WNBA Player News

Sabally is once again listed as questionable on the Liberty’s pregame injury report. However, she has not appeared in a game since May 22, leaving the reigning champs without a legitimate backup center. Without Sabally, the Liberty have been able to go small when starting center Jonquel Jones needs a breather. Also, Isabelle Harrison’s playing time has increased with Sabally out of the lineup, but not enough to impact fantasy basketball.

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.

While Gray extended her streak of double-digit scoring efforts to 15 on Tuesday, she had her worst performance of the season. The loss was the first game this season in which the veteran guard shot less than 31 percent from the field, with Gray shooting 1-of-7 from two and 2-of-9 from beyond the arc. The good news for fantasy managers who have her rostered is that nights like Tuesday have not been the norm for Gray. It would be unsurprising if she bounced back with an excellent effort when the Dream hosts Minnesota on Friday.

While Howard had a difficult night shooting the basketball, she was one of Atlanta’s best performers. The Dream shot a season-low 23.4 percent from the field and 7-of-34 from three, with Howard responsible for five of the makes. For the second time this season, she’s scored 20 points or more in consecutive games, and Rhyne finished Tuesday’s defeat an assist shy of a complete stat line. Outside of fantasy leagues in which field goal percentage is a scoring category, this was a good night to have Howard rostered. She and the Dream will look to bounce back when they host the Lynx on Friday.

Bueckers’ streak of games with at least 20 points scored ended at three on Wednesday, but Dallas getting its third win in four outings was of greater importance. After recording one 20-point game in May, the rookie guard has four since returning from a concussion on June 11. Bueckers’ on-court chemistry with Arike Ogunbowale appears to improve by the team, factoring into Dallas’ improved play as a team. Next up for Paige will be her game against Caitlin Clark, since entering the WNBA, when the Wings host the Fever on Friday.

Li made her first start since being traded to Dallas, and Tuesday’s effort may keep her in that role for the foreseeable future. The 15 rebounds were a career-high for the 6-foot-7 center, who recorded her second double-double. While Li did not provide any defensive statistics, her presence was a key factor in why Dallas held Atlanta to 23.4 percent shooting from the field. NaLyssa Smith (four points, four rebounds, one steal and three blocks) was effective defensively, while Myisha Hines-Allen (8/4/1/1) hit two three-pointers off the bench. Wings coach Chris Koclanes will have some choices to make once Luisa Geiselsöder and Teaira McCowan return from EuroBasket, but it’s going to be difficult for him to decrease Li’s playing time.

Having scored at least nine points in three straight games, Charles made her second start of the season on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the offensive production was similar to the prior start, a scoreless effort in Dallas’ June 8 loss to the Lynx. However, while Charles did not score on Tuesday, she was productive as a rebounder and defender, as the Wings limited Atlanta to 23.4 percent shooting. Aziaha James, who was moved to the bench, picked up the slack offensively, finishing with 11 points, four rebounds, one assist and two blocked shots in 24 minutes. While neither player has done enough to merit being rostered in most fantasy leagues, James offers the higher ceiling of the two.