted her point total. The Dream forward has scored in double figures in four straight and six of her last seven outings, with Atlanta’s June 15 win over the Mystics being the exception. Fellow frontcourt starter Brittney Griner had another difficult night, playing 17 minutes and finishing with two points, six rebounds and one blocked shot. While Jones has not played fewer than 22 minutes in any game this season, Griner has logged fewer than 20 on five occasions.