WNBA Player News

Bueckers began the game intentionally playmaking to get backcourt partner Arike Ogunbowale more open shots after Ogunbowale struggled to make shots on Monday night against the Storm. She assisted on seven total treys including five made by Ogunbowale. Bueckers’ shooting, however, was a different story. Her six first-half shots just didn’t go down as she started the game 1-for-6 from the field. But Bueckers got more aggressive in the second half on drives to the basket and took advantage of Minnesota’s physical defense. She got to the line three times in the third and put a third of her total points on the board as a result. Bueckers reached double-digit scoring with 6:31 left in the fourth when she made a 27-foot smooth three-pointer that got the Wings within seven points. Her 10th assist came with 39 seconds left in regulation when she found Ogunbowale for a wide open three to drive the Lynx lead down to two.

Barker’s minutes were impactful even if they were limited. Just like during her college years at Alabama, she proved herself to have an exceptional spacial awareness, knowing exactly where and when to cut and move without the basketball. Kelsey Plum found Barker on one of these backdoor cuts as Barker gave the Sparks 10 minutes of less stagnant offense whenever she was on the floor. Could Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts have gone with Barker in the overtime period rather than Oddessey Sims ? That’s just one of many questions that remains from how LA finished that game.

With Veronica Burton and Julie Vanloo struggling to score the basketball for the Valkyries, head coach Natalie Nakase put the ball in Carla Leite’s hands. She scored 10 of her 15 points in the second half including an incredibly clutch drive and layup right at the basket to tie the game in the fourth quarter with 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter. There’s something about the Sparks for Leite. In two games against Los Angeles, Leite has been at her most effective, playing the most minutes and scoring the most points she has in the two games against the Sparks.

With the Sparks guarding the perimeter to begin, the inside pick and roll at the rim was open for Valkyries and Veronica Burton found Fágbénlé multiple times. Fágbénlé pulled down four offensive rebounds in addition to going to the line three separate times in the third quarter. Like Thornton, Fágbénlé thrived creating more opportunities for her team on effort plays. When she slipped to the basket, she made sure to activate her first quick step in order to put pressure on defenses. Fágbénlé was protecting the rim at a high level, blocking four different Sparks players including Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Rickea Jackson and Azurá Stevens in the process.

Four different Sparks players found Hamby streaking down the floor in transition for scores. Kelsey Plum, Julie Allemand, Sarah Ashlee Barker and Azurá Stevens all combined to find Hamby for 10 of the Sparks total 25 fast break points. Hamby once again dished out multiple assists bringing her season average to 3.7 per game, the highest ever in her career. Like Plum in the overtime period, Hamby struggled to score the basketball. She took three really difficult and contested layups instead of looking to spray the basketball out. What made playmaking more challenging in that overtime period was just how stagnant the Los Angeles offense got. Hamby’s teammates needed to move off the ball to force the Golden State defense out of position.

While Thornton missed a lot of shots on Monday night, she made plays when it mattered for Golden State, which has been her calling card during her entire career in the WNBA. When Golden State was down three points with 4:41 to go in the fourth quarter, she flew in for the rebound and then scored the putback, completely out working Dearica Hamby to get into proper position to get the ball and bring her team within a point. Then in the overtime period, Thornton hit two key shots that sealed the game for the Valkyries. She hit a driving hook shot again passing Hamby and then hit her second three-pointer on the left wing in rhythm to put Golden State up 6 points with 37.9 second left in overtime.

Plum began the game shooting the ball at an efficient clip while balancing her playmaking duties. In the first half she shot 4-for-6 from the field while dishing out four assists, half of which were lobs in transition to Dearica Hamby while the other two were plays Plum made in the quarter court, finding teammates when they had openings on the floor. But in the second half, however, Plum’s efficient shot making went down only making two of her nine second half field goals alongside three more assists. The Sparks’ leading scorer had some clutch moments down the stretch, hitting a step-back three with 37.8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Sparks a 78-76 lead. In the overtime period, however, Plum struggled to find open teammates and instead took ill-advised difficult shots and only made one of her five attempts.

Salaün propelled the Valkyries in an overtime back-and-fourth game against their in-state rivals the Sparks with her difficult to guard step back three in conjunction with her high release point. While Salaün scored 17 of her total 21 points in the first three quarters, she made hustle plays vital to the Valkyries winning the game in both the fourth quarter and overtime period. She drew a foul with 47.5 seconds left in regulation and made both of her free throws to give Golden State their first lead since six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Later in the overtime period, Salaün scored on an offensive rebound putback off a long three-point miss from Temi Fágbénlé, which put up Golden State by 3 points with 2:03 remaining in overtime.

Cecilia Zandalasini, who was in the Valkyries’ starting lineup for the team’s last two games, has returned to Italy to begin preparations for FIBA Women’s EuroBasket, which begins next weekend. She’ll be replaced in the starting lineup by Vanloo, whose presence frees up Burton to spend more time off the ball. The other four starters are unchanged as Golden State looks to build on Saturday’s blowout win over the Aces.

Tuesday’s game will be the fifth Clark has missed with a strained left quad. However, she appears to be closing in on a return, with the point guard participating in portions of Monday’s practice. After Tuesday, Indiana will be off until Saturday when the reigning WNBA champion Liberty visits. Sydney Colson has replaced Clark in the starting lineup and should continue to do so, but backup Aari McDonald has been more productive off the bench since being signed to a hardship contract.

Hayes will miss a second straight game after reinjuring her nose during Golden State’s June 1 loss to the Lynx. Cecilia Zandalasini replaced her in the starting lineup and has played well, most recently scoring 18 points and hitting three three-pointers in Saturday’s rout of the Aces. However, with Zandalasini headed to EuroBasket to represent Italy, Stephanie Talbot is Hayes’ most likely replacement in the starting lineup.