12 standouts from Wednesday’s packed WNBA slate, together with Caitlin Clark, Dearica Hamby, Jewell Loyd, and extra

Good morning, WNBA followers! Wednesday night time was as busy a slate as they get, with 5 WNBA video games that resulted in a number of shocking outcomes.

Listed below are the ultimate scores from yesterday’s recreation:

• The Washington Mystics (9-22) beat the Chicago Sky (11-19) — 74-70
• The Indiana Fever (15-16) beat the Connecticut Solar (22-8) — 84-40
• The Minnesota Lynx (23-8) beat the Phoenix Mercury (16-16) — 89-76
• The Los Angeles Sparks (6-24) beat the New York Liberty (26-5) — 94-88
• The Seattle Storm (18-11) beat the Atlanta Dream (10-19) — 85-81

Right here had been Wednesday’s prime performers:

Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever

Photograph by Adam Hagy/NBAE through Getty Photos

Kelsey Mitchell has been on an absolute tear, and Wednesday night time was no exception. She completed with a game-high 23 factors on 8-14 capturing, alongside 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and a couple of blocks. She turns into the primary participant in franchise historical past to attain at the least 20 factors in 5 consecutive video games.

“Kelsey Mitchell is particular,” stated Fever head coach Christy Sides. “She’s a particular participant, And now the gamers that she has round her give her the chance to get freed up much more than she has previously. She’s enjoying with such confidence.”

DiJonai Carrington, Connecticut Solar

Photograph by Michael Hickey/NBAE through Getty Photos

Carrington led the Solar in scoring with 19 factors on 7-13 FG in Wednesday’s loss to the Fever. She additionally posted 6 steals, 4 rebounds, and a couple of assists, powering the group’s offense whereas being tasked with guarding Caitlin Clark for a lot of the night time.

“I assumed she was actually good for us,” Solar head coach Stephanie White stated. “Her capacity to get downhill, her capacity to get in, out, in transition, to get to the free throw line. She wreaks havoc defensively, however she’s gotten this explosiveness that we don’t have, so we want her to proceed to remain aggressive on the offensive finish whereas persevering with to do what she does greatest on the defensive finish for us.

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Photograph by Justin Casterline/Getty Photos

Clark and the Fever have been rolling because the Olympic break. In Wednesday’s huge win over the Solar, Clark completed 19 factors (7-17 FG), 5 rebounds, and 5 assists — although, being guarded by DiJonai Carrington, she additionally recorded 7 turnovers.

Clark blew previous the Solar’s Veronica Burton for a go-ahead layup with a minute and a half to go — Connecticut didn’t rating the remainder of the best way. She’s nonetheless not capturing the best way we all know she will, however Clark powered a Fever offense that withstood one of many league’s prime defenses.

“It’s undoubtedly up there with one of the crucial bodily video games I’ve performed to this point,” Clark stated postgame.

Ariel Atkins, Washington Mystics

Photograph by Amanda Loman/Getty Photos

The Washington Mystics have received three video games in a row for the primary time all season — towards the Sparks, Storm, and Sky. On Wednesday, Ariel Atkins was key within the win over Chicago, recording 15 factors (6-10 FG), 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. The Mystics completed the sport on a 13-2 run.

“She simply seemed she seemed actually poised,” stated Mystics head coach Eric Thibault. “She seemed slightly below management. I believe I’ve stated it earlier than — when it will get slightly bodily and stuff that doesn’t actually trouble her, simply type of possibly helps her focus in or locked into what she must do.”

Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx

Photograph by Chris Coduto/Getty Photos

Courtney Williams has emerged as one of the crucial underrated gamers within the WNBA. The Lynx have received 7 video games in a row, and Williams has been an enormous cause why. Within the win over the Mercury, she recorded 16 factors (8-16 FG), 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and a couple of steals. She was additionally a team-high +25 in her minutes.

“I believe simply stepping into the decide and roll, groups going beneath and pulling down the photographs,” Williams stated, describing her elevated offensive comfortability. “After they let me get to my spots it’s on me to knock them down and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks

Photograph by Juan Ocampo/NBAE through Getty Photos

Although the Sparks have struggled this season, Dearica Hamby has put collectively an MVP-level season, averaging 17.9 factors on 51.4% capturing, 9.8 factors, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per recreation. She completed with 21 factors (9-15 FG), 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block in Wednesday’s win over the Liberty.

Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks

Photograph by Juan Ocampo/NBAE through Getty Photos

Rickea Jackson continues to place collectively a stellar rookie marketing campaign. Within the Sparks win over the Liberty, Jackson posted 19 factors (7-11 FG), 3 assists, 3 rebounds, and a couple of steals.

“It’s outstanding how a lot she’s improved inside the season,” stated Sparks head coach Curt Miller of his rookie. “She is competing so onerous on the defensive finish now, she was combating by screening tonight, she was switching and battling folks larger than her, she was staying in play. There’s a absolute intent and dedication to that finish of the ground, which is de facto enjoyable to see. It doesn’t get talked about as a result of she’s such a dynamic, three stage scorer.”

Rae Burrell, Los Angeles Sparks

Photograph by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Photos

Within the Sparks win over the Liberty, Rae Burrell exploded for a season-high 18 factors (on 7-8 capturing), together with 3-3 from past the arc.

“All people likes to see the photographs going,” Burrell stated. “It makes you’re feeling good. I’m simply blissful that my group was capable of put me in nice positions to get these photographs, and I’m simply blissful that they’re capable of have a good time me too. That additionally makes me really feel actually nice, the assist that they’ve for me.”

Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

Photograph by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Photos

Breanna Stewart and the Liberty dropped a shocking recreation to the Sparks, however Stewart was sensible nonetheless. She completed the sport with 32 factors (11-19 FG), 6 rebounds, and a couple of steals.

“I believe we will come out slightly bit extra aggressive, but additionally type of smarter,” Stewart stated. “We’re simply attempting to make the home-run play or look to attain on the primary facet, placing ourselves in a foul place. I believe that it’s on the starters, on myself to make it possible for we’re prepared to come back out and know the place the ball goes to go. So we type of simply must develop up in that facet.”

Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm

Photograph by Amanda Loman/Getty Photos

Jewell Loyd led the Storm with 28 factors (8-22 FG), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and three steals in Wednesday’s win over the Dream. She additionally hit a go-ahead three pointer with 28 seconds to play, when Atlanta led by 1.

“It was an awesome set-up, and I used to be telling Nneka that it was such an awesome display that it was onerous to not take that shot,” Loyd stated. “The entire theme tonight was simply group effort. Everybody made huge performs and massive photographs, and that’s what we want. It was an awesome move, it was an awesome display, and I used to be capable of knock that shot down.”

Tina Charles, Atlanta Dream

Photograph by Mollie Handkins/NBAE through Getty Photos

Tina Charles recorded the franchise’s first-ever triple-double in Wednesday’s loss to the Storm. She recorded 19 factors (8-15 FG), 17 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 steals.

“She continues to etch her identify within the historical past books,” stated Storm head coach Noelle Quinn.

Charles — who was out of the WNBA final season — was emotional about her success this 12 months.

“I simply give glory to God,” Charles stated. “The place I used to be final 12 months, the place I’m now, again within the WNBA. I simply thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I’m simply very grateful. I want we got here out with the win, however at this age in my profession, I’m simply bowled over. Very emotional about it, but it surely’s simply God.”

Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm

Photograph by Mollie Handkins/NBAE through Getty Photos

Nneka Ogwumike has been the Storm’s most constant participant this season, and Wednesday was no exception. Ogwumike recorded 18 factors (8-15 FG), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block within the win over the Dream. Head coach Noelle Quinn praised the Storm’s effort, notably within the context of Monday’s disappointing loss towards the Mystics.

“This was night time and day,” stated Quinn. “We talked about it for a day and a half, the suitable mindset and the style wherein you must be a professional, and I assumed our group did that.”