WNBA Player News

Sunday’s game will be the second Wilson has missed due to the league’s concussion protocols. Elizabeth Kitley started Friday’s comeback victory over the Wings, playing 18 minutes and accounting for two points, four rebounds and one assist. While Kitley may retain that role on Sunday, rookie Aaliyah Nye (five points, four rebounds, one steal and one three-pointer in 22 minutes) should once again play more minutes off the bench.

Jones, who last appeared in a game on June 19, was given a timeline of four to six weeks and is not expected to play again before the All-Star break. However, she did participate in half of Friday’s practice before focusing on individual work. Cloud, who missed Tuesday’s win over the Aces, was limited to individual work throughout the session. Due to Cloud’s absence, the Liberty slid Nyara Sabally into the starting lineup against Las Vegas, but she played 18 minutes to reserve Marine Johannès’ 24.

Harrison, who injured her right knee during the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to Seattle, did not play against the Aces on Tuesday. However, her full participation in Friday’s practice suggests a return to action isn’t far off. New York, which remains without the injured Jonquel Jones, hosts the Dream on Sunday afternoon. Due to the team’s limited depth, four of New York’s five starters played at least 32 minutes against Las Vegas.

Waived by the Aces on June 30, Mitchell has found a new home. She’s headed to Seattle, as the Storm are in dire need of improved bench production. The veteran guard appeared in 16 games for the Aces, averaging 3.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 13.1 minutes. Seattle is ranked 12th in bench scoring, with the team’s reserves contributing 15.7 points per game.

Young didn’t make her first shot until the second quarter, going 0-for-5 to start the game. She had a combined three looks in the second and third quarters, making a driving layup and scoring off a rebound putback. But when it was clutch time, and Young had a chance to win the game for the Aces, she struggled to convert late. Young missed two really good looks driving to the basket with 33 seconds and then 1 second left in regulation. Without A’ja Wilson in the game, however, Young did a superb job of getting on the glass and creating extra possessions for her teammates. Three of her seven boards were offensive as both she and Chelsea Gray represented the brunt of the Aces’ rebounding on Thursday night.

Evans has scored in double-digits in three straight games for the Aces. She did all of her work scoring the basketball in the first half, having no issues driving into the paint for an array of floaters and elevated jumpers. It’s questionable coaching that Evans (and Jewell Loyd) didn’t get a look down the stretch as the Aces really struggled putting points on the board in the final couple of minutes of regulation.

Iriafen didn’t have many opportunities to create for herself, but she flashed impressive footwork on the block in addition to her own face-up game. She had two offensive rebound putback scores. She was effective getting on the glass as both she and Shakira Austin tied for the most rebounds on the Mystics with eight a piece. Ever since Shakira Austin returned to the starting lineup on June 17 against the Chicago Sky, the amount of touches for the rookie have gone down. She has just 26 field-goal attempts over her last four games. Given how little she contributes in assists, steals, and blocks, there’s an argument Iriafen should head to fantasy benches for the time being.

Gray had her most efficient game since she scored 18 points on 12 shots on June 22 against the Indiana Fever. She shot 60 percent from the field on Thursday night, scoring from all three levels with most of her production coming in the mid-range on a variety of pull-ups and step backs. While Gray only had three assists on Thursday night, she had seven rebounds, tied for the second most she’s notched this season. Gray’s three dimes were to Jewell Loyd as she beat the buzzer in the second quarter, to Jackie Young in transition running the floor and then to NaLyssa Smith rolling to the basket.

Austin continued her streak of scoring in double digits on Thursday night, extending it to eight straight games. She was excellent facing up and off the bounce, making most of her field goals off her own drives to the basket or on slips off screens. Austin had her breakout quarter in the fourth, making three clutch field goals in the last five minutes that gave the Mystics the lead. She had an offensive board and put back of a Brittney Sykes miss with 39 seconds left in regulation that put the Mystics up for good.

Loyd hit 20 points for the first time since June 13 when she scored 21 against the Dallas Wings. She made a bunch of twos in the paint and then one in the mid-range, a place she’s struggled this season, in addition to two corner threes. Loyd did most of her damage from the middle of the second quarter until the final two minutes of the third, where she made five straight shots including a contested three in transition that beat the second quarter buzzer. What’s perplexing was that the Aces shied away from Loyd down the stretch — she got her final look with 6:09 left in the fourth quarter. It was at a moment when the Aces had a more comfortable six-point lead before they fumbled down the stretch to give the Mystics the lead and the win.

The last time Sykes scored over 15 points was on June 20, so her team-leading performance on Thursday night was a return to form. Per usual, Sykes feasted in the paint, scoring 10 of her 18 total points within key. She was mostly guarded by Chelsea Gray. Sykes drew two and-one scores on Gray. With 1:17 left in regulation, Sykes made a tough 17-foot jumper over the outstretched arms of Megan Gustafson. The Vegas defense prevented her from getting to her kill zones, but it didn’t matter. Sykes elevated and got the Mystics within one point before Shakira Austin’s go-ahead bucket moments later.