The second night time of the resumption of WNBA motion affords up a three-game slate starting with the Seattle Storm (17-8) visiting the Atlanta Dream (7-17) and the Phoenix Mercury (14-12) going through the Indiana Fever (11-15) at 7:30 p.m. ET, adopted by the Dallas Wings (6-19) internet hosting the Connecticut Solar (18-6) at 9:30 p.m. ET. All video games are on ION.
Already, the impression of the compressed schedule is clear because the Mercury—a crew with three Olympians, together with gold medal recreation hero Kahleah Copper—shall be on the second night time of a back-to-back. On Thursday, Phoenix appeared roaring and prepared for the season’s remaining push, smoking the Chicago Sky by 20 factors, 85-65, in Copper’s first recreation again within the Windy Metropolis. Copper was on hearth, scoring 29 factors on 12-for-19 taking pictures, whereas Brittney Griner was a power, with 23 factors, 9 rebounds, six assists and 5 blocks. It was the sort of efficiency that reminded that Phoenix is extra harmful than their relatively middling report.
Now, they’ll met a Fever crew that spent a lot of the Olympic hiatus getting ready for a cost up the standings. Earlier than the prolonged pause, the Fever have been starting to spherical into the crew they have been anticipated to be, going 5-5 over their final 10 video games. In that span, they’d the league’s fifth-best offense and eighth-best protection, and a internet score of -0.6. That’s ok to take care of their spot at fringe of the playoff image. Nevertheless, to solidify a spot within the postseason, Indiana should exhibit the two-way consistency that has eluded them in Caitlin Clark’s debut season. Benefiting from a Phoenix crew in a nasty schedule spot is a should.
Will Atlanta’s nightmare proceed towards Seattle?
Whereas the Fever hope to not have misplaced the measure of momentum they’d generated earlier than the break, the Dream have to find some optimistic momentum—pronto! Atlanta skidded into the Olympic break on a nine-game shedding streak, slowed down by accidents and incoherence. The Dream want All-Star Weekend Allisha Grey and a renewed Rhyne Howard, buoyed by 3×3 bronze medal, to offer path for a too-often aimless offense. The return of Jordin Canada, whose standing stays unsure on account of a finger damage, additionally can be large. Over their nine-game shedding streak, Atlanta scored an anemic 74 factors per recreation.
The Storm, nonetheless, is just not the crew you need to see throughout the way in which when offense is a matter. For the season, Seattle has the league’s third-best protection, and simply earlier than the break, they’d actually discovered their defensive kind, registering a 92.2 defensive score over their final 10 video games. Whereas Jewell Loyd (USA), Ezi Magebegor (Australia), Sami Whitcomb (Australia) and head coach Noelle Quinn (Canada) all frolicked in Paris, Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith remained stateside, certainly getting ready to steer the Storm down the stretch.
Will the Wings take flight over the Solar?
As with the Dream, it’s now or by no means for the Wings. Much more than Atlanta, Dallas can blame accidents for his or her season-long shortcomings. The Wings, in distinction to the Dream, seem higher outfitted to shake off their malaise and a rush up the standings. That’s largely on account of Satou Sabally, who, after lacking the entire WNBA season with a shoulder damage, starred for Germany in Paris and is prone to make her season debut on Friday night time. The forthcoming return of Maddy Siegrist will even profit the Wings, though, to make room for Sabally and Siegrist on the roster, the Wings needed to half methods with Odyssey Sims and Monique Billings, each of whom gave the crew good minutes throughout stretches of this injury-ravaged season.
The Solar appear properly suited to take care of their place close to the highest of the standings. Enjoying for Group USA most likely felt like a trip for Alyssa Thomas, who’s accustomed to logging 40-minute efforts for Connecticut. The largest problem for the Solar shall be integrating Marina Mabrey, who was traded to the Solar earlier than the Olympic break however has but to debut for her new crew. Contemplating she’ll see acquainted faces on the opposite facet, as she performed for the Wings (alongside school roommate Ogunbowale) earlier than becoming a member of the Chicago Sky, anticipate Mabrey to be able to placed on a shotmaking present for her latest crew.
Sport info
Seattle Storm (17-8) vs. Atlanta Dream (7-17)
When: Friday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET
The place: Gateway Middle @ School Park in Atlanta, GA
watch: ION
Storm damage report: none
Dream damage report: Jordin Canada (questionable; finger)
Phoenix Mercury (14-12) vs. Indiana Fever (11-15)
When: Friday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET
The place: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN
watch: ION
Mercury damage report: Rebecca Allen (out; proper hamstring), Charisma Osborne (out; decrease left leg)
Fever damage report: none
Connecticut Solar (18-6) vs. Dallas Wings (6-19)
When: Friday, Aug. 16 at 9:30 p.m. ET
The place: School Park Middle in Arlington, TX
watch: ION
Solar damage report: Olivia Nelson-Ododa (questionable; proper foot), DiJonai Carrington (not with crew; private), Tiffany Mitchell (not with crew; sickness)
Wings damage report: Satou Sabally (possible; shoulder), Jaelyn Brown (possible; sickness), Maddy Siegrist (uncertain; finger)
