WNBA Recap: Saturday’s prime 7 performers ranked, together with Sabrina Ionescu, Kamilla Cardoso and extra

Saturday’s WNBA triple-header yielded a slew of standout performances, a lot in order that we scrapped the Prime 5 Performers format right here at SB Nation and as an alternative ranked a Prime 7. That record consists of a number of All-Stars — Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson, and Napheesa Collier, amongst others — in addition to up-and-coming gamers like Kamilla Cardoso.

First, the sport outcomes from Saturday’s play:

• The Lynx defeated the Mystics 99-83 to enhance to 19-8, good for third-best within the league.
• The Sky beat the Sparks to 79-67 to enhance to 11-15, constructing upon their lead for the eighth seed.
• The Liberty beat the Aces 79-67 to enhance to 23-4, the perfect document within the league.

Listed below are the Saturday’s prime 7 WNBA performers, ranked:

7. Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty

Photograph by David Becker/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

The Liberty grew to become the primary workforce within the WNBA to clinch a playoff spot on Saturday, they usually wouldn’t have carried out it with out Sabrina Ionescu, who’s within the midst of a profession yr and has come out sturdy in each video games for the reason that Olympic break.

Ionescu was a game-high plus-minus of +14 within the Liberty’s win over the Aces, and posted a team-high 23 factors (9-21 FG) together with 6 rebounds and three assists. The Liberty’s win streak has prolonged to 6.

“It’s good to see we’ve been in a position to choose up the place we left off,” mentioned Ionescu postgame.

6. Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty

Photograph by Candice Ward/Getty Pictures

Jonquel Jones has additionally been crucial to the Liberty’s success, and she or he flirted with a triple-double on this one. The previous MVP was large within the Liberty’s 79-67 win over the Aces, ending with 10 factors (4-9 FG), 17 rebounds (7 offensive), and seven assists.

Jones — the third-leading scorer on the Liberty this season — was comparatively quiet offensively on this, however rebounding has an infinite affect on her teammates, Sabrina Ionescu mentioned postgame.

“We shoot the ball with confidence realizing that JJ’s down there if we do miss,” Ionescu mentioned. “She cleans that up virtually each single time.”

5. Lindsay Allen, Chicago Sky

Lindsay Allen helped saved the day within the Sky’s 94-90 win over the Sparks, ending with a season-high 16 factors (on an environment friendly 7-11 capturing), alongside 6 assists and 4 rebounds.

Chicago trailed by 10 heading into the fourth quarter, and Allen was instrumental in securing the win down the stretch, hitting two soar pictures within the closing minutes to assist the Sky full the comeback.

“We simply wanna proceed to change into who we’re alleged to be as a workforce,” Allen mentioned postgame. “Proceed to just do maintain with our requirements, the non-negotiables we wish to be. Simply proceed to ramp up as we get nearer to the playoffs and attempt to change into a playoff workforce after which make noise there.”

The win offers the Sky a 2.5 recreation lead for the final spot within the postseason with 14 video games left to play.

4. A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Photograph by David Becker/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

A’ja Wilson continues to tear up the league, although the Aces haven’t been their regular dominant selves. After falling to New York, Las Vegas slid right down to fifth within the WNBA standings.

Wilson was efficient within the loss — posting 24 factors (8-15 FG), 11 rebounds, 3 steals, and three blocks — however mentioned postgame she felt the Aces must have a extra centered mindset heading into video games.

“Our want-to issue wasn’t there for 40 minutes — that doesn’t matter if we had a break or we didn’t,” Wilson. “We will’t have that.”

3. Stefanie Dolson, Washington Mystics

Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Mystics proceed to wrestle, however Stefanie Dolson is having one heck of a season. In Saturday’s loss to the Lynx, Dolson shot 8-8 from the sphere, together with 6-6 from three. That tied a WNBA document for many threes made with out a miss.

Nevertheless, her team-high 23 factors weren’t sufficient to beat one other huge night time by the Lynx and Napheesa Collier. Nonetheless, Mystics coach Eric Thibault famous postgame how crucial Dolson has been for Washington, per the workforce.

“She makes our offense click on in numerous methods, Stef,” Mystics coach Eric Thibault mentioned after the loss. “She’s at all times carried out that as a connector, passing the ball. However when she’s aggressive capturing the ball, it’s a game-changer.”

2. Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports activities

The Sky’s #3 choose loved arguably her finest recreation of the season in Saturday’s win over the Sparks. Cardoso completed with 15 factors (6-9 FG), 14 rebounds, and three assists in 28 minutes of play, and was notably essential within the fourth quarter because the Solar battled down for double-digits.

Postgame, she famous that the Olympic break was good for her restoration, and that she continues to realize confidence from these round her.

“Simply listening to my coaches and my teammates,” Cardoso mentioned. “They present me love and help.”

Sky teammate Lindsay Allen praised Cardoso’s two-way effort within the comeback win in opposition to the Sparks:

“It’s all about her being lively,” she mentioned. “Her size is one thing that we depend on quite a bit, so when she’s lively, when she’s defending onerous, when she’s working onerous, she’s posting up onerous each possession— it actually makes a distinction for us.”

1. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

Photograph by Stephen Gosling/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

With A’ja Wilson having such a traditionally dominant season, the MVP race could also be over. However Lynx star Napheesa Collier is holding the door cracked open. On Saturday, in a 99-83 win over the Mystics, exploded for 30 factors on 13-16 capturing. Her 13 made discipline objectives ties a career-high, per Lynx PR.

“Phee was spectacular,” Thibault mentioned postgame, whereas noting the Mystics protection left a bit to be desired. “She made robust pictures. She made pictures over contests.”